Elektra : Assassin #6 end splash - Bill Sienkiewicz

Though totally different, I believe that the contribution of Elektra : Assassin to the super hero genre may be as important as DKR and Watchmen's : it redefined the whole way a mainstream comics could tell a story while elevating comic art to a brand new level. Obviously it was one of Frank Miller's numerous classics from the 80s and stars his most famous creation, but the breathtaking art of this series has made it Bill Sienkiewicz' undisputed masterpiece.

After incredible work on Moon Knight and New Mutants, his storytelling reached a new high with Elektra and it is arguably when he reached his peak (it's also his last regular work on a mainstream comics). This limited series stroke a chord, not only amongst the Frank Miller and super hero fans, but with all the people who appreciate comic art in some way or another. Even now, when asked who are the most important comic artists, Sienkiewicz still makes the list, thanks to this 30 years old work. And the Sienk fans who don t choose Elektra when they have a chance to get a commission from him are an exception. This is the work he will always be remembered for.

It was a true collaboration effort between Miller and Sienkiewicz as Miller would alway rewrite his script AFTER receiving Sienkiewicz' art to make both text and images mesh perfectly. And sometimes Sienkiewicz would redo entire pages of art simply because he had discovered afterward a way of making them better. To me, the simple dialogue Miller wrote for this splash serves Sienkiewicz' art perfectly : "You know, honey... we never talk...".

I've been on the hunt for a good Elektra page by Sienkiewicz since I started collecting comic art. I've tried to settle numerous times with other Sienk's pieces, whether published or not, but I could not find one from the classic series that worked for me. After such a long time (more than 8 years searching), I had made my peace with it : I would never own one. Till now...
I've never owned a page from one of my favorite runs that I find as beautiful and memorable as this one, but again Elektra : Assassin may be the most beautiful series I've ever read. That was one crazy series, full of highly stylized sex-and-drugs-and-rock'n'roll images, and I could not be happier to own such an unforgettable one.

After 10 years of editing comics, Mary Jo Duffy explained why she retired right after she wrapped her work on Elektra : Assassin. "Frank and Bill worked with a degree of sophistication ordinarily beyond consideration. It was a project that I believe will never be surpassed for either its demands or its rewards".
I wish she had been wrong, but I haven't read anything that compares since 1986.