This issue, one of the single greatest comics of all time, starts with a parallel between Daredevil working out alone and Bullseye, in prison, doing the same. We see that Bullseye is now a drug addict, due to pain from his last battle with Daredevil. This little fact becomes important, as Bullseye later uses an unswallowed pill as a weapon to kill a guard and escape.
Bullseye is now fully transformed from the corny guy who made giant crossbow deathtraps into a maniacal killing machine.
While in prison, Bullseye has a conversation with Punisher, who tells him that Kingpin is using Elektra now and will never help Bullseye get out of prison. Thus Punisher, too, is transformed from the weird go-go boot wearing guy who rarely actually kills people into a vigilante who torments criminals even from behind bars.
Meanwhile, Kingpin hires Elektra to kill Foggy Nelson, who he knows is close to Matt Murdock, who, in turn, he knows is close to Daredevil. His motivation isn’t entirely clear here. But when the moment of truth comes…
…Elektra reveals her merciful side. Bullseye is stalking Murdock, and figures out that he’s Daredevil, but DD figures out that Bullseye figured it out, and totally plays him.
Bullseye figures out Matt is Daredevil, and kills Elektra.
With her last breath, she crawls to Matt Murdock’s home, which confirms for Bullseye what he suspected from the beginning of this oversized issue: Matt Murdock is Daredevil.
And, of course, there’s one of the most iconic images from one of the most memorable comic book deaths of all time…Even if she didn’t even stay dead for a year…Followed by the iconic “revenge” panel in which Bullseye would rather die than be saved by DD. Some folks will tell you DD dropped Bullseye on purpose–for revenge–but that’s clearly not what happened.
Bullseye was about to stab Daredevil, so DD had to release him.
The issue ends with Bullseye in a full body cast, but still alive.
This is a chapter in Elektra story that is one of the best Frank Miller stories of all time; it is also one of the best comics of the ’80s. In fact, it is one of the 100 best single-issue stories of all time, according to this objectively accurate list. And not only that, it’s part of the second best Daredevil story of all time (full list here).
Wow! So many awards!