ELEKTRA #3

Cover shows strong gloss and vibrant color with sharp corners and no visible creasing or spine stress in this photo. The book is in a protective sleeve which limits full assessment of edges and surface. No tears, stains, or writing are visible on the front cover. Interior and back cover were not assessed, so grade is capped conservatively at 9.0.

Elektra #3 (Marvel Knights, 2001) is part of the early solo Elektra ongoing that launched under the Marvel Knights banner, with scripts by Brian Michael Bendis during his ascent toward mainstream Marvel prominence and art from Chuck Austen. This particular printing is notable chiefly for a production quirk: an initial run of the issue was recalled, and the corrected direct-edition version in circulation today is the one collectors and CGC census data actually track. The cover, painted by Greg Horn, is representative of his photo-realistic style popular in the era but is not cited in price guides as a landmark image. Silver Samurai appears as a supporting antagonist, but no first appearances or other historically significant events occur in this issue.

Market data shows a book with modest but real demand concentrated almost entirely at the top of the grading scale. The CGC 9.8 tier carries the bulk of recorded sales and the only meaningful price support, reflecting collector interest in assembling complete high-grade Bendis bibliography runs and Marvel Knights sets rather than any storyline importance. Prices decline sharply once grade drops from 9.8, with 9.4 and 9.0 copies trading for a fraction of the near-mint figure, and no organized secondary market exists for raw copies in lower grades. The recalled/corrected printing distinction adds a small layer of interest for completists but does not meaningfully elevate value beyond what the character and creative team alone would support.

This issue is best understood as a low-cost building block for Bendis or Elektra completists rather than an investment-grade key. Raw copies in worn condition trade for negligible sums, mid-grade raw copies remain inexpensive bulk-bin material, and only pristine CGC 9.8 slabs command sustained buyer attention, largely from graders chasing census-topping runs of early Bendis Marvel work. Long-term appreciation, if any, will likely track broader interest in Bendis's pre-Avengers output rather than anything intrinsic to this specific issue.