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Ultimate
Daredevil & Elektra
Vol.1 [Reprints 1-4, Daredevil 9]
2003
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Greg Rucka
Pencils: Salvador Larroca
Inks: Danny Miki
Colors: Udon Studios
Letters: Chris Eliopoulos
Price: $11.99 US/R169.00 SA
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It’s the modern day meeting of two legendary characters from
the Marvel Universe. Daredevil and Elektra meet
at University during this four-part mini series,
and the story is based around their growing up in the tough times
that surround them.
Unfortunately I was let down by this series. I had been expecting
a lot more from this after following Daredevil
for the last thirty or so issues. The main Daredevil series has
been exceptional for such an extended period of time that I guess
whenever I pick up anything related to the name I expect a good
read. This run has its moments and is not really all that bad but
it is definitely missing a spark or two which would make it stand
out from the norm.
As mentioned above the story follows the first meeting between Matt
Murdock & Elektra Nachios at University level. The plot consists
of a number of tricky circumstances and ‘college’
problems which lead up to a climatical ending with somewhat of a
twist.
The story runs mainly around Elektra’s character with Matt
more as a sidekick than anything else. After the rape of a close
friend and the torching of her fathers home and business, Elektra
finds herself out for blood. It is a coming of age for an assassin
and this part of the story is well written, Rucka [Gotham
Central, Elektra, Wolverine] really does help us to see
what Elektra is made of and how she turns into what she has become.
The speed of the story in the first two issues and its focus on
the rape case just seemed too slow. The distinct lack of any major
action scenes helps to keep the story grounded in reality but at
the same time makes it rather boring and gives it a ‘made
for TV movie’ feel. The first half of this series
was like watching a cheap college drama film and read as a rather
slow paced comic.
Salvador Larroca has to be one of my favourite
artists at the moment. His work on X-Treme X-Men
is simply out of this world. Such being my feelings I was looking
forward to this series based on the artwork alone. Unfortunately
these days a penciller is so reliant on his inking and colouring
processes to make his work truly shine, and I feel this book suffers
due to mismatched talent.
On the aforementioned X-Men title, Larroca has decided not to ink
his work but rather have Liquid! colour straight
over his pencils. The result really enhances Larroca’s work
tenfold. In Ultimate Daredevil & Elektra Larroca’s work
has been brought down to earth with a thud due to sub-par or mismatched
colouring. Udon Studios has a great wealth of talent
and are not bad by any means, the fact is that their style just
doesn’t seem to fit this title. From pastel shades of colour
to a simplified style, Udon just seems like the wrong choice.
Larroca’s work can look so beautiful and detailed but unfortunately
the inking hasn’t captured the finer details in his work here.
In the end through a strange choice in colouring and inking I feel
that the art is really flat and lifeless in this series. It had
the chance to be breathtaking, just check out the covers
for each issue as proof of how Larroca’s work can shine with
some decent colours.
It’s a nice enough story about a young couple and the modern-day
struggles of University/College life. Not a Daredevil book really
but a nice addition to Elektra’s growing legend.
Disappointing on the artistic side, simply for the fact that it
had so much potential for greatness, but overall not all that bad.
p.s. A nice addition is the bonus of issue
# 9 of the current Daredevil series that
is included in this trade.
Score 6/10
Reviewed By:Iain Duncan
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Comic Reviews
