Reviewer: Tim Byrne
Story Title: Devil’s Due (Part 5 of 5)
Written by: Mike Carey
Pencils by: Salvador Larroca
Inks by: Crimelab Studios
Colored by: Aron Lusen (Liquid)
Lettered by: Chris Eliopoulos
Editor: Ralph Macchio
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Well this Elektra mini-series comes to an end and, to be frank, not a minute too soon.
I absolutely despise writing negative reviews, because I am only too aware of the hard work and effort that goes into any enterprise such as this. Simply looking at the credit list of any comic or movie makes you acutely aware of just how many professionals have dedicated themselves to producing something (hopefully) worth reading.
Having gotten through that preamble, I just didn’t like this issue, or the mini-series as a whole. Written as a (sort-of) sequel to the Ultimate Daredevil / Elektra series of some time ago, this mini-series absolutely puts paid to the promises of Marvel that the Ultimate series would be ‘lean and mean’ with only a few titles marking the landscape.
Apart from satisfying the need of fans who wanted to get some idea of Daredevil and Elektra in the Ultimate universe, this series really didn’t serve any major function. It certainly attempted to place an emphasis on Ultimate Bullseye (although – ‘Poindexter’?? Surely the most non-threatening name ever) and to establish further the uneasy relationship between Daredevil and Elektra.
To address the plot (briefly), after several issues of fluffing around, Elektra approaches the Kingpin with a copy of the ledger which has been the ‘valuable object sought by all’ in this series and attempts to make a deal involving her father. Naturally, everything does not run smoothly, and Daredevil is involved, both as a costumed hero and as a lawyer.
There is okay fight scene between Elektra and Bullseye (or Poindexter – snerk) which I suppose is the effective climax of the whole mini. A (verbal) confrontation between Matt and Elektra really only serves as an epilogue. I guess that the harsh lesson learned by Elektra is meant to be in some ways the goal of the mini – to show her maturing and learning the hard lessons of the world. But it just fell flat with me, and made me consider Elektra as still little more than a hot-headed child.
The art is passable, although the washed-out grays of colourist Aron Lusen didn’t sit well. It’s possible he was trying to set up a conflict with the reds of Matt and Elektra’s outfits, but the whole effect is simply drab.
If Marvel want to make a serious go of Ultimate Daredevil (or Elektra) then give them their own ongoing with a quality writer (and editor). But minis like this simply start to warn avid consumers away.
