Review - Elektra #1Review by Paul Fiander
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Published: April 23, 2014
Rating: Rated T+ Writer: W.Haden Blackman Artist: Michael Del mundo Cover Artist: Michael Del mundo |
The Comic is available in both print and digital from Marvel comics. Follow this link for more details.
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As far as covers go Elektra has one of the most striking images I have seen. The art is black and red but when you take the time to look at the way her face is created you really begin to see the genius of the art. The red depicts her hair but it is made of by blood splatter, her eyes are Sai’s and the framing of her face is crafted by a mixture of weapons and dismembered bodies. It sounds like it should not work but as you can see from the attached cover art it really does. Thankfully Mike Del Mundo along with Marco D’Alfonso on colours do not reserve the best artwork for the front cover in fact as you open the issue you get swept away into a painted world of beauty and death.
This is my first dip into the world of Elektra, so I thought I would test out the “All New Marvel Now” series to see how well they accommodate new readers. The Issue starts off with a brief introduction to the character. We get a short intro into the motivations of Elektra without really getting too embroiled in her back-story. W Haden Blackman does a great job of giving enough information so you do not feel lost but also not clogging up the page with text. Even though I have already enthused about the art, in this section it really is at its peak. We get to see Elektra performing two types of dances one balletic with ribbons and one just as graceful but what appears to be a ribbon is actually blood. The two splash pages are certainly a high point art wise. The story itself sees Elektra seeking out the Matchmaker in a desperate attempt to get out of her cage and pack into the field. There are hints of the previous story and this will hopefully satisfy continuing readers but as a new reader I thought her brush off felt honest with just a glimmer of things that may occur in the future of the series. From the mid-point of the issue we have a distinct narrative change as Blackman turns his attention to a different breed of Assassin. His skill set along with his demeanour mark him out to be an intriguing foil to Elektra but of course we will have to wait and see how their interactions play out. The main story is strong but it feels like the best work went into the introduction. Admittedly the scene is now set for the future. Overall this is a strong issue with a stellar opening. For new readers you can jumping and after 5 pages feel completely at home with our red attired assassin. The art though is the highlight of the issue and is well worth the price of admission by itself. Issue Rating 4.5/5 |
More from All New Marvel Now
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A new city brings new challenges for Matt Murdoch not least of which is learning how to navigate a new city. Mark Waid and Chris Samnee are back in control of the Lawyer come superhero but will a new location work for the man in red? |
Images courtesy of Marvel Comics
Comic - Reviewers own copyr
Comic - Reviewers own copyr
