Daredevil: Woman Without Fear #1
by
Chip Zdarsky (Story) , Rafael de Latorre (Artist) and Chris Bachalo (Cover Art)
Part of my getting back into reading comics again after about a year and some, some titles and characters I am trying to catch-up, others like the Daredevil books, I am not inclined as I stopped them for a reason other than time and life.
The story places this series smack in the middle of the Devils’ Reign event and I have to say, I was surprised I had totally missed it, because I read almost that entire event and quite enjoyed it, flaws and all. BUT, it works out because aside from Elektras’ relationship and interaction moments with Matt Murdock, the series places itself as a side story that has no real bearing on that event.
This brings me to the first issue of this series wherein the erstwhile assassin-extraordinaire for The Hand, Elektra Nachios, has distanced herself completely from her former profession and even been a Savage Avenger and such in recent years – now has temporarily taken on a Daredevil persona. She is trying to figure herself out and her current status with her on-again-off-again love of her life, Matt. She is on a bit of a mission of her own at this moment between things and that leads her back to the college where she and Matt met and where her life for many reasons, turned drastically – so this is a bit of a “dealing with your past” kind of storyline right from early on here.
The highlight by far and away for me was the artwork which was really pretty solid and de Latorre has really done a great job – be it the more dramatic looking shots or some action shots or even the quiet moments of Elektra in bed with Matt or with an old friend in a coffee shop – it all looks great and the panels and layouts flow well from one to another and the different settings all have colour and look that really makes each location and scene distinct and clean. Relatively muted colours are the books’ style but it works.
The cover art though… not a fan personally but then again I have always had mixed reactions to Bachalos’ style, even back when he was doing Spider-Man.
Overall it is a solid start to a storyline that does not seem all that unique for now but potentially a nice little add-on to the story of Elektra.
Daredevil: Woman Without Fear #2
The story places this series smack in the middle of the Devils’ Reign event and I have to say, I was surprised I had totally missed it, because I read almost that entire event and quite enjoyed it, flaws and all. BUT, it works out because aside from Elektras’ relationship and interaction moments with Matt Murdock, the series places itself as a side story that has no real bearing on that event.
This brings me to the second issue of this series:
I continue to be impressed by Chip Zdarsky who has made a pretty good transition from comic artist to also a writer – not an easy feat. Here he is perhaps more limited perhaps by the 3-issue limit, but the story comes across as simplified and perhaps rushed in some aspects as it tries to balance the elements. We have been introduced to this dangerous tiny-little-ninja-woman from Elektras’ past with The Hand who has some agenda we cannot really be sure about AND this tiny-terror has recruited Kraven the Hunter to mess with Elektra as part of the process.
Once again, the highlight for me was the artwork. The action is solid and the flow from start to finish really helps the scripts flow move better I think than it does by itself. I do feel that some panels and moments felt a bit weaker than the previous issue but that is a minor complaint.
Decent action, decent pacing and solid art make for a middling but entertaining issue. Manages to keep you engaged after a good first issue.
Daredevil: Woman Without Fear #3
So… we come to the action-packed finale of the Elektra mini-series that is apparently a Devils’ Reign tie-in that really doesn’t need to be packaged as such.
First, I give Marvel negative marks here for forcing labelling this as a tie-in because this takes place at the same time but it is pretty much a stand-alone story and should have been treated as such.
Second, the artwork was one of the highlights of the series so far and in a strange turnaround, I found the interior art to be inferior to the first two issues and somehow the cover by Bachalo was the best of the three issues.
As for the story… this is a bit of a nothing sandwich. Elektra is still not sure what this Akka woman wants (nor am I), we see her and Matt have grown as a couple by now and she is ready to kick Kravens’ ass; that is about it. Things moves along well enough and yes it does give Elektra some nice personal moments, plus the action is great – but it is nothing unique or done in any way that really had me interested. There is a surprise (of sorts) at the end of the issue but aside from concerning The Hand, it has little bearing on this story and frankly I feel like whomever are the teams steering the stories concerned with The Hand and such are themselves confused or not able to make clear plans… I feel like they are trying for something but I’ve not been able to get anything truly interesting or informative on what this organisation that was feared across Earths’ shadows is up to anymore.
The series is fun enough but mostly it is a time-passer of a book that starts strong but ends mediocre and doesn’t motivate me itself to read more of the character. I’d rather follow Elektra in a Daredevil book just for her and Matt at this point rather than read another something like this story. You might like it if you’re an Elektra fan, but I was less than impressed.
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