I championed Robert Rodi's run on this book from the writer's first issue. I loved the tension and action he instilled in each story, and I loved the glimpse of the process of the title character's work. Still, as the series wore on, it seemed more like Rodi was spinning his wheels, not really saying anything new in terms of plot or character. He shifts gears here a little bit but the resulting plot is surprisingly conventional. Furthermore, the fill-in artwork from Will Conrad rarely rises above the level of merely capable storytelling.
Elektra is summoned to the small island nation of Naou by its president, who wants to hire her to solve the country's little problem. It seems a cult leader/chief revolutionary is making problems. His small army of mercenaries is on a bloody rampage, killing farmers and taking their land. Given that agriculture is the cornerstone of the country's economy, it's proving devastating. Elektra is hired to kill the cultist -- Piaka Loio, whom no one has ever seen -- in order to bring stability to Naou, but first, she must find him.
Conrad's artwork tells the story fairly clearly, but it's rather inconsistent overall. As the book opens, the visuals remind me of regular penciller Sean Chen's work, but by the end of the issue, it looks completely different. Conrad is all over the board here. His work reminds me of Bryan Talbot's stuff, and then Tom Mandrake's. The artist seems to lack a visual voice of his own. Fortunately, the colors are remarkably strong, capturing both the exotic nature of the setting and the darker tone that's called for in the story. Avalon Studios bring a gritty quality to the art and an added level of texture.
This opening chapter of the new story arc lacks the ethical grey areas of that sets the title character apart from other Marvel "heroes," though that may not prove to be the case the story progresses. The plot seems much more like a conventional super-hero story, in which the heroine rushes to off to protect the innocent from a savage villain. Furthermore, I don't really buy into why all these men are so eager to follow their cult leader. I don't get a strong sense of his charisma or why the men might be disillusioned or outraged enough to embrace such a bloodthirsty life.
On the other hand, I have to admit that by scripting the book so that the Piaka Loio goes unseen throughout the issue, Rodi has piqued my interest. I want to know what his big secret is. By refusing to show us the character's face, the writer leads his audience to believe there's something special or shocking about his face or his identity. Furthermore, I enjoyed the opening exchange. The Naouan president sounds like a politician, and Elektra's quick clarification that she is not American seems to smack of disdain for that dominant Western culture.
