Had it been just about anyone else writing this, I'd be a lot more cynical about the reasons for "Ultimate" Daredevil and Elektra. It's a movie tie-in, that's clear. But what is also clear from Greg Rucka, currently writing the Elektra ongoing as well, is that he is probably the best person to re-envision Elektra for the Ultimate line. With an eye toward creating a character who can continue, rather than a tragic foil for Daredevil, Ultimate Daredevil & Elektra may lack the power of Frank Miller's creation of the character, but it's also not as relentlessly dark, and reads as a completely different character as a result. It doesn't hurt that Salvador Larroca turns in the best performance I've seen from him on this book, reminding me at times of the storytelling mastery of Eduardo Risso.
Only a few pages in, it's clear that Elektra in the Ultimate universe is going to have a significantly different origin than the mainstream Marvel version. Her father's occupation is a tipoff that maybe something else is going to lead her down the path to being an assassin, and her college persona is a lot more normal and well-adjusted than the one we've seen in Daredevil: Man Without Fear or other works by Miller. In addition, Rucka has his eye on making Elektra a more well-rounded character, with interests in a future and friends outside of her devoted father.
It is the college life aspects of this story that really grabbed me. While Elektra's martial arts expertise is foreshadowed here, it's in the background for her first few months at college. The development of new friendships between Elektra, Phoebe and Mel is believable and fun to read. Rucka's work in this issue reminds me in some ways of early Strangers in Paradise by Terry Moore, when the focus was more on two girls with a close friendship. The playful behavior and the solid bonds of friendship beneath it are very clear in the writing, and I like all three of the characters. Which gives the final page quite a punch.
Salvador Larroca and Danny Miki rise to the script with a terrific art performance, full of subtle body language and facial expressions that convey the important beats of the story. Elektra's look when she first meets Matt Murdock speaks volumes, and the same is true of the sly smile that Matt shoots her then and on their second meeting. The anger of Calvin at Elektra's taunts is clear in his face, foreshadowing the inevitable strike back at her. And the martial arts sequences, whether it's Elektra's backflip or a training sequence with Stone, are fluid and beautiful as well.
Both the regular Daredevil and Elektra are good, accessible books right now, with top creative talent. So really, there's not a great need for an Ultimate version of the characters. However, necessary or not, this is a great read, and I'm anxious to see more.
