Waid (w) and Samnee (a) and Rodriguez (c) and Caramagna (l)
Despite his seeming betrayal, Shroud tosses Matt his telescoping cane, allowing him to save himself, and covers the area in shadow, giving Murdock the upper hand in the battle against Owl's henchmen, who he easily bests. Owl and Shroud have disappeared by the time the shadows lift and Matt reconvenes with Kirsten to discuss the next move. She informs him that Owl has become a big name in Silicon Valley and that only one substantial company hasn't fallen prey to him and that they have a big technological reveal to be announced soon. Daredevil stakes the place out and sure enough finds Shroud giving Owl access. As Matt enters to stop the pair, he realizes that Shroud wants to die and he's trying to die by Owl's hand, maybe taking the villain down with him. Suicide by supervillain. Daredevil refuses to let it happen, saving Shroud though leaving Owl behind to overload on the new technology (seems to still be alive and more powerful than ever but WHATEVER DEEDS, gotta check on that new guy I guess). DD lectures Shroud on how much tragedy he's been through and promises to help him find Julia, leaving Shroud to disappear on his own, though not to kill himself at least.
Some of the tech stuff involved here is a little confusing at its inception (though we're undoubtedly going to see more of it so it's not necessarily a big problem here. Meanwhile, the depression and desperation of Shroud is certainly compelling, even if it's not necessarily new ground for Waid, who explored something similar (though based more around a terminal diagnosis and an insurance scam than depression) in his INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK run. That doesn't make it any less jarring here nor any less meaningful. Plus, the way Bruce Banner deals with the problem of one of his employees going through this is going to be significantly different from the way Daredevil deals with a fellow superhero going through it. Samnee's art and Rodriguez's colors continue to be outstanding and lift this book above so many others.
Total Score: 5/5
Elektra 3
W.H. Blackman (w) and Del Mundo (a) and Del Mundo w/D'Alfonso (c) and Cowles (l)
Bloody Lips is stronger than ever and, thanks to the memories of the other assassins of whom he's tasted and of Kento, son of Cape Crow, whose blood he tasted on Lady Bullseye's sword, he has some idea where to go. Elektra and Kento go there first, though, the underwater city of Shicheng, to try to find Cape Crow. He's been there recently but isn't there now, to the chagrin of everyone, but before they can set off to a new location, Bloody Lips attacks. Elektra subdues him enough to try to give Kento a chance to escape but it leaves her open to Bloody Lips' attack. As he strangles her underwater, she stabs him in the chin with her sai. The two of them are guided through the Tiger's Gate together, a passageway in the now-flooded city that leads to the land of the dead for anyone who has been murdered. Both assassins are forced to cope with some hard truths as Bloody Lips sees his family, who he thought had died before he ate them only to find out that they were dying but it was his action that actually killed them and as Elektra sees her own mother, who she thought assassins killed but claims she died in childbirth.
This series has really gone for it in terms of its boldness and its darkness and its characterization. Elektra has been a character living rather on the outskirts of the Marvel Universe for some time now, getting characterization only insofar as it relates to those around her. More often it's characterization for Daredevil or Wolverine or someone but here Blackman is making a concerted effort to show us more inside her head, showing us what makes her her. There is, of course, still a hardness there and still an almost unwillingness to let the audience in but we're starting to see, bit by bit, a little more each issue. The same is true for Bloody Lips, who is a little more of an open book at this pint and who just keeps getting creepier (he's apparently Australian! Had we covered that yet? He is, it seems). Very strong series, really cool ideas and a very compelling read. Del Mundo continues to bring the seemingly perfect style to the book.
Total Score: 5/5
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