'Because tsaimelemoni ain't put one up yet', is why.
Quick synopsis:
spoilers:end of spoilers
The issue actually starts before the preview pages, with Elektra inwardly expressing nervousness at the thought of going into Bullseye's mind with the help of Kento's telepathy. She does so anyway, of course, and we get the preview scenes, with Elektra following a constant scream through the statue garden of Bullseye's kills and wishlist until she finds 'Lester' curled up at the memorial to her own death. When asked about the Assassins Guild leadership, he pleads innocence, pointing out he's been blind and paralyzed for quite some time, but Elektra threatening to break said memorial (thus erasing the memory itself) loosens his tongue, and he tells her to go to Kampung Monyet in Jakarta. Elektra exits Bullseye's mind and makes to kill him, but Cape Crow stops her, pointing out he might still be of use.
The sort-of team reaches Jakarta, with Crow staying behind while Elektra and Kento head into Kampung Monyet ('Monkey Village'). It is unsurprisingly full of monkeys. More surprising is that these monkeys draw knives and attack. Elektra figures they're under telepathic control and hurts them to draw out their puppeteer, who turns out to be the leader of the Assassins Guild...and also a very small child. She overpowers Kento when he tries to peer into her mind. Elektra threatens her, but the girl calls her bluff, knowing she won't attack an unarmed kid (what, knife monkeys don't count as weapons?). In fact, the girl knows Elektra so well that she's essentially played Elektra from the start, or at least since #6. She knew Elektra would free Bullseye to get at his secrets, and convinced the Hand to join in because they both wanted to see Bullseye restored...and they got their wish. Bullseye appears, healed by the effects of the bloody spring, with an unconscious/dead Cape Crow in hand. He downs Kento with a thrown playing card, and as Elektra squares off against him, a battalion of Hand ninjas appear to back him up.
Oh, and the monkeys, too. Gotta watch our for those. Vicious little beggars, so they are.
Thoughts:
- Probably not Del Mundo's best issue - there's no big double-splash or smart layout tricks this time - but even so it's still achingly beautiful work, as you should expect by now.
- Elektra feels a bit more...humanized this issue. She actually expresses emotions beyond cold cruelty that feel genuine. It's a bit too late, but well done to Blackman for fixing my main issue with the series previously.
- The identity of the (still unnamed) Guild leader is a little bit of an eyeroll - it's one of the more clichéd 'surprise!' twists a story like this can have - but the reveal of their plan is much more effective.
- Monkeys, though. Never liked the little bastards.
Chat away.