KING IN BLACK #13
Mike Eakins
Recap
The world continues to be shrouded in black. Our heroes are on their last legs as it seems nothing is working. As their hopes start to dwindle an unlikely hero comes to their much-needed aide.
Review
“The road you’re on goes straight to hell,
Your life is yours to give
His fantasies of all of you are much too great to see
This world your living is so unreal, perfected just for me”
Our heroes are in bad shape and to make things worse Knull’s forces continue to grow and advance their diabolical plan. For every drop of Knull’s blood that spills it seems to make him stronger and our heroes inept. Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor, Sue Storm, these are just a few who have been on the front lines giving their all. Their all isn’t enough. Their strength and determination are being tested like never before. As Tony cooks up what seems like a last-ditch Hail Mary, our only hope is that someone is there to catch it and in pure Cates fashion there just might be.
King in Black is more than a story about the vile entity known as Knull. Donny Cates has penned an odyssey about what happens when your soul is gassed, and your will is the only thing that stands between you and destruction. Cate’s words hit like a ten-ton hammer leaving a crater filled will excellent storytelling. The insanely talented art team of Ryan Stegman, JP Mayer, Frank Martin, and Clayton Cowles never let off the gas pedal. From cover to cover, whether its’ the eerie grin of Knull, the dark and moody hues, or the masterful lettering, this art team runs rampant on the panels while elevating Cates’ words. You find yourself sharing in the characters’ pain and emotion. You cry with them, you cheer with them, and you yearn for their victory. King in Black #3 is a perfect example of how a comic can and should pull you in and make the reader a part of the story.
In keeping this review spoiler-free, I want to make sure to stay vague but also, I want to make sure this review highlights how good this issue really is. Huge battles, big reveals, this book oozes the passion of its creators. It should come as no surprise when you see the names Cates, Stegman, Mayer, Martin, and Cowles you know you are in for one hell of a good time.
Final Thoughts
What can we say about this issue without spoilers? Well, we do know that King in Black is masterfully crafted and continues to carve out a spot at the table of Marvel masterpieces, that much we do know for sure.
KING IN BLACK #3: Morbid Pieces of Reality
- Writing - 9/109/10
- Storyline - 9/109/10
- Art - 9/109/10
- Color - 9/109/10
- Cover Art - 9/109/10
