Marvel Knights 20th #2
Cody White
Recap
Thanks to the sudden appearance by the ghost of Karen Page (whom the others can also see; no explanation as of yet), Matt Murdock begins to get a handle on the life he once had-- a life that has been erased from the minds of the world, along with seemingly all knowledge of costumed individuals, super or otherwise, hero or villain.
After a brief interlude showing Banner's recruitment of Castle to work towards solving the mystery of the forgotten lives, Castle and Banner move on to the next name on their list: Elektra Natchios. Elektra, unsurprisingly, resists recruitment, given that whatever her forgotten life was, her scars tell her it may be best forgotten. Things change, however, when Murdock arrives on the scene, larger than life and in full costume.
Review
For a six-issue mini-series, it seems like the central narrative is progressing a little on the slow side, but taking the extreme nostalgia factor in conjunction with exceptional writing, and its a slow ride worth taking. The route is scenic and full of historic landmarks, such as Banner’s notes and Karen’s ghost, and while Henrichron is a sudden and sharp contrast to the previous issue (from Travel Foreman), there is something gritty about this art style that seems to fit better with a Marvel Knights series.
One of the most striking things happening in this series thus far is how, in a sense captured by Elektra in the above page, all of the forgotten heroes seem just a little better off being forgotten. Castle has his family, and while he is still haunted by visions of their loss and his mission, he seems in a better place. Maybe its not the place fans want him, but is that not because we are selfish? Likewise, we’ve seen Foggy and Jen Walters with a successful law practice, Elektra simply teaching self-defense, and Banner… well… Banner’s troubles remain, although even he seems more restrained. I look forward to seeing how Cates and Rosenberg deal with the motivations of these all-too-human characters as they attempt to reverse whatever has happened and discover the source behind the mass amnesia.
Final Thoughts
A well-crafted story that reads like a love letter to the storied history of Marvel Knights.
Marvel Knights 20th #2: Do You Remember?
- Writing - 9/109/10
- Storyline - 8/108/10
- Art - 8/108/10
- Color - 9/109/10
- Cover Art - 10/1010/10
