A legacy renewed. A future uncertain.
Back in 1998, Marvel Comics pushed a bold new initiative onto readers. Led by Joe Quesada and Jimmy Palmiotti,"Marvel Knights" took certain Marvel characters into the realm of mature readers content. The harder edge takes were a massive hit with readers.
Bringing Kevin Smith in (w/ Quesada & Palmiotti) for "Daredevil" brought many new eyes onto the imprint. Soon after, Punisher and The Inhumans joined the ranks. The original group was rounded out by a phenomenal take on Black Panther by Christopher Priest and Mark Texeria.
Fans gravitated for the fresh takes and one creator was given the keys to the house of ideas. Quesada was named Marvel Comics Editor-In-Chief in 2000.
Fast forward to present day and the Knights legacy still resonates with fans. Priest's run heavily influenced the MCU "Black Panther" films. The Inhumans success pushed them towards an MCU project. Punisher's MK run led to Garth Ennis taking the reins with Frank Castle's world. Daredevil's huge wins lead Matt Murdock into a comic renaissance.
It comes as no surprise when Marvel announced that Quesada and Priest were returning to the imprint, fans were elated. Now it's time to see where they take the King of Wakanda in an all new adventure.
Marvel Knights: The World To Come #1 by Christopher Priest, Joe Quesada, Richard Isanove, Richard Starkings and Tyler Smith brings back the legendary imprint in a huge manner.
Let's see if the issue lives up to the hype!
Marvel Knights: The World To Come #1 by Christopher Priest, Joe Quesada, Richard Isanove, Richard Starkings and Tyler Smith (Marvel Comics)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
When you see Priest's name in the credits, you KNOW its gonna be a fantastic story. T'Challa passing away in the opening pages throws down a huge gauntlet. The fallout is immense. Readers watch as the Dora Milaje make their presence felt. A simple return mission spirals into a deeper glimpse of the fallen King. Priest walks a fine line with time jumps. As readers backtrack on key times, the sense of greater impact never escapes the pages.
Dabbling into his romance with Storm, T'Challa's reflection of its end packs a heavy punch. The dialogue here guides the King on an unlikely yet needed path. The rules of royalty take greater shape in these pages. Some may question the takes but Priest's set-up nails each point. Readers also see a side of T'Challa that pushes this story. The writing highlights his flawed character. There are multiple examples of his perfect imperfections. None might be greater than the closing act. During these pages, tough choices are needed. The results lead into a monster cliffhanger that is sure to raise some questions. Get settled in for what shall be a saga of epic proportions.
With the art in the hands of a skilled storyteller, expectations were high. There was no letdown once events took off. The opening image of a dying T'Challa strikes an early chord. This moves events along to the Dora Milaje. Readers see their entrance come off as imposing. It sets the stage for discovering a lost friend of Wakanda. His broken mannerisms tell quite the story. It leaves readers in charge if he is delusional or defiant in the face of authority.
There's plenty of action sprinkled throughout this issue. Right from the full page start to the closing pages, the art rarely lets up. A full page image of T'Challa and Storm steals the scene as a transition begins. The panels fill with emotion as the king feels the weight of events. This carries over to another unlikely chapter in his life. Readers see how the full picture comes into view. The ending takes the intensity up a few levels. It doesn't prepare readers for the final image. A full page send-off brings the house down as the story is ready to explode. Phenomenal work as to be expected here.
OVERALL GRADE: 9.5
The King is Dead. Long Live the Legacy. Priest's writing builds up the complex duties of a fractured King. Quesada's art takes the emotions to greater heights. Combining these elements proves for a winning combination. If readers need to know why Marvel Knights was so impactful, they only need this issue for a small glimpse. This delivers on high levels of storytelling few others reach.
Let me know your thoughts on Marvel Knights: The World To Come #1 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!