MARVEL KNIGHTS: THE WORLD TO COME #1 – DEATH AFTER LIFE

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.

The return has got the bullpen talking! Temaing up for this review is Megan (Vigilante Vibes/N.I. Bullpen) and Yours Truly (Ken – NI Editor-in-Chief). Let’s see if the issue lives up to the hype!

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

LET’S TALK STORY!

Megan: In Marvel Knight: The World to Come #1, the tone is set immediately with the death of the king, T’Challa. With the falling of their king, the Dora Milaje are sent to relay the news but are met with a refusal to believe that T’Challa has passed. Accompanying that refusal is many looks into the past life of King T’Challa and what made him into the King he was before he died.

With stories such as the explanation of the tribal challenge for the throne, and the lead up to T’Challa having an heir, we see the important milestones of his life. While T’Challa wasn’t one to consistently make good decisions, all of his decisions were necessary to take us to where we are now. Christopher Priest makes each story told as powerful as the last, creating a hard-hitting story wrapped in depth of the history of the character.

Ken: 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.

HOW ABOUT ART AND LETTERING?

Megan: The artists of Marvel Knights: The World to Come #1 brought back the mature and darker energy from the usual comics that we all loved from the Marvel Knights from so many years ago. Each page shows so much attention paid to the detail of each panel, you have trouble looking away. The comic starts with a visibly aged T’Challa seconds away from his death, which the artists nailed illustrating. The scene was powerful, and that energy continues throughout the comic, with each panel having its own brand of depth.

Ken: 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: 9.6/10

Megan: 9.7. Each word, each panel, each picture, was relayed to the reader with authority. There was so much confidence in the art, so rightfully so. The artists truly took us back to when Marvel Knights first came out, and took us even farther forward with this story.

Ken: 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 us know your thoughts on Marvel Knights: The World To Come #1 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!