Queen In Black: Defenders of Light and Dark #2 – Chaos Is A Dance

Queen In Black: Defenders of Light and Dark #2 brings us back to the two-fronted battle against both Hela and Knull. Two teams have been developed to attack both the Queen in Black and the God of Light. As the battle rages, surprises have come calling. Plan B is looking better and better. Can it turn a battle around before Team Light and Team Dark fall?

This review is brought to you by Nerd Initiative’s Eda and Shawn!

Creative Team

Writer: Al Ewing and Tom Waltz
Artist: Zé Carlos
Color Artist: Fer Sifuentes-Sujo
Letterer: Joe Carmagna
Cover Artist: Matteo Lolli
Cover Color Artist: Rain Beredo

Writing

Eda: In this latest issue of Queen in Black: Defenders of Light and Dark, writers Al Ewing and Tom Waltz show both immense love and appreciation for the history and breadth of Marvel. They reach deep, bringing together several unjustly lesser used characters while giving two of my faves… well, you’ll see, as my lips are sealed! Long story short, longtime comic readers will be more than happy with this issue, while wondering why previous writers haven’t done some of these things already.

As for the story and pacing, I’m loving where this event is continuing to go and how all of the stories seem to be getting tied together. If you read last week’s “Mortal Thor”, then this is where you want to bring your attention next. While the connection is small, it’s still there, proving that they’re willing to show great attention to detail throughout the event.

Shawn: Al Ewing and Tom Waltz crafted a story both new and old. The ability to use this story of light and dark to tap into the lore of Cloak and Dagger in such a meaningful way was a surprise. Everything about this issue was perfect. I was on the edge of my chair during the end of the last issue, and Ewing and Waltz combined to make that cliffhanger pay off in such a meaningful way. Not only was the issue satisfying narratively, but the pacing was really well done.

From a pacing perspective, it was nice that some time was dedicated to showing how these teams were assembled. It’s a reminder that while this may be a ragtag band of defenders protecting Earth, each was chosen for a specific reason. Ewing and Waltz also used Queen In Black: Defenders of Light and Dark #2 to humanize some of the characters. For some, they came into the team with doubts, while others were immediately sold on joining. It serves as a good reminder from the writers that characters, even ones like Cloak and Dagger who are often underused, can be so multifaceted.

Art

Eda: Zé Carlos, Fer Sifuentes-Sujo & Joe Caramagna all absolutely killed it. Several pages are done in such a way that take a certain degree of artistic skill. One example in particular is a page showing Cloak & Dagger floating together, hand-in-hand in the cosmos. When I first looked at it, I swear I could see galaxies beyond and that’s an absolute chefs kiss.

The artwork is perfected by the colors of Sifuentes-Sujo. The way he colors, it’s as if everything is in a chaotic balance, swirls of beauty gracing every panel. This all works in perfect harmony with Caramagna’s lettering, creating a book that’s enticing to look at and easy to follow.

Shawn: Zé Carlos, Fer Sifuentes-Sujo & Joe Caramagna really brought their A game for this issue. From the cover by Matteo Lolli and Rain Beredo to the final page, the art shone in this issue. Carlos’s lines, particularly in the close-ups of Tandy and Ty deserve special mention. While the writing shows you they will be front and center in this issue, it’s the line work from Carlos that draws you into the story.

Part of the big reveals that happen in this issue pop the way they do because of the work of Fer Sifuentes-Sujo. The palettes utilized from panel to panel perfectly encapsulate this split team of light and dark. Sifuentes-Sujo’s highlights add nuance and definition to the Knullbuster armor from Iron Man and other key details. Joe Caramagna helps the story flow easily as we jump back and forth between teams.

Final Thoughts

Eda: 10/10. Queen in Black: Defenders of Light and Dark is exactly what it sounds like: a light in the darkness. Ewing and Waltz did something here that I hope changes things for years to come, while the artists created some of the best stuff I’ve seen this year. This is an absolutely incredible read from start to finish

Shawn: 10/10. Queen In Black: Defenders of Light and Dark #2 may be my pick of the week this week. There is so much potential in the character of Cloak and Dagger, and this creative team shows that a series centered on them not only works but can be impactful and trajectory-altering. This is the kind of arc that can change how readers view characters in the best way.

Overall Grade: 10/10

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