Marvel Knights (USA) di Donny Cates e altri.

[db]

riconosco daredevil:yellow, marvel Boy, Fantastic Four 1234, Ghost Rider e Punisher (evvabbhè), Hulk:Banner(presumo o il periodo di Jones), ma
la faretra di Occhio di falco in mano a Hulk quale serie/miniserie marvel knights cita?

[Azrael]

Marvel Knights: 20th #2
Written by Matthew Rosenberg
Art by Niko Henrichon
Lettering by Cory Petit
Published by Marvel Comics
Review by Joey Edsall
'Rama Rating: 9 out of 10

You know what's the best? The feeling of relief that you only need to wait two weeks for the next installment of a story in which you are currently enthralled. In a lot of ways, Marvel Knights: 20th has felt like a sort of amalgamation of stories like Rebirth and House of M with its mystery-driven core and world-changing plots. Within two issues, series writers Donny Cates and Matthew Rosenberg have done enough to distance their premise from the stories that came before, and with Marvel Knights: 20th #2, it's hard to accept the already short wait for the next book. All of this is assisted by the fact that it is one of the most visually stunning books on shelves right now.

The comic opens with Matt Murdock talking to the ghost of Karen Page about what has transpired. The heroes of the world have forgotten who they are, and the people of the world have forgotten about them. The harsh edges of the buildings and windows that they view from the rooftop is enough to make the world of the comic feel unsettling in its own right. It's clear, even visually, that something is wrong here. The comic then rewinds by four days, to Bruce Banner walking into a police station to speak with Frank Castle. The interrogation scene that follows is pretty much just the mechanism to get Castle and Banner teamed up for the remainder of the series, but its handled with such character-rich dialogue that it's hard to not feel completely immersed in the scene. It reads like it has more importance because of how well constructed the dialogue is, as well as how perfectly matched it is with Niko Henrichon's art. This ultimately leads to Castle's confrontation of Elektra, and Murdock, now in full Daredevil garb, intervening. And with that, our team is assembled.

It's strange that an issue that acts as part two to the exposition of the series debut feels like it has as much weight as it does. Marvel Knights: 20th #1 set the stage. Marvel Knights: 20th #2 sets the cast. Both have been handled masterfully enough by Cates and Rosenberg respectively that it's hard not to find this series to be one of the most exciting things currently in Marvel's lineup, and with the variety of talent behind it, it's not hard to see why. This is strong serialized storytelling that is benefitting from its serial nature.

As strong as Rosenberg's storytelling is in this issue, it isn't without its minor blemishes. The most glaring of which is the execution of Chekhov's Hulk. With Bruce Banner introduced as a major player in the story in the previous issue, the transformation into the Hulk was always inevitable. It comes to pass this issue as Banner is transformed in the back of a Castle's police car, but barring a single throwaway line isn't explored or utilized at all. There being a Hulk in the car is a secondary cliffhanger to the one that the issue clearly lands on, which is that Frank and Elektra can both see the ghost of Karen Page. Focusing on that or the somewhat clunky interactions mid-fight between Frank and Elektra are not to take away from an overtly strong comic, and by the time the issue reaches its conclusion its acquired more than enough narrative momentum to make up for it.

Rosenberg's script won't be the first thing readers notice when they open this issue. Marvel Knights: 20th #2 is an exceptionally beautiful book. Niko Henrichon's art brings with it two undeniable strengths. The first of which is tone. This is a thoroughly and palpably moody comic book. The noir aesthetic allows Henrichon to keep scenes that are grounded in realism while giving everything a stylized enough edge that the existential mystery of the whole thing feels larger and more unsettling. Henrichon's second strength is in creating memorable panels. Whether it's Castle's interrogation of Banner, Murdock reaching out to the ghost of Karen, or Elektra showing Castle her scars, there are a number of dramatic panels that strengthen Rosenberg's story.

If you missed the first installment this series, Marvel Knights: 20th #2 is a surprisingly good jumping-on point, and the air of mystery it keeps afloat is more than enough to hook the new and retain the faithful. It's going to be hard to see different art and writers as the series progresses, but the strength of the two teams it has had so far and the ease in which these past two books have flowed, that apprehension is quelled. This is not a jigsaw. Everything feels cohesive. Here's to hoping the next two weeks fly by.