Justice never rests … it is only delayed.
Creative Staff:
Writer: Terry Kavanagh
Artwork: Sergio Ariño
Colors: Robby Bevard
Letters: Saida Temofonte
What They Say:
The Black Knight finally battles Sirin who uses her unrevealed powers while trying to save an entire Russian mob family from annihilation. Nadia’s true identity is exposed and it’s worse than anyone could have imagined.
Content (please note that portions of review may contain spoilers):
As District Attorney Sinclair examines the massacre at the nightclub and receives no clear answers from the Grigor’s representative, there is one gruesome discovery which cannot be denied … the war between the two families has escalated. And yet as they sift through the grisly evidence, the medical examiner still cannot explain the presence of more blood within the remains, almost as if they were partially drained of their bodily fluids. However as her rival contemplates this dilemma, Peyton, Brin and Nik are themselves within their own quandary as what to do next now that they are wanted by both the police and Nadia, and not knowing who they can trust. Even as her red headed assistant wants to the know the truth behind the Black Knight, Parks cannot decide if she can delay the suspicions, even as Brin implies she suspects the truth. Out of frustration Peyton leaves the safety of their hideaway to clear her head, all while realizing she cannot delay revealing what her friend knows, no matter how much she wishes to hide it.
Once Sirin returns to report her success in eliminating more Grigors and a sample of her bloody victory, it is only now does Nadia reveal the ghastly reality of their crusade and who they truly serve. While this reaper still cannot fully comprehend the depth of this perversion, she does nothing to question her loyalty to her leader and the cause which she fully intends to complete, no matter how much more blood must be split. But as these vile villains prepare for their next attack, Peyton returns with an unexpected visitor to safeguard their own security – the nosy reporter Dina Fountaine. By this councilor’s logic if she shares all of the secrets behind the breakout from Riker’s and everything Nik knows, including a list of corrupt judges and cops, the Vasilievs will have no choice than to leave them alone. But before they can celebrate this victory, the former hit man and Brin declare they have finally figured out what Nadia has been planning … but they need the Black Knight to stop this end game in its tracks.
In Summary:
As we begin the final descent into the reality behind this bravta war, I cannot but think writer Terry Kavanagh is still unsure as to how to categorize this title, with the series first unfolding like an episode of Law & Order and now with the truth behind Nadia’s crusade revealed, it is slowly is creeping its way toward Supernatural. Although I can appreciate a need to mix these disparate genres and add a touch of melodrama in order to create a plausible story, at the same time this odd concoction seems to be stretching itself too thin to encompass just one possibility and thus displays itself as lopsided. While I can understand Kavanagh’s desire to connect the Black Knight’s mystical background into a modern context, but by doing so he is trying too hard to balance Peyton between two worlds, which makes for awkward moments in believing this is the same title; she can be either a lawyer or an enforcer to carry out what Parks thinks is the right choice, however at times it appears she is unsure which alter ego is the correct one without stepping over the line. Then we have the identity crisis issue – how can she not trust Brin with this secret when it appears almost everyone close to her knows the truth just by connecting the dots? For someone who is supposed to be a defender of truth, this public defender is having a hard time accepting it: the Black Knight is a warrior created from a magical book by a wizard, she can summon invincible armor and an ebony horse at will and there is a warped murderer killing people in New York City with her bare hands, taking blood and using shadows. What more is there to believe than what is before her eyes … or is Peyton just unwilling to accept it without seeing facts being chiselled into the Code of Hammurabi?
Even when following such a skewed narrative, you cannot deny this issue is a pleasure to visually absorb, and this is all in thanks to the excellence of Sergio Ariño’s spirited illustrations and the wonderfully captivating palette of Robby Bevard. From the start while the opening is difficult to enjoy due to the gaudy ambiance from the nightclub, it is only after this painful sight are we imbued with such engaging depictions of the human face, allowing the reader to be fascinated by so many nuances that every emotion is clearly communicated – unfolding the melodrama effortlessly. The pale softness of skin tones, elegance of convincing shadows and panels which focus on the strain seen in the eyes, they all combine with powerful body language and alluring curves to create moving scenes. And yet these monumental techniques are not concentrated only in those moments, they allow the audience to create an emotional synergy with the characters, feeling their strain when things are beyond their power and enveloping the audience within the excitement of spectacular action and harrowing climaxes which lead to a memorable cliffhanger.
As we near the end of The Black Knight, you cannot but wonder where this series is headed when the build up has been so scattered as to not allow for a complete picture of the story. Although the artwork has been a joy to watch, the narrative holds back any fulfilling meaning for the characters, enveloping them within countless action scenes in order to cover up a need for the audience to care what happens next. Leaping from each slaughter may seem like a plausible method to connect the issues, but underneath it lacks any solid foundation to create a narrative which allows Peyton to understand herself and the Black Knight.
Grade: B+
Age Rating: T (for Teens)
Released By: Zenescope
Release Date: January 30, 2019
MSRP: $3.99
