The Shadow Knight: Curse of the Ebony Sword is a gripping fantasy novel written by renowned author Thomas Blackwood. Set in a vast and mystical land, this book takes readers on an epic journey of adventure, courage, and unimaginable power. The story revolves around a young and ambitious knight named Lysander who, fueled by his desire for glory, sets out on a mission to retrieve the legendary Ebony Sword, a weapon said to possess immense power. Little does Lysander know that this quest will curse him with a darkness he never anticipated. One of the central themes of the novel is the corrupting nature of power. As Lysander wields the Ebony Sword, he becomes consumed by its dark magic, slowly losing his sense of self and succumbing to the evil forces that surround him.
• A trail leading ELSA BLOODSTONE straight to Dane's door!
To fight the good fight, just to be ridiculed, die and be ressurected is familiar and a dreaded possibility of what lies at the punctuation mark of my own destiny. They ve done excellent work before I love what they do on Miles Morales Spider-Man but here it feels like the words are fighting the panel structure.
As Lysander wields the Ebony Sword, he becomes consumed by its dark magic, slowly losing his sense of self and succumbing to the evil forces that surround him. Through this curse, Blackwood explores the consequences of seeking power at any cost and the toll it takes on one's soul. Amidst Lysander's struggle to break free from the curse, he encounters a diverse cast of characters that both aid and hinder his progress.
REVIEW: Black Knight - Curse of the Ebony Blade #1
By Jacob Cordas — As I sit down to review Black Knight - Curse of the Ebony Blade #1, I’m thinking maybe it’s expectations that kill us. Whenever I review something, I try to remove my expectations from a project. Hell, I try to do this for everything I read, but it's often nigh-impossible to remove all the biases you build up on a day to day basis. And I had a lot of biases going into this work.
I love Si Spurrier’s writing, especially his recent run on John Constantine: Hellblazer. I love Sergio Davila’s artwork, especially his recently-concluded run on The Terrifics. I love Sean Parsons’s inking, especially on one of my all-time favorite comics, Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles. Hell, I loved the recent King In Black: Black Knight one-shot. So while I took a deep breath, tried to clear my head, and take this issue on its own terms, I had so many expectations going into Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade #1, and I think that’s what killed my experience.
The writing is uniformly strong but wordy in a way that reminds me of Black Knight’s late Silver/early Bronze age Avengers stories. Pages are covered in dialogue and thought balloons. The cast is massive, intentionally embracing this legacy further with the Avengers appearing in this story. The book nails most of their voices (with the notable exception of Thor) in the small interactions they have with our hero. But the dialogue mostly returns to the Black Knight’s depressive monologue at a computer that has no personality other than patience. It’s tragicomedy that works, mostly.
View fullsizeThe sheer amount of words on every page quickly clutters it. VC’s Cory Petit does their best with it but seems to struggle under the weight of it. But then again, I don’t know if I can even hold them accountable when it is this wordy. They’ve done excellent work before (I love what they do on Miles Morales: Spider-Man) but here it feels like the words are fighting the panel structure.
The art team takes the book and tries to mesh the modernized take on the character with a modernized art sensibilities. The pages have panels at every sort of angle crafting momentum and energy well. In theory this should carry you through the comic, pushing you at an increasingly accelerating rate. Art like what’s here is built to make you flip through unable to stop reading. It’s modern high energy art.
The problem is the script is not done in the style of modern script. It created this sense of dissonance as I read it making me feel like I was always reading both too slowly and too quickly. I could never quite tell the pace or mood any one sequence was going for.
View fullsizeAnd you add on top of that the required lettering to get all those words out there and the momentum on some pages would stall or be awkwardly diverted.
But each part on its own is good. If I just read the script, I would love it (except its depiction of Thor). I looked up images of the pages inked and I know I loved those that I saw. Even the lettering is very good on its own. But it all came together to make something that just doesn’t jive for me.
And I think that’s where my expectations come in. I think a lot of these feelings might be my fault. I went in expecting something different from what I got, something closer to the one-shot they just released. That’s not what this is. This is something different, an outgrowth of that. I will give the next issue another shot. Hopefully I’ll appreciate it more.
Overall: While Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade #1 doesn’t win me over in its first issue, I’m still willing to keep going with it - in the hopes it can. 6.5/10
View fullsizeREVIEW: Black Knight - Curse of the Ebony Blade #1
Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade #1
Writer: Si Spurrier
Artist: Sergio Davila
Inker: Sean Parsons
Colorist: Arif Prianto
Letterer: VC's Cory Petit
Publisher: Marvel
Price: $3.99
THE GREATEST KNIGHT OF THEM ALL RIDES AGAIN!
Dane Whitman is the BLACK KNIGHT and wielder of the magical EBONY BLADE, but the blade’s power comes at a terrible price. Dane forever bears the burden of its curse: an insatiable lust for blood and mayhem that constantly threatens to swallow its owner in darkness. Must that be Dane’s fate?
Following the battle against the KING IN BLACK, a reinvigorated Dane has a greater sense of purpose than ever before. But his sword is the key to a new enemy’s evil plan and only the Black Knight can prevent the coming death and destruction. This conflict spanning mythical Camelot to modern-day NYC will test Dane like never before and challenge everything he believes about himself, the Ebony Blade, and the entire history of the Black Knight! Guest starring the AVENGERS!
Release Date: March 17, 2021
Read It Digitally: Black Knight - Curse of the Ebony Blade #1 via comiXology
My name is Jacob Cordas (@jacweasel) and I am starting to think I may in fact be qualified to write this.
Other Characters:
From wise wizards to treacherous allies, each character adds depth and complexity to the narrative, immersing readers in the fantastical world created by Blackwood. Another prominent aspect of the book is the vivid and detailed world-building. Blackwood paints a rich tapestry of landscapes, from sprawling forests to towering castles, that transports readers into the heart of the story. The ambiance of the setting serves to intensify the stakes of Lysander's journey and captivate the reader's imagination. Overall, The Shadow Knight: Curse of the Ebony Sword is a thrilling and thought-provoking novel that delves into the consequences of power, redemption, and the battle between light and darkness. Thomas Blackwood skillfully weaves these elements together, creating a page-turning narrative that will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment in this captivating series..
Reviews for "Through the Shadows: The Journey of the Shadow Knight Curse of the Ebony Sword"
1. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Shadow Knight: Curse of the Ebony Sword." The plot felt incredibly cliché and predictable, with no surprises whatsoever. The characters were also very one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult for me to connect with any of them. Additionally, the writing style was lackluster and didn't engage me as a reader. Overall, I found this book to be quite boring and I struggled to finish it.
2. Mark - 1/5 stars - If you're looking for a book with an original storyline and well-developed characters, "Shadow Knight: Curse of the Ebony Sword" is not for you. I found the plot to be incredibly generic and filled with tropes that have been done to death. The characters were forgettable, with no real growth or complexity throughout the story. Furthermore, the writing lacked depth and failed to create any sort of emotional connection. I would not recommend wasting your time on this book.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "Shadow Knight: Curse of the Ebony Sword," but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The pacing was inconsistent, with moments of intense action followed by long stretches of dullness. I also found the world-building to be poorly executed, lacking the necessary detail to make it believable. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult for me to immerse myself in the story. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied with this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.
4. Michael - 1/5 stars - "Shadow Knight: Curse of the Ebony Sword" was a complete letdown for me. The writing style was dull and lacked any sort of flair or originality. The characters were so bland and uninteresting that I struggled to care about their fates. The plot was incredibly predictable, leaving no room for surprises or twists. Additionally, the action scenes were poorly described, making it difficult to visualize what was happening. Overall, this book was a major disappointment and I would not recommend it to anyone.