The Black Knight is a fictional character from Marvel Comics, known for his cursed weapon, the Ebony Blade. The character has had several iterations throughout the years, but the curse of the Ebony Blade has remained a constant theme. The Ebony Blade is a powerful weapon made of enchanted ebony, capable of cutting through nearly anything. However, it comes with a great curse. The curse dates back centuries and has been passed down to various wielders of the blade. The curse has several aspects that affect the wielder.
The increasing waves of visions begin to drag Dane down in some sort of emotional tsunami. It’s not clear how the visions are harming him, but he acts like they’re overwhelming him. As the visions pour in, Mordred either knows what Dane is seeing or he remembers because he lived through it, and he narrates the visons with his own spin.
With Dane fatally wounded, Elsa gone, and Jacks standing around ineffectually, Mordred takes all the Ebony Artifacts he needs and casts them into a forge. The final issue of the series is reminiscent of the first, with the majority of the plot interwoven with Dane s confessions to this anonymous app on his phone, but the final issue s confessions mean something.
The curse has several aspects that affect the wielder. One aspect is a psychological one. The wielder of the Ebony Blade is plagued by dark thoughts and desires, often leading to violent tendencies.
‘Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade’ manages to make the title character compelling
Even if you come in thinking Black Knight is a loser, you’ll come out convinced to buy the next volume.
November 3, 2021
I’m a huge Avengers fan — especially the ’70s and ’80s Avengers, before John Byrne took over. I have a fondness for almost every Avengers team of that era, and I hold a lot of love and feelings towards nearly every member of those Avengers teams. This is important context because the reason I said “nearly” is because of a handful of members: Dr. Druid, Starfox, and Black Knight. The first two on that list aren’t relevant here; they’re just characters that were very frustrating to read at the time and have no business being called heroes. Black Knight, on the other hand, is a more unique case.
See, for a while, Black Knight was a good idea. Dane Whitman is a guy with a magical sword that begs him to murder people, but Dane wants to be a hero and not murder anyone. If his blade sheds any blood, Dane is basically possessed by it, making his own means of being a hero his downfall. But this really cool concept never really translated to strong writing or interesting characterization. At one point, they got rid of the Ebony Blade altogether, giving him a lightsaber that made him super uncool. Let me repeat that: Black Knight managed to make a lightsaber boring. So you can understand why I’ve generally not been a fan.
Si Spurrier kicks off Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade reminding everyone that yeah, Black Knight’s a loser. But not just in the way where the audience doesn’t like him — he’s such a loser the Avengers audibly vent their frustration about having to deal with him when he’s working with them. They make it painfully clear that they only see him as someone to destroy magical enemies, and even then only when their first pick is busy. Reading this first issue of Black Knight was cathartic at first, seeing this character I found boring get dragged by the likes of Thor and Black Panther. But by the end, it was just sad. Dane Whitman was a sad man, venting to an app on his phone that refused to give him any real advice, who just wanted to be appreciated by the people he looked up to. And of course, that’s his downfall.
The plot of the book is pretty solid, even if the middle portions are a bit dull. There’s a subversion of Arthurian myth that feels very reminiscent of Kieron Gillen and Dan Mora’s Once and Future, there’s a POV character through whom we see this world of the Black Knight and his history through a new lens, and there’s an Elsa Bloodstone team-up that’s pretty fun if nothing special. Sergio D á vila’s artwork is good if a bit muddled in some of the flashback segments. But all of this is secondary to the highlight of the book: Dane Whitman’s acceptance of his history and legacy and the path he’s given to move forward.
The final issue of the series is reminiscent of the first, with the majority of the plot interwoven with Dane’s confessions to this anonymous app on his phone, but the final issue’s confessions mean something. They’re not the desperate pleas of a pathetic man desperate to have someone love him, they’re the final words of a man who’s made something he’s proud of. It’s beautiful and despite the story getting a bit muddled in the middle (as I mentioned earlier), it’s an incredibly earned moment. It makes the whole story worth it, even before the last five or so pages promise a direction for the future that’s incredibly intriguing.
Black Knight’s not a character who’ll move a lot of sales, and this run obviously exists so that Marvel has something to point to when the Eternals movie releases since he’s going to be played by Kit Harington there. And while this character is likely going to be completely different from whatever the MCU’s version is, Spurrier and D á vila have certainly managed to make him compelling in his own right, and they’ve convinced even a person who thinks Black Knight is a loser that a follow-up volume is a day one purchase.
‘Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade’ manages to make the title character compelling Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony BladeEven if you come in thinking Black Knight is a loser, you'll come out convinced to buy the next volume.
Elsa Bloodstone: Not to worry, I daresay I can find some fleshy bits to shoot off without killing him.
The blade feeds off the darkness within the wielder, fueling their aggression and making it difficult to resist its power. Another aspect of the curse is the physical toll it takes on the wielder. The more blood that is shed with the Ebony Blade, the more it drains the life force of the wielder. This can lead to exhaustion, weakness, and even death if the wielder goes too far. The curse also affects the wielder's relationships and sense of identity. Many who have taken up the Ebony Blade have found it difficult to maintain their connections with loved ones or the hero community. The blade's curse creates a perceived distance between the wielder and others, making it hard for them to trust or be trusted. Throughout the comic book series, the Black Knight has struggled with the curse of the Ebony Blade. Various storylines have explored the consequences of wielding such a powerful weapon and the constant battle against the curse's influence. The character has had moments of redemption and strength, but the curse always lingers in the background, a constant reminder of the Black Knight's struggle. In conclusion, the curse of the Ebony Blade is a central theme in the Black Knight's story. It is a complex and tragic element that adds depth to the character and creates ongoing tension and conflict. The curse serves as a constant reminder of the Black Knight's inner struggles and the challenges he must face in his heroic journey..
Reviews for "The Sinister Curse: Investigating the Malevolent Force Behind the Ebony Blade's Power"
- John - 2 stars -
I had high hopes for "Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade," especially with the promising concept of Arthurian mythology blended with modern-day storytelling. However, the execution left much to be desired. The plot felt convoluted and rushed, with not enough time given to properly develop the characters and their relationships. The dialogue was often clunky and lacked depth. While the artwork was impressive, it couldn't compensate for the weak storytelling. Overall, it was a disappointing read for me.
- Emily - 2.5 stars -
As a fan of medieval fantasy and Arthurian legends, I was excited to dive into "Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade." Unfortunately, the comic fell short of my expectations. The pacing seemed off, jumping between different story arcs without enough coherence. The character development was lacking, and I struggled to connect with any of them on a deeper level. Additionally, there were moments when the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. While the artwork had its moments, it wasn't enough to salvage the overall experience. I can't say I'd recommend it to others.
- Mike - 3 stars -
"Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade" had the potential to be an intriguing addition to the Marvel universe, but it ultimately failed to deliver. The story started off strong, but then became convoluted and hard to follow. The constant shift between different plotlines made it difficult to connect with any of the characters. Moreover, the use of Arthurian mythology felt forced and out of place in a modern setting. While the artwork was visually appealing, it couldn't fully redeem the flaws in the writing. Overall, it was a missed opportunity and left me feeling disappointed.