REVIEW: ‘Knull’ Issue 1

Knull Issue 1 is published by Marvel Comics. Written by Al Ewing and Tom Waltz, art by Juanan Ramírez, colors by Erick Arciniega, and letters by Clayton Cowles.

The God of Symbiotes is weak and captured, but that doesn’t mean he’s helpless.

Knull Issue 1 is a trap waiting to be sprung. Once the mighty God of Symbiotes, Knull has existed since the dawn of the universe. He was the antagonist in the King in Black event, and his introduction rewrote a huge segment of the fabric of the Marvel Universe. But now he’s stuck in a cage like a depressed budgie. There’s a great summary of his origin and how he has ended up in the clutches of Hela, the goddess of death.

There’s a slow pacing at first in Knull Issue 1, as the titular character is taunted by Hela and his jailers. But there is a feeling that he’s just biding his time throughout despite what he endures. It’s not a matter of being calm, as he’s prodded and tortured. But there’s always the knowledge that he’s just plotting his escape. So it’s not a surprise when he does. What is unexpected is just how violent it is. The revenge is ruthlessly brutal, depicted with a steady pace. The comic is set at the very edge of the universe, where the return is at risk.

Knull is an intriguing protagonist to place at the centre of his own story. When we last saw him, he was extremely powerful. When Knull Issue 1 opens, he’s weak and at his lowest. Hela keeps zapping his energy, making him even weaker. The series sees him slowly start to rebuild, retaining his might one step at a time. It’s fascinating to have a character so devoid of a soul be the hero of the story, as Knull is truly evil.

How the former King in Black talks is amazing. There’s a delight in his discussion of atrocities and in his heinous acts. The scary part is that Knull means what he says, and he will do the things he’s describing. Hela is a fantastic counterpoint to him. For such an immense ancient being, Hela is one of the only beings that can match his age and celestial might. Her dialogue matches Knull’s in terms of the pride and arrogance laced throughout it. It’s entertaining seeing the guards be so mocking towards Knull. They’re so belittling and cruel, confident outside of his enclosures. Which changes when he is outside.

The art is terrific. Knull has a gothic design that Ramírez recreates beautifully. He’s like a very old vampire, with long hair, evil eyes, and a sinister grin. Hela and her lackeys fit that concept, too. Hela looks incredible, with that spindly, spiky iconic headdress. If her henchmen didn’t work for the Queen of Hel, it would be understandable if they worked for Knull instead. Their armor is a swirling, writhing black mass that could be mistaken for a Symbiote’s skin.

Knull’s cage can make him appear shorter, making it easy to underestimate how big he is. So when he stands, towering over the guards, he looks immense. Then the bloodbath begins. It’s a ferocious sequence of events, as Knull tears through the bodies with terrifying ease. There’s immense creativity regarding the dismemberment, too. Knull pulls apart the guards in ways that would make Mortal Kombat fighters pale.

The colors are fantastic, with two major shades seeing Knull and Hela aside. Knull is coated in black and red, both as color and as the blood he later spills. Meanwhile, Hela’s magic creates a green energy that contrasts well with Knull. The black across the comic is incredibly thick and deep, making it a slow object that Knull could potentially use. The lettering has custom word balloons and fonts for both prominent figures, which can be challenging to read.

Knull Issue 1 resets a character who was once at an indescribable scale. Ewing and Waltz drags a celestial figure and puts him in a bird cage. But it doesn’t dampen Knull’s fear factor. He’s still scary and insidious. The poking of the bear is entertaining because you know that at some point, the bear is gonna lash out. As a new cosmic Marvel concept, there’s still a lot to explore with the character.

Knull Issue 1 is available where comics are sold.