Review: Black Bolt #9

Â Â Â Have you ever had to deliver bad news to someone? It is often hard and unpleasant, but it“s a part of life. Black Bolt and Blinky are leftÂ with the task of confronting Titania and telling her sad news about her husband, the Absorbing Man. Carl Creel died honorably saving lives in space. Once Titania discovers the news, the tissues break out.

Â Â Â Â This story tugs at the heartstrings. This issue really impressed me. Even though I hadn“t read the first arc of the book I felt connected to the story. Even though I wasn“t there when the Absorbing Man died I felt sad for his loved ones. The author does a masterful job of driving emotion in his readers. He makes you care for a supervillain, and her lost husband, a good bad-guy if you will. You know you“re witnessing good writing when you are moved by the death of a fictional supervillain. Ahmed gives so many more dimensions to this story than perhaps other writers could. I would keep a close eye on Saladin Ahmed“s comic career if I were you.

I thought the art was ok. Not awesome, and it sometimes looked awkward, but not horrible. I still like the way the artist draws Black Bolt. I felt like I was supposed to dislike this, but I actually was pleased with how Captain America was drawn. Something was telling me I shouldn“t like it, but I did anyway. I don“t have any major problems with the art, but I feel like it could be more consistent. The style is an undefined kind of a loose drawing. This can work, and there are parts where it does.Â

There were a couple of problems with the story, even though I liked it overall. I felt like Cap and Thor being at the funeral felt a little forced. It seemed kind of awkward and weird, having them there as Creel“s foes. And I want to know how Thor knew about Creel“s final stand? I also thought there were parts that should’ve been taken out, and others added. It had a focus on the loss of Carl so when it drifted from that focus you almost felt like it was out of place.

Honestly, the issues I had with this story are all very minor, and not a big deal to me at all. There“s a lot more here to love then there is to hate. Overall I just couldn“t get past the emotion that was stirred inside me over the death of a fictional character of whom I have not often read about. The death of any character can be a powerful tool to a writer if he knows how to use it. Saladin Ahmed is a powerful writer and thus is able to properly use powerful tools.

To wrap up, I really like the writing displayed in Black Bolt. I never expected a Black Bolt series to actually work, but boyÂ I’m glad to be wrong. It was a bold move by Marvel, but fortunately, they put him in good hands with Saladin Ahmed. Well done Marvel.

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

(W) Saladin Ahmed (A/CA) Christian Ward