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Black Bolt
Black Bolt, Vol. 2: Home Free
Collects Black Bolt #7-12.
Black Bolt and his unlikely allies are finally free from their strange captivity, but their escape came at a high cost. Now, the Midnight King returns to Earth with a heavy heart and a new companion: a telepathic alien child with nowhere left to go. But the journey home is long and full of dangers — and a horde of space pirates is the least of them! And what awaits Black Bolt at his destination is judgment! In his absence, the Inhumans were rounded up and imprisoned — and someone must pay the price for the horrors they've endured. Will Black Bolt survive the wrath of his own people? Will Steve Rogers bear the brunt of Black Bolt's? What are the lethal Lash's plans for Inhumanity? And when the Jailer comes for him, who can save Black Bolt?
Black Bolt and his unlikely allies are finally free from their strange captivity, but their escape came at a high cost. Now, the Midnight King returns to Earth with a heavy heart and a new companion: a telepathic alien child with nowhere left to go. But the journey home is long and full of dangers — and a horde of space pirates is the least of them! And what awaits Black Bolt at his destination is judgment! In his absence, the Inhumans were rounded up and imprisoned — and someone must pay the price for the horrors they've endured. Will Black Bolt survive the wrath of his own people? Will Steve Rogers bear the brunt of Black Bolt's? What are the lethal Lash's plans for Inhumanity? And when the Jailer comes for him, who can save Black Bolt?
135 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 19, 2018
9 people are currently reading
272 people want to read
About the author
Saladin Ahmed
482 books1,770 followersSaladin Ahmed was born in Detroit and raised in a working-class, Arab American enclave in Dearborn, MI.
His short stories have been nominated for the Nebula and Campbell awards, and have appeared in Year's Best Fantasy and numerous other magazines, anthologies, and podcasts, as well as being translated into five foreign languages. He is represented by Jennifer Jackson of the Donald Maass Literary Agency. THRONE OF THE CRESCENT MOON is his first novel.
Saladin lives near Detroit with his wife and twin children.
His short stories have been nominated for the Nebula and Campbell awards, and have appeared in Year's Best Fantasy and numerous other magazines, anthologies, and podcasts, as well as being translated into five foreign languages. He is represented by Jennifer Jackson of the Donald Maass Literary Agency. THRONE OF THE CRESCENT MOON is his first novel.
Saladin lives near Detroit with his wife and twin children.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
October 7, 2020
The conclusion to Black Bolt: Hard Time is actually really good. And I'm saying this as someone who isn't at all a fan of the Inhumans or knows much about Black Bolt. But this gives you a nice recap of his backstory, so don't be afraid to jump in if you're completely ignorant, like I was.
So, this picks up right after he's escaped from the prison planet with Lockjaw and the little telepath child, Blinky. He's decided to take her back to Earth with him and visit Crusher's wife, Titania.
But has something followed them home?
Dun, dun dun...
Anyway. Lots of cameos, lots of odd twists to the plot, and I even found out he has a son!
What? I didn't know that? He sounds pretty cool and I'd love to read more about him. I did really like the love story stuff between him & Medusa. I guess I'll have to go back and find out what all happened between them that separated them to start with.
The watercolor art style really grew on me. Some of these pages are just so beautiful they're almost breathtaking. The colors! Wow. Just...wow.
This is another one of those gems that I never would have found with my Shallow friends here on Goodreads. <--thank you!
Give this one a peek if you get the chance.
Recommended!
So, this picks up right after he's escaped from the prison planet with Lockjaw and the little telepath child, Blinky. He's decided to take her back to Earth with him and visit Crusher's wife, Titania.
But has something followed them home?
Dun, dun dun...
Anyway. Lots of cameos, lots of odd twists to the plot, and I even found out he has a son!
What? I didn't know that? He sounds pretty cool and I'd love to read more about him. I did really like the love story stuff between him & Medusa. I guess I'll have to go back and find out what all happened between them that separated them to start with.
The watercolor art style really grew on me. Some of these pages are just so beautiful they're almost breathtaking. The colors! Wow. Just...wow.
This is another one of those gems that I never would have found with my Shallow friends here on Goodreads. <--thank you!
Give this one a peek if you get the chance.
Recommended!
June 28, 2018
Black Bolt and Blinky return to earth and go to tell Titania that her husband, the Absorbing Man, is dead. The funeral is interrupted and Blinky is snatched away. Can Black Bolt and Titania save her?
I liked Black Bolt, Vol. 1: Hard Time so this one was a no-brainer for me. Still, I didn't think he'd top the first half of this run. Top it, he did. This was easily the most emotional comic I've ever read.
After the events of the last book, Black Bolt and Lockjaw have taken a beating. Black Bolt's voice has left him. After overcoming some obstacles, Black Bolt and Blinky wind up back on earth and set out to settle things with Crusher Creel, the Absorbing Man's wife.
Creel's funeral was touching with appearances from Captain America, the Wrecking Crew, and others. Remember when I said this was an emotional book? I shed a fucking tear for the fucking Absorbing Man!
Anyway, Blinky gets abducted and Black Bolt and Titania go after here. The ensuing battle and exploration of Black Bolt's childhood left me worn out. FYI, another man-tear was shed after witnessing the horror of Black Bolt's upbringing.
The end of the series was as satisfying as I could ever have hoped. The team of Saladin Ahmed, Christian Ward, and Frazier Irving have created once of those books that only comes along every once in a while and showed what a kick-ass creative team can do with a b-list character when given the opportunity. Five out of five of the easiest stars I've ever awarded.
I liked Black Bolt, Vol. 1: Hard Time so this one was a no-brainer for me. Still, I didn't think he'd top the first half of this run. Top it, he did. This was easily the most emotional comic I've ever read.
After the events of the last book, Black Bolt and Lockjaw have taken a beating. Black Bolt's voice has left him. After overcoming some obstacles, Black Bolt and Blinky wind up back on earth and set out to settle things with Crusher Creel, the Absorbing Man's wife.
Creel's funeral was touching with appearances from Captain America, the Wrecking Crew, and others. Remember when I said this was an emotional book? I shed a fucking tear for the fucking Absorbing Man!
Anyway, Blinky gets abducted and Black Bolt and Titania go after here. The ensuing battle and exploration of Black Bolt's childhood left me worn out. FYI, another man-tear was shed after witnessing the horror of Black Bolt's upbringing.
The end of the series was as satisfying as I could ever have hoped. The team of Saladin Ahmed, Christian Ward, and Frazier Irving have created once of those books that only comes along every once in a while and showed what a kick-ass creative team can do with a b-list character when given the opportunity. Five out of five of the easiest stars I've ever awarded.
October 19, 2018
Black Bolt and Blinky return to Earth. When the book focuses on the core characters and their new found friendship, the book is great. Unfortunately, Lash enters into the book and delivers a lot of nonsense. Ahmed doesn't really have a handle on these guest characters, Lash, Captain America and Odinson all suffer from acting out of character while delivering cringe-worthy dialogue. The scenes with Medusa? Yikes! They are just bad. Also, where did Black Bolt get all of these additional powers?
He had so many other powers he didn't need his vocal powers. I'm glad Ahmed was able to nail the final scene, it made the book worth reading.
He had so many other powers he didn't need his vocal powers. I'm glad Ahmed was able to nail the final scene, it made the book worth reading.
October 17, 2018
Black Bolt travels back to Earth.
He seeks to set things right as much as he can.
Home Free and the entire Black Bolt series was pretty forgettable. Nothing of any real importance happens and it's all one big set up for Black Bolt to take a hard look at himself and to try to make things better. It just seemed unnecessary and only moderately entertaining.
2.5 out of 5 stars
He seeks to set things right as much as he can.
Home Free and the entire Black Bolt series was pretty forgettable. Nothing of any real importance happens and it's all one big set up for Black Bolt to take a hard look at himself and to try to make things better. It just seemed unnecessary and only moderately entertaining.
2.5 out of 5 stars
October 11, 2018
Truly excellent, with some wonderful character moments. Fantastic artwork, too, even from the fill-in artists.
Interestingly, it was the moments where Black Bolt interacted with Medusa that were the story's weak spots. They felt slightly shoehorned in.
I could read about Black Bolt, Blinky, Titania and the Absorbing Man all the livelong day, though. Great stuff.
Interestingly, it was the moments where Black Bolt interacted with Medusa that were the story's weak spots. They felt slightly shoehorned in.
I could read about Black Bolt, Blinky, Titania and the Absorbing Man all the livelong day, though. Great stuff.
October 2, 2020
When I initially witnessed the first issue's cover of this solo Black Bolt series, I did wonder how can one create a comic solely about a character who can destroy everything with the slightest whisper. However, writer Saladin Ahmed and artist Christian Ward found a way as the silent king of the Inhumans finds himself in a cosmic adventure where he was imprisoned whilst befriending some new companions such as the Absorbing Man and the telepathic alien child Blinky.
Having escaped the clutches of the Jailer as well as the heroic sacrifice of Crusher Creel, Black Bolt, along with Blinky and his trusted teleporting dog Lockjaw, set on a long course through space to get back to Earth, where he must reconcile with his own people and must inform Titania about her husband Crusher's demise.
The opening issue is very much the journey home, while Black Bolt took former inmate Monsteroso in a ship and dropped him off in his planet, where he reunited with his family. For much of this issue, the storytelling is fairly incidental as despite a chase involving space pirates and a funny moment involving Black Bolt about to get eaten by one of Monsteroso's parents, it's worth reading for Frazer Irving, an artist who I was never a big fan, but does his best work as his art is very painterly and abstract whilst honouring the cosmic grandeur of Jack Kirby.
Once we arrive on Earth, the rest of the book is very much a redemptive arc of our eponymous hero as not only does he have to reconcile with his people following the recent Secret Empire event, but also his estranged son Ahura. Throughout this volume, there are tie-ins to recent events that involved the Inhumans , but Ahmed manages to maintain this title's standalone status by using the perspective of its small cast and when they arrive at The Bronx, where Titania lives, it does feel like the writer is interested in telling his own story that doesn't have worldwide consequences.
Introduced in the original Secret Wars in the early eighties, Titania is a great addition to Black Bolt's pact as her first appearance here, she starts beating the crap out of the Midnight King and then the moment she hears the tragic news about her husband, she shows a heartbreaking tenderness. My favourite issue is #9, which is all about giving Creel the perfect send-off as the gang make a stop at the local bar, where everyone makes a toast for the former supervillain (except for Blinky who is given a ice cream), and then a funeral is given where the likes of the Wrecking Crew and Captain America. Everyone has some final words to say, all of which are touching.
Based on what I've written above, you might think there's not much in the way of superhero action and yet Christian Ward's art delivers more than that. Whether it is the fantastical setting of New Attilan or the down-to-earth streets of The Bronx, Ward delivers some of the best visuals done in comics with his experimental use of panel layouts and multi-layered colouring. The action-packed climax involving multiple Inhumans and returning faces, is a psychedelic extravaganza that would give Inception a run for its money.
As this series was only twelve issues, it proves that good things can't last forever. Some readers might see the final issue as a bit of a cop-out, but having enjoyed the company of these unlikely heroes who have grown to become a family, I couldn't think of a happier ending.
Having escaped the clutches of the Jailer as well as the heroic sacrifice of Crusher Creel, Black Bolt, along with Blinky and his trusted teleporting dog Lockjaw, set on a long course through space to get back to Earth, where he must reconcile with his own people and must inform Titania about her husband Crusher's demise.
The opening issue is very much the journey home, while Black Bolt took former inmate Monsteroso in a ship and dropped him off in his planet, where he reunited with his family. For much of this issue, the storytelling is fairly incidental as despite a chase involving space pirates and a funny moment involving Black Bolt about to get eaten by one of Monsteroso's parents, it's worth reading for Frazer Irving, an artist who I was never a big fan, but does his best work as his art is very painterly and abstract whilst honouring the cosmic grandeur of Jack Kirby.
Once we arrive on Earth, the rest of the book is very much a redemptive arc of our eponymous hero as not only does he have to reconcile with his people following the recent Secret Empire event, but also his estranged son Ahura. Throughout this volume, there are tie-ins to recent events that involved the Inhumans , but Ahmed manages to maintain this title's standalone status by using the perspective of its small cast and when they arrive at The Bronx, where Titania lives, it does feel like the writer is interested in telling his own story that doesn't have worldwide consequences.
Introduced in the original Secret Wars in the early eighties, Titania is a great addition to Black Bolt's pact as her first appearance here, she starts beating the crap out of the Midnight King and then the moment she hears the tragic news about her husband, she shows a heartbreaking tenderness. My favourite issue is #9, which is all about giving Creel the perfect send-off as the gang make a stop at the local bar, where everyone makes a toast for the former supervillain (except for Blinky who is given a ice cream), and then a funeral is given where the likes of the Wrecking Crew and Captain America. Everyone has some final words to say, all of which are touching.
Based on what I've written above, you might think there's not much in the way of superhero action and yet Christian Ward's art delivers more than that. Whether it is the fantastical setting of New Attilan or the down-to-earth streets of The Bronx, Ward delivers some of the best visuals done in comics with his experimental use of panel layouts and multi-layered colouring. The action-packed climax involving multiple Inhumans and returning faces, is a psychedelic extravaganza that would give Inception a run for its money.
As this series was only twelve issues, it proves that good things can't last forever. Some readers might see the final issue as a bit of a cop-out, but having enjoyed the company of these unlikely heroes who have grown to become a family, I couldn't think of a happier ending.
July 7, 2018
A HUGE improvement over the last volume. Even the art is starting grow on me.
The funeral part was touching but lost a lot of its impact because you know nobody stays dead in comic book world for long, especially when "no body was recovered". But, hey, that's the nature of comic books.
The funeral part was touching but lost a lot of its impact because you know nobody stays dead in comic book world for long, especially when "no body was recovered". But, hey, that's the nature of comic books.
September 1, 2018
The artwork here was really great. Still continues on from the previous volume and gives a mini conclusion. Its a little different to anything else Marvel is writing but I think thats why it stands out.
June 29, 2018
The Midnight King has escaped from the Jailer, and now rockets back towards home with Blinky in tow. His first job is to break the bad news about the death of Crusher Creel to Creel’s wife, Titania, and hell hath no fury like a supervillain grieving. And then, when the old enemies of Attilan catch up with him, Black Bolt finds himself assaulted on all sides, and only his estranged family can save him.
Considering this is Saladin Ahmed’s first comics work, you’d never know. This book is extremely well presented, and the journey that the characters, especially Black Bolt of course but the supporting characters as well, go through is realised exceptionally. He also manages to tie together continuity across this series, Royals, and previous events in Inhuman and Uncanny Inhumans as well, so it’s a great debut for him. He’s written novels before, but I can attest that writing novels and comic scripts are entirely different undertakings.
I’m not sure when Ahmed was told that this would only be a 12 issue series, because he manages to wrap things up neatly by the end, resolving all of the dangling plot threads and giving satisfying endings for everyone involved, even the ultimate villain of the piece.
And that’s saying nothing about Christian Ward, whose psychedelic imagery manages to tone itself back at the appropriate moments to really humanize the characters before going over-the-top insane during the fight scenes to give some real punch to the proceedings. The ever-reliable Frazer Irving steps in for an issue seamlessly, while Stephanie Hans’ crossover art beautifully captures the plight of Black Bolt & Medusa when they temporarily reunite.
Black Bolt, at it’s heart, especially in this volume, is a story about family. Found family, estranged family, reunited family, it’s all in here somewhere. Saladin Ahmed and Christian Ward (and friends) do a superb job with this second and final volume of really hammering home what Black Bolt has learned from his experiences in space, and manage to make the Inhuman former king…human.
Considering this is Saladin Ahmed’s first comics work, you’d never know. This book is extremely well presented, and the journey that the characters, especially Black Bolt of course but the supporting characters as well, go through is realised exceptionally. He also manages to tie together continuity across this series, Royals, and previous events in Inhuman and Uncanny Inhumans as well, so it’s a great debut for him. He’s written novels before, but I can attest that writing novels and comic scripts are entirely different undertakings.
I’m not sure when Ahmed was told that this would only be a 12 issue series, because he manages to wrap things up neatly by the end, resolving all of the dangling plot threads and giving satisfying endings for everyone involved, even the ultimate villain of the piece.
And that’s saying nothing about Christian Ward, whose psychedelic imagery manages to tone itself back at the appropriate moments to really humanize the characters before going over-the-top insane during the fight scenes to give some real punch to the proceedings. The ever-reliable Frazer Irving steps in for an issue seamlessly, while Stephanie Hans’ crossover art beautifully captures the plight of Black Bolt & Medusa when they temporarily reunite.
Black Bolt, at it’s heart, especially in this volume, is a story about family. Found family, estranged family, reunited family, it’s all in here somewhere. Saladin Ahmed and Christian Ward (and friends) do a superb job with this second and final volume of really hammering home what Black Bolt has learned from his experiences in space, and manage to make the Inhuman former king…human.
May 19, 2018
Quite the same qualities and defaults than book one:
- Decent plot with a cool twist in the middle, good interactions between characters, one very well done issue (Creel's funeral) and some frightful revelations on Black Bolt's past but... too many explaining captions all over the place. Saladin Ahmed must learn to let go of his novelist's habits.
- Mixed art; not so great pencils imo but amazing colors and psychedelic stuff that compensate.
If you liked vol.1 it would really be a shame not to read this conclusion of the series.
- Decent plot with a cool twist in the middle, good interactions between characters, one very well done issue (Creel's funeral) and some frightful revelations on Black Bolt's past but... too many explaining captions all over the place. Saladin Ahmed must learn to let go of his novelist's habits.
- Mixed art; not so great pencils imo but amazing colors and psychedelic stuff that compensate.
If you liked vol.1 it would really be a shame not to read this conclusion of the series.
May 14, 2018
The second half of Ahmed's Black Bolt run isn't as strong as the first. Issue 7 is sad and sweet with a great guest artist. But starting with issue 8, the book runs headlong into complicated Inhumans backstory that it had so skillfully skirted in the first volume. The funeral for Creel is great, but he comes back to life a few issues later which makes his death feel like even more of a cheat than is usually for a comic book death. There's great dialogue scattered throughout and Ahmed really writes a great Titania. The final defeat of the Jailer doesn't quite land, but it has some really great art.
January 12, 2019
(Read as single issues on Marvel Unlimited)
February 9, 2019
4ish stars.
August 18, 2019
První díl byl imo o hodně lepší, tohle je docela zklamání..
December 16, 2018
Volume 2 continues to follow Black Bolt after the fallout of his imprisonment. Creel is gone, but his death and the aftermath of prison follow Black Bolt as he tries to get back to normalcy. Blinky naturally steps into the role of speaker and Black Bolt grows to view her as a daughter as the series unfolds. He’s not well. The loss of his awesome voice works as a metaphor for Black Bolt’s life post prison and Kingship. He’s lost. He’s overwhelmed. He’s listless.
What’s great about this series is how Saladin and artists explore themes of isolation, ptsd, and loss while making the narrative feel rooted in the present. The reader is living through Black Bolt’s trauma as he experiences it. What helps the narrative is that it has a conclusion. While open-ended, the narrative ends and there is a sense of closure Saladin creates for Black Bolt.
What’s great about this series is how Saladin and artists explore themes of isolation, ptsd, and loss while making the narrative feel rooted in the present. The reader is living through Black Bolt’s trauma as he experiences it. What helps the narrative is that it has a conclusion. While open-ended, the narrative ends and there is a sense of closure Saladin creates for Black Bolt.
March 26, 2019
Wow o wow! This book finally concluded Ahmed's spectacular Black Bolt miniseries and as cheesy as it may sound, this kind of made me cry after finishing it. I am impressed with how this was written, it's full of nuanced human emotion with a truly creative narration. Black Bolt's character was perfectly fleshed out and established after all these years. The art by Christian Ward tells the story on its own with lively facial expressions, fluid movements and great colors. This whole Black Bolt run easily becomes one my most precious graphic novel collection. I'm tempted to tell some surprising turn of events here after volume one but I will not spoil it! A perfect 5 stars!
November 14, 2018
The second volume of Black Bolt is every bit as delightful as the first. The artwork continues to be entirely wonderful, matched only by the joy of the character work, as Ahmed offers strong character beats for several of the characters involved.
Oh, and there's some big fight too, and it's beautifully drawn, and gives some people the opportunity to define their character, and is otherwise OK.
Oh, and there's some big fight too, and it's beautifully drawn, and gives some people the opportunity to define their character, and is otherwise OK.
September 8, 2024
With pages upon pages of magical high-quality art, we get to see the end of a surprisingly good and memorable Black Bolt run.
I loved the character relationships in this volume, especially Bolt and Blinky. There were plot twists I loved and really got me more invested in the story. I was not expecting to love an inhuman book so much but after the series came to an end I just wanted more and more.
I loved the character relationships in this volume, especially Bolt and Blinky. There were plot twists I loved and really got me more invested in the story. I was not expecting to love an inhuman book so much but after the series came to an end I just wanted more and more.
October 29, 2018
The best Marvel comic of the past two years. Has certainly elevated Black bolt into one of my favourite characters. I certainly felt for out hero. Titania nearly equaled Crusher Creel in this issue. Blinky is great.
Christian Ward's artwork is terrific.
A hair's width less than the previous installment.
Christian Ward's artwork is terrific.
A hair's width less than the previous installment.
July 2, 2018
It is a human story about an inhuman and an alien. It is a story about love and facing fears and finding your home, your voice and your family.
Ahmed and Ward and the rest of the team did a wonderful job of giving Black Bolt, usually just a stoic, voiceless, humorless character his humanity.
Ahmed and Ward and the rest of the team did a wonderful job of giving Black Bolt, usually just a stoic, voiceless, humorless character his humanity.
July 10, 2018
I wanted so badly to love this as much as Volume 1, but I found a lot of the dialogue to be a bit cringy and I didn't feel the need to fully devour this book in one sitting like I did with Volume 1. I do wish it could have continued on though, I'd like to see where it could have gone.
May 9, 2019
Yeah, this was excellent from start to finish. Saladin Ahmed and Christian Ward are excellent storytellers, and the pinch-arting from Frazer Irving and Stephanie Hans was also great. And I got to see Titania as a well-rounded character again! Yay!
January 9, 2019
Gorgeous art, and the storytelling really let you into the motivations, emotions, and thoughts of Black Bolt...a superhero who doesn’t talk. Loved this iteration and I’m sad to see it end.
January 27, 2019
Not quite as good as the first volume, although the artwork is just stellar throughout. Amazing coloring, too.
May 23, 2023
A satisfying conclusion to a moving miniseries.
Black Bolt, Vol. 2: Home Free sees our titular hero, now mute, return to New Attilan with his new companion Blinky. Then, having touched base with his disenfranchised people, he delivers tragic news to Crusher Creel's partner, Titania. The funeral was well handled and demonstrated how much Creel has developed in this story alone. The cameos were striking but not overdone.
Then plot catches up with Black Bolt, Blinky and Titania as the one time King of the Inhumans faces Lash, a ferocious challenger keen to punish him. However it isn't long before an even worse threat reveals itself.
Ahmed does a fine job tying up loose ends in this plot while also granting Blinky more character growth and a potential future in Inhumans adventures. That being said, I did notice some egregious telling in the third person narration when it came to Black Bolt's power. Really he should have trusted the artists to convey this.
Ward's moody luminescence neatly transfers to Irving and Hans's cleaner styles, heightening the significance of Black Bolt's homecoming. Normally such changes in artist can prove jarring midway through a plot but this worked.
All told, I'm pleased I took a chance on this miniseries. It confirmed Ahmed's storytelling skill and made me look at a superhero that I never really found engaging, in a more favourable light. If you picked up Vol. 1 and enjoyed it, Vol. 2 will not disappoint.
Black Bolt, Vol. 2: Home Free sees our titular hero, now mute, return to New Attilan with his new companion Blinky. Then, having touched base with his disenfranchised people, he delivers tragic news to Crusher Creel's partner, Titania. The funeral was well handled and demonstrated how much Creel has developed in this story alone. The cameos were striking but not overdone.
Then plot catches up with Black Bolt, Blinky and Titania as the one time King of the Inhumans faces Lash, a ferocious challenger keen to punish him. However it isn't long before an even worse threat reveals itself.
Ahmed does a fine job tying up loose ends in this plot while also granting Blinky more character growth and a potential future in Inhumans adventures. That being said, I did notice some egregious telling in the third person narration when it came to Black Bolt's power. Really he should have trusted the artists to convey this.
Ward's moody luminescence neatly transfers to Irving and Hans's cleaner styles, heightening the significance of Black Bolt's homecoming. Normally such changes in artist can prove jarring midway through a plot but this worked.
All told, I'm pleased I took a chance on this miniseries. It confirmed Ahmed's storytelling skill and made me look at a superhero that I never really found engaging, in a more favourable light. If you picked up Vol. 1 and enjoyed it, Vol. 2 will not disappoint.
November 6, 2020
This is a great conclusion to the story started in the first volume, though it fails in some ways that the first book did not. Most notably it has to deal with the rest of Marvel continuity which, given the strange placement of the Inhumans in 2010s Marvel, is confusing and annoying. A bunch of new side characters get introduced briefly and there's no time to get attached to them or really remember them at all. The core concepts, like the idea of family (particularly fatherhood), get explored in a bigger way but some of the other themes of the first volume disappear- like a lot of the interesting commentary about prisons and crime that made the first arc so promising. Though Creel's funeral, and the climactic final issue of the volume, are stand-out incredible issues, there's also a lot of filler that made this volume less binge-worthy than the one before. Still a good story, and the series as a whole is definitely high up on my recommendations list (maybe the best Inhumans-related book), with some beautiful artwork by Christian Ward and guest artists Frazer Irving and Stephanie Hans.
April 18, 2021
Jednička byla skvělé scífko, kde byl náhodou Black Bolt (místo něj tam mohl být prakticky kdokoliv), dvojka už je jeho komiks. Ahmed se podobně jako v Quicksilverovi nimrá v postavě, rozvíjí některé linky z minulosti a tvoří opravdu komplexní charakter. A stejně jako u Quicksilvera mám problém, když se tohle dělá v uzavřené sérii (trojka už není), protože jiný autor Black Bolta pojme zase po svém.
Příběhově tu jsou dozvuky jedničky. Ahmed je hodně silný v komorních momentech, ale akční linka mě tentokrát moc nebrala.
3,5*
Příběhově tu jsou dozvuky jedničky. Ahmed je hodně silný v komorních momentech, ale akční linka mě tentokrát moc nebrala.
3,5*
April 14, 2024
9/10:
Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to love this short 12-issue run so much. Black Bolt is truly an amazing character and I hope that he gets more solo time moving forward!
I can’t believe that this run has made me actually care about two iconic supervillains: The Absorbing Man and Titania. I hope to see more of these two, hopefully in a more heroic role as time goes on. Especially after they’ve chosen to remain friends with Blinky and Black Bolt while also distancing themselves from the Wrecking Crew.
Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to love this short 12-issue run so much. Black Bolt is truly an amazing character and I hope that he gets more solo time moving forward!
I can’t believe that this run has made me actually care about two iconic supervillains: The Absorbing Man and Titania. I hope to see more of these two, hopefully in a more heroic role as time goes on. Especially after they’ve chosen to remain friends with Blinky and Black Bolt while also distancing themselves from the Wrecking Crew.
June 12, 2018
If only all comics could be this gorgeous.
August 30, 2020
[Lol alright.... if I'm going to try to hit my 60 book goal for the year, I might as well try to backlog what I've already read.]
Ahmed and Ward's run on Black Bolt is straight up one the best meditations on justice and incarceration I've seen in any any medium, much less a Big 2 super hero comic. Judged on that kind of literary level, this is probably the best thing Marvel has put out since Tom King's Vision limited series.
Some momentum is lost in this second half, especially as Ward has a little less opportunity to really show off artistically, but that's more than made for by how well the remaining narrative strands from the first half are tied up. I love that Ahmed has become a regular Marvel writer now, and I'd really like to see Marvel (or DC) get Ward on more books. I could look at his art all day.
Ahmed and Ward's run on Black Bolt is straight up one the best meditations on justice and incarceration I've seen in any any medium, much less a Big 2 super hero comic. Judged on that kind of literary level, this is probably the best thing Marvel has put out since Tom King's Vision limited series.
Some momentum is lost in this second half, especially as Ward has a little less opportunity to really show off artistically, but that's more than made for by how well the remaining narrative strands from the first half are tied up. I love that Ahmed has become a regular Marvel writer now, and I'd really like to see Marvel (or DC) get Ward on more books. I could look at his art all day.
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