"Karnak: The Flaw In All Things"

You may remember this six issue mini-series that start in December 2016 as the one with the big jinx on it. Sometimes, real life gets in the way of comics making, and things slow to a crawl. A very slow crawl.

The good news is, people will find it long after that happens, have a solid six issues to read in one sitting, and can enjoy the work in its entirety on its own merits.

They might be puzzled as to the abrupt departure of the artist before the end of the second issue, but that's what Google is for. If it bothers them that much, look it up.

"Karnak" is prime Warren Ellis writing. This feels almost like a lost chapter of "Infection," dealing with a superpowered person, some thoughts on artistic philosophies, and a crazy cult with supernatural fighting powers.

Also, lots of blood and guts and penetrating wounds.

Out of Time

Much like "Black Widow" (which I reviewed last week), this book takes place at a definite time in Marvel Universe continuity that I couldn't begin to explain to you. But it doesn't matter. A couple lines of dialogue deal with all of that, and we just keep moving on.

This is the best way to tell a story in the Marvel or DC Universe these days. Work within the limits, but tell your own story. Don't piggyback on the madness that surrounds you.

So What IS the Story?

Karnak is working as a consultant for S.H.I.E.L.D., helping out on a case of a young man who made it through the Terrigen Mists and gained the superpowers of -- being cured of his allergies!

Now he's been kidnapped and his parents want to get him back. Karnak agrees to help, for a price.

With S.H.I.E.L.D.'s help, he'll dive deep into a crazy cult, kill indiscriminately, break everyone around him, and have deep philosophical conversations on the meaning of life and what it means to do something for one's self.

Really, that's the most impressive part of this story. For the first half, it's a witty action/adventure piece. There's the classic Ellis soundbites mixed in with some higher level thought pieces about religion and humanity and the wielding of power. (There's nothing about the mysticism surrounding the organization of city structures, though...)

But, then, in the last third, the scope changes. We've reached the end of that rope, and we jump onto a new one that covers not just the big idea of humanity and cultish behavior, but also one that touches on all the plot points and hints that Ellis left along the way.

It all ties together perfectly at the end in a surprising and satisfying way that works with the mechanics of the superpowers laid out across the course of the series.

The Art

Though Skottie Young did draw a cover for the first issue, he did not draw this panel:

Gerardo Zaffino started as the artist on the series, before having to bow out after two issues. Roland Boschi carried the rest of the series. It's a good transition. I think Zaffino is the better artist, but their styles are close enough that it's not totally jarring when they switch.

The quality of the art in this book varies. There are pages of beautiful establishing shots with great lighting, interesting textures and ink work, and smart composition. Both Zaffino and Boschi can establish the hell out of a place. The larger, the better. Helicarriers, towers and even more Helicarriers. The story has plenty of room for slower moments to place the reader at the proper scale for the story.

When things get smaller, though, they sometimes get a little awkward. Details drop out, and characters look incomplete or stiff in their posing.

A big chunk of issue #4 is devoted to a fight scene where all the backgrounds drop out, the action seems random, and I lost interest quickly. When you have four or five assailants who are visually identical and then you never see more than one in a panel at any given time, it's tough to keep track of what is happening to who.

The overall style for this book is far from what you'd think of as the Marvel House Style. It feels like an independent book. Add in the bloodshed and the penetrative wounds, and you realize this is a far different Marvel book from what they ever would have published twenty years ago.

I like the direction for this particular story. I have some qualms, but overall I think it works.

Parts You Can Skip Over

The fight parts. Karnak's skill is to exploit an opponent's weaknesses. So when he's confronted with a group of bad guys of questionable origin and unknown skills, you know it's only a matter of time before Karnak breaks them. So leafing through three or four pages of near-silent fight scenes feels anti-climactic. It's a weird kung fu thing that is easy enough to follow, but doesn't feel necessary enough.

It is in the latter part of the mini-series, when it becomes more of a mental chess match that Karnak, himself, gets very interesting. That's where Ellis pays off all the things he set up earlier that you didn't notice. It's a smart ending, and Ellis doesn't spell it all out for you. So pay attention.

By the way, remember when penetrating wounds were not allowed at Marvel?

Things change. Does anyone miss the Comics Code Authority?

Is It Worth Reading?

Yes, if you're an Ellis fan, absolutely. You'll recognize the style. Ellis' patter and high concepts are all over this book. It's a lot of fun, amongst the bloodletting and the moral relativism.

If you're less interested in side stories and only want the big events, you can safely skip this one.

I hope you're not in the latter camp.

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