MARVEL KNIGHTS #14

By: Arnold T. Blumberg
Date: Monday, August 27, 2001

Wow, let's see how many icons of the 1970s Marvel Universe we can cram into a single issue! MARVEL KNIGHTS is a celebration of one of Marvel's most glorious periods, perhaps the second big era deserving of mention following the universe-building early '60s stories spearheaded by Stan, Jack and the rest of the Bullpen. Do you remember the days when S.H.I.E.L.D. was everywhere, poking its nose into super-business and teaming up with everyone from Captain America to Spider-Man? Do you remember the great MARVEL TEAM-UP multi-issue sagas that saw Spidey encounter the Black Widow, Shang-Chi, and countless other '70s superheroes as they outwitted the bad guys on a grand scale? It's time to take a trip back in time, bunky!

Granted, this series doesn't actually take place in the past, but you'd be forgiven for thinking you picked up a Marvel title circa 1978 or so. Opening with the Punisher and Vermin (forgot that guy, didn't you?) surely an appropriate match-up if ever there was one this issue drops us right in the middle of a massively complex storyline. We are soon whisked away to the scene of a big battle where a team consisting of Daredevil, Shang Chi, Moon Knight and Luke Cage in his yellow shirt and head band (Jiminy Christmas!) are struggling to save the day. Meanwhile, the Black Widow, Cloak and Dagger have defeated an evil LMD (Life Model Decoy) and must learn whether or not S.H.I.E.L.D. knows of its existence...or is behind the whole thing. As the Widow explains, "friends and enemies are sometimes one and the same."


Ah, but for a fan of the old Marvel Universe like me, this title is filled with friends. The turning of every page brings another sigh of nostalgic joy as all the characters who defined the Marvel of the late '70s and early '80s bound out of the shadows to join forces. But by the end of this issue, one of their number will decide to bow out of the war owing to excessive physical and financial damage. And Cloak and Dagger, along with the Black Widow, will learn that you should never let your guard down particularly when you've just walked into the lion's den.

The chilling cliffhanger ending alone should be reason enough to keep reading, but long-time fans will be back for more regardless of the plot. Besides the plethora of familiar characters (that kitchen sink should be arriving any second), the traditional artwork is satisfying and evocative of the period when these characters really came into their own, occasionally capturing the essence of legendary Marvel illustrators like Gene Colan and John Buscema. For a rewarding trip down memory lane, you can't do any better than MARVEL KNIGHTS.

MARVEL KNIGHTS

Grade: A

Issue: No. 14

Author(s): Chuck Dixon, Mike Lilly, Nelson

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Price: $2.99