The Black Knight Curse of the Ebony Blade is a storyline in Marvel Comics involving the character Dane Whitman, also known as the Black Knight. The curse is related to the powerful weapon known as the Ebony Blade, which has been a part of the Black Knight's arsenal since its introduction in the 1960s. The Ebony Blade is a mystical sword made from the same meteorite that created Black Knight's first weapon, the sword known as the Sword of Light. The Ebony Blade has been passed down through generations of Black Knights, each using it to battle evil forces. However, the blade carries a curse that affects anyone who wields it. The curse is twofold: first, it slowly corrupts the user's mind, making them more aggressive and prone to violence.
Si Spurrier kicks off Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade reminding everyone that yeah, Black Knight’s a loser. But not just in the way where the audience doesn’t like him — he’s such a loser the Avengers audibly vent their frustration about having to deal with him when he’s working with them. They make it painfully clear that they only see him as someone to destroy magical enemies, and even then only when their first pick is busy. Reading this first issue of Black Knight was cathartic at first, seeing this character I found boring get dragged by the likes of Thor and Black Panther. But by the end, it was just sad. Dane Whitman was a sad man, venting to an app on his phone that refused to give him any real advice, who just wanted to be appreciated by the people he looked up to. And of course, that’s his downfall.
The first two on that list aren t relevant here; they re just characters that were very frustrating to read at the time and have no business being called heroes. Unfortunately, most readers with even a cursory understanding of the Arthurian legends knows Mordred s parentage is ahem unconventional, and he s partly the man he is now because Arthur couldn t accept him.
The curse is twofold: first, it slowly corrupts the user's mind, making them more aggressive and prone to violence. This corruption is fueled by the bloodlust of the blade itself, which seeks to be soaked in blood. The more the blade is used, the stronger the corrupting influence becomes.
‘Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade’ manages to make the title character compelling
Even if you come in thinking Black Knight is a loser, you’ll come out convinced to buy the next volume.
November 3, 2021
I’m a huge Avengers fan — especially the ’70s and ’80s Avengers, before John Byrne took over. I have a fondness for almost every Avengers team of that era, and I hold a lot of love and feelings towards nearly every member of those Avengers teams. This is important context because the reason I said “nearly” is because of a handful of members: Dr. Druid, Starfox, and Black Knight. The first two on that list aren’t relevant here; they’re just characters that were very frustrating to read at the time and have no business being called heroes. Black Knight, on the other hand, is a more unique case.
See, for a while, Black Knight was a good idea. Dane Whitman is a guy with a magical sword that begs him to murder people, but Dane wants to be a hero and not murder anyone. If his blade sheds any blood, Dane is basically possessed by it, making his own means of being a hero his downfall. But this really cool concept never really translated to strong writing or interesting characterization. At one point, they got rid of the Ebony Blade altogether, giving him a lightsaber that made him super uncool. Let me repeat that: Black Knight managed to make a lightsaber boring. So you can understand why I’ve generally not been a fan.
Si Spurrier kicks off Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade reminding everyone that yeah, Black Knight’s a loser. But not just in the way where the audience doesn’t like him — he’s such a loser the Avengers audibly vent their frustration about having to deal with him when he’s working with them. They make it painfully clear that they only see him as someone to destroy magical enemies, and even then only when their first pick is busy. Reading this first issue of Black Knight was cathartic at first, seeing this character I found boring get dragged by the likes of Thor and Black Panther. But by the end, it was just sad. Dane Whitman was a sad man, venting to an app on his phone that refused to give him any real advice, who just wanted to be appreciated by the people he looked up to. And of course, that’s his downfall.
The plot of the book is pretty solid, even if the middle portions are a bit dull. There’s a subversion of Arthurian myth that feels very reminiscent of Kieron Gillen and Dan Mora’s Once and Future, there’s a POV character through whom we see this world of the Black Knight and his history through a new lens, and there’s an Elsa Bloodstone team-up that’s pretty fun if nothing special. Sergio D á vila’s artwork is good if a bit muddled in some of the flashback segments. But all of this is secondary to the highlight of the book: Dane Whitman’s acceptance of his history and legacy and the path he’s given to move forward.
The final issue of the series is reminiscent of the first, with the majority of the plot interwoven with Dane’s confessions to this anonymous app on his phone, but the final issue’s confessions mean something. They’re not the desperate pleas of a pathetic man desperate to have someone love him, they’re the final words of a man who’s made something he’s proud of. It’s beautiful and despite the story getting a bit muddled in the middle (as I mentioned earlier), it’s an incredibly earned moment. It makes the whole story worth it, even before the last five or so pages promise a direction for the future that’s incredibly intriguing.
Black Knight’s not a character who’ll move a lot of sales, and this run obviously exists so that Marvel has something to point to when the Eternals movie releases since he’s going to be played by Kit Harington there. And while this character is likely going to be completely different from whatever the MCU’s version is, Spurrier and D á vila have certainly managed to make him compelling in his own right, and they’ve convinced even a person who thinks Black Knight is a loser that a follow-up volume is a day one purchase.
‘Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade’ manages to make the title character compelling Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony BladeEven if you come in thinking Black Knight is a loser, you'll come out convinced to buy the next volume.
This curse has caused many former Black Knights to descend into madness and become villains themselves. Secondly, the curse prevents the wielder from dying in battle, ensuring that they will continue fighting even when gravely injured. This immortality comes at a great cost, as the wielder is unable to find peace in death and is trapped in a cycle of endless violence and suffering. This aspect of the curse has led to many tragic and violent stories in the Black Knight's history. Over the years, the curse of the Ebony Blade has been a central element of the Black Knight's character development. Dane Whitman has struggled with the curse, fighting to control its influence and prevent it from consuming him. The curse has tested his loyalty to his heroic ideals and often put him at odds with other heroes. The curse of the Ebony Blade adds a layer of complexity to the Black Knight's story, exploring themes of power, responsibility, and the consequences of wielding a dangerous weapon. It serves as a cautionary tale about the corrupting influence of power and the destructive potential of violence. Despite the curse, the Black Knight continues to fight for justice and redemption, striving to break free from the Ebony Blade's hold. His ongoing struggle with the curse has endeared him to fans and made him one of Marvel's most intriguing and conflicted characters..
Reviews for "The Black Knight Curse: A Catalyst for Heroism or Villainy?"
1. John - 2/5 - I was really excited to read "Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade", as I'm a fan of Arthurian legends and historical fantasy. However, this book just didn't live up to my expectations. The writing felt disjointed and the pacing was all over the place. The plot seemed interesting at first, but it quickly got too convoluted with unnecessary subplots and characters that went nowhere. Overall, I found myself struggling to stay invested in the story and ended up feeling disappointed.
2. Sarah - 1/5 - I found "Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade" to be incredibly dull and unengaging. The characters lacked depth and were difficult to connect with. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it hard for me to believe in the world the author was trying to create. Additionally, the action scenes were poorly described, leaving me confused and struggling to visualize what was happening. Overall, I found this book to be a major letdown and would not recommend it to others.
3. Emily - 2/5 - "Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade" started off promising, but it quickly lost its steam. The world-building felt inconsistent and the magic system was poorly explained. The protagonist lacked depth and often made questionable decisions, which made it hard for me to root for him. The romance subplot also felt forced and unnecessary, adding nothing to the overall story. While there were a few interesting moments, they were overshadowed by the book's numerous shortcomings. Overall, I was disappointed with this read and wouldn't recommend it to others.
4. David - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade", but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The writing style was bland and lacked any sort of excitement or creativity. The plot was predictable and offered no surprises or twists. Additionally, the character development was lacking, making it hard to care about what happened to them. Overall, this book felt like a wasted opportunity and I was left feeling unsatisfied.