Editor's Desk 
Queen in Black #1 launches this week, Marvel Comics’ next big event that pits Knull against Hela, and the stakes are high in a variety of ways. One of those stakes is fans who say they’re event-fatigued, which puts pressure on Al Ewing and Iban Coello to deliver. Since we last saw Knull, his powers were sapped by Hela, and he’s acquired light-based powers to directly confront her. It’s a classic light-versus-dark scenario, but both are evil!
When it comes to superhero events, two things are key: Bigger stakes than usual and character-driven storytelling. This issue has those and more, with both being established, and then the story continuing from there with some additional confrontations and setup. An extra-sized issue, Queen in Black #1 lives up to a near-perfect opening salvo, even at $7.99.
The issue opens on Knull, who is getting his bearings with his light powers. An old hand at symbiotes, it seems he’s quite good at creating life to fight for him with hard-light powers. Epically drawn by Coello, the story organically shifts to Hela, who is observing him build an army. To counter him, she decides to use Earth as a weapon, and Ewing gives her the diabolical dialogue to ramp up the threat.
For a god who wants to kill all life, he’s not bad at creating it. Credit: Marvel
Meanwhile, the heroes got word of this incoming attack thanks to MJ, and soon every hero under the sun is meeting to discuss what to do. While most of the Avengers and some X-Men are present, it’s worth noting Thor is absent, as he’s been recently vanquished from the memories of all the heroes and only Beta Ray Bill knows he’s real. It’s an interesting wrinkle that will be woven into the event with tie-ins.
At the halfway point of the issue, Ewing and Coello use Nova to prove Knull is quite powerful before Hela’s army dives headlong into invading Earth. If you read the Comics Giveaway issue, you’ve actually read a few of the pages in this issue, which feature symbiotes with different colors and abilities. I stand by this being an interesting way to use symbiotes for an all-out war. Instead of the issue ending like the Comics Giveaway comic, the story continues with heroes doing what they can to save civilians. Most comics would have ended on this cliffhanger, but instead we get an attack on a pyramid, heroic acts from major Avengers, and even a check-in on a character who took a wallop earlier in the issue.
Coello does a fantastic job with multiple heroes on each page, various creepy looks for symbiotes, and easy-to-follow action. Throw in some surprise Marvel characters you wouldn’t expect from a Venom-centric event, and there’s plenty for any Marvel fan to find fun here. Plus, in classic Ewing fashion, the cliffhanger does a bit of a deep cut for the seasoned Marvel fans.
If you’re looking for a single hero who rises up as a main character, you won’t be in luck. Instead, this is a true ensemble, with characters coming and going while Knull and Hela enact their plans. One could see Venom and Spider-Man rising up given the ties to Knull, but it’s anybody’s guess at this point.
Queen in Black #1 fires on all cylinders as an event opener, establishing enormous stakes while never losing sight of the characters caught in the middle. Al Ewing balances cosmic spectacle with sharp pacing, giving readers plenty of action, memorable hero moments, and intriguing mysteries without making the oversized issue feel bloated. Paired with Iban Coello’s stunning visuals, this is the kind of first chapter that inspires confidence in the event ahead.
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