Marvel's Black Knight Reveals King Arthur's Version of the Avengers
Potential spoilers for Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade #2 ahead!
Marvel has revealed more about its new team of medieval Avengers led by King Arthur. After being introduced in Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade #1, a new preview for the second issue provides more information about the team after the previous issue’s tantalizing glimpse.
Over the past decade, Marvel has expanded on the Avengers mythos by introducing teams of Avengers operating in the past. The first was the Stone Age Avengers, a team of super-powered individuals protecting the Earth in the year 1,000,000 BC. Among its members are the first Ghost Rider, the first Black Panther and the first Iron Fist as well as the first human host for the Starbrand; Odin, Agamotto and the Phoenix round out the membership. The idea of other Avengers teams operating in the past proved to be popular with fans, and Marvel took the concept a step further last month by hinting at a team of Avengers fighting in the time of King Arthur. Readers saw only the briefest of glimpses of the group, raising many questions. Now, in a special preview for Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade #2, fans can finally learn who is who on this amazing team.
The preview recounts the history of Camelot, and Merlin’s role in making it into the glorious kingdom of history and myth. Arthur takes command of Camelot, and inaugurates a new era of heroes, including the medieval Avengers. The roster includes Cai Hir, Gwalchmai Feirefiz, Sir Bedwyr, Apatheia, Menw, the Grim Huntress and Sir Mordred. The team is successful, leading to a blossoming of “chivalry” and “valor” as their deeds illuminate what is otherwise a dark age; but all good things must come to an end, and as the preview concludes, readers learn not all is well with this team—and the Black Knight’s ancestor may be involved.
What separates the Dark Age Avengers from their Stone Age counterparts is that the medieval team’s roster consists of characters from Arthurian lore, as opposed to earlier versions of popular modern-day Marvel characters; that is, this team has no Black Panthers and no Ghost Riders. The medieval Avengers are still heroic, however, and worthy of the name, but the questions still remain: is the team about to be betrayed? How does the Black Knight’s family factor into this?
Fans have gotten their best look yet at this new team of medieval Avengers in a preview for Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade #2, by Si Spurrier and Sergio Davila, with inks by Sean Parsons and colors by Arif Prianto. The issue will be on sale in print and digital on April 21.