Marvel Knights (Paul's review of Deathlok #1)

[Dave Wallace]

Originally Posted by Paul

My biggest complaint is a technical and editorial one. I really can't understand why this is a Marvel Knights title.

...

My understanding was that Marvel Knights were supposed to be closer to the mainstream versions of Marvel characters, but with a little more editorial freedom to allow for "mature" storytelling.

...

So this looks like a MAX title. It's a flat-out reboot of the character, just like most MAX titles from Devil-Slayer to Werewolf by Night to The Eternal to Foolkiller, where the names are the same but the relationships and details are changed.

The only Knights imprint book I can think of that made this radical a change in the concepts and relationships of a character was Grant Morrison's Marvel Boy, and that was presented as a proto-Ultimate title before Bendis again worked his magic and hamhandedly shoehorned the character into the mainstream Marvel Universe.

I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but the purpose of the "Marvel Knights" imprint was changed a few years ago. It no longer signifies that a book is slightly more adult or intended for "mature" readers (like the popular Punisher, Black Widow and Daredevil series that were punished under the MK imprint a while back).

Instead, it's now an imprint that exists specifically to give creators a place where they can write out-of-continuity stories that "reimagine" the characters as much as they like (or as much as Marvel editorial will allow, anyway). So, we've had the likes of Spider-Man: Reign, Silver Surfer: Requiem and Sub-Mariner: The Depths, all of which use the characters in ways that wouldn't fit with their in-continuity counterparts.

The Marvel MAX imprint, on the other hand, has a slightly less clear status as far as continuity is concerned. Whilst some books (like Ennis's Punisher) clearly aren't meant to fit with the present-day MU, others (like Alias or the original Hood miniseries) have been explicitly incorporated into "official" continuity.

My guess is that this new Deathlok series was positioned as a Marvel Knights title in order to make it clear that it was a deviation from the official continuity.

[Paul Brian McCoy]

Originally Posted by Dave Wallace

I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but the purpose of the "Marvel Knights" imprint was changed a few years ago. It no longer signifies that a book is slightly more adult or intended for "mature" readers (like the popular Punisher, Black Widow and Daredevil series that were punished under the MK imprint a while back).

Instead, it's now an imprint that exists specifically to give creators a place where they can write out-of-continuity stories that "reimagine" the characters as much as they like (or as much as Marvel editorial will allow, anyway). So, we've had the likes of Spider-Man: Reign, Silver Surfer: Requiem and Sub-Mariner: The Depths, all of which use the characters in ways that wouldn't fit with their in-continuity counterparts.

The Marvel MAX imprint, on the other hand, has a slightly less clear status as far as continuity is concerned. Whilst some books (like Ennis's Punisher) clearly aren't meant to fit with the present-day MU, others (like Alias or the original Hood miniseries) have been explicitly incorporated into "official" continuity.

My guess is that this new Deathlok series was positioned as a Marvel Knights title in order to make it clear that it was a deviation from the official continuity.

Ah, thanks, Dave.

Still, though, aside from The Depths, those other titles build on mainstream continuity rather than rebooting the concept completely. With the graphic, yet censored, language and extreme violence, Deathlok seemed more like a more recent MAX title being forced into a Marvel Knights box.

[Dave Wallace]

Originally Posted by Paul Brian McCoy

Ah, thanks, Dave.

Still, though, aside from The Depths, those other titles build on mainstream continuity rather than rebooting the concept completely.

Yeah, that's true.

Originally Posted by Paul Brian McCoy

With the graphic, yet censored, language and extreme violence, Deathlok seemed more like a more recent MAX title being forced into a Marvel Knights box.

I haven't read this issue yet, but I plan to. I'll be able to comment on it with a more informed opinion once I have!