Marvel Knights #15

Posted: Tuesday, October 16
By: Jason Cornwell

Writer: Chuck Dixon
Artists: Ed Barreto (p), Nelson (i)

Publisher: Marvel Knights

Plot:
The issue opens with Dagger & the Black Widow narrowly escaping the room full of killer LMDs, but they soon discover the entire Helicarrier is infested. Deciding their best chance of survival is to locate the central intelligence that is controlling these robots, the pair venture deeper into the heart of the Helicarrier. Meanwhile, the Punisher has used Vermin to track down Daredevil, but he soon discovers that Daredevil knew he was being followed, and faced with the prospect of a battle with Daredevil, Frank decides to offer the hero a choice. Either Daredevil takes a hike, or Frank threatens to kill himself. Deciding the Punisher isn't bluffing, Daredevil takes off. Back with the Black Widow, we see she has located the central controller, and using her spy training she is able to erase it. They then discover the Helicarrier was all an illusion, and that they were on some type of ship. What? I didn't get this sequence, so you can't very well expect me to describe it for you.

Comments:
There's nothing quite like a final issue when the writer has given up on the book. Yes, we have all the signs of a disinterested writer. We have the entire team deciding to head its separate ways, independently no less. We have the climax to the killer LMD plot resolved with the Black Widow entering commands into a keyboard, and when the veil is pulled away & we see it wasn't the real Helicarrier, Chuck Dixon neglects to tell the reader what exactly it was. Even better we have a super-intelligent computer with self-preservation skills so antiquated, that it's basically trying to kill intruders with exhaust fumes. Now don't get me wrong. I like Chuck Dixon and I think that he's one of the best writers working over at DC. However, his work for Marvel just never displayed any of the talent that I'd come to expect from him. The writing was flat & uninteresting, and this issue made it quite apparent he wasn't even trying to deliver a good story.

Oh, don't think that I've forgotten the "big" showdown between the Punisher & Daredevil. Yes, this scene is the perfect example of how not to do a final encounter. I mean, I really want you to write me if you found this encounter even remotely entertaining, as I'm so tempted to write the line that no comic fan could've found the pitiful excuse for a showdown entertaining. I mean, I realize that Chuck Dixon didn't have much room to play out this encounter, surely he could've come up with something better than this? The Punisher threatens to kill himself, and Daredevil's senses tell him Frank's heartbeat doesn't change, so naturally this means Frank is telling the truth. Frankly, I would think the unchanging heartbeat would indicate Frank had no intention of killing himself, and as such he would have no reason to become excited and/or agitated. Plus, shouldn't Daredevil be asking himself why the Punisher has suddenly decided he can't win this battle, when all their past encounters have shown the Punisher is more than happy to take his chances?

Ed Barreto's work just isn't my cup of tea. It never has been, and chances are it never will be. Now there are moments where I can see why he's found steady work over the years, as shots like the opening page of this issue & the opening confrontation sequence between Daredevil & the Punisher are well handled. However, his stiff figures & lack of backgrounds leave me unimpressed. There's also the simple fact that his art doesn't jump off the page, even when the action is screaming for the big impact shots that would sell the ideas Chuck Dixon is offering up. I mean the best example is the final bit between Daredevil & the Punisher, as this stalemate should be a highly intense moment, but instead it delivers a scene that is utterly unconvincing. Still, I guess I can't lay the blame entirely at the feet of the artist, as the normally reliable Chuck Dixon doesn't exactly pack many thrills into this issue.

Final Word:
The final issue of a series that never really emerged as anything beyond a reason for why solo characters work best in their own titles. Now past experience has shown that a book can succeed when bringing together characters normally seen as lone wolves, with the Defenders being a good example, but Marvel Knights never developed beyond the idea that these characters don't belong together, and as such it follows in the footsteps of the Champions, Heroes for Hire & Fantastic Force. It also didn't help matters that Chuck Dixon delivered some flat out boring adventures for the team to be involved in. In the end I'm glad to see this title get the ax, as it wasn't doing its creative team, or the characters involved, any favors.