Karnak #1
| Writer | Warren Ellis |
| Artist | Gerardo Zaffino, Dan Brown |
| Cover Price | $3.99 |
THE FLAW IN ALL THINGS
"My curse is that I see the flaw in all things. Systems. Philosophies. Structures. People. Everything. Never forget who I am. I am Karnak of the Inhumans." You may not know who Karnak is now, but you will when Warren Ellis (MOON KNIGHT, Planetary) and Gerardo Zaffino are done with you. Phil Coulson goes to Karnak to help with a SHIELD case with Inhuman implications and what he's going to find will terrify you.
Rated T
CRITIC REVIEWS Back to Top
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10
The Rainbow Hub - Emma Houxbois
Oct 23, 2015Top to bottom, Karnakis fine tuned to appear to be a product of the character's mind: ascetic, nihilistic, and precise. Read Full Review
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9.4
Comicsverse - Tyler Olson
Oct 22, 2015KARNAKby Warren Ellis, Gerardo Zaffino, and Dan Brown is a book to look out for that introduces one of the oldest Marvel creations and re-imagines him for the modern world. Read Full Review
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9.0
Comicosity - Aaron Long
Oct 21, 2015I really enjoyed Karnak #1. It's gritty lack of polish was a nice addition to the Inhuman lineup and I can easily say I've never been this entertained by Karnak before. This is a whole new side to this character and I'll be back with arms wide open for the second issue. Read Full Review
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9.0
Newsarama - Kelly Richards
Oct 26, 2015Calculated and brimming with an underlying tension, that feels like a hint toward what is still to come Karnak #1 is yet another strong offering from Marvel's "All-New, All-Different" line of titles, and an even stronger approach to a character who is often pushed to the sidelines. Read Full Review
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9.0
ComicWow!TV - Bhavna Bakshi
Oct 28, 2015From the first few pages of this issue, I was sold. This is a beautiful first issue, in terms of both writing and artwork. It takes the Karnak that debuted in 1965’s Fantastic Four #45 and ups the ante. His first solo series is looking very promising, and I can’t wait for more! Read Full Review
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8.4
ComicBook.com - Chase Magnett
Oct 25, 2015Karnak #1 is instantly engaging and reads briskly before reaching an ending that is neither cliffhanger nor stopping point. It's a jerking halt to the issue that reveals Karnak to be a story that is designed without issue breaks in mind, much like Ellis' other ongoing work on Trees and Injection. There is more than enough good to be found in this first installment though, that it's easy to forgive Karnak #1 for failing to cohere as an issue. Ellis and Zaffino deliver an interesting hook for this reinvention, one that is equal parts character study and brutal action comic with plenty of style throughout. Read Full Review
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8.0
Newsarama - Justin Partridge, III
Oct 21, 2015Karnak #1 is a weird book, but it's the best kind of weird. Warren Ellis, Gerardo Zaffino, and Dan Brown plainly introduce readers to this new incarnation of Karnak with little fanfare but a whole mess of action, as well as interesting philosophical ideals and a lead willing to speak the hard truths. Karnak may have been on the sidelines during the Inhuman's latest push into the limelight, but Karnak #1 boldly places him on the forefront of the new Inhuman revolution while never softening the lead - or attempting to make him more palatable. Read Full Review
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8.0
Doom Rocket - Scott Southard
Oct 22, 2015The worth of this opening issue will be determined by the work that follows. When we look back, Karnak #1 could be a slow-played set up to truly thoughtful superhero work, or it could easily be a plodding start to a continuously plodding series. My money's on the former, because if Ellis gets enough wiggle room to turn this into an abstract meditation on universal existence, it could turn into one of the standout titles of the year. I could watch Karnak break bullets, livers, and bones with his fingers all day, and if Ellis can stack some being and nothingness on top of it all, we're in for a violently beautiful taste of nirvana. Read Full Review
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8.0
Comic Book Resources - Jennifer Cheng
Oct 23, 2015The only potential issue is that, as the story develops, the limited emotional range of the hero may forestall serious character development and emotional depth. Ellis' run "Moon Knight" was always surprising and visually fascinating, but the main character remained closed off to the reader. In Karnak's case, Coulson's involvement may mitigate that. Whether or not that's the case, "Karnak" #1 still is must-read for its art and sharp wit. Read Full Review
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8.0
Henchman-4-Hire - Sean Ian Mills
Oct 24, 2015Once again, Warren Ellis does not disappoint. I kind of think this series is almost a dare. Like, Marvel dared Warren Ellis to pick an even more obscure superhero than Moon Knight and work the same magic as before (bonus points for tying into Marvel's current Inhumans love). It's all here. Karnak is transformed into a badass dark monk, full of scraggly beard and gnarled badassery. He's stark and dangerous in his every move and every word, including a truly awesome moment where he perceives the weakness in a bullet and karate chops it in half as its fired at him. Ellis clearly has some rich ideas for Karnak's unique power set. Read Full Review
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8.0
All-Comic - Lido Giovacchini
Oct 25, 2015So far the All-New All-Different Marvel has been generally passable but passionless and felt more like business as usual than anything different but Karnak is legitimately new and legitimately great.. The Inhumans have always felt out of place in the X-Mens shoes because they lack the same breadth of mythos, there are no Inhuman philosophies or allegorical issues and authors seems stringently opposed to creating them. Karnak is the first time a comic has made the effort to expand the Inhuman mythos in a meaningful way that will help it fill the role Marvel keeps forcing upon it. So far the All-New, All-Different Marvel has been generally passable, but passionless and felt more like business as usual than anything different, butKarnak is the real deal: All-New, All-Different, and All-Quality. Read Full Review
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8.0
PopMatters - Matthew Fay
Oct 28, 2015Karnak #1 proves to be an thoughtful character study for a lesser-known Inhuman, as well as a fun and engaging action tale. The moody, shadowed artwork by Gerardo Zaffino adds a mystical, ethereal element to both the story and Karnak's very presence, and effectively depicts his "warrior monk" aura. And Karnak is an action comic fan's dream. Hopefully the series will continue to be equal parts introspective and extrospective (mostly through breaking things) as it continues. Read Full Review
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7.9
Multiversity Comics - Stephenson Ardern-Sodje
Oct 23, 2015"Karnak" #1 is a strangely disparate beast when viewed alongside the other flagshiptitles of the All-New-All-Different universe, but when paired with some of the more fringe publications, such as Aaron and Bachalo's "Doctor Strange" and Latour and Rodriguez' "Spider-Gwen" it almost seems as though this book might be heralding a wave of more experimental new titles in Marvel's future. Regardless of whether or not that leap is founded on any kind of truth, "Karnak" #1 is definitely worth checking out, if not simply because it's the best Inhuman title that most people will probably never read. Read Full Review
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7.6
Major Spoilers - Chris Wilson
Oct 23, 2015Karnak #1 is a good start to a cool start and an new reader friendly introduction to the character that provides just information to enjoy the issue. While the story may be too dark for some, it's got some great action and art and is my book of the week. Read Full Review
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7.3
IGN - Jesse Schedeen
Oct 22, 2015Given the quality of his recent Marvel work, it's disappointing that Karnak #1 isn't a complete success. This first issue moves too slowly and aimlessly for its own good. Even so, Ellis is clearly working with a promising foundation here, as he gives Karnak a fun revamp and ensures that the newest Inhumans comic is entirely unlike any other. Read Full Review
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7.0
Newsarama - Pierce Lydon
Oct 22, 2015Anytime we're treated to more work from Warren Ellis in the Marvel Universe, there's reason for celebration. Karnak sees the writer continue to deliver work that is conceptually strong but this one might leave a little bit to be desired in terms of execution. Read Full Review
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7.0
Inter-Comics Podcast - writingtwentytwopages
Oct 22, 2015While the issue may not have been perfect there are many things here that the team can build on and make an interesting series. Anyone looking for some more Inhuman's stories or some good old-fashioned kung-fu action may want to bear this one in mind when checking out the ANAD titles being released. Read Full Review
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7.0
Infinite Comix - Russell Troxel
Oct 24, 2015Karnak is a character with nearly limitless potential, given the diversity granted by his power, and Karnak #1 makes those future possibilities palpable. Read Full Review
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7.0
Graphic Policy - Brett
Oct 25, 2015The issue isn't bad at all, and I want to see what the second issue is like, despite a weird stopping point. There's absolutely some potential in the fist issue and where it all goes is key, but the comic overall doesn't feel like it's special or new. Hype has definitely hurt the comic, but expectations are what they are. In this case, the comic didn't meet them, and feels like something I've seen before. Read Full Review
USER REVIEWS Back to Top
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8.5
Karnak is gritty, ugly and pompous, and I absolutely love it. Everything is on point in this comic. Ellis is non dramatic with Karnak and blunt as any pompous man should be and the eerily dark art of Zaffino is absolutely perfect for this comic. Read this you'll be pleasantly surprised.
+ Like • Comment -
7.5
Good comic.
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7.5
We'll see
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7.5
It's weird that Karnak is alive again for no reason and now he is a bad ass, but sure, I'll go with it. Decent introduction, the art isn't polished but I do like the style.
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6.0
If you are looking for something a little different from the Marvel lines this is a pretty good choice. I did not find much that got me hooked however. Karnak is a arrogant and condescending genius which does fall into a bit of a cliche lately. The art gave the book something of an old and dreamlike quality that I found to be fitting. The story moved at a pretty good pace to establish were this title was going. What confused me was Karnak's abilities. I get that he could find a weak point in a bullet, but can he move as fast as one? I do think this is a book worth checking out. It does seem to be trying to distance itself from the usual superhero story.
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6.0
Slightly disappointing.
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