King in Black #2 pushes the heroes of the Marvel Universe to their limits, featuring stellar scripting and mind-melting artwork. In true Cates/Stegman fashion, the issue ends with a whopper of a cliffhanger that feels like it will fundamentally upend the Venom mythos. I can't wait to see what issue #3 brings. Read Full Review

King in Black continues with an explosive 2nd issue! How will Eddie survive his literal fall from grace? How are the heroes gonna make a comeback? Find out! Read Full Review

King in Black #2 is a hell of a second issue. It takes us on an emotional rollercoaster while also delivering big screen popcorn levels of visuals. It's a great combination and what events should be. Two issues in and this is one of Marvel's best events in many years. Read Full Review

I think the biggest praise I could give King in Black #2 is that after reading the final page I immediately wanted issue #3. It made me want more of it. For me and, I assume, many others, that is a pretty solid sign of a good book. I am not even really that big into what has been going on in Venom recently, but man, King in Black has grabbed ahold of me and I am loving every minute of it! This is what an “event” comic should be. Full of action and intrigue, but still finding some heart and soul through all of it as well. King in Black #2 is a definite winner. Read Full Review

King In Black #2 picks up where the first issue left off and does not miss a beat. Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman do a great job throughout this issue getting over how the remaining Marvel heroes now have their backs against the wall. This situation led to a lot of character interactions and decisions that add greater interest in how things will turn out when all is said and done with King In Black. Read Full Review

The cool thing about Venom’s story now involving the larger Marvel universe is that Stegman and Mayer get to really show their skill. Their ability to clearly communicate such a wide range of characters’ personality traits through their acting is nothing short of astounding. Stegman’s work feels very deliberate and in sync with the words provided by Cates, making for a very cohesive experience on every page. Finally, Frank Martin has more opportunity to direct his coloring effort towards emotional effect in this issue, and it pays off. Without getting into spoilers, his lighting choices significantly raised the stakes on more than one occasion in this issue. Read Full Review

Ryan Stegman's visuals are at their peak in this second chapter of the newest Cates event. Cates himself writes a story that works surprisingly well even with the the most important characters almost completely missing or out of commission through the whole issue. Read Full Review

KING IN BLACK #2 is a base hit, where KING IN BLACK #1 was a home run. Read Full Review

We're in uncharted territory with King in Black, with such a monumental force seemingly taking over the planet in one fell swoop. Earth's heroes are falling one by one and hope is dwindling. Things don't get any better in this issue. With such a wild ride so far, I have to wonder where this can possibly go next. Read Full Review

Readers, Knull is barely in the issue nor is any of the symbiotes that are taking over the world. The most amazing facets of the story surrounding our heroes being taken over are merely touched on, as well as some of their sacrifices. Why? Readers wont mind a fast-paced story as long as you dont leave out the best parts. Instead, the purpose of the issue is to place Eddie Brock at the center of the Marvel landscape and make him the most important linchpin to the 616 Universe. And fans, thats just a hard pill to swallow. Cates is forcing Eddie to be something hes not… something thats never really been apart of the character before. It feels like a square peg in a round hole. Maybe if the lead up in VENOM concentrated more on boosting Eddie instead of taking him on a magical mystery tour to islands and alternate realities, we could buy that. But right now, I cant. I absolutely loved KING IN BLACK #1 … but what happened? Read Full Review

King in Black is playing out as a gloomy and depressing event with little to root for or get excited about. The tie-ins have been incredibly well done, but so far the event isn't doing enough, especially in a second issue that is more about setup than progressing the plot. Knull continues to be a mystery as well. That said, the book looks great and hits those blockbuster notes we desire -- it's just not presenting a narrative that'll keep your interest. Read Full Review

Two issues in, King in Black has yet to have a moment that really sticks with you after you read it. Future issues will need to focus on the heart of the story, otherwise this becomes just another event. Read Full Review

Great!

Avengers becoming Knulls hosts and Iron man taking on a symbiotic dragon pretty sick. Dylans character is great and the art and writing here is some of Marvels best. Love seeing my personal Favorites Sentry and Venom all in one place. Even if this the end of Bob as we know it.

Spidey salvages Eddie after his big fall and 4 Yancy Street becomes anti-Knull HQ. An impressive roster of heroes and concepts join the fight -- but this issue is more about the Brocks than their allies. The plot is decent and I think the structure of the script is really formidable. Great execution of good ideas. The finale hits hard in the moment, though I don't buy its permanence.

Rather slow but still a very cool continuation to the previous issue which I think was the most amazing thing I've read in a long time. I hope Cates will continue with his strike in this series.

A slower issue, but still really good!

After the brutal opening that was the first issue, this one is a much more of a setup and slower paced one. WHile it is still a good read, and the artwork by Stegman is amazing, I really don't like how too many tie-ins are being setup. One reason why I enjoyed Absolute Carnage was that you really didn't need those tie-ins to understand it fully and I do hope this one won't either.

I dont think it was as good as #1 but its definitely a good read. I wish there was a little more behind what happened at the end. It seemed to have an impact but not as much as it could have had.

Mostly a setup for the event and tie-ins.

Two issues deep and things just seem to be getting worser for the heroes. I like how Cates has written tnese heroes into a corner, and it looks like it's getting worse.
Brock has fallen for at least 3 issues, I have never seen anything like that before. That was beautiful.
The powers of Eddie's son was a surprise , but more so was Spidey's spider-sense working to warn him of the symbiotes. I thought Klyntarian's went undetected?
To see Spidey worried and completely alone, not even able to get help as he saved Eddie. Perfect.
The bickering between Blade and the Quiet Council made my stomach turn. I can only wander where the mutants will take it from here, since Storm was captured ...

It feels like every big marvel event is the exact same thing with a slight twist to the villain. They try and cram every big name hero in the books and it takes away from the story. Not every event needs every character. Sometimes less is more.

Kings in Black
Issue: 2
“Fall”

Publisher: Marvel @marvel
Writer: Donny Cates @dcates
Artist: Ryan Stegman @ryanstegman & JP Mayer @jpmayer_
Colors: Frank Martin @frankmartinbox
Letters: Clayton Cowles
Cover: Ian Bederman @wonkytiger

Colliding with the surface below, Eddie Brock lay dying, his thoughts only of his son, Dylan. Thanks to the sacrifice of the Human Torch, Spider-Man is able to escape with Eddie to reconvene with the other surviving heroes. As Eddie barely clings to life, Ironman formulates a plan. War calls for strange bedfellows as Namor enlists the Black Tide and Blade meets before Dracula. Finally, Ironman uses a dose of Extremis (which he did NOT invent…) to capture and rewrite a symbiote dragon. Knull’s influence would prove to be too powerful as the captured symbiote rejects Eddie as its host causing Dylan to vaporize it, much to the shock of the assembled heroes. Before they could begin to process Dylan’s abilities, Dylan’s world comes crashing down around him as Eddie succumbs to his injuries, passing away.

I enjoyed this issue, but the idea that Eddie somehow survived being tossed from atop a skyscraper after bouncing off of buildings and smashing through a car is completely ridiculous. And Tony Stark did NOT invent Extremis, Maya Hansen did. The artistic team is doing an amazing job though as the artwork here is incredible. I also love this tattoo variant cover. Such a cool idea.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)
Reviewed by: @meanadam of The Comic Book Club of Instagram
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A big downgrade from the first issue.

Just get it over with and make Dylan the next Venom already, we can all see that that's where the story's going, if Cates thinks he keeps it as a secret, he's not doing a good job of it. Also, I'm really tired of his "dialogue" when absolutely everyone speaks in unfinished sentences, it's not an occurence, I've read enough of his work to see that it's a habit for him, and a bad one at that. Even Stegman didn't do his best work here.