Review by Ian Keogh

Planet of the Symbiotes looks at the symbiotes not on their own world, but after they’ve occupied Earth, as seen in the main King in Black graphic novel. Various creative teams tour around some obscurities of the Marvel universe, characters who’re always supporting acts, the best they can hope for being a miniseries. You’ll either be delighted to see the likes of Cloak & Dagger, Hornet and Scream in solo stories, or this will reinforce why they’re second stringers.

Truth be told, if it’s taken for granted that the art for a fight scene is to be prioritised, there’s not much else that can be achieved in ten pages, and the pattern of set-up, fight and closure applies to most inclusions. The narrative captions accompanying the art are all too frequently overwrought and melodramatic, although Steve Orlando at least makes the effort to provide a surprise ending on the Toxin story. The standout art, though, is phenomenal. Kyle Hotz relishes American Kaiju’s rampage, and Guiu Vilanova supplies the most excessively frightening symbiotes ever. Danilo S. Beyruth (sample left) can’t quite match their wild intensity, but is the only artist to draw two features.

Admittedly Si Spurrier and Jesús Saiz have thirty pages at their disposal, but their Black Knight story is a cut above anyway. His solo efforts in the past have hardly shied from melodrama, which is recognised by Spurrier supplying a sardonic third person narrative, and Knull’s symbiote invasion is the excuse for his insecurities to manifest once again. The comedic tone may not please Black Knight fans, but it’s hardly inconsistent with his past, and Spurrier spins the history to offer new revelations as Black Knight teams with Aero and Sword Master.

It’s already a good story, but luscious art from Saiz improves it still further. He resists the temptation to draw Black Knight as entirely unhinged, so without the captions this could seem just an extremely well drawn superhero story.

Beyond the art on a few there’s not much to recommend the short stories, so do you consider the third of the book in which Black Knight is featured enough to risk your money? Alternatively, all tie-ins are included in the King in Black Omnibus.