Karnak #1 - Spoilers Are Insignificant, Just Like All Of Us

[Starchild]

Great first issue. But my only question is: How do you challenge someone who sees the flaws and weaknesses in everything? Wouldn't that just make him a walking deus ex machina?

[Von]

Great first issue. But my only question is: How do you challenge someone who sees the flaws and weaknesses in everything? Wouldn't that just make him a walking deus ex machina?

This person must see and deal with the flaws in himself.

That must be the riddle of Karnak.

[KOSLOX]

I really hope Ellis writes this for more than six issues. I want at least 12-18 so that he can do a definitive take on the character.

[Trident]

Great first issue. But my only question is: How do you challenge someone who sees the flaws and weaknesses in everything? Wouldn't that just make him a walking deus ex machina?

Not really. Just because you can see or know someone's weakness it doesn't mean you can do something about it. Karnak is only physically of Steve Rogers or Blade. So depending on the threat he very well may not be able to successfully act on his "power" and example would be someone with a ranged ability an is a good distance away from him or someone who's physically on the level of someone like Thor, both cases would take more than just knowing his opponents weakness to overcome them. Karnak also, at least in the past, didn't instantly see the person/objects/ect weakness. Sometimes he has to actually observer/study it before he can find a way to overcome it.

[KOSLOX]

Not really. Just because you can see or know someone's weakness it doesn't mean you can do something about it. Karnak is only physically of Steve Rogers or Blade. So depending on the threat he very well may not be able to successfully act on his "power" and example would be someone with a ranged ability an is a good distance away from him or someone who's physically on the level of someone like Thor, both cases would take more than just knowing his opponents weakness to overcome them. Karnak also, at least in the past, didn't instantly see the person/objects/ect weakness. Sometimes he has to actually observer/study it before he can find a way to overcome it.

What are some definitive Karnak stories. I've really only read Jenkins' mini, Silent War, the stuff with Black Panther, and the stuff from Inhumanity so he's largely a blank slate to me.

[Trident]

What are some definitive Karnak stories. I've really only read Jenkins' mini, Silent War, the stuff with Black Panther, and the stuff from Inhumanity so he's largely a blank slate to me.

Honestly.....he doesn't really have any "definitive" stories but stories that he is heavily featured in with the Royal Family. Luckily he has a high position with In the group and in Inhuman society that fans/readers get a better look at him in comparison to some of the other members but there aren't many stories that feature just him and what he is all about. Jenkins mini is probably the most focus he has gotten with Secret Invasion: Inhumans being a close second due to it being written from mostly his perspective.

I'm putting together a list of stories that Karnak has appeared in currently and will try to break it down to an "Essential" list from there. It's not finished yet but I will go ahead an place what I have so far in Karnaks Thread later today or tomorrow.

[KOSLOX]

Honestly.....he doesn't really have any "definitive" stories but stories that he is heavily featured in with the Royal Family. Luckily he has a high position with In the group and in Inhuman society that fans/readers get a better look at him in comparison to some of the other members but there aren't many stories that feature just him and what he is all about. Jenkins mini is probably the most focus he has gotten with Secret Invasion: Inhumans being a close second due to it being written from mostly his perspective.

I'm putting together a list of stories that Karnak has appeared in currently and will try to break it down to an "Essential" list from there. It's not finished yet but I will go ahead an place what I have so far in Karnaks Thread later today.

Awesome. Thanks.

[Habis]

Great first issue. But my only question is: How do you challenge someone who sees the flaws and weaknesses in everything? Wouldn't that just make him a walking deus ex machina?

Even if he senses the weakness in an opponent, that doesn't mean he's able to do something about it. He once detected a pressure point that was Hulk's weak point; Blackbolt tried to defeat Hulk punching that point, and while he made Hulk scream in pain, he wasn't strong enough to take him down. Hulk just got angrier and crushed Blackbolt.

[king of hybrids]

Great first issue. But my only question is: How do you challenge someone who sees the flaws and weaknesses in everything? Wouldn't that just make him a walking deus ex machina?

some of the flaws he perceives cannot be easily exploited. for example, its easy to see the physical flaws in magneto or iron man; its hard to take advantage of them when their several hundred feet up flinging stuff at sufficient velocity

[Rahul]

Great first issue. But my only question is: How do you challenge someone who sees the flaws and weaknesses in everything? Wouldn't that just make him a walking deus ex machina?

As others have said, just because you can see a flaw, doesn't mean you have the ability to do anything about it.

[xMatt]

I believe Karnak has taken a vow of celibacy durring his time as a monk/high priest of the Inhumans. Which admittedly, would have no effect on him falling for someone but might influence him actually acting on it. It could be interesting interesting take.

Well the line (paraphrased) about love being for idiots who want to believe the world is weaker suggests he ain't looking for love.

but you could imagine having his 'curse'? It would be so difficult to be with someone with it. You'd always be seeing their flaws, rather than the things that makes them unique and beautiful.

[jackolover]

I am more intrigued by the mechanics of how Karnak determines flaws in everything. Some things deal with metaphysical flaws, and it is in the case of the parents being asked to pay with their most precious commodity, that reminds me of a religious article, like a bible. So I was wondering if Karnak sees religion as a flaw in humans, yet, he runs a Monestary? So I am reading this to see what depths of flaws it goes into about the world. I have a feeling Karnak killed himself because he was unable to pick the flaw in Black Bolt (for deliberately setting off the Terrigen Mists), and Karnaks own flaw for not picking this is something Black Bolt will do. It appears similar to the journey Speedball took when he decided to become Penance.

But I have been intrigued at the painful ability to detect the flaw in everything. It's sort of a supernatural ability tied to Black Magic, in that if someone has this ability, all they see is the depressing side of life, because everyone is deluding themselves into thinking they are in control of themselves, when in fact, they are hiding their faults or convincing themselves they are true and right. Being in a world of truth is very painful, because who can you love, if that person is so defective, or, delusional? Karnak couldn't love Black Bolt anymore because Bolt turned out to be just like Maximus.

[shgs]

Some things deal with metaphysical flaws, and it is in the case of the parents being asked to pay with their most precious commodity, that reminds me of a religious article, like a bible. So I was wondering if Karnak sees religion as a flaw in humans, yet, he runs a Monestary?

Well there is a big difference between theism and a religion based purely on philosophy.

[KOSLOX]

Well the line (paraphrased) about love being for idiots who want to believe the world is weaker suggests he ain't looking for love.

but you could imagine having his 'curse'? It would be so difficult to be with someone with it. You'd always be seeing their flaws, rather than the things that makes them unique and beautiful.

In my experience that's how you find it. I know it's cliché to say it, but such is life.

[JKtheMac]

Did anyone else think this issue was disjointed? It felt like the language was too clipped at times, and some of the short sentences felt stranded and unrelated to context. I haven't read a massive amount of Ellis's work but I have read a few of his series, and I don't remember thinking his language usage was unclear before.

Was this just me?