Review of "Black Bolt," by Saladin Ahmed and Christian Ward

Review of

Black Bolt, by Saladin Ahmed and Christian Ward ISBN 9781302907327

Five out of five stars

 Blackagar Boltagon, more commonly known as Black Bolt, is the king of the inhumans as well as the most powerful. They are a group of genetically modified humans with super powers that try to avoid contact with normal humans, a task that they do not always succeed at. Black Bolt has often been at odds with his mad brother Maximus, whose goal is to take over the leadership of the inhumans. Black Bolt’s signature superpower is the destructive nature of his voice, it can shatter the hardest of materials and level mountains.

 This story opens with Black Bolt being held prisoner in an environment so suppressing that he can speak without causing any damage. Other creatures are also being held captive and alliances are formed against their captor(s), which are generally left unknown. The powerful canine Lockjaw, capable of moving through space and dimensions, provides critical assistance at key moments.

 This is the opening story of what is a six-part series. In that area, the book does what it should do. It provides the initial context for the main plot of the series, creating a series of key questions, yet not providing answers, leaving them for the following installments. The reader also learns much about what makes Black Bolt the effective leader of the inhumans that he is.