Show pageBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== Blackest Night ====== > **//Editor's Note: A Guide for the Marvel Historian//** > > You have requested an in-depth analysis of the event known as **"Blackest Night."** As your senior Marvel Universe chronicler, it is my duty to provide the most accurate and contextually relevant information. The major comic book event titled "Blackest Night" was a 2009-2010 storyline published by **DC Comics**, centered on their Green Lantern Corps. It does not exist within the Marvel Multiverse. > > However, your query points to a desire for information on a universe-spanning Marvel event with a similar dark, death-centric, and invasive theme. The single most direct and significant thematic parallel in the modern Marvel era is the 2020-2021 epic, **"King in Black."** This event featured a primordial god of darkness, Knull, leading an army of symbiotic lifeforms to consume all light and life in the universe. > > Therefore, to provide the most valuable and relevant entry for your Marvel encyclopedia, this article will be an exhaustive guide to the **"King in Black"** storyline, structured to answer the user intent behind a search for a "Marvel Blackest Night." ===== Part 1: The Dossier: An At-a-Glance Summary ===== * **Core Identity: "King in Black" was a line-wide crossover event that saw Knull, the primordial creator of the Symbiotes, arrive on Earth with a massive army to reclaim the planet and extinguish all life, forcing every hero from the streets of New York to the far reaches of space into a desperate last stand against the ultimate darkness.** * **Key Takeaways:** * **Role in the Universe:** This event served as the cataclysmic finale to years of storytelling in the [[venom_eddie_brock|Venom]] comics, fundamentally redefining the origin and nature of the [[symbiotes]] (also known as the Klyntar) and their creator, [[knull]]. * **Primary Impact:** The conclusion of "King in Black" resulted in a monumental status quo shift for Eddie Brock, who defeated Knull and inherited his title and power, becoming the new "King in Black" and the god-like hive-mind of the entire symbiote race. * **Key Incarnations:** "King in Black" is, as of now, a **comics-only event (Earth-616)**. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has only begun to explore symbiotes through Sony's Spider-Man Universe films and a brief post-credits scene in ''Spider-Man: No Way Home''. While Knull's weapon, the [[necrosword|All-Black the Necrosword]], appeared in ''Thor: Love and Thunder'', its origins were changed to remove any connection to the symbiote god. ===== Part 2: Origin and Evolution ===== ==== Publication History and Creation ==== The "King in Black" event was the culmination of a long-form story meticulously crafted by writer Donny Cates and artist Ryan Stegman. Their critically acclaimed run on the ''Venom'' series, which began in 2018, was built from the ground up to re-contextualize the symbiotes from simple alien parasites into something far more ancient and terrifying. The narrative seeds were planted in ''Venom'' #1 (May 2018), which introduced the concept of the Grendel, a massive symbiote-dragon, and the Klyntar's hive-mind connection to a dark, imprisoned god. Cates and Stegman systematically built the lore, establishing [[knull]] as a Lovecraftian entity who existed in the void before creation. The storyline was further advanced in the 2019 event ''Absolute Carnage'', which served as a direct prequel. In that story, a resurrected Cletus Kasady, empowered by Knull, hunted down everyone who had ever bonded with a symbiote to collect their "codex" remnants, all to free Knull from his cosmic prison. The main ''King in Black'' event was a five-issue miniseries that ran from December 2020 to April 2021. Its massive scale was supported by dozens of tie-in issues across the entire Marvel publishing line, including ''The Avengers'', ''X-Men'', ''Spider-Man'', and ''Savage Avengers'', showcasing the global and cosmic impact of Knull's invasion. ==== The Road to War: Prelude to the Invasion ==== === Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe) === The in-universe origin of the "King in Black" conflict is a story that predates the universe itself. Before the Big Bang, there was only the endless, cold void. Drifting within this abyss was a singular, primordial entity: **Knull**. When the Celestials arrived and began the "Let there be light" process of creation, their light was a violent intrusion into Knull's peaceful kingdom of darkness. In a rage, Knull forged a blade from his own living shadow—the first symbiote, **All-Black the Necrosword**. With it, he decapitated one of the Celestials. Cast back into the Void, Knull used the forge of the dead Celestial's head (which would become the station known as [[knowhere]]) to temper his living abyss, creating an army of symbiotic creatures. These were not the Klyntar as they would later be known; they were mindless predators, extensions of his will, used to wage a genocidal war against the light. He conquered countless worlds, shrouding them in darkness and absorbing their inhabitants into his hive. On a primitive, medieval Earth, one of Knull's symbiote dragons, the Grendel, was defeated by [[thor]] and its connection to the hive was severed. Millennia later, a chance encounter with the Silver Surfer led to Knull being stranded on a desolate planet. There, the symbiotes he controlled, now free from his direct influence, imprisoned him at the core of the planet, which they transformed into a cage they called Klyntar—their word for "cage." For billions of years, Knull was dormant. His reawakening was triggered by the events on modern-day Earth. The Grendel symbiote was unearthed by [[shield]], eventually bonding to Eddie Brock. The constant struggle between the Avengers, Eddie Brock, and Carnage sent ripples through the cosmic hive-mind, weakening Knull's prison. The final key was turned during the ''Absolute Carnage'' event. The Carnage symbiote, now a vessel for Knull's will, harvested the genetic codexes left behind in the bodies of past symbiote hosts. By collecting these, Carnage re-established a direct link to the hive, shattering Klyntar and unleashing the Symbiote God from his ancient prison. With his army of symbiote dragons and corrupted celestials at his command, Knull set a direct course for the one planet that had defied him more than any other: Earth. === Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) === As previously stated, the "King in Black" storyline has **not** occurred in the MCU. The cinematic universe's handling of related concepts is disparate and significantly different from the comic book canon. * **Symbiotes:** The primary introduction of symbiotes has been through Sony's films (''Venom'', ''Venom: Let There Be Carnage''). These films portray the symbiotes as a species of alien lifeforms exploring the universe for suitable hosts, with no mention of Knull or a divine origin. A small piece of the Venom symbiote was left behind in the prime MCU (Earth-199999) at the end of ''Spider-Man: No Way Home'', but its future role is unknown. * **All-Black the Necrosword:** The legendary weapon made a prominent appearance in ''Thor: Love and Thunder'' as the weapon of [[gorr_the_god_butcher|Gorr the God Butcher]]. However, its origin was completely altered. In the film, it is an ancient, cursed blade that corrupts its wielder with the power to kill gods, preying on their grief and desire for vengeance. The film makes **no connection** between the sword and Knull or the symbiote species. An adaptation of "King in Black" in the MCU would require a massive retcon of these established elements, unifying the Sony and MCU lore and introducing the cosmic-horror aspect of Knull, a significant departure from the more grounded tone the MCU has generally taken, even in its cosmic stories. ===== Part 3: Timeline, Key Turning Points & Aftermath ===== The invasion of Earth by Knull was swift, brutal, and devastatingly effective, pushing Marvel's heroes to their absolute breaking point. === The Arrival and The Fall of Earth === The event begins with Knull's fleet arriving in Earth's solar system. The Avengers, forewarned by Eddie Brock, mount a preemptive defense, but they are catastrophically unprepared for the scale of the threat. Knull's army doesn't consist of ships, but of trillions of living symbiotes formed into massive space-faring creatures, including countless symbiote dragons. The Earth's most powerful defenders are neutralized with terrifying ease. [[captain_marvel|Captain Marvel]] is swatted aside. The Sentry, often called Marvel's Superman, confronts Knull directly, boasting of his power of "a million exploding suns." Knull casually tears the Sentry in half, absorbing his cosmic void-self and demonstrating an entirely new level of power. In a matter of minutes, Knull encases the entire planet in a massive dome of living symbiote matter, cutting Earth off from the sun and all outside help. Legions of symbiote dragons descend upon every major city, and a psychic wave of despair washes over the populace. Heroes on the ground are quickly overwhelmed. Knull can possess and control anyone bonded to a symbiote, including former hosts. Worse, his influence can corrupt heroes, turning them into monstrous "Void Knights." [[captain_america]], Doctor Strange, and countless others are absorbed into the hive, their powers now serving the King in Black. === Desperate Resistance and Unlikely Alliances === With the heavy hitters of the [[avengers]] and [[fantastic_four]] either defeated or corrupted, the resistance falls to a motley crew of survivors. * **Iron Man's Gambit:** [[iron_man|Tony Stark]], realizing conventional weapons are useless, takes a desperate measure. He captures one of Knull's symbiote dragons and forcibly bonds with it, using his Extremis armor to keep control, transforming himself into a massive, armored dragon-mech. * **The X-Men's Stand:** From their island nation of [[krakoa]], the [[x-men]] mount one of the few effective counter-attacks. Jean Grey's telepathic powers are a potent weapon against the hive-mind, and Cyclops coordinates targeted strikes to liberate key areas. * **Namor's Ancient War:** The battle extends beneath the seas. [[namor|Namor the Sub-Mariner]] rallies the forces of Atlantis, revealing that his people have fought off symbiote invasions from the "Black Tide" for centuries. * **The God of Light's Search:** Doctor Strange, before his fall, realizes the only force that can counter Knull's primordial darkness is its opposite: the primordial light. He casts a spell to find a vessel for the **Enigma Force**, the cosmic power that creates [[captain_universe]]. The force searches for a worthy hero to become its champion, but Knull's despair is so overwhelming that no hero feels worthy. === The Climax: A New God is Born === The turning point of the war comes from an unexpected place. Eddie Brock is seemingly killed by Knull early in the invasion, his consciousness cast into the symbiote hive-mind. Within this psychic space, he learns the true nature of the symbiotes and communicates with other consciousnesses trapped within. He is eventually resurrected by a combination of symbiote science and mutant technology. Meanwhile, the Enigma Force, having found no other hero able to accept it, bestows its power upon the one person fighting for pure, selfless love: Eddie's son, **Dylan Brock**. Dylan has latent abilities to control and destroy symbiotes, a power inherited from his unique birth. He uses this power to fight Knull's forces and free several corrupted heroes. Seeing Dylan in mortal danger, the Silver Surfer arrives, himself a former wielder of the Enigma Force. He realizes the force needs a host who understands both darkness and light. As Knull is about to kill Dylan, the Enigma Force leaves the child and bonds with the resurrected **Eddie Brock**. Eddie is transformed into the new Captain Universe. Now wielding the power of creation itself, Eddie Brock confronts Knull. He receives a final boost when [[thor]] throws him Mjolnir. Merging the hammer with the Silver Surfer's board, Eddie creates a massive battle axe made of pure cosmic energy. With one final, devastating blow, he slays Knull, atomizing the Symbiote God. === Aftermath: The New King === Knull's death does not destroy the symbiotes; it frees them. However, without a hive-mind, they would dissolve into chaos. In a final act, Eddie Brock's consciousness, still empowered by the Enigma Force and connected to all symbiotes, takes Knull's place. He becomes the new center of the hive, the benevolent **King in Black**. The consequences are immense: * **Eddie Brock:** Ascends to a new form of godhood, his consciousness now able to traverse the cosmos in an instant, controlling trillions of symbiotes across the universe. His physical body remains on Earth, but he is fundamentally changed. * **Dylan Brock:** Steps into his father's former role as the new primary host of the [[venom_symbiote|Venom symbiote]] on Earth. * **The Symbiotes:** Are freed from Knull's malevolent influence. Under Eddie's guidance, they begin to evolve into a force for potential good, acting as a cosmic patrol and force for justice. * **The Universe:** The threat of Knull is ended, but the power he represented is now in the hands of a flawed but heroic human, a wild card on the cosmic stage. ===== Part 4: Key Participants & Factions ===== ==== Protagonists (The Resistance) ==== * **Eddie Brock / Venom:** The central figure of the entire saga. His journey from anti-hero to the literal god of an alien species is the core arc of the event. His victory was not just one of power, but of empathy, understanding the symbiotes' pain and choosing to heal them rather than destroy them. * **Dylan Brock:** Eddie's son and the story's heart. His innate anti-symbiote powers make him a crucial weapon, but it's his unwavering love for his father that ultimately inspires the Enigma Force and turns the tide. He represents the future of the Venom legacy. * **The Avengers:** While the core team is defeated early, key members play vital roles. **Tony Stark** provides the technological ingenuity with his Extremis-symbiote armor, and **Captain America**, even after being corrupted, represents the indomitable human spirit that Knull cannot extinguish. * **The X-Men:** As one of the few organized forces left standing, their role from Krakoa is indispensable. **Jean Grey's** psychic battle against a god-tier telepath like Knull is a major highlight, showcasing the immense power of Omega-level mutants. ==== Antagonists (The Void's Army) ==== * **Knull:** The ultimate villain. Knull is not just a conqueror; he is a force of cosmic entropy. He desires a return to the perfect, silent darkness that existed before creation. His motivations are philosophical as much as they are malevolent, viewing life and light as a "disease." He is portrayed as an entity of near-unlimited power, making his eventual defeat all the more impactful. * **Symbiote Dragons (Grendels):** Knull's primary shock troops. These skyscraper-sized beasts are extensions of his will, capable of leveling entire cities and forming the bulk of his invasion fleet. * **Corrupted Celestials:** Among the most terrifying visuals of the invasion are the ancient, god-like Celestials, long dead, now reanimated and encased in living symbiote matter to serve as Knull's personal guard. * **Void Knights:** The designation given to the heroes and villains of Earth who are consumed and controlled by Knull's symbiotes. Their corruption serves to break the morale of the remaining heroes, forcing them to fight twisted versions of their friends and allies. ==== Pivotal Factions ==== * **The Enigma Force (Captain Universe):** The cosmic antithesis of Knull. It is the personification of light, life, and creation. Its intervention is the literal deus ex machina that makes victory possible, seeking a host pure enough of heart and strong enough of will to wield its power against the Void. * **Silver Surfer:** Acting as a herald for the Enigma Force, his cosmic awareness allows him to understand the nature of the threat. His decision to aid Eddie Brock, and the lending of his board to form the final weapon, is a key moment of the climax. ===== Part 5: Major Tie-In Storylines ===== The scale of "King in Black" was so vast that numerous tie-in comics explored its impact on every corner of the Marvel Universe. === King in Black: The Union === This series served as the debut for a new British superhero team led by Union Jack. Their very first mission as a team is to deal with a symbiote dragon attack in the English countryside, a brutal trial-by-fire that tests their cohesion and power levels against an overwhelming threat. === King in Black: Namor === A miniseries that delves into the past, revealing that Knull's influence on Earth is far older than previously known. It tells the story of a young Namor and the heroes of Atlantis in a bygone era fighting against a forgotten faction of underwater symbiotes called the Black Tide, adding historical weight to Atlantis's role in the main event. === King in Black: Return of the Valkyries === This tie-in focuses on [[jane_foster|Jane Foster]], the current Valkyrie. As Knull's darkness consumes Earth, the souls of the dead are thrown into chaos. Jane is forced to lead a new team of Valkyries, including a long-dead one resurrected by the crisis, to protect the spirits of the fallen and confront a symbiote-possessed Celestial. === King in Black: Planet of the Symbiotes === This series explored more ground-level consequences of the invasion, focusing on characters like Scream and the American Kaiju as they deal with the fallout of Knull's arrival and the armies of symbiotes running rampant outside the main battlefields. ===== Part 6: Adaptations & Legacy ===== ==== Adaptations and Cinematic Future ==== As a relatively recent comic event, "King in Black" has not been directly adapted into film or television. Its legacy is primarily seen in video games and merchandise. * **Video Games:** Knull has been added as a major boss and playable character in mobile games like ''Marvel: Contest of Champions'' and ''Marvel Future Fight''. The "King in Black" aesthetic has also influenced character skins in games like ''Fortnite''. * **MCU Speculation:** A direct, faithful adaptation is unlikely given the current MCU landscape. However, the core concepts could be introduced piecemeal. The Necrosword's appearance in ''Thor: Love and Thunder'', while disconnected from symbiotes, establishes the weapon's existence. The piece of the Venom symbiote left in the MCU could multiply and eventually lead to the introduction of a more comic-accurate Klyntar. A villain like Knull would be a fitting "saga-level" threat, on par with Kang or Thanos, for a future phase of the MCU, especially one focused on more cosmic or supernatural horror elements. ==== Legacy in the Comics ==== The impact of "King in Black" on the Marvel Universe, and specifically on the Venom mythology, cannot be overstated. * **The Age of Space-Venom:** The series concluded Donny Cates's run and launched a new era for Venom. With Eddie Brock now a cosmic entity policing the universe, the mantle of Venom on Earth was passed to his son, Dylan, creating a fundamentally new dynamic for the character. * **Redefinition of Symbiotes:** The event permanently changed symbiotes from a simple alien race to a cosmic force with a divine origin. Their potential for good, now guided by Eddie, opens up infinite storytelling possibilities. * **The Threat of the Void:** While Knull is dead, the concept of the "Void" and the primordial darkness remains. Future stories continue to explore other dark gods and entities that exist in the abyss, using Knull as a benchmark for cosmic horror. The event firmly established this sub-genre within the mainstream Marvel Universe. ===== See Also ===== * [[knull]] * [[venom_eddie_brock]] * [[symbiotes]] * [[absolute_carnage]] * [[dylan_brock]] * [[necrosword]] ===== Notes and Trivia ===== ((The main ''King in Black'' series consists of five issues, written by Donny Cates with art by Ryan Stegman, published from December 2020 to April 2021.)) ((Knull's visual design, with his long white hair, gaunt features, and sinister smile, was heavily inspired by the character Aphex Twin from the music video 'Come to Daddy'.)) ((The concept of All-Black the Necrosword being the first symbiote was a retcon. It was originally created by writer Jason Aaron in his ''Thor: God of Thunder'' run for the character Gorr the God Butcher, with no initial connection to the symbiotes. Donny Cates masterfully wove this existing lore into his new origin for Knull.)) ((The "King in Black" title is a reference to the song "Man in Black" by Johnny Cash, a musician Donny Cates has cited as an influence on his writing style for Eddie Brock.)) ((The final weapon Eddie Brock creates—the Mjolnir/Silver Surfer board axe—is a direct homage to the cover of ''Silver Surfer'' Vol. 7 #5 (2014) from the run by Dan Slott and Mike Allred, where the Surfer briefly proved worthy of Mjolnir.)) ((Prior to this event, the planet of the symbiotes was known as Klyntar, and they were presented as a noble species that "caged" evil hosts. Cates's run retconned this, revealing "Klyntar" meant "cage" because the planet itself was the prison for their evil god, Knull.))