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Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== Cull Obsidian ====== ===== Part 1: The Dossier: An At-a-Glance Summary ===== * **Core Identity:** **Cull Obsidian, also known as the Black Order, is the personal retinue of world-conquering generals fanatically loyal to the Mad Titan, [[thanos]], serving as his vanguard to cull populations and acquire objects of power across the cosmos.** * **Key Takeaways:** * **Role in the Universe:** In both comics and film, Cull Obsidian acts as the spearhead of Thanos's armies, an elite team of immensely powerful individuals tasked with executing his most critical and brutal missions, most notably the acquisition of the [[infinity_stones]]. * **Primary Impact:** Their debut in the 2013 //Infinity// comic event established a new, terrifying layer to Thanos's power, proving he didn't need to act alone to threaten the entire universe. In the MCU, they served as the primary antagonists for much of //Avengers: Infinity War//, systematically hunting the heroes and pushing them to their absolute limits. * **Key Incarnations:** In the prime comic universe (Earth-616), "Cull Obsidian" is the name of the entire five-member team. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), the team is called the "Black Order," and "Cull Obsidian" is the new name given to the character known as **Black Dwarf** in the comics. This is the single most important distinction for understanding the group. ===== Part 2: Origin and Evolution ===== ==== Publication History and Creation ==== The Cull Obsidian first appeared in **''New Avengers'' Vol. 3 #8 (September 2013)**, though they were featured more prominently in the concurrent crossover event, **''Infinity'' (October 2013 - January 2014)**. They were created by writer [[jonathan_hickman]] and artists [[jerome_opena]] and [[jim_cheung]]. Their creation was a strategic move by Hickman to escalate the threat level of [[thanos]] for a modern audience. For decades, Thanos was often depicted as a solitary schemer or a being who relied on temporary alliances and vast, faceless armies. The introduction of the Cull Obsidian gave him a "family" of distinct, character-driven lieutenants, each with unique powers and personalities. This provided multiple, credible threats for the various factions of the [[avengers]] and other Earth heroes to face simultaneously, allowing for a truly global, multi-front war. The design of each member was intended to be visually distinct and menacing, reflecting their specific role and power set—from the warrior-like Proxima Midnight to the insidious, non-physical threat of Ebony Maw. Their arrival immediately established them as one of the most formidable villainous groups in the Marvel Universe. ==== In-Universe Origin Story ==== The origin of the Cull Obsidian is a grim testament to Thanos's philosophy of "survival of the fittest" and his method of conquest. While their specific origins vary slightly, the core concept remains consistent across both major continuities. === Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe) === In the prime Marvel continuity, Thanos assembled his Cull Obsidian by traveling to worlds he was in the process of conquering. From each planet, he would demand a tribute: the life of a single youth. However, he didn't seek just any child. He sought out the most powerful, ruthless, and promising individuals, those who possessed unique abilities or an unquenchable will to survive. Each member of the Cull Obsidian is the sole survivor of their respective race, "adopted" by Thanos and raised to become a living weapon in his service. He honed their innate abilities, twisted their minds to his will, and forged them into a unit bound by fear and a perverse sense of familial loyalty. They were not merely servants; they were his "children," the living embodiment of his culling philosophy. * **[[corvus_glaive]]:** The first and most favored of Thanos's children, Corvus was chosen for his cruel cunning and strategic brilliance. Thanos gifted him a special Glaive that, as long as it remained intact, granted him a form of immortality. * **Proxima Midnight:** A peerless warrior from a world that valued combat above all else. Thanos saw in her the perfect hunter and armed her with a spear forged from a sun trapped in distorted space-time, capable of firing lethal energy blasts. * **Ebony Maw:** Not a warrior, but a whisperer and manipulator. His power lies not in physical strength but in his silver tongue, which can bend the will of even the strongest minds. He was chosen for his ability to dismantle heroes from the inside out. * **Black Dwarf:** The powerhouse of the group, chosen for his super-dense skin and incredible strength. He was the anchor of the team, a living siege engine. * **Supergiant:** A telepathic parasite with an unstable mind. She was found by Thanos and turned into a mental devourer, capable of consuming the intellect and memories of her victims. This group was named Cull Obsidian, a term that translates to "Midnight Slaughter," and they became the harbingers of Thanos's arrival on any world he targeted. === Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) === In the MCU, the group is officially known as the **Black Order**, though they are also referred to as the **"Children of Thanos."** Their origin is functionally similar to their comic counterparts, though less explicitly detailed on-screen. They are all individuals from worlds conquered by Thanos who were taken in by him as children and raised to be his fanatical enforcers. The core difference is the roster and naming convention. The MCU's Black Order consists of four members, with Supergiant being completely absent from the adaptation. Most significantly, the character of Black Dwarf was renamed **Cull Obsidian**, taking the name of the entire comic book team. Their on-screen introduction in //Avengers: Infinity War// establishes them as Thanos's most trusted agents in his quest for the Infinity Stones. They are shown to have a long history of serving him, with Gamora and Nebula confirming that they, too, were once considered "Children of Thanos" alongside the Order. This personal connection adds a layer of familial tension and rivalry to their dynamic. The MCU emphasizes their role as a dark, twisted family unit, bound to their abusive but powerful father figure. Their dialogue and interactions reveal a deep-seated fanaticism; they genuinely believe in Thanos's mission of bringing "balance" to the universe through mass genocide, a cause for which they are all willing to die. ===== Part 3: Mandate, Structure & Key Members ===== The Cull Obsidian's mandate is simple: to carry out the will of Thanos without question or failure. They are his apostles and his executioners. Their structure is that of a military command unit, with Corvus Glaive often acting as the field leader and Thanos as the supreme commander. === Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe) === In the comics, the team is a well-oiled machine, with each member possessing a power set that complements the others. Their primary strength lies in their ability to divide and conquer, engaging multiple powerful heroes simultaneously across different fronts. ^ **Member** ^ **Primary Role** ^ **Key Abilities & Equipment** ^ **Defining Trait** ^ | [[corvus_glaive]] | Field Commander & Assassin | Immortality (via his glaive), Superhuman Strength/Speed/Durability, Expert Tactician. His Atomic Glaive can slice through any known substance and kills on a molecular level. | Unwavering but self-serving loyalty. He is the only one Thanos seems to truly trust. | | Proxima Midnight | Warrior & Hunter | Superhuman Strength/Speed/Durability, Master Combatant. Her spear can become a multi-pronged lance of light that never misses its target and contains the power of a star. | Unmatched martial prowess and ferocity. She is the most skilled pure fighter of the group. | | Ebony Maw | Manipulator & Sorcerer | Genius-level Intellect, Powers of Persuasion (can infect minds with his voice), Telekinesis, Dark Magic. Does not engage in physical combat. | A treacherous and insidious intellect. His power is subtle but arguably the most dangerous. | | Black Dwarf | Brute Force & Tank | Superhuman Strength/Durability, Unbreakable Skin. Wields a massive two-headed axe. He is the physical powerhouse and anchor of the team. | Overwhelming power, but a lack of tactical finesse, leading to notable failures. | | Supergiant | Psionic Infiltrator | Omega-level Telepathy, Mind Control, Emotion Manipulation, Intellect Devouring. She is a mental parasite who feeds on secrets and minds. | Sadistic instability. She is the wild card of the group, unpredictable and terrifying. | The comic version of the team is defined by their sheer power and the scope of their threat. During the //Infinity// event, they single-handedly brought Earth's mightiest heroes to their knees by launching coordinated, simultaneous attacks on Wakanda, Atlantis, the Jean Grey School, and the Sanctum Sanctorum. === Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) === The MCU's Black Order streamlines the team for cinematic clarity, focusing on more visual and direct powers. Their mandate is singular: retrieve the Infinity Stones for Thanos. While still formidable, their individual power levels appear somewhat reduced compared to their comic counterparts to allow the Avengers to engage them in more direct, physical confrontations. ^ **Member** ^ **Primary Role** ^ **Key Abilities & Equipment** ^ **Defining Trait** ^ | Ebony Maw | Herald & Sorcerer | Advanced Telekinesis, Matter Manipulation, Genius Intellect. He levitates and can manipulate his environment with surgical precision. | Arrogant and condescending. He sees himself as intellectually superior to all others. | | Cull Obsidian | Brute Force & Demolitions | Immense Superhuman Strength/Durability, Cybernetic Arm. Wields a multi-purpose chain hammer that can function as a grappling hook, shield, and blade. | Pure, unrestrained aggression. He is a blunt instrument of destruction. | | Proxima Midnight | Assassin & Warrior | Superhuman Strength/Speed/Durability, Master of Armed Combat. Wields an energy-bladed trident capable of firing deadly energy blasts. | Relentless and efficient. She is a dedicated killer, often paired with Corvus Glaive. | | Corvus Glaive | Stealth & Executioner | Superhuman Strength/Speed/Durability, Expert in Stealth. Wields his signature bladed Glaive, which can pierce even the dense hide of [[vision|Vision's]] vibranium-laced body. | Cunning and ruthless. He is the most stealth-oriented member, specializing in surprise attacks. | **//Key Differences in the MCU Adaptation://** * **Supergiant's Absence:** The most notable change is the complete removal of Supergiant. This was likely done to simplify the roster and avoid the complexities of a powerful telepath, which could have overshadowed the central plot of hunting the stones. * **Ebony Maw's Powers:** His comic book power of "persuasion" is abstract and difficult to visualize. The MCU changed this to powerful telekinesis, making his threat immediate, visual, and perfect for dynamic action sequences against characters like Doctor Strange and Iron Man. * **Black Dwarf becomes Cull Obsidian:** Renaming Black Dwarf to Cull Obsidian streamlined the terminology for the audience. "The Black Order" is a more direct name for a group, and "Cull Obsidian" sounds more intimidating for a singular, monstrous character. His design was also made more bestial and less armored. ===== Part 4: Key Relationships & Network ===== ==== Core Allies ==== The Cull Obsidian's primary and, in truth, only significant relationship is with their master and adoptive father, **[[thanos]]**. Their relationship is a complex mixture of genuine filial devotion, terror, and ambition. They were raised to worship him and his ideology of "balance." In the MCU, Ebony Maw acts as a herald, speaking of Thanos with religious fervor. They carry out his orders with absolute fanaticism, believing their horrific actions serve a greater universal purpose. However, this loyalty is often born of fear. Thanos is a cruel and demanding father who does not tolerate failure. In the comics, after Black Dwarf's failed invasion of Wakanda during //Infinity//, he was expelled from the order. Their desire for his approval is matched only by their fear of his wrath. In a 2016 //Thanos// comic run by Jeff Lemire, when Thanos is dying, Corvus Glaive and others in the Order seize the opportunity to betray him and carve out their own empire, proving their loyalty only extends as far as his power does. ==== Arch-Enemies ==== The primary enemies of the Cull Obsidian are anyone who stands in the way of Thanos's goals. This has put them in direct conflict with nearly every major hero in the Marvel Universe. * **The Avengers:** As Earth's mightiest heroes and the primary protectors of several Infinity Stones, the Avengers are the Cull Obsidian's most frequent and formidable opponents. In both the //Infinity// comic and the MCU's //Infinity War// and //Endgame//, the final battles for the fate of the universe are fought between the Order and the Avengers. Key matchups include Ebony Maw vs. Doctor Strange, Proxima Midnight and Corvus Glaive vs. Captain America and Black Widow, and Cull Obsidian vs. Hulk/Hulkbuster. * **The Guardians of the Galaxy:** As cosmic heroes who have directly thwarted Thanos's plans before, the Guardians have a deeply personal enmity with the Order. This is especially true for Gamora and Nebula, who see the Order as their twisted siblings and rivals for their father's "affection." * **The X-Men & The Inhumans:** During the //Infinity// storyline, the Cull Obsidian launched attacks against both groups. Corvus Glaive assaulted the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning in search of Thanos's Inhuman son, Thane, while the entire Order later fought against the Inhumans in their hidden city of Orollan. ==== Affiliations ==== The Cull Obsidian's only true affiliation is with Thanos himself. They are the **Black Order**, a name synonymous with his reign of terror. They command his armies, such as the Outriders and the Chitauri, but they are not part of those armies. They stand above them, a separate and elite entity. In the comics, following Thanos's temporary death, [[corvus_glaive]] took advantage of the power vacuum to form his own Black Order. He used Thanos's fortress, the Black Quadrant, as his base and recruited other powerful villains to his cause, seeking to build an empire in his own image. This demonstrated a desire for power independent of his father, a trait Thanos later punished him severely for upon his return. ===== Part 5: Iconic Events & Storylines ===== === Infinity (2013) === This event marks the stunning debut of the Cull Obsidian. With the Avengers off-world fighting a cosmic war, Thanos sees Earth as vulnerable. He dispatches his Cull Obsidian to the planet with two objectives: retrieve the Infinity Gems and find and kill his long-lost Inhuman son, Thane. The Order executes a devastating multi-pronged attack. Proxima Midnight decimates Atlantis in her battle with Namor. Ebony Maw mentally ensnares Doctor Strange, forcing him to act as a double agent. Corvus Glaive attacks the X-Men. Supergiant mentally assaults the Inhumans' home of Attilan. The only failure is Black Dwarf, who is single-handedly repelled from Wakanda by the Black Panther and the nation's advanced defenses. The event showcases their immense power and tactical coordination, establishing them as a top-tier threat. === Thanos (2016-2018) === In this series, Thanos is afflicted with a mysterious illness that is slowly killing him. Seeing their master weakened, Corvus Glaive and other members of the Order betray him, aligning with Thane, who seeks to usurp his father's throne. This storyline delves deep into the treacherous nature of the Order, revealing their loyalty is conditional. When Thanos eventually recovers, his retribution is swift and brutal. He confronts Corvus, shatters his glaive (the source of his immortality), and offers him the "choice" of suicide. This arc highlights the cruel internal dynamics of Thanos's "family." === Avengers: No Surrender (2018) === In this weekly //Avengers// storyline, the Cull Obsidian (minus Supergiant) are resurrected/reconstituted by the Challenger, a cosmic entity and rival of the Grandmaster. They are forced to participate in a cosmic game, acting as the Challenger's pieces against the Grandmaster's team (a group of brainwashed heroes called the Lethal Legion). This arc places them in a different context, not as conquerors for Thanos but as pawns in a cosmic game, forcing them to fight against a wide array of Earth's heroes in a contest for the planet itself. All members are eventually defeated and seemingly killed once again. === Avengers: Infinity War & Endgame (MCU) === This two-part cinematic event is the definitive on-screen portrayal of the Black Order. They arrive on Earth in search of the Time and Mind Stones. Ebony Maw and Cull Obsidian attack New York, engaging in a massive battle with Iron Man, Doctor Strange, Spider-Man, and Wong. Maw successfully captures Strange, but is famously killed by Tony Stark, who blows him out of an airlock. Meanwhile, Proxima Midnight and Corvus Glaive ambush Wanda Maximoff and Vision in Scotland to retrieve the Mind Stone, but are fought off by Captain America, Black Widow, and Falcon. The entire Order reunites for the final assault on Wakanda. During the battle, Cull Obsidian is killed by Bruce Banner in the Hulkbuster armor, Proxima Midnight is killed by Wanda Maximoff, and Corvus Glaive is killed by Vision. When Thanos uses the Infinity Gauntlet to travel back in time from 2014 in //Endgame//, the entire Black Order is brought with him for the final battle against the assembled Avengers. They are all disintegrated, along with the rest of Thanos's army, when Tony Stark snaps his fingers with the Nano Gauntlet. ===== Part 6: Variants and Alternative Versions ===== * **Ultimate Universe (Earth-1610):** While the Cull Obsidian as a group does not exist in the original Ultimate Universe, Thanos of this reality did have a son named Ronan the Accuser (a different character from the Kree Accuser of Earth-616). This showcases an alternate take on the "Children of Thanos" concept. * **Black Order (2018 Limited Series):** This comic series by writer Derek Landy gives the Cull Obsidian a rare spotlight as protagonists. Working for the Grandmaster after being resurrected, they are sent on a mission to assassinate a corrupt emperor. The series explores their group dynamics without Thanos's direct oversight, showcasing their individual personalities, dark humor, and penchant for extreme violence even when attempting to be (relative) heroes-for-hire. * **Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy (2021 Video Game):** In this popular video game, Corvus Glaive and Proxima Midnight appear as enforcers for the Universal Church of Truth, having been brainwashed by its leader, Grand Unifier Raker. This version presents them as formidable boss battles, but ultimately as victims of a different cosmic power rather than willing servants of Thanos. ===== See Also ===== * [[thanos]] * [[infinity_stones]] * [[infinity_gauntlet]] * [[avengers]] * [[corvus_glaive]] * [[ebony_maw]] * [[infinity_(comic_event)]] ===== Notes and Trivia ===== ((The name "Cull Obsidian" is a poetic term for "Midnight Slaughter," reflecting their purpose as Thanos's harbingers of death.)) ((Supergiant's absence from the MCU has been a topic of much fan discussion. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo explained that in a cast already filled with dozens of characters, adding a powerful telepath would have overly complicated the narrative, and they felt her abilities overlapped too much with Ebony Maw's manipulative role.)) ((In early concept art for //Avengers: Infinity War//, Cull Obsidian (the character) had a more comic-accurate design, resembling an armored alien rather than the more bestial, tusked creature seen in the final film.)) ((The creation of the Cull Obsidian for the //Infinity// event was part of a larger, long-form narrative by Jonathan Hickman that ran through his //Avengers// and //New Avengers// titles, culminating in the 2015 //Secret Wars// event.)) ((Despite their immense power in the comics, the members of the Cull Obsidian have been killed and resurrected multiple times, often serving as high-level threats that are ultimately defeated to showcase the power of heroes like the Avengers or cosmic beings like the Challenger.)) ((The MCU version of Cull Obsidian's prosthetic arm displays a wide range of technological functions, acting as a shield, a blade, a grappling hook, and a blaster—making him a more versatile physical threat than his comic counterpart, Black Dwarf, who relied purely on his axe and brute strength.))