The Marvel Comics History of Knull, the Villain From VENOM: THE LAST DANCE, Explained

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As a long-time fan of the Marvel Comics universe, I find myself utterly captivated by the enigmatic figure of Knull, the God of the Abyss. His intricate backstory, from his initial encounter with Thor to his transformative journey, is a testament to the richness and complexity that Marvel has come to be known for.

So far, the Sony Spider-Man movie universe hasn’t faced a villain as formidable as Thanos… until the upcoming film “Venom: The Last Dance”. The latest trailer unveils Knull, a powerful cosmic antagonist who has rapidly become a significant menace in the Marvel Universe. In this movie, it’s speculated that he will be played by Norman Reedus, famously known for his role in “The Walking Dead” series. Here’s all you need to know about the ancient dark entity called the King in Black, the God of Symbiotes, and the Ruler of the Abyss.

The First Marvel Comics Appearance of Knull, God of the Symbiotes

Originating from the minds of writer Donny Cates and artist Ryan Stegman, Knull made his official debut in the 2018 fourth volume of Venom, issue #3. However, this cosmic entity was initially introduced, albeit anonymously, in Thor: God of Thunder #6 way back in 2013, marking a five-year gap. Within a brief span of years, he escalated to one of Marvel’s formidable villains, posing not only a significant threat to Venom but also to Thor and the Silver Surfer, to some extent. As the central antagonist of the crossover event The King in Black, Knull emerged as a peril that almost every Earth-bound hero had to confront.

The Ancient Origins of Knull in the Marvel Comics

In a universe older than time itself, Knull was born following the demise of the sixth cosmic realm. When the divine beings known as the Celestials constructed the seventh iteration, which we know as the Marvel Universe’s 616, they bestowed upon Knull the title “King in Black,” charged with safeguarding their new creations. Yet, when the Radiance of Creation swept through, it consumed his dominion of Eldritch Darkness, causing Knull to rise up in revolt. He forged a weapon, the Necrosword, or the All-Black, and employed it to slay one of the Celestials. Infuriated by this act of treachery, the remaining Celestials exiled Knull far into the Primordial Abyss. The head of the slain Celestial accompanied him on his journey.

With that head, he forged the initial symbiote, harnessing the residual Celestial power within it. This head eventually transformed into Knowhere, serving as the base for the Guardians of the Galaxy later on. The early symbiotes Knull crafted were shaped amidst intense heat and commotion. Inadvertently, he imbued these symbiotes with vulnerabilities to high-pitched sounds and flames. These symbiotes were an extension of his own mind. Knull fashioned a symbiote armor and started using All-Black for slaughtering other deities. At some point, he crashed onto an unnamed planet where the creature Gorr seized the All-Black from the weakened Knull, transforming into the God-Butcher. Later, Gorr the God-Butcher emerged as a significant adversary to Thor, after slaying numerous gods.

Knull vs. Thor and Knull’s Banishment

Around a millennium past, an enormous symbiote entity descended on Earth, aiming to incorporate our planet into its Symbiote Collective. At that time, a younger Thor Odinson, the son of Odin, arrived on Earth to combat this dragon-like symbiote, known by the Vikings and villagers as Grendel. A bolt of lightning summoned by Mjölnir, Thor’s hammer, severed the link between Knull and his symbiotic hive mind. Now wandering the universe and liberated from Knull’s dominion, these symbiotes started bonding with new hosts and discovering things other than just perpetual darkness. The symbiotes rose against their deity and ruler, imprisoning him within a world comprised of billions of symbiotes. They christened this world “Klyntar,” which in their tongue means “prison.

Knull in the King in Black Crossover Event

After a millennia, archeologists discovered the remains of Grendel. Later, several SHIELD scientists tried to hone its power for military use, but it only served to reactivate their symbiote connection to Knull. Years later, he returned to full strength after a conflict between Eddie Brock, a.k.a. Venom, and Carnage, two symbiotes on Earth. Now at full power once more, Knull destroyed Klyntar, and created a suit of draconic armor for himself. He then created a fleet of symbiote dragons to conquer the universe, starting with Earth. When he attacked the Earth in 2020’s King in Black crossover event, it took Venom, the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men together to defeat Knull. But it was Venom who gave Knull the killing blow, becoming the new King of the Symbiotes as a result.

Knull’s Powers and Abilities

In the role of the deity from the abyss, the everlasting Knull boasts superhuman might and resilience. He possesses the ability to soar through the skies and has regenerative abilities that enable him to recover from most wounds. Knull wields the power to conjure and manipulate the Eldritch Darkness. Moreover, he can fabricate weapons and beings out of pure darkness, which he can command at a distance. The symbiotes he manufactures display various powers and forms, such as the dragon-like symbiotes. Given his shape-shifting nature, Knull can alter his mouth into a set of massive fanged jaws with an extended tongue, a trait inherited by his symbiotes.

The Live-Action, Cinematic Future of Knull

What’s the potential role of Knull in upcoming cinematic ventures? Is he slated to be the main antagonist in “Venom: The Last Dance,” or will he merely make a brief appearance at the end? Given that “Venom: The Last Dance” is supposedly the last film for Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock, could this signal a showdown between Knull and Spider-Man in “Spider-Man 4”? Knull seems too formidable to be underutilized. Moreover, he’s one of Thor’s significant adversaries, but with Thor being at Marvel Studios, such a confrontation appears unlikely in the near future. We’re eagerly waiting to learn more about Knull’s destiny on the big screen as the ruler of the Abyss.

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2024-09-13 19:32