King in Black
"King in Black" | |
---|---|
Publisher | Marvel Comics |
Publication date | December 2020 – April 2021 |
Genre | |
Main character(s) | Venom Knull Spider-Man Avengers Fantastic Four Thunderbolts X-Men |
Creative team | |
Writer(s) | Donny Cates |
Penciller(s) | Ryan Stegman |
Inker(s) | JP Mayer |
Letterer(s) | Clayton Cowles |
Colorist(s) | Frank Martin |
Editor(s) | Devin Lewis Danny Khazem Nick Lowe |
"King in Black" is a comic book event written by
, and numerous other superheroes to protect it.Plot
Prelude
At the time when the Guardians of the Galaxy were investigating the death of Zn'rx Emperor Stote during the Galactic Council's meeting at the Proscenium and find that the Chitauri Peacekeeper and the Elders of the Universe member Profiteer were responsible sometime after the events of the "Empyre" storyline, Zoralis Gupa of the planet Silnius takes an urgent call while mentioning to the person on the other side to warn all neighboring systems. He tells Victoria that it's the End of Everything as different planets are starting to die in the planets owned by the Shi'ar, the Kree/Skrull Alliance, and the Zn'rx while rendering the galactic economy fragile enough to go bankrupt. Knowing that she won't make a profit, the Profiteer teleports Peacekeeper and the bio-bomb away. While thanking Zoralis Gupa for fooling the Profiteer with the bluff, Zoralis Gupa states to Super-Skrull and everyone present that something darker than Galactus is destroying the worlds and its name is Knull.[1]
Emperor Hulkling dispatched Talos to investigate the Kree and Skrull bases that went dark with Av-Rom, Keeyah, M'lanz, Virtue, and Tarna. Two days later, a Kree/Skrull Alliance armada headed by General Kalamari finds Talos' escape pod. After recuperating in the sick bay, Talos recaps to Kalamari about what happened on his mission that involved an encounter with Knull. Talos then informs Kalamari that his distress beacon on his escape pod is a warning that Knull is coming. Outside the ship, Knull is riding a Symbiote Dragon as he swoops in for an attack.[2]
At Ravencroft, Alistair Smythe is visited by a figure who is borrowing the form of Spencer Smythe so that it can speak to him and proposes that it helps it out. In the Blue Area of the Moon, Uatu the Watcher comments to the readers about the Watchers' vow not to interfere as a blue fire hits him. After rescuing a boy, Spider-Man shifts the symbiote into his work clothes and goes to meet with J. Jonah Jameson. He assigns Peter to work with Ned Leeds on an assignment where Alistair Smythe claims to have found a cure for paralysis. Uatu finds himself in a memory-scanning machine operated by Kang the Conqueror who is trying to save the universe. When the machine causes Uatu to overload it with psychic energy upon it mentioning about Knull, Kang's ship is destroyed leaving him adrift in space. As Spider-Man and Ned visit Ravencroft, the entity possessing Alistair has already hooked up a tank to Ravencroft's ventilation system while having gotten a glimpse of the Shadow Realm. Upon his spider-senses going off upon entering Ravencroft and an eclipse happening in the sky, Peter calls out to Ned only to be confronted by the entity's slaves who identifies Ned as one of them. Dodging the slaves while changing into Spider-Man, he confronts Alistair Smythe who is now being controlled by the entity and accuses him of being behind this attack. The entity introduces itself as Mister E who calls the suit on Peter Parker its brother. As Spider-Man fights Mister E, he learns from it that he and the suit are from the same "father". During the fight, Mister E is confronted by Black Knight who stabs Mister E with his Ebony Blade. While cryptically revealing that uncreation is moving backwards, Mister E disappears. Both Spider-Man and Black Knight aren't sure what to do next. While drifting through space, Kang is picked up by a spaceship where he encounters Rocket Raccoon.[3]
Main plot
While overlooking Manhattan's night life,
Eddie Brock slams onto a car, critically injuring himself. Spider-Man appears and tries to help him as the symbiote-possessed Avengers arrive.
Knull plans to control Dylan since he has the Symbiote codex, but Dylan fights back freeing Cyclops, Invisible Woman, Dr. Strange, Black Cat and the Human Torch. Doctor Strange morphs into a stronger form and together the heroes fight back against the symbiotes. Namor, Thor and Storm deal heavy damage, while Jean Grey immobilizes Knull with her psychic powers. She sees Knull's past, and realizes that the God of Light (another name for the Enigma Force) is the one thing that can take down Knull before passing out. Silver Surfer arrives to where the Enigma Force is and frees it from the symbiotes. Knull reels in pain and Eddie Brock is chosen to be the new Captain Universe.[7]
As Silver Surfer faces off against him, Knull recalls his previous fight against him. Through the God of Light, Silver Surfer assumes a chrome form and turns his surfboard into a sword while Knull transforms his armor into one that would enable him to combat Silver Surfer. As Knull begins to fight Silver Surfer, the members of the Avengers, Fantastic Four, and X-Men charge towards Knull so that they can aid Silver Surfer. Just then, Venom appears having been transformed into Captain Universe stating that he'll handle Knull from here. As Knull claims that he has killed Venom many times, Venom manages to make use of Mjolnir and Silver Surfer's surfboard which he merged into a battle axe that is the shape of Venom's spider emblem. When Cyclops asks if he is hallucinating, Captain America and Captain Marvel advise Cyclops to get his head into the game as the Symbiote-controlled civilians are closing in on him. Using his battle axe, Venom starts to shred his way through the Symbiote Dragons upon noting that Knull has become afraid of him. Knull even unleashes a Symbiote-controlled Celestial to aid him as Venom beheads it. As Venom rips off Knull's armor, Knull states that the darkness is in Dylan. Venom then picks up Knull, flies into the air, and punches through the Symbiote barrier surrounding Earth where Knull states that the Void is eternal and the abyss has teeth. Venom then states he doesn't care if he rights as he plunges his hand into the sun and uses the Uni-Power to vaporize Knull. Then Eddie hears a lot of voices. The Uni-Power informs Eddie that the Symbiote Hive is celebrating their freedom from Knull. The vampires see that Blade is overpowered and try to attack only to be vanquished when sunlight hits them. With their weapons separated from the battle axe form, Thor and Silver Surfer noted that things will not be back to normal soon. Spider-Man gets confirmation from Eddie that Knull is no more as Dylan embraces him as Venom rips out the Symbiote within Dylan. The Uni-Power then leaves Eddie stating that he has become more than a human as the Venom Symbiote rebonds to Eddie. As Venom sprouts dragon-like wings and flies into the air, the hostless Symbiotes and Symbiote Dragons follow him. The Venom Symbiote translates the Symbiote language to Eddie stating that he is now the new Nexus of the Hive Mind, the new God of the Symbiotes, and the new King in Black.[8]
Subplots
Eddie is in limbo talking with one of the Symbiotes and sees Flash Thompson in his Agent Anti-Venom appearance.[9] Flash reveals that even after he died, his Anti-Venom suit kept a codex of his conscious in the Symbiote hive mind. Flash and Eddie go see the heart of the Symbiote hive mind and Flash sacrifices himself to take control of the Symbiote mind. Knull feels pain, finds Eddie Brock, and grabs him by the throat.[10]
Doctor Doom confronts Iron Man during Knull's invasion at the time when Iron Man was bonded with an Extremis-powered Symbiote. They are attacked by what appears to be a Symbiote-possessed Santa Claus. When the attacks from Iron Man and Santa Claus collide, it purges the Symbiote and Iron Man discovers that Santa Claus is actually a man named Mike Dunworthy who owns a Christmas decoration store. Doctor Doom revealed that he came to Iron Man because he heard about the new armor he is wearing and wants to extrapolate it to improve his own armor only for Iron Man to turn him down. As Iron Man takes off advising him to not let go of the magic in the world, Doctor Doom is left to wonder if Santa Claus could be a Sorcerer Supreme.[11]
Mayor Wilson Fisk decides to put together his own team of superpowered operatives to beat back Knull's creatures and save the city. He secretly meets with eight of these operatives, all known criminals who have been working in the city without Kingpin's blessing:
Spider-Man gets a panic attack from realizing that he was the reason why the Symbiotes are on Earth. While fighting a Symbiote Dragon, Spider-Man runs into Reptil in his Pteranodon form who is carrying an old woman named Mrs. Volkov who he is trying to get home. While helping Reptil to get Mrs. Volkov to Staten Island, Spider-Man is then attacked by a swarm of Symbiote Dragons. Spider-Man was able to web some of them up as he and Reptil near the Staten Island ferry. Reptil notes that he can't turn into anything big enough to combat a Symbiote Dragon as Spider-Man notes that his Tyrannosaurus form wouldn't work either. Spider-Man then gets an idea as he helps Mrs. Volkov onto the ferry while Reptil dives into the water and emerges as a Mosasaurus which bites into the Symbiote Dragon and drags it underwater. With help from Mrs. Volkov evacuating the passengers to the lifeboats, Spider-Man jury-rigs a harpoon from the ship's generators. When the Symbiote Dragon emerges, Spider-Man quotes Captain Ahab's last words from Moby-Dick and throws the electrified harpoon into the Symbiote Dragon's tongue enough to destabilize and be reduced to goo. Reptil makes it to the surface as Spider-Man states that they should work on saving people.[15]
Issues involved
Prelude issues
Title | Issues | Writer | Artist | Colorist | Debut date | Conclusion date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Atlantis Attacks | 5 | Greg Pak | Ario Anindito | Rachelle Rosenberg | December 2, 2020[16] | |
Symbiote Spider-Man: King in Black | 1–5 | Peter David | Greg Land | Frank D'Armata | November 18, 2020[17] | March 31, 2021[18] |
Main series
Title | Issues | Writer | Artist | Colorist | Debut date | Conclusion date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
King in Black | 1–5 | Donny Cates | Ryan Stegman | Frank Martin | December 2, 2020[19] | April 7, 2021[20] |
Tie-in issues
Title | Issues | Writer(s) | Artist(s) | Colorist | Debut date | Conclusion date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Black Cat (vol. 2) | 1–3 | Jed Mackay | C. F. Villa | Brian Reber | December 16, 2020[21] | February 24, 2021[22] |
Daredevil (vol. 6) | 26–27 | Chip Zdarsky | Marco Checchetto Mike Hawthorne |
Marcio Menyz | January 27, 2021[23] | February 10, 2021[24] |
Deadpool (vol. 6) | 10 | Kelly Thompson | Gerardo Sandoval | Chris Sotomayor | January 27, 2021[25] | |
Fantastic Four (vol. 6) | 29–30 | Dan Slott | Zé Carlos | Jesus Aburtov | February 10, 2021[26] | March 3, 2021[27] |
Guardians of the Galaxy (vol. 6) | 10 | Al Ewing | Juann Cabal | Federico Blee | January 6, 2021[28] | |
King in Black: Black Knight | 1 | Simon Spurrier | Jesus Saiz | February 3, 2021[29] | ||
King in Black: Black Panther | Geoffrey Thorne | Germán Peralta | Jesus Aburtov | February 10, 2021[30] | ||
King in Black: Captain America | Danny Lore | Mirko Colak | Erick Arciniega | March 3, 2021[31] | ||
King in Black: Ghost Rider | Ed Brisson | Juan Frigeri | Jason Keith | March 31, 2021[32] | ||
King in Black: Gwenom vs. Carnage | 1–3 | Seanan McGuire | Flaviano | Rico Renzi | January 13, 2021[33] | March 3, 2021[34] |
King in Black: The Immortal Hulk | 1 | Al Ewing | Aaron Kuder | Frank Martin Erick Arciniega |
December 16, 2020[35] | |
King in Black: Iron Man/Doctor Doom | Christopher Cantwell | Salvador Larroca | Guru-eFX | December 30, 2020[36] | ||
King in Black: Marauders | Gerry Duggan | Luke Ross | Carlos Lopez | February 3, 2021[37] | ||
King in Black: Namor | 1–5 | Kurt Busiek | Ben Dewey Jonas Scharf |
Triona Tree Farrell | December 9, 2020[38] | March 3, 2021[39] |
King in Black: Planet of the Symbiotes | 1–3 | Clay McLeod Chapman Frank Tieri Marc Bernadin Geoffrey Thorne |
Guiu Vilanova Danilo Beyruth Kyle Hotz Jan Bazaldua |
Dean White Rachelle Rosenberg |
January 13, 2021[40] | March 10, 2021[41] |
King in Black: Return of the Valkyries | 1–4 | Jason Aaron Torunn Grønbekk |
Nina Vakueva | Tamra Bonvillain | January 6, 2021[42] | March 31, 2021[43] |
King in Black: Scream
|
1 | Clay McLeod Chapman | Garry Brown | Rachelle Rosenberg | March 24, 2021[44] | |
King in Black: Spider-Man | Jed Mackay | Michele Bandini | Erick Arciniega Rachelle Rosenberg |
March 17, 2021[45] | ||
King in Black: Thunderbolts | 1–3 | Matthew Rosenberg | Juan Ferreyra | January 13, 2021[46] | March 3, 2021[47] | |
King in Black: Wiccan and Hulkling
|
1 | Tini Howard | Luciano Vecchio | Espen Grundetjern | March 3, 2021[48] | |
King in Black Handbook | Not applicable | December 2, 2020[49][50] | ||||
Knull: Marvel Tales | Donny Cates | Ryan Stegman Danilo Beyruth Mark Bagley |
Frank Martin Cris Peter | |||
Miles Morales: Spider-Man | 23 | Saladin Ahmed | Carmen Carnero | David Curiel | February 17, 2021[51] | |
Savage Avengers | 17–19 | Gerry Duggan | Kev Walker | Javier Tartaglia | January 27, 2021[52] | March 24, 2021[53] |
Spider-Woman (vol. 7) | 7–8 | Karla Pacheco | Pepe Pérez | Frank D'Armata | December 23, 2020[54] | January 6, 2021[55] |
S.W.O.R.D. (vol. 2)
|
2–4 | Al Ewing | Valerio Schiti | Marte Gracia | January 13, 2021[56] | March 17, 2021[57] |
The Union
|
1–2 | Paul Grist | Andrea Di Vito | Nolan Woodard | December 2, 2020[58] | January 13, 2021[59] |
Venom (vol. 4) | 31–34 | Donny Cates | Iban Coello | Jesus Aburtov | December 9, 2020[60] | March 24, 2021[61] |
Critical reception
The series so far has received positive reviews. According to Comic Book Roundup, the entire series has an average rating of 8.4 out of 10.[62][63][64][65][66]
Collected editions
Title | Material collected | Published date | ISBN |
---|---|---|---|
King in Black | King in Black #1-5 | July 2021 | 978-1302925468 |
King in Black: Avengers | King in Black: Black Panther #1, King in Black: Captain America #1, King in Black: Ghost Rider #1, King in Black: The Immortal Hulk #1, King in Black: Iron Man/Doom #1, King in Black: Wiccan and Hulkling #1 | July 2021 | 978-1302930349 |
King in Black: Planet of the Symbiotes | King in Black: Planet of the Symbiotes #1-3, King in Black: Black Knight #1 | July 2021 | 978-1302928100 |
King in Black: Namor | King in Black: Namor #1-5 | August 2021 | 978-1302928131 |
King in Black: Thunderbolts | King in Black: Thunderbolts #1-3, King in Black: Marauders #1 | August 2021 | 978-1302928094 |
King in Black: Gwenom vs. Carnage | King in Black: Gwenom vs. Carnage #1-3, King in Black: Scream #1, King in Black: Spider-Man #1 | August 2021 | 978-1302928117 |
King in Black: Return of the Valkyries | King in Black: Return of the Valkyries #1-4 | July 2021 | 978-1302928087 |
King in Black: Atlantis Attacks | Atlantis Attacks #1-5 | July 2021 | 978-1302924560 |
Symbiote Spider-Man: King in Black | Symbiote Spider-Man: King in Black #1-5 | July 2021 | 978-1302927578 |
Spider-Woman Vol. 2: King in Black | Spider-Woman (vol. 7) #6-10 | June 2021 | 978-1302927523 |
Black Cat Vol. 4: Queen in Black | Black Cat (vol. 2) #1-4 and material from X-Men: To Serve and Protect #4 | June 2021 | 978-1302927585 |
Venom by Donny Cates Vol. 6: King in Black | Venom (vol. 4) #31-35 | September 2021 | 978-1302926038 |
Savage Avengers Vol. 4: King in Black | Savage Avengers #17-22 | October 2021 | 978-1302926298 |
Marvel Omnibus
Title | Material collected | Published date | ISBN |
---|---|---|---|
King in Black Omnibus | King in Black #1-5, King in Black: Black Panther #1, King in Black: Captain America #1, King in Black: Ghost Rider #1, King in Black: The Immortal Hulk #1, King in Black: Iron Man/Doom #1, King in Black: Wiccan and Hulkling #1, King In Black: Planet of the Symbiotes #1-3, King in Black: Black Knight #1, King in Black: Namor #1-5, King In Black: Thunderbolts #1-3, King in Black: Marauders #1, King In Black: Gwenom vs. Carnage #1-3, King in Black: Scream #1, King in Black: Spider-Man #1, King In Black: Return of the Valkyries #1-4, Symbiote Spider-Man: King In Black #1-5, Spider-Woman (vol. 7) #7-8, Black Cat (vol. 2) #1-3, Venom (vol. 4) #31-34, Savage Avengers #17-19, Daredevil (vol. 6) #26-27, Deadpool (vol. 8) #10, Fantastic Four (vol. 6) #29-30, Guardians of the Galaxy (vol. 6) #10, Miles Morales: Spider-Man #23, S.W.O.R.D. (vol. 2) #2-4, The Union #1-2 and King in Black Handbook | December 2022 | 978-1302946432 |
Venomnibus by Cates & Stegman | King in Black #1-5 and Venom (vol. 4) #1-35, Annual #1, Web of Venom: Ve'Nam, Web of Venom: Carnage Born, Web of Venom: Wraith, Absolute Carnage #1-5; material from Free Comic Book Day 2019 (Spider-Man/Venom), Free Comic Book Day 2020 (Spider-Man/Venom), Incoming! #1 and Carnage: Black, White & Blood #2 | December 2022 | 978-1302946418 |
References
- ^ Guardians of the Galaxy (vol. 6) #8. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Web of Venom: Empyre's End #1. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Symbiote Spider-Man: King in Black #1. Marvel Comics.
- ^ King in Black #1. Marvel Comics.
- ^ King in Black #2. Marvel Comics.
- ^ King in Black #3. Marvel Comics.
- ^ King in Black #4. Marvel Comics.
- ^ King in Black #5. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Venom (vol. 4) #32. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Venom (vol. 4) #33. Marvel Comics.
- ^ King in Black: Iron Man/Doctor Doom #1. Marvel Comics.
- ^ King In Black: Thunderbolts #1. Marvel Comics.
- ^ King in Black: Thunderbolts #2. Marvel Comics.
- ^ King in Black: Thunderbolts #2. Marvel Comics.
- ^ King in Black: Spider-Man #1. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Atlantis Attacks
- ^ Symbiote Spider-Man: King in Black #1
- ^ Symbiote Spider-Man: King in Black #5
- ^ King in Black #1
- ^ King in Black #5
- ^ Black Cat #1
- ^ Black Cat #3
- ^ Daredevil #26
- ^ Daredevil #27
- ^ Deadpool #10
- ^ Fantastic Four #29
- ^ Fantastic Four #30
- ^ Guardians of the Galaxy #10
- ^ King in Black: Black Knight #1
- ^ King in Black: Black Panther #1
- ^ King in Black: Captain America #1
- ^ King in Black: Ghost Rider #1
- ^ King in Black: Gwenom vs. Carnage #1
- ^ King in Black: Gwenom vs. Carnage #1
- ^ King in Black: Immortal Hulk #1
- ^ King in Black: Iron Man/Doctor Doom #1
- ^ King in Black: Marauders #1
- ^ King in Black: Namor #1
- ^ King in Black: Namor #5
- ^ King in Black: Planet of the Symbiotes #1
- ^ King in Black: Planet of the Symbiotes #3
- ^ King in Black: Return of the Valkyries #1
- ^ King in Black: Return of the Valkyries #4
- ^ King in Black: Scream #1
- ^ King in Black: Spider-Man #1
- ^ King in Black: Thunderbolts #1
- ^ King in Black: Thunderbolts #3
- ^ King in Black: Wiccan and Hulkling #1
- ^ King in Black Handbook #1
- ^ Knull: Marvel Tales #1
- ^ Miles Morales: Spider-Man #23
- ^ Savage Avengers #17
- ^ Savage Avengers #19
- ^ Spider-Woman #7
- ^ Spider-Woman #8
- ^ S.W.O.R.D. #2
- ^ S.W.O.R.D. #4
- ^ The Union #1
- ^ The Union #2
- ^ Venom #31
- ^ Venom #34
- ^ "King In Black Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
- ^ "King In Black #1 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
- ^ "King In Black #2 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
- ^ "King In Black #3 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
- ^ "King In Black #4 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2021-02-18.