Introduced in 2018, the King in Black quickly became Marvel’s most exciting new villain, giving Venom lore its ultimate big bad. Fans were understandably excited for Knull to finally return in this week’s Venom #250, but Marvel just pulled an impressive bait and switch.
Rather than the former God of Symbiotes, Marvel now has a Queen in Black, as a villain made iconic by the MCU captures Knull and takes his place in Marvel’s cosmos. The issue comes from Al Ewing, Terry Dodson, Todd Nauck, Frank D’Armata and Clayton Cowles.
Hela Is Marvel’s New Queen in Black
The Thor Villain Has Captured Knull, the Original King in Black
While the cover art for today’s Venom #250 shows Knull looming triumphantly over Venom, the story inside offers a far different narrative. Most of the story follows the heroic Captain R’Gars – a Skrull superhero who is investigating a new cult spreading across the galaxy. R’Gars discovers that the new ‘Cult of Knull’ has infiltrated the major galactic empires, with symbiotes hiding out within influential people. He arrives on Earth with a warning: “Knill is coming ro Earth! I don’t know how he isn’t already here!”
The final pages reveal the answer – Hela has used ancient, eldritch magic to imprison Knull, who is weak after returning from death (Knull was killed in The King in Black, plunged into the Sun by Eddie Brock’s Venom.)
With Knull imprisoned, Hela has taken his place as the new God of Symbiotes, revealing a new costume composed of black ichor. It seems that Hela – Asgard’s Goddess of Death – is the true beneficiary of the Cult of Knull’s worship.
Our Take on Hela Becoming the Queen in Black
Having Hela steal Knull’s power is a great way to introduce the Venom villain back into Marvel Comics. Knull was introduced as one of Marvel’s most two-dimensional villains – the embodiment of the void who wants to subsume all of existence. Since then, Venom has fleshed out the character’s backstory, depicting him as a mortal who rose to godlike power and was corrupted by it.
Bringing Knull back as a villainous underdog offers a new way to explore his character, as the evil god has to fight to reclaim his power and influence. As the King in Black, Knull could control all symbiote matter throughout time and space, and was essentially invulnerable to everything but his opposite, the God of Light. This made him a little too overpowered to simply co-exist with Marvel’s other heroes and villains.
Hela becoming the Queen in Black also makes her a far more active villain. Originally, Hela tended to lounge around in Hel, making dark deals with anyone who came under her influence. However, recent comics have explored her backstory as the result of a dark attempt to create a new Infinity Stone, and seen her searching for power outside her domain, including allying with Thanos.
Knull Is Getting His Own Series vs Hela
The story of Knull vs Hela will be continued in the new ongoing series Knull, from Ewing and Tom Waltz. It’s relatively rare that villains get their own series in Marvel Comics, but with such an interesting new status quo and so much still to explore about Knull’s motivations and future, it’s an exciting expansion of Venom lore. The first issue’s summary reads:
RETURN OF THE KING! Weakened from his last death, trapped by the enemy he never expected, the God of the Void waits in a cage once again. His captors think Knull has nothing to fight back with – but in Knull’s hands, nothing is a weapon. And there’s a greater weapon out there, waiting for the King in Black to take it… and take his revenge.
Venom #250 promised to bring back the King in Black, and Marvel has smartly found a way to turn the iconic villain on his head by bringing Hela into play, kicking off a new era for both villains.
Venom #250 is available now from Marvel Comics.