In recent years, the most significant new villain to emerge in the Marvel Comics Universe is Knull, the King in Black. Created by writer Donny Cates and artist Ryan Stegman, he first appeared in Venom #3 (2018) and slowly grew to become one of the biggest cosmic menaces the superheroes had to face.
Knull is introduced as the god of the symbiotes and one of the primordial beings of the Marvel Universe. As his story unfolds, we learn that he existed before the current Marvel Universe, in the endless void that preceded creation. When the Celestials began shaping the universe, their light angered him, leading him to forge the first symbiote (the All-Black Necrosword) and wage war against them. After decapitating a Celestial, Knull used its head to forge more weapons and eventually created the symbiote species, which he bound into a hive mind under his control.
An embodiment of darkness and nihilism, Knull has powers that make him able to manipulate darkness and, obviously, maintain control over the symbiote, but he is also “immortal” and possesses godlike strength.
While Knull was at the center of the King in Black crossover event, he appeared before that, becoming a real menace to Eddie Brock and the rest of the Marvel Universe. He and his All-Black Necrosword.
Knull The King in Black Comics Reading Order
Silver Surfer: Black
This miniseries by Donny Cates and Tradd Moore takes place in the distant past and shows Knull at the height of his power. Published a year after Knull’s official first appearance in the pages of Venom, this story gave us the first real look at Knull as a cosmic force of epic proportions.
- Silver Surfer: Black
Collects Silver Surfer: Black #1-5.
The All-Black Necrosword
The All-Black Necrosword is the first symbiote, forged by Knull from the living abyss before the birth of the universe. It is a shape-shifting weapon of immense power, capable of slaying gods and corrupting its wielder. After Knull used it to kill a Celestial, the sword eventually came into the hands of Gorr the God Butcher, setting off some of Marvel’s most pivotal cosmic events and tying together the mythologies of Thor, Venom, and the symbiotes.
While this (excellent) story, Thor: God of Thunder by Jason Aaron and Esad Ribic, is not centered around Knull, it shows the destructive and corrupting impact of his weapon, the All-Black Necrosword. Technically, Knull has a cameo in Thor: God of Thunder #6.
- Thor: God of Thunder Volume 1
Collects Thor: God of Thunder (2012) #1-11. - Thor: God of Thunder Volume 2 (more optional, the sword still reappears)
Collects Thor: God of Thunder (2012) #12-25.
Knull’s First Comics Appearance
Knull’s first true appearance comes at the beginning of Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman’s Venom run, where his origin and connection to the symbiotes are revealed. These issues establish him as the god of the symbiotes, recontextualize the Klyntar mythos (see Venom: Space Knight to learn more about the Klyntar story), introduce his terrifying powers, and set him up as a major cosmic threat in the Marvel Universe.
While still imprisoned far away, Knull takes control of the Grendel (the Klyntar dragon) and meets Eddie Brock/Venom, telling us who he is, where he comes from, and the danger he represents.
- Venom by Donny Cates Vol. 1: Rex
Collects Venom (2018) #1-6.
Before going further and focusing on the essential comics to read featuring Knull, I have to recommend going through the whole Cates/Stegman run, as it builds towards the King in black event. It’s all in the Venomnibus:
- Venomnibus by Cates & Stegman
Collects Venom (2018) #1-35, Venom Annual (2018) #1, Web of Venom: Ve’Nam (2018) #1, Web of Venom: Carnage Born (2018) #1, Web of Venom: Wraith (2020) #1, Absolute Carnage (2019) #1-5, King in Black (2020) #1-5; material from Free Comic Book Day 2019 (Spider-Man/Venom) #1, Free Comic Book Day 2020 (Spider-Man/Venom) #1, Incoming (2019) #1, Carnage: Black, White & Blood (2021) #2.
The Absolute Carnage
While Knull is not at the center of it, the Absolute Carnage event paved the way to his freedom (he still appears at the end). Everything starts a little earlier. Knull’s influence begins to spread. Carnage is resurrected and starts gathering the pieces needed to free him, codices, setting the stage for the event (in Web Of Venom: Carnage Born #1 and Web Of Venom: Cult Of Carnage #1).
- Venom Unleashed
Collects Web Of Venom: Ve’nam #1, Web Of Venom: Carnage Born #1, Web Of Venom: Venom Unleashed, Web Of Venom: Cult Of Carnage #1. - Absolute Carnage
Collects Absolute Carnage 1-5.
After that, Knull is coming and, in Venom #25, at the end of the Venom Island storyline, Eddie Brock visits the Avengers to tell them about their future enemy. This is collected with other previous key issues in one comic book Marvel put out for those who wanted to know Knull before the King in Black event:
- Knull: Marvel Tales
Collects Venom (2018) #3-4, Venom: Carnage Born, and Venom (2018) #25.
Knull also appeared, doing cameos in Scream – Curse of Carnage #2, Incoming #1, Web of Venom: Wraith #1, Guardians of the Galaxy (2020) #8, announcing his coming to Earth.
The King in Black
This event is the culmination of all the threads building since Knull’s first appearance. He arrives on Earth, bringing an army of symbiote dragons and plunging the planet into darkness. The story is a full-scale Marvel Universe crossover, featuring nearly every major hero — from the Avengers and X-Men to street-level characters — as they fight against overwhelming odds.
In the end, this event resolves Knull’s story, transforms Eddie Brock’s role in the Marvel Universe, and redefines the mythology of the symbiotes.
For a complete exploration of the event, you can follow our complete guide to the King in Black crossover event or simply delve into the omnibus:
- King In Black Omnibus
Collects King In Black #1-5; King In Black: Immortal Hulk, Iron Man/Doctor Doom, Black Knight, Marauders, Black Panther, Captain America, Wiccan And Hulkling, Spider-Man, Scream, and Ghost Rider; King In Black: Gwenom Vs. Carnage #1-3; King In Black: Namor #1-5; King In Black: Planet Of The Symbiotes #1-3; King In Black: Return Of The Valkyries #1-4; King In Black: Thunderbolts #1-3; Symbiote Spider-Man: King In Black #1-5; Black Cat (2020) #1-3; Daredevil (2019) #26-27; Deadpool (2019) #10; Fantastic Four (2018) #29-30; Guardians of The Galaxy (2020) #10; Miles Morales: Spider-Man #23; S.W.O.R.D. (2020) #2-4; Savage Avengers (2019) #17-19; Spider-Woman (2020) #7-8; The Union #1-2; Venom (2018) #31-34; And King In Black Handbook.
If you are only seeking the essential issues, you can limit yourself to reading the two following books.
- King In Black
Collects King in Black #1-5. - Venom By Donny Cates Vol. 6: King In Black
Collects Venom (2018) #31-35.
Beyond The King in Black
Following the end of the crossover, Knull was vanquished and not destined to come back. Still, he reappeared in Venomverse Reborn #1, with a story set during the King in Black event.
In 2026, Knull is coming back in a new miniseries simply titled “Knull,” coming from Al Ewing, Tom Waltz, and artist Juanan Ramírez. The story is not set in the past, but is presented as the return of the character teased at the end of Venom #250!
Having been weakened by his previous death and captured by an enemy he never expected, the God of the Void finds himself imprisoned once again and plotting his revenge…