Marvels have explored space very well over the years with their cosmic beings and villains and their powers, motivations, and the threats they’re facing towards the multiverse. The latest and yet incredibly powerful character who has come to the forefront is Knull, dark god of the symbiotes. Introduced just a few years ago, Knull is now the linchpin of Venom mythology and the broader cosmic structure of Marvel. With the film Venom: The Last Dance poised to examine his story, now’s the perfect time to delve into just who Knull is, what he wants, and what his presence represents in the larger narrative of Marvel.
Who is Knull?
Knull is an extremely old deity whose existence predates many of the cosmic entities we are familiar with within the Marvel Universe. He first appeared in Venom 3 (2018) created by writer Donny Cates and artist Ryan Stegman, and his origin story is deeply entwined with the creation of symbiotes and the darkness of the universe itself.
Knull was born in the darkness that prevailed before the existence of the Marvel Universe. While the Celestials were still engaged in starting life and spreading light everywhere, Knull was already dwelling in that darkness. He feels that the coming of the Celestials is an invasion of his territory and a threat to his existence. At the time when these god-like beings were igniting the universe with their advent, Knull made it known to them by declaring war on them, looking to bring back a primordial darkness that he loved so much.
Knull produced the first symbiote, named the All-Black, or the Necrosword—a weapon that would help him in the killing of a Celestial. This was momentous and marked the beginning of Knull’s long history and bloody history as a cosmic threat. He would later give rise to an army of symbiotes known as the Klyntar from his own dark essence, using these to enslave planets and spread his dominion throughout galaxies. Knull’s powers, through this bond to darkness and his control over symbiotes, makes him a force of nature in the Marvel Universe, a fear for both gods and mortals alike.
The Powers of Knull
Knull’s powers are nearly unbeatable and extremely baffling. He has the powers that rival some of the most powerful beings in Marvel’s pantheon. Some of his most noted powers are listed below:
Symbiote Manipulation: Knull is one of the creators of the symbiotes, and thus holds power over them. He can mold them to any shape he deems fit: into a weapon, being, or even an entity. His affinity for them runs so deep that when they’re scattered across the universe, he still has the power and leverage over them from so far away.
Immortality: As a primordial god, Knull is invulnerable to death. He has survived since before the dawn of time and can heal from devastating injuries, including wounds inflicted by other powerful gods.
Necrosword (All-Black): Knull’s first symbiote was the All-Black, a sword made of living darkness. It can slice through virtually anything, including Celestials’ suits of armor. With the Necrosword, its wielder gains unimaginable strength and durability, making it one of the deadliest tools in the Marvel Universe.
Manipulation of Darkness: Knull has formed his power upon the void, which is also known as the darkness that existed before the light within the universe. He has learned to manipulate and bend this darkness to do his biddings and made use of it as a weapon as well as a medium for his manifestations.
God-Like Strength and Resilience: Knull has superhuman strength that can rival the gods and cosmic entities. He can also fend off attacks that most organism would succumb to instantly.
Telepathy and Mind Control: Knull has telepathic communication with others, particularly through the symbiotes. He can dominate the minds of those bonded with symbiotes, bending them into his will.
What Does Knull Want?
Knull’s wants are fueled by a prime urge: the effacing of light and its return to the void. He speaks of light and life having their origins from entities that formed the cosmos like the Celestials as being a stain upon his immaculate vacuum. He gives himself the task of returning the cosmos to eternity within the void from whence it came, nothing stopping him.
One of the primary principles behind Knull’s motivation is that darkness is inherently superior to light. He is the true ruler of the universe, and any being who thrives under the light or opposed to him is an enemy that must be abolished. That includes Earth’s heroes, cosmic entities, and even gods from all the pantheons.
The long sleep of Knull was disturbed when the symbiotes turned against their master, imprisoning him on their home planet, which would become known as Klyntar. Recently, however, Knull has surfaced from his long nap, and his anger burns once more. He would like revenge on all those who imprisoned him, including the very symbiotes, with his ultimate aim to conquer and spread darkness across the multiverse yet again.
Knull and the Symbiotes
The greatest legacy that Knull left behind is the symbiotes, a creation in which he extended his will to them for purposeful service to him in the war against the light. However, with the passage of time, the symbiotes evolved and somehow ended up rebelling against their master, cutting themselves off from Knull, making an individual collective consciousness out of themselves, valuing peace and coexistence rather than destruction.
This offended Knull exceedingly; he feels as though they were betrayed by the symbiotes’ desire to have independence. Much of his character development is driven by his history with them, especially as it pertains to Venom. Eddie Brock has become the hot potato recently as Knull seeks to reclaim control of the symbiotes and use them as weapons in his cosmic war.
The Venom Connection
One of Marvel’s greatest characters, Venom, is inherently attached to the story of Knull because one of the symbiotes created by Knull was Venom. He is also imbued with the promise of symbiotes who could break free from Knull’s hold and the danger still present in abductees of his. The character has evolved from a villain to an antihero with time and his connection to Eddie Brock has delved further into the knowledge of the lore regarding symbiotes.
This has placed Eddie and Venom right in the crosshairs of Knull’s anger. It reached its final zenith with the 2020 crossover event King in Black where Knull marshalled an all-out invasion of Earth using a whole army of symbiotes to conquer, and then snuff out the light. Eddie and Venom have been integral to much of this storyline, with Eddie himself ending up armed with the Enigma Force in order to defeat Knull.
Introduction to Venom: The Last Dance
With the boon that the movie Venom and comics arcs related to Knull had in popularity, it’s not much of a question why Marvel is making a movie to bring this story forth. In Venom: The Last Dance, do anticipate getting more into Knull’s past and his involvement with the symbiotes, hopefully during the Venom saga’s final chapter.
Storyline Overview
Even though the specifics of the plot for Venem: The Last Dance are still kept under wraps, there are a few key things we might expect to occur in the context of how the story of the comics is moving forward and how Venom has been portrayed cinematically so far.
The movie will introduce Knull as the main antagonist. He is said to be freed, but after hundreds or thousands of years in prison; thus, the unleashing of Knull will significantly sway the fate of the symbiotes in Earth and regarding Eddie Brock and Venom. The dark god, Knull, will fight for his perfect symbiote children, which will pit him against Eddie and Venom.
Conclusion
Probably one of the most fascinating and terrifying characters ever introduced into the Marvel Universe, Knull is all set to swoop his way into the Marvel multiverse with cosmic ambitions, tying interestingly with the symbiotes. His connection will make him a compelling antagonist for the upcoming movie, Venom: The Last Dance. As audiences get ready to
