Teased since last July, the much-anticipated King in Black event series that pits Knull, the so-called ‘god of symbiotes,’ against the entire Marvel Universe arrives in December from writer Donny Cates and artist Ryan Stegman. It’s a storyline continuing Cates’ Venom saga that began with the relaunch of the Venom book, and continued into the Absolute Carnage miniseries.
Who will be left standing when the dust settles? Check out the official Marvel press release below and some of the tie-in comics for this big winter event.
The long-dreaded arrival of Knull, god of the symbiotes, is almost at hand. Backed by a massive army of symbiotic monsters, the terrifying new villain poses a threat unlike any the Marvel Universe has ever seen. The latest chapter in writer Donny Cates and artist Ryan Stegman’s radical reshaping of the Venom mythos, KING IN BLACK is an event years in the making that will change everything you thought you knew about symbiotes.
Eddie Brock has already seen the chaos that Knull will bring firsthand in the pages of VENOM, but he won’t be facing him alone. Knull’s unrelenting darkness will enshroud every corner of the Marvel Universe in various titles debuting this December! This past week saw announcements about new titles and tie-ins showcasing how Knull’s unrelenting darkness will enshroud every corner of the Marvel Universe! Bruce Banner will have to fight through a planet of symbiotes in KING IN BLACK: IMMORTAL HULK #1 by writer Al Ewing and artist Aaron Kuder; writer Christopher Cantrell and artist Salvador Larroca will celebrate Knull-mas with a twisted yuletide tale of unlikely allies in KING IN BLACK: IRON MAN/DOCTOR DOOM #1; and Kurt Busiek, Ben Dewey, and Jonas Scharf’s KING IN BLACK: NAMOR #1 offers a deep dive into Marvel history to learn about Knull’s chilling connection to Atlantis. KING IN BLACK will also tie-in to ongoing titles such as SPIDER-WOMAN #7 by Karla Pacheco and Pere Pérez and the new BLACK CAT #1 by Jed MacKay and C.F. Villa. You also won’t want to miss Eddie coming face to face with the lord of the abyss for the first time in VENOM #31, written by Donny Cates with art by Iban Coello.
“As far as event books go, this is the coolest, darkest, most heavy metal, Cthulhu dark horror thing I’ve ever been able to do,” Cates promised in a recent video announcement. “I still can’t believe that Marvel is letting us go as dark and scary as we’re going.”
Check out Ryan Stegman’s cover for KING IN BLACK #2, and keep an eye out for more announcements about what this epic event has in store for the Marvel Universe when it launches this December! For more information, visit marvel.com.
KING IN BLACK #1 (OF 5)
Written by DONNY CATES
Art and Cover by RYAN STEGMAN
DARKNESS REIGNS!
After a campaign across the galaxy, Knull’s death march arrives to Earth and, worse yet, he hasn’t come alone! With an army of hundreds of thousands of symbiote dragons at his command, the King in Black is a force unlike any Earth’s heroes have ever faced. EDDIE BROCK, A.K.A. VENOM has seen firsthand the chaos that even one of Knull’s symbiotic monsters can wreak – will he survive an encounter with the God of the Abyss himself? From Donny Cates, Ryan Stegman, JP Mayer, Frank Martin and VC’s Clayton Cowles comes the definitive chapter in their two-year-long VENOM saga that changed everything you thought you knew about symbiotes!
KING IN BLACK #2 (OF 5)
Written by DONNY CATES
Art and Cover by RYAN STEGMAN
HAIL TO THE KING!
VENOM #31
Written by DONNY CATES
Art and Cover by IBAN COELLO
KING IN BLACK ARRIVES!
What happens to Eddie Brock when he finally comes face to face with the lord of the abyss, the KING IN BLACK: KNULL?
BLACK CAT #1
Written by JED MACKAY
Art by C.F. VILLA
Cover by PEPE LARRAZ
THE CAT IN BLACK IS BACK!
Feeling lucky? Knull’s attack on Earth interrupts the Black Cat’s latest heist, and if you know Felicia, you know that’s a problem. So the Cat and her crew aim to steal something of greatest value to both Knull and Earth’s hope of survival. You’ll have to pick up this issue to find out what! This issue guest-stars the X-Men! Captain America! And Doctor Strange! DO NOT MISS IT!!!
KING IN BLACK: IRON MAN/DOCTOR DOOM #1
Written by CHRISTOPHER CANTWELL
Art and Cover by SALVADOR LARROCA
Iron Man has risked everything to save Eddie Brock, but now he’s left with nothing but guilt. As longtime ‘frenemy’ Doctor Doom shows up with both counseling words and ulterior motives, they’lll be forced to battle an all-too-familiar specter of the holiday season—albeit one now twisted and controlled by the recent invasion of Earth by the symbiote homeworld. As Iron Man and Doom fight as temporary allies, their unexpected encounter both with each other and a horrifying inversion of yuletide joy may ultimately reveal to them the true meaning of Knull-mas.
KING IN BLACK: IMMORTAL HULK #1
Written by AL EWING
Art and Cover by AARON KUDER
A PRESENT FOR THE HULK!
The Hulk is in a bad place. Half of his alters are dead or missing — including Bruce Banner — and the Leader’s got the rest of him on the ropes. But never let it be said that Joe Fixit doesn’t know how to have a good time — and he’s out to make sure this is the best holiday the Hulk’s ever had. He just has to fight his way through a planet of symbiotes first.
KING IN BLACK: NAMOR #1 (OF 5)
Written by KURT BUSIEK
Art by BEN DEWEY AND JONAS SCHARF
Cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YU
Spinning out of the KING IN BLACK epic comes a dark, chilling story of the birth of Atlantis’s greatest villains. The players: Namor, Lady Dorma of Atlantis, the outsider Attuma — all still in their teen years — and The Swift Riders, the Atlantean Empire’s greatest heroes. It begins with alliances and possibility, as Attuma’s people may join the Empire…but what lies ahead is tragedy, betrayal, and the unleashing of dangerous, deadly magics. A deep dive into Marvel history…and the birth of a threat that will only grow in menace across time.
KING IN BLACK: NAMOR #2 (OF 5)
Written by KURT BUSIEK
Art by BEN DEWEY AND JONAS SCHARF
Cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YU
The Young Namor, Attuma and Dorma get to accompany the Swift Riders on a mission, see them in action and learn from them. But the mission involves Russian alchemists in 1930s Murmansk, a dangerous mystic relic, and a catastrophe that brings to life the most menacing threat that Atlantis has ever faced! Now all of undersea civilization is imperiled, and only three youngsters can save it!
SPIDER-WOMAN #7
Written by KARLA PACHECO
Art by PERE PÉREZ
Cover by JUNGGEUN YOON
Abandoned by her friends, there’s only one person who comes to Jess’ aid…Octavia Vermis! She’s got a cure for Jessica, and the prescription is: Crime! Under the cover of the Knull invasion, Spider-Woman is stealing elements of a cure to her condition…OR IS SHE?
