Venomfans watched as Eddie Brock rose to defeat Knull, and take his place as the King in Black. But withKnull returning forVenom#250, Marvel teases a major twist: a third King in Black, crowned without anyone even noticing.
It seems like just yesterday that Eddie Brock ascended to the God of Symbiotes, unlocking the truth of his role across all of time, space, and throughout the Multiverse. With Knull coming to reclaim that position, Marvel Editor Jordan D. White teases a question fans should be asking toAIPT:
We learned from the Eventuality in Ewing’s previous run of Venom that the purpose of the King in Black, as ordained by the Celestials, is to maintain the multiverse. So now that no one is currently the King in Black, how is that impacting the multiverse, and will we see any ramifications of that when Knull returns?
Jordan D. White: You’re asking the right kind of questions–the same kind that we asked ourselves when planning out the stories from here.Let me twist your question on its head a little bit, though–is no one currently the King in Black? Are you sure?What WOULD happen if there was NO ONE in that position, no one at all?
Since Eddie definitively gave up the role in the climax ofVenom War(now the new version of Carnage), White is teasing not only an unknown successor who has taken up the job, but a new the stakes of Knull’s next attack.
Which Character Has Replaced Eddie Brock As The King in Black?
Marvel’s Own Hint Suggests A Secret Symbiote God
As is alluded to in the question to White, Eddie Brock’s rocky ascension to the role of King in Black did give him a full explanation of the role. As Kings in White safeguard the Multiverse from beyond its boundaries, a King in Black is needed to maintain it from within.
While Knull claimed his own origin story, he was truly chosen to become the King in Black by these same Celestial reality-shapers. Just as Eddie was chosen to defeat and replace him, to repeat the cycle once reality ended, and was reborn. But that didn’t go according to plan.
The time travel/time loop/cause and effect shenanigans ofVenom Warare too complex to explain here, but suffice to say that Eddie Brock gave up his role, powers, and responsibilities as the King in Black. No replacement was named, so no new King was identified.
Despite its importance, this absent cosmic role has been overlooked as a new Venom host was relaunched. But now Marvel challenges the idea that when a new King in Black was chosen, readers would be told about it at all: “is no one currently the King in Black? Are you sure?”
But as fans suddenly spin up theories as to who could have been entrusted with the task of maintaining the Multiverse, one fact remains: if Knull is coming to retake his throne, who else stands ready to take that place instead?
Whether Knull Wins or Loses, A New King in Black Must Be Chosen
The Marvel Multiverse Needs An Onyx King (or Queen?)
It’s purely speculation for now, and theories as to the new King in Black’s identity, chosen in secret, could include everyone. But White also underscores the other half of the question: if a King in Black is crucial to the stability of the entire Multiverse, what kind of cosmic damage would be caused if the crown and throne were simply left unattended?
Assuming that Knull doesn’t return and destroy Mary Jane Watson’s Venom, vanquish all heroes, and reclaim his dominion over the Living Abyss… how does this battle end? Whether claiming the title after beating Knull, or doing so to even make that possible, a being must take on the duties as Eddie Brock did previously. Which means the real mystery of whatVenom#250 will unleash has implications across the entire Marvel Multiverse, not just the immediate members of the Venom/Symbiote family.
Is it time for Dylan Brock to ascend to this cosmic throne? Or is it better entrusted to someone with more experience in intergalactic/multiversal adventuring?Venom#250reveals all this October.
