Knull

Primordialwell-documentedMarvel Comics cosmologyEndless Void (pre-creation)Klyntar (artificial planet of symbiotes)Earth (King in Black invasion)

Knull is a primordial godlike being from Marvel Comics who predates the current (seventh) iteration of the universe, creator and would-be sovereign of the symbiote race known as the Klyntar, and wielder of the ancient weapon All-Black the Necrosword. He functions as a cosmic antagonist whose aims center on darkness and the destruction or domination of created light.

Origin

According to Marvel continuity, Knull existed in the 'endless void' that preceded the seventh iteration of the cosmos. He crafted the primordial weapon All-Black the Necrosword and subsequently forged and propagated the symbiote species. When the Celestials arrived to seed the new universe, their light 'despoiled his kingdom of darkness'; Knull attacked the emerging cosmos, once even decapitating a Celestial with All-Black. In later history the symbiotes rebelled against him, binding and imprisoning Knull within an artificial planet called Klyntar ('cage' in their language). In modern-era events he escapes or is resurrected and wages the 'King in Black' campaign that surrounds Earth with a symbiote sphere and assaults its defenders, only to be opposed by combined heroic and cosmic forces including the Enigma Force (the Uni-Power).

Appearance

Depictions in the source material consistently show Knull clad in black armor and associated with an eldritch darkness motif; he is visually linked to a black sword (All-Black) and to manifestations of symbiote armor. Sources note occasions when his armor is torn away in combat, but detailed canonical descriptions of his bare physiology beneath the armor are not provided in the supplied materials.

Abilities

Knull generates and manipulates an eldritch darkness which he can manifest as weapons and living creatures (the symbiotes, including large dragon-like forms). He forged All-Black the Necrosword and used it to slay a Celestial. He possesses superhuman strength, durability, and apparent immortality, and can create, forge, and command symbiotes. Narratively he has slain gods and waged war at cosmic scale; he was bound by the symbiotes into Klyntar, later returned to lead an invasion of Earth, and in storyline incidents he has been shown to kill and absorb other entities' aspects (for example killing Sentry and assimilating the Void in those accounts). The Enigma Force is presented in the narrative as an explicit counterpower capable of defeating him.

Weaknesses & Wards

Weaknesses

  • other
    Enigma Force (Uni-Power)
  • other
    Collective symbiote imprisonment (Klyntar/caging by symbiotes)

Wards

  • other
    Klyntar (symbiote-formed cage) — collective imprisonment by symbiotes
  • other
    Application of the Enigma Force (used by Eddie Brock/Venom to defeat Knull)

Community Record

Sources
  1. [1]
    Knull. Wikipedia: 'Knull is a primordial god of darkness from before the universe's seventh iteration...' and related sections on All-Black, symbiotes, Klyntar, and King in Blackwiki
  2. [2]
    Knull (Wikidata). Wikidata entry for Knull (identifier and crossreferences)other
  3. [3]
    Are Knull's dragons symbiote-infected dragons or symbiotes in the form of dragons?. Discussion clarifying interpretations of dragon-like symbiotes in relation to Knull's creationsother
  4. [4]
    scans_daily | Knull #1. Forum/scan commentary on Knull #1 details and depictionother
  5. [5]
    scans_daily | All-New Venom #10 (LGY#249) + #250. Discussion/notes referencing All-New Venom issues relevant to symbiote history tied to Knullother
  6. [6]
    Keeyah (Kree, former Starjammers pilot). Reference noting an instance where a character (Keeyah) was briefly controlled by a symbiote influenced by Knullother
well-documented