Numerous characters present in the Marvel Cinematic Universe have faced the terrifying Knull, who will have his cinematic debut in Venom: The Last Dance. With the expansion of the MCU’s timeline to incorporate other franchises following Deadpool & Wolverine and Spider-Man: No Way Home, the MCU hero line-up has swelled notably. As such, many MCU characters have faced the villain presented in the trailer for Venom: Let There Be Dance, the terrifying Knull.
Knull in Marvel Comics is the ancient primordial deity who created the symbiotes, the alien race most notably linked to Venom. He is the embodiment of darkness and chaos, having existed before the birth of the universe itself. Knull’s origins date back to the early days of creation, when the Celestials, godlike beings, began forming the cosmos. After being briefly imprisoned, Knull waged war on Earth, encountering numerous heroes now associated with the MCU. Among these was Sentry, who has been cast in the MCU’s Thunderbolts* and will therefore join the MCU imminently.
13 Venom, AKA Eddie Brock
Venom Vol. 4 #3
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Venom has perhaps the deepest connection to Knull among all Marvel characters, being a direct creation of the symbiote god. Eddie Brock’s symbiote was born from the same primordial darkness that Knull used to forge the symbiote race. Their confrontations culminated in King in Black, a massive crossover event in which Knull descended upon Earth to reclaim control over all symbiotes.
Venom stood as Knull’s primary adversary, eventually becoming the cosmic figure who would vanquish him. Eddie, equipped with the Enigma Force and transformed into the ultimate version of Venom, delivered the final blow to Knull, freeing the universe from his tyrannical grip. Venom’s victory over Knull marked a pivotal turning point, redefining Eddie Brock’s role within the Marvel universe as a cosmic-level hero.
12 Thor Odinson
King in Black #3
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Thor, the God of Thunder, faced Knull during King in Black when Knull invaded Earth with his army of symbiote dragons. Thor’s immense power made him one of the few beings capable of going head-to-head with Knull. Thor’s lightning and enchanted hammer, Mjolnir, were instrumental in holding off Knull’s forces.
In one significant battle, Thor clashed directly with Knull, using his divine powers to try and sever Knull’s control over the symbiotes. However, Knull’s power was overwhelming, forcing Thor to team up with other heroes like Venom and the Avengers. Thor’s valor and divine strength were crucial in weakening Knull’s forces, showing that even the gods of Asgard could be tested by the dark god of the symbiotes.
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11 The Silver Surfer
Silver Surfer: Black
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The Silver Surfer’s battle against Knull occurred long before the events of King in Black, during Knull’s early days as a cosmic tyrant. Knull encountered the Silver Surfer in Silver Surfer: Black, where the Surfer found himself in Knull’s territory of endless darkness. The Surfer, wielding the Power Cosmic, was one of the few beings strong enough to challenge Knull directly.
Despite his formidable abilities, Knull’s connection to the symbiotes and his control over darkness itself made him a terrifying foe for the Surfer. The Surfer fought valiantly, even momentarily staving off Knull’s complete domination. However, Knull’s overwhelming power forced the Surfer into a desperate situation where he had to tap into new, uncharted powers. The Silver Surfer’s resistance against Knull would later prove instrumental in weakening Knull’s plans and laid the groundwork for future confrontations.
10 Spider-Man, AKA Peter Parker
King in Black: Spider-Man
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Spider-Man’s connection to Knull is rooted in his relationship with the symbiotes, particularly Venom. While Peter Parker didn’t have a direct one-on-one confrontation with Knull, he played a key role during the King in Black event. As Knull launched his invasion of Earth, Peter found himself battling the symbiotes in New York City.
Spider-Man’s agility, quick thinking, and combat skills allowed him to fend off the overwhelming forces that Knull unleashed on New York City. Spider-Man also supported Eddie Brock in his eventual rise to defeat Knull, offering tactical assistance during the battle. Peter’s personal history with the Venom symbiote also gave him unique insight into Knull’s powers and vulnerabilities, making him an essential player in the larger fight.
9 Captain America, AKA Steve Rogers
King in Black: Avengers
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Captain America, the symbol of hope and resistance, was another hero who fought against Knull during the King in Black invasion. As Knull descended upon Earth with his symbiote army, Captain America was on the frontlines, rallying both heroes and soldiers to stand against the dark forces. Cap’s leadership proved invaluable as he organized the resistance efforts in a world where most of humanity was overwhelmed by Knull’s symbiote takeover.
Armed with his indestructible shield and tactical genius, Captain America led numerous rescue missions and stood tall against Knull’s lieutenants. Though Cap wasn’t powerful enough to face Knull directly in a physical battle, his presence as a leader was crucial. His role was to inspire hope when all seemed lost, ensuring that the world’s remaining heroes could band together for one last stand against Knull’s overwhelming might.
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8 Iron Man, AKA Tony Stark
King in Black: Avengers
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Tony Stark faced the symbiote god during King in Black as Knull’s forces invaded Earth. Always the strategist, Iron Man sought a technological solution to the problem, even developing advanced symbiote-resistant armor to battle Knull’s hordes. Stark’s intelligence and quick thinking allowed him to counter several of Knull’s symbiote dragons, using his technological innovations to disrupt their biological control.
At one point, Stark even attempted to hijack one of Knull’s symbiotes, infusing it into his armor to gain a tactical advantage. While this risky move provided temporary success, Knull’s power was far beyond anything Stark could handle alone. Despite this, Iron Man’s contributions to the battle helped weaken Knull’s forces and allowed the other heroes to focus on taking down the dark god.
7 She-Hulk, AKA Jennifer Walters
King in Black: Avengers
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She-Hulk’s involvement in the battle against Knull came during King in Black, where she fought alongside the Avengers to fend off Knull’s symbiote army. She-Hulk’s raw power made her a valuable asset in confronting the overwhelming hordes of symbiotes. Jennifer Walters took on multiple symbiote dragons, using her strength and gamma-enhanced abilities to hold back Knull’s forces from overtaking key locations.
While She-Hulk didn’t confront Knull directly, her role was critical in protecting the Avengers and civilians during the invasion. Her sheer force allowed the Avengers to launch coordinated counterattacks, buying time for heroes like Thor and Venom to face Knull head-on. She-Hulk’s ability to stay grounded and resilient, even in the face of overwhelming odds, made her an essential part of the defensive efforts against Knull’s onslaught.
6 Captain Marvel, AKA Carol Danvers
King in Black: Avengers
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As one of the most powerful heroes in the Marvel Universe, Captain Marvel was a key figure in the battle against Knull during the King in Black event. Carol Danvers’ cosmic abilities made her uniquely suited to face the symbiote god’s army of dragons and symbiote-controlled heroes. Captain Marvel took the fight to the skies, using her energy blasts and superhuman strength to take down Knull’s forces across multiple battlefronts.
Captain Marvel also helped protect Earth’s space defenses, preventing Knull’s symbiote armies from overwhelming the planet from orbit. Though Captain Marvel did not directly fight Knull one-on-one, her contributions were critical in holding off the dark god’s forces. Captain Marvel helped buy enough time for Eddie Brock to gain the power to defeat Knull.
5 Black Knight, AKA Dane Whitman
King in Black: Black Knight
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Dane Whitman, the wielder of the Ebony Blade as Black Knight, was introduced to the MCU in Eternals. He had an important role in the fight against Knull in King in Black. The Ebony Blade, a mystical weapon of immense power, proved one of the few weapons capable of inflicting significant damage on Knull’s symbiote forces.
Whitman tore through the battlefield, using the blade to cut through Knull’s symbiotes with ease. The sword’s dark, cursed nature allowed it to stand up to Knull’s cosmic power, and Black Knight’s combat expertise was crucial. While Whitman didn’t directly face Knull, he combated the symbiote dragons and assisted the Avengers in holding back the tide.
4 Namor, Ruler Of Atlantis
King in Black: Namor
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As the King of Atlantis, Namor faced Knull’s invasion when the symbiote god attempted to take over the oceans as part of his planetary conquest in King in Black. Namor, fiercely protective of his underwater kingdom, fought back against Knull’s forces with his Atlantean army. Namor’s strength, along with his ability to command the sea, made him a formidable opponent for Knull’s symbiotes, particularly those that had adapted to aquatic environments.
Despite his best efforts, however, Namor was overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of Knull’s invasion. His kingdom of Atlantis became a key battleground, and he was not able to single-handedly stop the dark god. Nevertheless, his leadership and power helped protect his people from total annihilation.
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3 Talos The Skrull
Web of Venom: Empyre’s End #1
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Talos, the Skrull warrior and ally to Earth’s heroes, became involved in the battle against Knull during the King in Black event. As a skilled strategist and shapeshifter, Talos played an important role in coordinating the Skrull resistance against Knull’s forces. Though Talos didn’t have direct superhuman abilities on the level of heroes like Thor or Captain Marvel, his tactical prowess and experience in warfare proved invaluable.
Prior to Knull’s invasion, Talos was sent by Hulkling to investigate Kree and Skrull bases. While investigating, Talos encountered one of Knull’s symbiote dragons. Talos’ involvement highlighted the importance of intergalactic alliances in fighting cosmic threats like Knull.
2 Doctor Strange, The Sorcerer Supreme
King In Black #4
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Doctor Strange faced Knull’s invasion with a unique advantage: his mastery over the mystic arts. When Knull’s forces descended upon Earth, Strange was tasked with defending the planet’s magical realms from the encroaching darkness. Using his vast knowledge of sorcery, Strange created magical barriers to protect key cities and cast spells to weaken Knull’s influence over the symbiotes.
Despite his best efforts, however, Strange found himself overpowered by Knull’s cosmic abilities. In one notable battle, Strange attempted to use an ancient spell to banish Knull, but the dark god’s influence proved too powerful to be contained by conventional magic. Nonetheless, Doctor Strange’s efforts helped buy time for the other heroes to regroup and eventually defeat Knull.
1 Professor Xavier & The X-Men
King in Black #1
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The X-Men, led by Professor Charles Xavier, played a significant role in resisting Knull’s invasion during King in Black. With Knull’s forces threatening all life on Earth, Xavier gathered the X-Men to help defend the planet from the symbiote onslaught. Using his powerful telepathy, Xavier coordinated Earth’s resistance, helping to shield key locations from Knull’s influence.
The X-Men’s diverse powers proved invaluable in fending off Knull’s symbiote army, with mutants like Cyclops, Storm, and Jean Grey each playing critical roles in the battle. Xavier’s telepathic abilities allowed him to communicate with other heroes across vast distances. While the X-Men didn’t confront Knull directly, their involvement was crucial in slowing the dark god’s invasion and protecting humanity from destruction. Their introduction into the Marvel Cinematic Universe will likely follow a similar trajectory.
Venom: The Last Dance
Venom 3 is the third and final installment in Sony’s symbiote trilogy starring Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock. It follows the events of Let There Be Carnage, where the anti-hero fought serial killer Cletus Kasady, and Spider-Man: No Way Home, where Brock was briefly transported to the MCU through the multiverse.
Director Kelly Marcel Release Date October 25, 2024
Sony’s Upcoming Marvel Movie Release Dates
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Venom: The Last Dance
Release Date October 25, 2024
- Kraven the Hunter
Release Date December 13, 2024
Kraven the Hunter