The greatest enemy of Venom, Marvel's original King in Black, is coming back for his crown.Marvel unveiled new cover artwork for Death of the Venomverse, a five-issue miniseries written by Cullen Bunn with art by Gerardo Sandoval. The miniseries will serve as the captsone for Marvel's "Summer of Symbiotes" saga in 2023, and sees an upgraded Carnage travel the Multiverse to kill all versions of Venom and become the new King in Black. However, Death of the Venomverse #5 cover art by Björn Barends reveals that Knull will stand in Carnage's way. A teaser on Twitter reads, "Carnage vs. Knull for the King in Black's crown!"
Who Is Marvel’s First King in Black, Knull?
Created by writer Donny Cates and artist Ryan Stegman, Knull's first official appearance is in 2018's Venom #3. Knull is the original King in Black, a title bestowed to the symbiotes' god, and is responsible for the alien race's creation. However, Knull was killed by Venom host Eddie Brock at the end of Marvel's King in Black event. Using the power of the Enigma Force, Eddie flew Knull into the Sun and watched him disintegrate, turning Eddie into the next King in Black.
How Knull returns in Death of the Venomverse is unknown as of writing. Marvel's current Venom series written by Al Ewing has shown that a King in Black can time travel, but different versions of Knull also exist across the Multiverse. This was revealed in the "Beyond" arc of Cates' Venom run, and some other familiar faces from that storyline are set to appear in Death of the Venomverse.
Agent Venom, Virus and More Return
In addition to the Death of the Venomverse #5 cover art featuring Knull, Marvel has released all five covers by Barends for the miniseries. The cover for Issue #2 reveals a Venomized Sinister Six, as well as the return of Agent Venom/Anne Weying and the Virus armor. This alternate version of Anne, Venom's ex-girlfriend, and Virus both appear in "Beyond." Previously worn by Scorpion/Mac Gargan, the Virus armor is a War Machine suit equipped with anti-symbiote weaponry.
Aside from Knull, Anne, Virus and a Venomized Sinister Six, Death of the Venomverse will feature alternate universe Venoms introduced by Marvel's Extreme Venomverse anthology series. Other new symbiote characters, including one labeled by Marvel as a "top-secret new symbiote hero," will be introduced in Death of the Venomverse too. Along with Bunn, Sandoval and Barends, the title sports artwork by Justin Mason and Taigami, as well as a Venom: Lethal Protector-style backup story written by Venom co-creator David Michelinie. The miniseries will release new issues between August and September in 2023.
Source: Marvel