Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Venomverse: Reborn #1! When Knull attacked Earth in Marvel Comics’ King In Black crossover event, the cosmic villain proved to be a threat to not only the likes of Spider-Man, Venom, and the Avengers, but the entire universe. And now, the King in Black’s reach has been revealed to be multiversal, as Knull is effectively reshaping the events of the original King In Black storyline by recruiting Venom from Spider-Man’s videogame continuity.

In a preview for Venomverse: Reborn #1, readers are shown the opening pages of all three stories featured in this upcoming book. The first story, “Five Questions” is by Al Ewing and Danilo S. Beyruth, the second titled “Kiss the Ring” is by Christos Gage and Greg Land, and the third titled “Host” is by Benjamin Percy and Brian Level. While all three are intriguing, it’s the second one, “Kiss the Ring”, that’s especially noteworthy.

In the preview for “Kiss the Ring”, readers are taken to Earth-1048, otherwise known as the universe in which the videogame Marvel’s Spider-Man is set. As Venom prepares to turn the entirety of New York City into one giant symbiote hive in an effort to ‘heal’ everyone, he’s pulled from his universe and brought to Earth-616 during the events of the King In Black. As Knull descends upon the videogame Venom, the King in Black makes it clear that he has big plans for him.

Knull Just Changed the Events of the King In Black with the Videogame Venom

In the current continuity of Marvel Comics, Knull is no longer the King in Black, and hasn’t been for some time. Knull was killed during the King In Black event, and since then, Eddie Brock took his place as the new King in Black. Brock’s storyline as the new God of the Abyss has been unfolding in his ongoing Venom comic, one which reveals that the King in Black is connected to the entire multiverse, not just one universe.

Knull never got the chance to explore the multiversal side of his powers on-panel before being killed, whereas Eddie has gazed into that multiversal abyss and seen the reach of his divine power. But now, as readers delve into the Venomverse, Marvel has effectively redeemed Knull as a multiversal character. Not only that, but this comic is showing him using that power to reshape the events of his ultimate failure, and it seems the videogame version of Venom will play an integral role in Knull’s plans.

Marvel is Teasing a Venom vs Venom Battle Set During the King In Black Event

Knull was killed by Venom in the King In Black event, as he didn’t destroy Eddie Brock or his codexes before it was too late. But now, with the videogame version of Venom having entered the King In Black arena, Knull has seemingly found a new champion to kill Eddie Brock/Venom on his behalf. If that is, indeed, the case, then fans will soon get the chance to see two of the most popular versions of Venom – the original and the videogame – battling it out during one of the most hardcore and terrifying events in Marvel Comics history.

Only time will tell exactly why Knull brought the Venom from Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 into Marvel Comics’ main continuity, but based on the events of the original King In Black crossover storyline, it seems probable that he did so to use the videogame Venom to kill Earth-616’s Eddie Brock. However, no matter what becomes of this Venomverse story, the main takeaway is that Marvel Comics’ main continuity and its Spider-Man videogame universe are now directly connected, and it’s all thanks to the original King in Black.

Venomverse: Reborn #1 by Marvel Comics is available June 19, 2024.