How Powerful Dane Whitman's Sword Really Is

Dane Whitman unveils a mysterious weapon, the Ebony Blade, at the end of Eternals, but the film only hints at the true power of the ancient sword. Played by Kit Harrington, Dane Whitman has only a brief role in Eternals, but the film’s post-credits scene hints towards his future in the MCU. In Marvel’s comics, Whitman became one of the latest holders of the Black Knight title and a member of The Avengers, whose weapon is far more powerful than an ordinary sword.

In the mainstream Marvel Comics universe, there are three famous holders of the Black Knight title. The first, Sir Percy of Scandia, was a Knight of the Round Table who heroically wielded the Ebony Blade in the Middle Ages. His modern-day descendent, Nathan Garrett, held the title as a villainous original member of the Masters of Evil. Garrett’s nephew, Dane Whitman, rediscovered the Ebony Blade and became a hero like his ancient ancestor, becoming a powerful Avenger, despite the nature of his sword.

Dane Whitman entered the MCU in Eternals in a minor supporting role. His post-credits scene, in addition to teasing his future as the eventual Black Knight in the MCU, also featured the audio-only debut of the MCU’s Blade, played by Mahershala Ali. Blade asks Whitman if he’s ready to wield the Ebony Blade after the latter reads the sword’s ominous description, hinting at the Ebony Blade’s power. If the comics are any indication, the Ebony Blade will be an extremely powerful item in the MCU. In the comics, the Ebony Blade was created by Knull, a powerful cosmic being who also created the symbiotes of Spider-Man and Venom fame. Like the alien symbiotes, the Ebony Blade carries a corrupting curse that gradually affects its users for the worse. Continued use of the Ebony Blade stokes the fires of violence and cruelty in its users, which in turn feeds the sword itself. The Ebony Blade is a dark reflection of Excalibur, being created with all the malice and impurity that was purged from the latter sword during its forging.

While the Ebony Blade is cursed with corrupting qualities, it also imbues its wielders with incredible powers. The Ebony Blade can effortlessly cut through nearly any material, with metals like adamantium being among the few exceptions. The sword could also deflect magic-based attacks and it would render its wielder nearly invulnerable. Knull created the sword to only be wielded by the impure of heart, whose negative traits are gradually exacerbated by the Ebony Blade’s curse.

The Black Knight title and the Ebony Blade are rich in Marvel Comics lore, which Dane Whitman’s scenes only hinted at in Eternals. While no MCU Black Knight film or TV series has been announced yet, Blade’s appearance in Whitman’s post-credits scene implies that perhaps the eventual hero will be featured in the upcoming MCU Blade movie. With the history, power, and curse of the Ebony Blade, Dane Whitman may be featured in many exciting future MCU stories after his Eternals debut.

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