Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Marvel's Eternals.

Dane Whitman could yet be a key hero for the MCU's Phase 4. Otherwise known as the Black Knight, Dane Whitman recently made his MCU debut in Marvel's Eternals, played by one used to sword-swinging heroics: none other than Game of Thrones star Kit Harrington. What's particularly interesting about Whitman's addition is the fact that despite his character having been on the sidelines for so long in terms of popularity in the comics, the Black Knight is actually an incredibly versatile character who has a lot to offer the MCU. He also has connections all over the MCU, to characters such as White Vision and the Kree Supreme Intelligence.

Cursed with the powerful Ebony Blade, the Black Knight has actually served as an Avenger in past iterations of the team in Marvel Comics, and he's even led the team before as well. Furthermore, he's had experience in all sorts of realms of the Marvel Universe, including matters of the magical, scientific, and extraterrestrial. This canonical experience will no doubt be brought to the fore as the MCU phase 4 progresses given the Black Knight's emergence in Eternals' post-credits scene.

Related: Every MCU Character Confirmed For Phase 4

While Dane Whitman's addition to the cast of characters in Marvel's Eternals makes sense due to his history with Sersi (played by Gemma Chan), Marvel Studios also looking to be including the Black Knight in order to introduce him to other chapters of the MCU's Phase 4 in the future. Whitman's MCU confirmation opens many potential franchise doors, whether it be Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which will no doubt contain all sorts of magical mayhem, or even Marvel's Secret Invasion series coming to Disney+ which will see Nick Fury working with the alien race known as the Skrulls. Dane Whitman could be comfortable in either scenario as well as a myriad of others following his Eternals introduction; here's a breakdown of his abilities and background in the comics.

Black Knight Has Magical Experience With His Ebony Blade

Black Knight wields the Ebony Blade in Marvel Comics.

First and foremost, Dane Whitman is the Black Knight due to his sworn oath to wield the Ebony Blade like his ancestors before him, dating back to Arthurian legend. It should also be noted that the powerful sword of the Black Knight holds a curse, fighting against the wielder and attempting the influence the holder to give in to darkness, rage, and bloodlust. While the concept of a black knight is typically associated with darkness and villainy, Dane Whitman flipped the script on his character's assumed role, determining to work as a hero in the Marvel Universe alongside the Avengers.

With the Ebony Blade, the Black Knight is immune to the effects of magic, which is certainly an interesting power to have should he ever have the need to go up against the Scarlet Witch or Doctor Strange, especially given their prominence in recent and upcoming MCU productions. Furthermore, the blade possesses its own dark magic as well. While it carries the power to influence its wielder, the Black Knight has also begun to tap into greater sources of his devastating power in recent comics.

Marvel Comics has been evolving Black Knight and his connection to the Ebony Blade as recently as their current King in Black event. For example, Whitman has just realized that his bloodline was not chosen for its purity and ability to resist the Ebony Blade's curse, but because of the darkness that was already inherent within their line. As such, Dane Whitman's struggle with his weapon is changing, and he's now working to accept his own darkness in order to channel the Blade's immense power into a force for good. In effect, the Black Knight's magical Ebony Blade is becoming the opposite of Thor's hammer Mjolnir.

Related: Black Widow Theory: Taskmaster Could Help Set Up Black Knight

Dane Whitman Is A Gifted Scientist

Marvel Comics Black Knight

Not only would Dane Whitman canonically be able to hold his own against threats of the magical variety in the MCU, the Black Knight could also contribute to new threats and scenarios requiring a scientific mind. Whitman himself is a gifted and talented scientist, and he's actually taken on the role of the Avengers' leading brain during a period when neither Iron Man nor Hank Pym were members in the comics.

Having expertise in both genetic and mechanical engineering, Whitman is adept with advanced technologies despite his medieval motif. Furthermore, he genetically modified and cloned winged horses to serve as his primary mode of transportation in the comics (although this to date has not been transferred to the MCU). In any case, Whitman is just as capable in the scientific arena as he would be in those of the magical for Phase 4.

The Black Knight Has A Cosmic Background and Connections With The Eternals

Eternals Sersi

The primary reason Black Knight's debut is in the MCU's Eternals has everything to do with the Eternal known as Sersi. Despite being a member of the immortal Eternal race, Sersi has always been the most involved with the mortals of Earth, and she's even been an Avenger herself. During this period, Dane Whitman and Sersi become romantically involved, though they've since gone their separate ways in the Marvel Universe and MCU respectively following Sersi's capture by Arishem the Judge.

In any case, Dane Whitman's experience with Marvel's cosmic regions doesn't end with just the Eternals. He was also heavily involved during a cosmic war between the Kree and the Shi'ar empires during an Avengers storyline known as "Operation Galactic Storm" (which White Vision was a part of as well). In it, the Black Knight himself bests the Kree's Supreme Intelligence. Furthermore, he's also had some experience with other realities as well such as when he and Sersi were transported to the Ultraverse. With White Vision (Paul Bettany) and the Kree Supreme Intelligence (Annette Bening as it appears to Carol Danvers) having appeared in recent MCU installments, it would track that Black Knight could serve a similar role to the path he's walked in the comics, cosmic, magical, or otherwise.

Taking into account Dane Whitman's magical, scientific, and cosmic experience, the Black Knight is a veritable triple threat that is currently being developed into a prominent hero in the MCU's Phase 4. Whatever dangers and foes lies ahead, it would be rare that Whitman would feel out of his element, with Marvel Studios sticking closely to his core source material as a character to date. Kit Harrington's Black Knight is certainly not going to be a one-off character following Marvel's Eternals, and he looks destined to continue to grow to become an impressive Avenger going into the rest of the MCU's Phase 4.

More: Marvel Can Explain A Missing Part Of Black Knight's Origin In Eternals

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