The King in Black’s nemesis the God of Light once turned a dog into the all-powerful Captain Universe—or rather, Captain Uni-Mutt. While this really only took place during a “What If?” story, it demonstrates the power of the God of Light, otherwise known as the Enigma Force. This power has been revealed to be the true equal of Knull the Symbiote God and will likely be the key to defeating the Lord of the Abyss in Marvel’s ongoing King in Black event.

Knull is an ancient and malevolent force who created the symbiotes. After being freed from his eternal prison, he set his sights on Earth as part of his goal to return the universe to the darkness of the abyss. While Earth’s Mightiest Heroes tried to defend their planet, he quickly overcame them with his army of symbiote dragons, covering the world in darkness and infecting many of the Avengers. The only hope that the planet has is the Enigma Force, which has the power to imbue its host with the “Uni-Power” and grant them the abilities of a god. In the past, the people who host the Enigma Force have often gone by the name Captain Universe. In King in Black #4, this power inhabits Eddie Brock, aka Venom, setting up an epic showdown between the God of Light and the God of the Symbiotes.

Related: King in Black's God of Light: The Enigma Force Explained

Captain Universe has inhabited a number of Marvel heroes, including Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, the Hulk, and Deadpool. But one of its strangest hosts, Casey the dog, appeared in just a couple pages of What If? #31 from 1991. Written by Glenn Herdling with art by Scott McDaniel, this Captain Universe story opens with a couple named Glenn and Laura taking a ride in a hot air balloon while their dog Casey remains on the ground. Right after Glenn pops the question to Laura, their balloon erupts into flames. Casey at first is forced to watch from the ground before he is suddenly struck by the Enigma Force, granting him self-awareness and the power of Captain Universe.

Captain Uni-Mutt

Captain Uni-Mutt is shocked by his sudden transformation. “I’m Casey, but I’m no longer just a dog. I’m Captain Universe! I’ve been endowed with an extradimensional energy that transforms individuals to avert sudden dangers!” Deciding that he has doesn’t have time to think about the ramifications of this sudden change, he flies up into the sky to save his master, while also noting that “no man may be called master of Captain Uni-Mutt!” He rescues Glenn and Laura (though the engagement ring is lost in the process) and brings them safely back to the ground. Once the crisis is over, the Enigma Force leaves Casey’s body, but not before he reflects that he better get a biscuit for his efforts.

It’s unclear whether this scene is canonical or not. The main story of the issue centers around what would happen if the Enigma Force had never left Spider-Man after it inhabited him. The Watcher mentions that when it did depart him, it “craved the emotions and power it had shared with Peter Parker” and “sought beings of lesser physical and emotional development, such as children and animals.” So it’s possible that the God of Light did transform Casey the dog into Captain Universe and that—for a brief time at least—the King in Black’s most dangerous enemy was a very good boy.

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