The X-Men are falling prey to Knull, the God of the Symbiotes, in February's Marvel Comics solicitations. The upcoming "King in Black" event will see Knull, the God of the Symbiotes, launch a terrifying attack upon Earth. Knull lived in the void before the Big Bang, and he has fought against life since the dawn of time, campaigning to snuff out all traces of life and light.
Alien invasions are a dime a dozen in the Marvel Universe, but this is something beyond anything the Avengers and the X-Men have ever faced. Donny Cates' Silver Surfer: Black revealed Knull is the greatest evil in the universe; when he was at his strongest, he kept all the cosmos under his thrall, with the few civilizations able to develop remaining hidden from his wrath. It took the unlikely team-up of a time-traveling Silver Surfer and Ego the Living Planet to drive Knull back and give life a chance to take hold. And now Knull is back - and heading for Earth.
Marvel's February solicitations confirm the X-Men will find themselves in just as much trouble as the Avengers, as Knull's army of symbiotes sweep across the globe and even threaten Krakoa. The solicits include:
- KING IN BLACK: MARAUDERS #1
- GERRY DUGGAN (W) • LUKE ROSS (A) • Cover by RUSSELL DAUTERMAN
- VARIANT COVER BY MATTEO SCALERA
- THE QUEEN IN RED SAILS!
- Red Queen Kate Pryde and her crew of Marauders set sail against the forces of Knull! Captain Kate has pledged to fight for the needy, and a global disaster like this one gives plenty of folks in need.
- S.W.O.R.D. #3
- AL EWING (W) • VALERIO SCHITI (A/C)
- VARIANT COVER BY TAKESHI MIYAZAWA
- TAKE A TRIP WITH THE EVERYWHERE MAN!
- The Void-God has overtaken the Earth. Top-level mutants have been assimilated. Protocol V is in effect. But space is a big place... and a lot of things happen there at once. Walk a mile in the Manifold’s shoes, as S.W.O.R.D.’s Quintician takes a multi-artist journey across the universe and back... and comes face to face with S.W.O.R.D.’s deadliest enemy.
It makes sense that the X-Men would wind up caught up in Knull's invasion. The mutant island of Krakoa will surely be a high-profile target, given every single inhabitant would be a powerful addition to Knull's army should they fall under the thrall of the symbiotes. Disturbingly, the solicitation for SWORD #3 suggests Knull will successfully take possession of several "top-level mutants," which could mean he takes control of key members of Krakoa's ruling Quiet Council - or potentially could instead mean he assimilates Omega level mutants whose power levels are absolutely unprecedented.
But the X-Men could well be key to fighting back against Knull and his army of symbiotes. The X-Men have reformed SWORD to protect the Earth from extraterrestrial threats, with Abigail Brand taking charge of a number of key assets including Magneto, Kid Cable, Frenzy, Wiz Kid, Fabian Cortez, and former Avenger Manifold. What's more, the X-Men have a number of prominent tacticians, and the wide range of powersets on Krakoa means they have almost unlimited ways to fight back. The God of the Symbiotes may soon learn he has met his match in the X-Men.