The Black Knight is the alias of several fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
The first is a medieval knight created by writer Stan Lee and artist Joe Maneely, who made his first appearance in Black Knight #1 (May 1955), during the Silver Age of Comics, when Marvel Comics was previously known as Atlas Comics. The second is a supervillain descendant of the original, created by Lee and artist and co-plotter Dick Ayers, who first appeared in Tales to Astonish #52 (Feb. 1964). The third, created by writer Roy Thomas, production editor John Verpoorten, and artist George Tuska, is the villain's nephew, a superhero and a member of the superhero team the Avengers, who first appeared in The Avengers #47 (Dec. 1967). A fourth Black Knight with no revealed genetic connection debuted in The Black Panther #3 (June 2005), created by writer Reginald Hudlin and penciler John Romita Jr. A fifth, Jackie Chopra, was revealed to be the daughter of Dane Whitman.
Dane Whitman appears in the live-action Marvel Cinematic Universe film Eternals (2021), portrayed by Kit Harington.
Publication history Marvel Comics' first Black Knight, Sir Percy of Scandia, first appeared in the medieval-adventure series Black Knight #1–5 (cover-dated May 1955–April 1956) from Atlas Comics, the 1950s precursor to Marvel Comics.Black Knight at the Grand Comics Database.
Sir Percy's descendant, Professor Nathan Garrett, debuted as the modern-day supervillain Black Knight in Tales to Astonish #52 (Feb. 1964). This villainous Black Knight appeared in The Avengers #6, #14–15 (July 1964, March–April 1965), and in the feature "Iron Man" in Tales of Suspense #73 (Jan. 1966), in which he was mortally wounded.
Dane Whitman, Garrett's nephew, made his first appearance in The Avengers #47 (Dec. 1967) and became a heroic version of the Black Knight in the subsequent issue. Whitman sporadically appeared with the Avengers until becoming a core member, regularly appearing in #252–300 (1985–1989) and #329–375 (1991–1994).
The Gatherers storyline running through The Avengers #343–375 (1992–1994) placed the spotlight on the Black Knight, as the book's focus turned toward his tumultuous relationship with the Eternal Sersi and mysterious connection to the other-dimensional villain Proctor. Whitman later starred in Malibu Comics' UltraForce #8–10 (1995) and UltraForce vol. 2 #1–12 (1995–1996), leading a new team of heroes on a parallel world. Returning to the Marvel Universe proper, Whitman appeared in Heroes for Hire #1–16 (1997–1998) and, later, Captain Britain and MI13 #1–15 (2008–2009). The Black Knight has yet to return to the Avengers, the team with which the character is most closely associated. In 2015, as part of All-New All-Different, a solo series was launched featuring Dane Whitman; however, it was canceled after 5 issues due to low sales.
Whitman and Sir Percy also starred in the limited series Black Knight #1–4 (June–Sept. 1990), written by Roy and Dann Thomas and drawn by successive pencillers Tony DeZuniga and Rich Buckler. In 1995, Percy had a cameo in Namor #60 as part of the Atlantis Rising story. Whitman and Sersi then headlined the one-shot Black Knight: Exodus (Dec. 1996), written by Ben Raab and illustrated by Jimmy Cheung and Andy Lanning. Another Black Knight one-shot starring Sir Percy, written by Thomas and illustrated by Tom Grummett and Scott Hanna, was published as Mystic Arcana: Black Knight #1 (Sept. 2007), the second of four Mystic Arcana one-shot issues.
Fictional character biographies Sir Percy of Scandia The original Black Knight is Sir Percy of Scandia, a 6th-century knight who serves at the court of King Arthur as his greatest warrior. Recruited by the wizard Merlin, Percy adopts a double identity, and pretends to be very incompetent until changing into the persona of the Black Knight. As the Black Knight, Percy wields the Ebony Blade, which Merlin forged from a meteorite.Black Knight #1–5 (May–Dec. 1955). Atlas Comics (the 1950s precursor of Marvel Comics). A constant foe of the evil knight Mordred the Evil (Arthur's traitorous nephew), Percy is eventually killed by him during the fall of Camelot when stabbed from behind with an enchanted blade – although Mordred then dies himself of wounds inflicted by Arthur.Marvel Super-Heroes #17 (Nov. 1968) Merlin ensures that Percy's spirit will live on by casting a spell that will revive his ghost if Mordred should ever return. Percy's spirit has appeared several times to counsel his descendant, Dane Whitman.
Nathan Garrett Biologist Nathan Garrett is the direct descendant of Sir Percy (although it has been implied Percy's nephew Raston inherited the blade), and found Sir Percy's tomb and the Ebony Blade. Garrett's evil tendencies make him unworthy of wielding the sword, and Sir Percy’s ghost shuns him. An embittered Garrett then devises an arsenal of medieval weapons that employ modern technology and has genetic engineers create a winged horse that he names Elendil. Calling himself the Black Knight, Garrett embarks on a life of crime to spite his ancestor. After a battle with the hero Giant-ManTales to Astonish #52 (Feb. 1964) Garrett joins the supervillain team the Masters of Evil at the request of master villain Baron Zemo and like the others spreads Adhesive X over the city, but is first defeated by Thor. After two unsuccessful battles with the Avengers, the second time of which he was broken out of jail by Enchantress,The Avengers #6, 14–15 (July 1964, March–April 1965) he battled Iron Man due to Doctor Doom's mind-control machine (which made supervillains attack Mister Fantastic's and the Invisible Woman's wedding, which the affected villains subsequently forget due to a machine created by Mister Fantastic).Fantastic Four Annual #3 Garrett is mortally wounded falling from Aragorn while trying to kill Iron Man.Tales of Suspense #73 A dying Garrett reveals his secret identity to his nephew, Dane Whitman, and repents for his life of crime.The Avengers #47 (Dec. 1967) Whitman then adopts the identity of the Black Knight himself.The Avengers #48 (Jan. 1968)
Dane Whitman Dane Whitman is the Black Knight who has been a longtime member of the Avengers as well as a member of the Defenders, Ultraforce, Heroes for Hire, and MI: 13. Using his uncle's notes, Whitman wielded the same equipment and created Aragorn.
Augustine du Lac A Vatican Black Knight named Augustine du LacKlaws of the Panther TPB's Handbook entry on Black Panther (Shuri) received the Ebony Blade after Vatican agents retrieved it from an Iraqi vampire nest. In addition, Augustine created his own Aragorn.Captain Britain and MI: 13 #10 He is a member of a team of supervillains that invades the African nation of Wakanda. A devout Catholic, du Lac hopes to convert the populace to Catholicism. Black Panther takes the Ebony Blade upon his surrender when ripped off of Aragorn's back and a claim that the Wakandan pilots would fire on Aragorn.Black Panther vol. 4 #4 (July 2005) Augustine's Aragorn was later captured by Alyosha Kravinoff and killed for food.Punisher War Journal vol. 2 #13–14
Female Black Knight A teenage female Black Knight appears in the Vengeance limited series as a member of the Young Masters. Like Garrett, this incarnation is a villain and appears to possess the Ebony Blade. How she came into possession of the sword and what happened to Augustine has yet to be revealed. She was with the Young Masters when they were at an abandoned Hydra base in Pennsylvania. While inspecting Bullseye's corpse, they were attacked by Lady Bullseye.Vengeance #2 Later targeting Doctor Octopus for "execution", the Young Masters found themselves battling the Sinister Six while being assisted by the Teen Brigade, with Black Knight being assisted in taking down Sandman by Teen Brigade member Ultimate Nullifier.Vengeance #3
Black Knight was later seen with the Young Masters as a member of the Masters of Evil, led by Helmut Zemo. She and the Young Masters resided in the Snakepit which is overseen by Constrictor.Avengers Undercover #2
Jacks Chopra Jackie "Jacks" Chopra is Dane Whitman's previously unknown daughter and an Arthurian history buff. She shares the Black Knight mantle and Ebony Blade with her father so that burden of doing so would not be handled alone.Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade #5
The Black Knight lineage Nathan Garrett and Dane Whitman are part of a lineage of Black Knights stretching back to the 6th century. In New Excalibur #10, the first part of the "Last Day of Camelot" storyline, it is revealed that Dane has turned Garrett Castle into a Black Knight museum with various exhibits on the Black Knights, including the body of Sir Percy. There is a long line of paintings of the Knights including, according to the curator, "Sir Ralston[sic] and Sir Eobar or lesser known knights like Sir William and Sir Henry."New Excalibur #10 (2006)
These Black Knights are:
Sir Raston ("Ralston" appears only in New Excalibur #10) – Sir Percy's nephew, who became the Black Knight after him. He lived in the Dark Ages, but was recruited into the Anachronauts by Kang the Conqueror and travelled through time. Sir Eobar of Garrington – He was the Black Knight during the Crusades. Sir William – He is depicted fighting in the trenches of World War I. Sir Henry – He is depicted as a swashbuckling figure.
Later in "The Last Days of Camelot", Sir Percy reveals to Dane that he was not the first Black Knight and that eight knights had carried the Ebony Blade before him, the last being King Arthur's cousin Sir Reginald. Each one had been driven mad by the sword and had to be killed until it was decided there were only three people who could take the sword, but King Arthur and Merlin were needed in other capacities, so the "burden" fell to Sir Percy who accepted despite knowing the risks.New Excalibur #12 (2006)
The apparent "Last Knight" is Ernst Wythim, a member of the lineage from around 2600 AD.
Ebony Blade History The Ebony Blade was carved from a meteor and enchanted by Merlin for Sir Percy, the first Black Knight. The Ebony Blade was inflicted with a curse after being used for violence. The sword passed down through the generations, eventually being given to Percy's descendant Dane Whitman. Whitman used the blade for many years. It passed briefly to Valkyrie when Dane's body was turned to stone.The Defenders #4 Whitman eventually gave up the Ebony Blade by driving it deep into the same meteor that it was forged from, now kept in his castle. Only another deemed worthy would be able to withdraw it.
Sean Dolan, Dane's ex-squire, draws the Ebony Blade during an attack on Whitman's castle and becomes Bloodwraith. Dolan overcomes the curse and is able to give up the sword for a brief time. During this time, the Ebony Blade was trapped in the Negative Zone barrier outside of Attilan. In the meantime, a second Ebony Blade was acquired by Proctor, an alternate reality version of Whitman.The Avengers #375 Dolan was drawn to this second Blade, and once again became Bloodwraith.Avengers Unplugged #6 (Aug. 1996)
Powers and abilities The Ebony Blade is a powerful enchanted weapon. It is said to be indestructible, and only the extremely powerful Iron Ogre, a magic creature, could split it in half.Hulk Comic #12 (May 1979) The blade has many mystical or quasi-mystical capabilities, including the ability to cut through any physical substance with the exception of other enchanted weapons and extremely strong metals like adamantium, absorb energy, absorb souls to empower itself, and guard against mystic energy. The Blade bonds to its wielder in such a way that they can summon it using a mystical ceremony if it is ever lost. The sword also gives its users a state of resurrective immortality; if the wielder were to fall in battle, a blood offering of sorts can be used to restore them to life.Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade #1-2
Curses and influences