The film Marvel’s Eternals is now in cinemas, and it introduces Dane Whitman, the future MCU Black Knight, with the titular cosmic entities. While Eternals does not yet elevate Whitman to the status of a superhero, it does pave the way for his future heroic rise.
Dane Whitman, Marvel’s most potentially character who has assumed the guise of the Black Knight, isn’t exactly a household name. He is, however, one of the longest-serving comic book Avengers, having even captained the team at one point, and he is the heir to a mantle that dates back hundreds of years in the Marvel Universe’s past.
With Dane Whitman now a part of the MCU and on his way to becoming the Black Knight, now is a great opportunity to learn about one of Marvel’s lesser-known legendary legacies. With that out of the way, here are a few things you should know about Marvel’s Black Knight.
1. Who is the Black Knight
Picture: Pinkvilla
Dane Whitman originally appeared as a human super-scientist in Avengers #47 in 1967. Whitman, who is not yet the Black Knight, is first seen working on a series of experiments that he thinks will grant him the power to atone for his uncle Nathan Garrett’s transgressions as the Black Knight’s previous bearer.
2. Stan Lee’s creation
Picture: Wired
Dane Whitman wasn’t the first hero to hold the title of Black Knight. Black Knight, like most of Marvel’s best characters, was created by Stan Lee. Sir Percy of Scandia, the original Black Knight, debuted in 1955 as a medieval knight and hero in King Arthur’s court. During the 1960s, there were two more incarnations of the figure that became popular. Stan Lee also invented the first of these, Nathan Garrett.
The second, on the other hand, was written by renowned author Roy Thomas. Despite the fact that Thomas’ version became the most popular, Stan Lee’s foundation for the character served as the backbone for the Black Knight and continues to define who he is today.
3. Initially was a villain
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Nathan Garrett, the second iteration of Black Knight, was a supervillain. Garrett, an ordinary Biology Professor, turns revealed to be the first Black Knight’s direct descendent. Garrett seeks to take the famous Ebony Blade after uncovering Sir Percy’s grave. Garrett becomes a supervillain to insult his ancestor, utilising technology to compensate for his lack of powers, after being shunned by Percy’s ghost for his wicked tendencies.
Garrett summons his nephew, Dane Whitman, to his deathbed after a confrontation with Iron Man leaves him mortally wounded. Garrett wants Whitman to make up for all the wrongs he’s done, repenting for all the wrongs he’s done. Whitman is inspired to become the next Black Knight—a hero.
4. An Avenger
Picture: Nerdist
Dane Whitman was ambushed by the Avengers shortly after taking over the mantle from his uncle. They later realized their error and chose to collaborate with the new Black Knight.
Dane took advantage of the Black Knight’s wicked past to earn membership in the Masters of Evil. Black Knight proved himself to the Avengers by helping them fight them from within, and he became a crucial member of the team.
5. Incarnations
Picture: CBR.com
Throughout the history of Marvel comics, there have been numerous Black Knights. The first three, Sir Percy, Nathan Garrett, and Dane Whitman, are the most prominent. However, there have been a few more noteworthy instances. Augustine du Lac, a Vatican agent who wanted to promote Catholicism to Wakanda, was one of these characters.
Dane Whitman In Marvel Cinematic Universe
Picture: CBR
Dane Whitman, played by Kit Harington, makes his MCU debut in Eternals. Though he does not become the Black Knight in the film, a post-credits scene places the Black Blade in his hands, foreshadowing his eventual hero role. And, given Whitman’s extensive network of links to other famous Marvel heroes, there’s reason to suppose he’ll play a key role in the Avengers’ future incarnation.
Whitman made his initial appearance in the X-Men, and he has a history with Excalibur. All of this naturally brings up the idea of Otherworld, a realm of Arthurian magic with ties to the current X-Men series. The Black Knight’s legacy may be traced all the way back to the time of Camelot and King Arthur in the Marvel Universe.
Because the Eternals are linked to Marvel’s mystical, mythological secret history, it’s feasible that when Dane Whitman takes up the Ebony Blade to become the Black Knight, he’ll open up a whole new wing of the MCU for research.
Sources: CBR.com,Games Radar,Den of Geek,Pinkvilla
