Black Order (comics)

The Black Order (also known as the Cull Obsidian) is a fictional supervillain team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Publication history

The Black Order first appeared in one panel cameos in New Avengers Vol. 3 #8 as part of the Infinity storyline and were created by Jonathan Hickman, Jerome Opeña, and Jim Cheung. Their first full appearance takes place in Infinity #1, while their first cover appearance is New Avengers Vol. 3 #9.

Fictional team biography

Thanos' first version

The Black Order is a group of ruthless aliens that work for Thanos. They help Thanos into razing worlds where they demand tribute. When Corvus Glaive sent one of their Outriders to find a new world to raze, the Outrider targeted Earth.^[1]

The Black Order arrive on Earth in search of the Infinity Gems, which are under the control of the Illuminati.^[2] Each member of the Order targets a member of the Illuminati with varying degrees of success. During their search for the gems, Ebony Maw finds Thanos' son, Thane, whom Thanos wishes to kill.^[3]

During a battle with the Avengers, Black Dwarf and Supergiant are killed, Ebony Maw betrays Thanos and frees Thane. Thane traps Thanos, Corvus Glaive, and Proxima Midnight in an amber construct which leaves them in a state of "living death."^[4]

Corvus Glaive's version

After the restructuring of the multiverse, at the time when Thanos was missing, Corvus Glaive formed a second version of the Black Order where he gathered the worst criminals the universe had to offer as part of his plan to create his own empire. Using a moon called the Black Quadrant that belonged to Thanos, Corvus Glaive and the Black Order began to conquer different planets. When Thanos returned, he broke the blade off of Corvus Glaive's pike. Rather than die at the hands of Thanos, Corvus Glaive took the broken blade and killed himself. Afterwards, Thanos reclaimed the Black Quadrant.^[5]

Thanos' second version

While imprisoned in the Triskelion, Thanos was approached by a mysterious cloaked figure who offered him support in obtaining the Mjolnir of Earth-1610.^[6] Thanos accepted the deal. In order to make sure it was a success, Thanos formed a second incarnation of the Black Order with Proxima Midnight and Black Swan of Earth-1365. He dispatched them to the Collector's ship in order to obtain the Mjolnir of Earth-1610.^[7] There, the trio battled Thor and Beta Ray Bill and failed in retrieving the hammer.^[8] Upon returning to Thanos, the cloaked figure revealed herself to be the Asgardian Death Goddess Hela who then brutally killed both Black Swan and Proxima Midnight to demonstrate her power. She told Thanos that she needed his help to reclaim her rulership of Hel and offered to grant him the death he has long been seeking in exchange. They then kiss in a passionate embrace.^[9]

Members

Thanos' first version

• Black Dwarf - A member of the Black Order who has super-strength, enhanced density, and impenetrable skin. He is the brother of Corvus Glaive. Killed by Ronan the Accuser.
• Corvus Glaive - Thanos' most favored general^[10] who has enhanced strength, speed, durability, and endurance and uses a bladed pike which can cut through anything. When Corvus Glaive has the bladed pike in his hand, it makes him immortal. Committed suicide to avoid being killed by Thanos.
• Ebony Maw - A member of the Black Order who has genius-level intellect, specializes in persuasion. Utilizes a teleportation device and force field generator.
• Proxima Midnight - A member of the Black Order and the wife of Corvus Glaive who is a master hand-to-hand combatant, has super-strength and is nigh impervious. Her lance transforms into unavoidable toxic light beams. Killed by Hela.
• Supergiant - A member of the Black Order with telepathic abilities. Killed by Lockjaw.

Corvus Glaive's version

• Corvus Glaive -
• Coven -

Thanos' second version

• Thanos -
• Proxima Midnight -
• Black Swan of Earth-1365 -

In other media

Television

• The Black Order appears in Avengers Assemble with Proxima Midnight voiced by Kari Wahlgren, Corvus Glaive voiced by David Kaye, Ebony Maw voiced by René Auberjonois, Supergiant voiced by Hynden Walch, and Black Dwarf having no dialogue. The group first appears in the episode "New Frontiers" where they infiltrate a special prison where they take out the guards and it's defenses in order to free Thanos. Thanos leads the Black Order into attacking New Korbin, causing the Korbinite Jeter Kan Too to enlist the Avengers to help their world.^[11] In the episode "Avengers World", the Black Order joins in Thanos's attack on Earth and the fight with the Avengers. After Thanos was defeated, the Black Order are mentioned to be in the custody of the Guardians of the Galaxy.^[12]
• The Black Order appears in the Guardians of the Galaxy TV series with Kari Wahlgren, David Kaye and Hynden Walch reprising their roles as Proxima Midnight, Corvus Glaive and Supergiant while Ebony Maw is voiced by James Urbaniak and Black Dwarf is voiced by Jesse Burch. In the episode "Undercover Angle", Supergiant had been previously apprehended by the Nova Corps while the other members were seen on the desert planet of Eilsel 4 planning to obtain the Universal Weapon that Ronan the Accuser wielded. When both parties find the Universal Weapon, they are both attacked by Titus causing a temporary truce to keep Titus from selling it to Collector. Most of the Black Order were defeated by Titus and were later arrested by the Nova Corps. In the episode "Stuck in the Metal with You", the Black Order attacks the Guardians of the Galaxy on the planet Retsemaw where the Destroyer Armor was located. Rocket Raccoon used the Destroyer Armor to easily defeat them and they were left tied up for the Nova Corps to pick up. In the episode "Lyin' Eyes," Ebony Maw was shown to have left the Black Order when he was swayed by Mantis to join the Universal Believers. In the episode "Free Bird," Ebony Maw has gotten Proxima Midnight and Black Dwarf on the side of the Universal Believes. The three of them attack Star-Lord, Gamora, and Groot on Veros Seven even when they end up in a trap at the Ravagers' former hideout that Star-Lord designed when he was young. With help from an unnamed avian-resembling energy parasite that hatched from an egg that Groot found, Star-Lord, Gamora, and Groot were able to escape the trap and repel Ebony Maw, Black Dwarf, and Proxima Midnight.

Film

Corvus Glaive, Proxima Midnight, Ebony Maw, and a character named Cull Obsidian will appear in Avengers: Infinity War, as children of Thanos.^[13]

Video games

• The Black Order appears in Marvel: Avengers Alliance.
• The Black Order appears in Marvel: Future Fight.

References

External links

• Black Order (Thanos' version) at Marvel Wiki
• Black Order (Corvus Glaive's version) at Marvel Wiki
• Black Order at Comic Vine