Black Knight: Why Thor Hates the MCU’s Next Hero in the Comics

SPOILER WARNING for Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade #3!

Wielding the powerful Ebony Blade, Dane Whitman is the latest in a long line of heroes to don the mantle of the Black Knight. The hero’s legendary weapon feeds off of his inner darkness, however, which grants him immense power at the cost of falling into a crazed bloodlust. This curse has not only caused Dane to doubt himself as a hero, but has also formed a rift between him and his former Avengers teammates, especially Thor.

Thor’s disdain for the Black Knight is no secret in the new Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade series, as Dane Whitman briefly reunites with the Avengers in the first issue. Having been called in for a bit of mystical assistance, the Black Knight joins Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in battle against a horde of monsters. Sadly, the fight ends up being pretty awkward for everyone, as the Avengers struggle to hide their true feelings about Dane. Captain America does a decent job at showing gratitude, but Black Panther and Captain Marvel look at him with pity and Thor calls out many of his “unworthy” behaviors. In fact, right when Dane makes his entrance, the Asgardian can be seen saying “Ah $%#&— this guy,” and from there, things only get worse. He accuses the Black Knight of mocking how he speaks and he even rejects the idea of helping Dane with his powers, claiming that pride is Dane’s greatest flaw. While Thor’s behavior may seem unwarranted, however, the latest issue in the series shows that his grudge with the Black Knight has a much deeper history.

In Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade #3 by Si Spurrier, Sergio Dávila, Sean Parsons, Arif Prianto, and Cory Petit, Dane Whitman is joined by Elsa Bloodstone and a scholar named Jacks Chopra in a battle against King Arthur’s evil son, Mordred. Amidst the action, Jacks is visited by a bird serving as Merlin’s familiar, who grants her a vision of the Black Knight’s past. This vision, which is meant to teach Jacks about the Ebony Blade’s curse, shows Sir Percy, the first ever Black Knight, taking on a much younger Thor.

Seeking to quell an evil within Camelot, Thor and a group of his followers approach the Black Knight, who stands ready to defend his kingdom. Thor decides to take on Sir Percy one-on-one and as the two fight, the arrogance of the Asgardian’s youth shows. Instead of making quick work of his opponent, Thor decides to taunt and insult the Black Knight, unknowingly making his foe stronger. Before long, the hatred coursing through Sir Percy makes him powerful enough to knock Thor unconscious. Unfortunately, the Black Knight is unable to restrain the anger inside and he goes against King Arthur’s code by slaughtering all of the Northmen in Thor’s party instead of allowing them to leave. In the end, the Black Knight abandons the bodies of Thor’s followers outside the gates of Camelot and Merlin’s familiar “scavenges” Thor’s memories of the moment, leaving him to wake up on an empty beach, completely unaware of his defeat.

Thor’s encounter with Sir Percy provides a lot more context for his resentment toward Dane Whitman, as his history with the Black Knight is incredibly dark. Though the bloody encounter was wiped from the God of Thunder’s mind, Thor still seems to have some recollection of what occurred. The facts may be gone, but the way that Thor treats Dane in Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade #1 suggests that Thor still has an instinctual and emotional response to the hero known as the Black Knight.

Marvel has been making some major changes to the Black Knight, lately, which could indicate what Kit Harington’s MCU portrayal of Dane Whitman will look like in Eternals. Overall, the character has received a major power boost, with his victory over Thor proving his strength. Additionally, the Ebony Blade is now serving as more of an anti-Mjolnir, which can only be wielded by the most unworthy of warriors. If these recent changes are anything to go by, the Black Knight could potentially become one of the MCU’s strongest heroes. Either way, Thor and the Black Knight’s comic book rivalry only seems to be growing, which could have some major implications in the future. Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade #3 from Marvel Comics is available now.

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