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It’s beginning to look as if 2026 is going to be a big year for symbiotes in the Marvel Comic Book Universe, with the publisher announcing not only a five-part Knull miniseries launching in January, but also teasing a “symbiote epic” coming later in the year.

The five-part Knull series follows up on the villain’s appearance in October’s Venom #250, and comes from writers Al Ewing and Tom Waltz, with art from Juanan Ramirez. Marvel’s official description for the series runs, “Weakened from his last death, trapped by the enemy he never expected, the God of the Void waits in a cage once again. His captors think Knull has nothing to fight back with — but in Knull's hands, nothing is a weapon. And there's a greater weapon out there, waiting for the King in Black to take it... and take his revenge.”

Knull, the so-called King in Black, is an evil deity introduced in 2018’s Venom #3; beyond being the creator of the symbiotes and arch-nemesis of Venom, he’s also been established as an antagonist of both Thor and the Silver Surfer.

Drawing the cover for the first issue of the series is Knull’s co-creator Ryan Stegman, and it looks like this:

Interestingly, however, in announcing the series, Marvel called Knull “a pivotal chapter in the lead up to a symbiote epic coming in 2026.” We’re very curious about what that might include, given that the current symbiote count in the Marvel Universe doesn’t just include Venom, Carnage, and the other symbiotes who’ve appeared in the All-New Venom series, but also an entirely different Venom wearing his version of the classic Spider-Man costume. That’s a pretty packed line-up… and maybe one Venom too many…? We’ll see how things shake out as we head towards summer 2026.

Knull #1 (of 5) will be released January 14, 2026.

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