Thanos' eyes glow bright as he smiles in Avengers Infinity War MCU art
By
Evan D. Mullicane
Published 57 minutes ago
Evan Mullicane is the senior editor and founder of Screen Rant's anime section. Having started as a writer for the Comics Team at the beginning of the Pandemic, Evan was swiftly promoted from writer to editor, and then from editor to lead of Screen Rant's newly established anime vertical.
Throughout his time with Screen Rant, Evan has made a handful of appearances at conventions such as Anime Expo and San Diego Comic-Con, and has interviewed some of the biggest names in Anime and Comics history.
In addition to editing anime and manga articles for Screen Rant, Evan is also a science fiction and fantasy author. In 2018 and 2019, his short story "The Demon's Mother" won honorable mentions from the Writers of the Future contest.
You can find Evan on Twitter @EvanDM and BlueSky @evandmu.bsky.socia
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Few Marvel villains are as iconic as Thanos, which is why it's surprising that his personal army ranks among the brand's most boring antagonists. While the Mad Titan is often a solo act, he has frequently employed a species known as the Outriders to fill out his forces. Unfortunately, even in the MCU, the Outriders have never done much.
Now, however, Marvel is making a stab at fixing these mindless soldiers. Marvel's own King in Black, Knull, currently has his own ongoing comic series, and according to a new tease, it looks like he's facing the Outriders. Now, the question is if Knull's presence can finally make them into a legitimate threat.
Marvel's Outriders Return To Battle Knull
While it is not yet clear why the Outriders are coming after Knull, signs point to it having something to do with Hela. Hela has worked with Thanos and the Outriders before, and the solicitation for the upcoming Knull #2 by Al Ewing, Tom Waltz, and Juanan Ramirez does mention the classic Thor villain.
Free from his cage and on the run, Knull seeks out a mysterious golden prize from his own past to assist him in his quest to reclaim his crown as King in Black. Meanwhile, Hela continues to watch from magical shadows, secretly manipulating all the players on the board to play a wicked game of her choosing. Past and present collide on a cosmic scale on multiple fronts…with deadly ramifications for the future!
Unfortunately, at the time of writing, readers have very little context for why Knull and the Outriders are battling outside of the Hela tease. Issue #1 of the new Knull series doesn't release until January 2026, and issue #2 won't hit store shelves until February, so until that point, it's anyone's guess as to why these two forces will be doing battle.
How Knull Can Help Redeem The Outriders
The Outriders were first introduced in 2013, and were created by Jonathan Hickman and Jim Cheung. The alien species are genetically modified creatures who show up to weaker planets ahead of Thanos' arrival.
The aliens most famously appeared in the MCU as Thanos' foot soldiers during Infinity War. Ironically enough, given that their upcoming battle with Knull, the MCU actually redesigned the Outriders to look less like Venom.
Unfortunately, despite their cool design, they have always been portrayed as mere foot soldiers, robbing them of the potential impact the villains could have.
By battling a foe like Knull, however, it's possible the creatures could get a touch of redemption. While Knull usually ranks among Marvel's strongest villains, his current diminished state and lack of notable allies could help the Outriders finally score a win.
The cover for Knull #2 teases that the former King in Black is going to have quite a handful dealing with the Outriders as they drive him off a cliff. While it's unlikely he'll be taken out by Thanos' foot soldiers, they may be able to subdue him or at least land some significant blows.
The Outriders might be stuck as the MCU's most boring villains, but there's no reason the comics can't redeem them.
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