Summary
In a twisted new cosplay,Spider-Manbecomes the newKing in Black–and killsIron Man. In the Marvel Universe, the King in Black is the god of the symbiotes, and up until Eddie Brock assumed the mantle, one of its worst villains. Now, in a stunning piece of cosplay from wens.1998,Peter Parker fulfills the destiny that was denied him in a truly horrific fashion.
Wens.1998unveiled the shoot in a post on Instagram. Wens, dressed as Spider-Man in his infamous black suit, is sitting on a dark throne in the middle of a devastated landscape. Various symbols of symbiotes and theKing in Black can be seenin the background, such as a structure closely resembling another King in Black, called Meridia. Wens prefaces the piece by acknowledging its influences, includingWeb of Shadows.
Yet what truly ties the cosplay shoot together is that Wens is holding Iron Man’s helmet in triumph.
The King in Black Took Venom to Another Level
It Gave Venom An Even Bigger Role in Marvel’s Cosmic Side
TheKing in Black is the ultimate refinement of the concept of Venom and the symbiotes.Introduced early in Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman’s epicVenomrun, the King in Black waged a war against the gods of the Marvel Universe. Seeking to restore the primordial darkness, the King in Black, also called Knull, killed and enslaved deities throughout the universe. Knull set his sights on Earth, but was defeated by its heroes, led by Eddie Brock. Upon Knull’s defeat, Eddie Brock became the new King in Black, and attempted to chart a more humane course for the symbiotes.
Writer Al Ewing revealed in a recent issue ofVenomthat the title of King in Black carries far grander significance than initially thought.
Marvel continued to refine the concept of the King in Black, even after Knull’s defeat. Writer Al Ewing revealed in a recent issue ofVenomthat the title of King in Black carries far grander significance than initially thought. The Kings in Black are thecosmic opposites of the Beyonders,the issue revealed. The Beyonders, or “the Kings in Light” assume a more detached attitude from the universe, and see themselves above it. The Kings in Black, on the other hand, work to heal the world from the inside, and it is not always pretty.
This Cosplay Fulfills Spider-Man’s Dark Destiny
If Spider-Man Became the King in Black, the Marvel Universe Would Suffer
That same issue of Venom revealed that Spider-Man was destined to be the King in Black, but fate interfered, and it went to Eddie Brock instead. Spider-Man was the perfect choice, in the universe’s eyes, for theKing in Blackand now Wens.1998’s cosplay brings Peter’s destiny full circle. As seen in the cosplay,Spider-Manhas leaned completely into the role, creating a throne for himself, as well as vanquishingIron Manonce and for all. The eerie structures in the background enhance the atmosphere, making an already chilling picture even more terrifying.
