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The Black Order, also known as the Children of Thanos, was an elite team comprised of powerful individuals who used their abilities to serve their adoptive father Thanos.
As Thanos' vicious generals, they assisted him in his mission to find and harness the power of the Infinity Stones. Each of them had a specific superpower appropriate to their character.
History[]
Raised by Thanos[]
The Black Order was created by Thanos as part of his modus operandi of adopting a child from one of the planets that he conquered before killing half of the population. Thanos adopted six known children, Ebony Maw, Proxima Midnight, Corvus Glaive, Cull Obsidian, the Zehoberei Gamora, and the Luphomoid Nebula, and trained them in the ways of combat, turning each of them into a deadly warrior. While the other four were unfailingly devoted and loyal to Thanos, Gamora and Nebula would come to resent their adopted father, the former having severe reservations about his goal and the latter for the torture he'd inflicted on her, coming to hate not only him but her adoptive siblings.[1]
Infinity War[]
Attack on the Statesman[]
The Black Order standing guard over Loki
In 2018, the Black Order joined Thanos on his mothership, the Sanctuary II, on his quest for the Infinity Stones. They accompanied him to Xandar where he obtained the Power Stone and participated in the attack on the Statesman to retrieve the Space Stone. While half of the Asgardians were allowed to escape, the other half were slain by the Black Order, with only Thor and Heimdall surviving. The Black Order stood guard around Loki to prevent him from doing anything against them.
Following their victory, Ebony Maw delivered his traditional speech claiming that the sacrifice of the Asgardians helped to restore balance in the universe. Loki then announced that "they had a Hulk," whereupon the Hulk attempted to attack Thanos, Cull Obsidian intended to intervene, but Ebony Maw stopped him. Although Hulk initially held the upper hand, Thanos easily defeated Hulk on his own. When Heimdall used his last forces to send Hulk on Earth with the Bifrost Bridge, Thanos impaled him with Glaive's weapon. When Thor protested Ebony Maw silenced him using a metal restraint and then gave the Tesseract to his adoptive father.
The Black Order leaves the Statesman
After Thanos destroyed the Tesseract and attached the Space Stone to the Infinity Gauntlet, the Black Order were tasked with going to Earth to find the Mind Stone and the Time Stone. Proxima Midnight promised that they would succeed. Loki offered to guide them, but it was only a trick so he could attack Thanos before the Black Order could react. However, Thanos stopped Loki and murdered him in front of Thor. Using the power of the Space Stone, the Black Order then returned onto the Sanctuary II as Thanos destroyed the Statesman with the Power Stone.[2]
Attack on Greenwich Village[]
Cull Obsidian and Ebony Maw arrive in New York City
Both Ebony Maw and Cull Obsidian hitched a ride on a Q-Ship to New York City, where the Masters of the Mystic Arts kept the Time Stone hidden in the Eye of Agamotto belonging to Doctor Strange. Once their ship arrived in the city, causing massive damage and panic, Maw and Obsidian both accosted Strange, accompanied by Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, and Wong. As Ebony Maw grew tired of Stark's taunting, he ordered Cull Obsidian to go and fight.
Ebony Maw captures Doctor Strange
However, the defenders of Earth proved to be more than a match for the Black Order. Despite Banner's failure to turn into the Hulk, the remaining force frustrated the invaders. Although he seemingly gained the upper hand over Iron Man, Cull Obsidian also had to fight Peter Parker, whose Spider-Sense tipped him off to the conflict, forcing him to arrive and help his mentor. Meanwhile, Ebony Maw fought against the Masters of the Mystic Arts, who managed to wound him. This angered Maw and prompted him to fully commit to the battle. In order to get to Strange, Ebony Maw caused a fire hydrant to burst next to Wong and attacked Strange, blocking him with his telekinetic powers. However, Maw could not open the Eye of Agamotto, forcing him to abduct Strange onto the Q-Ship.
Although both Spider-Man and the Cloak of Levitation attempted to stop him, Ebony Maw successfully escaped with an unconscious Strange. Cull Obsidian, however, was trapped by Wong who sent him to Antarctica through a portal, losing his left forearm in the process.[2]
Attack on Vision[]
- "We don't want to kill you, but we will."
"You'll never get the chance again." - ―Black Widow and Proxima Midnight[src]
Proxima Midnight and Corvus Glaive took their own Q-Ship to Scotland, where Vision, who carried the Mind Stone, attempted to live in peace with Wanda Maximoff. As Vision and Maximoff were wandering in the streets of Edinburgh, Corvus Glaive stealthily backstabbed Vision, preventing him from phasing. Maximoff attempted to stop him, but she was thrown into a store by Proxima Midnight. The Black Order then attempted to forcefully extract the Mind Stone from Vision.
Proxima Midnight duels against Wanda Maximoff
However, Maximoff returned and knocked Corvus Glaive and Proxima Midnight over before taking Vision away. The Black Order found them, and a double duel was engaged, with Proxima Midnight facing Maximoff while Corvus Glaive fought against Vision. Corvus Glaive managed to gain the upper hand over Vision, deflecting the Mind Stone's blast and attacking him one more time to remove the Mind Stone from his head. However, Maximoff, who had momentarily got rid of Proxima Midnight, rescued Vision. As they attempted to fly away, Proxima Midnight shot them in midair, forcing them to violently crash-land in a nearby train station.
Proxima Midnight and Corvus Glaive prepare to attack Wanda Maximoff
Corvus Glaive and Proxima Midnight found their target again and prepared to finish them. However, they soon had to deal with reinforcements: Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson, and Natasha Romanoff. In the ensuing battle, Corvus Glaive was heavily wounded by Romanoff and Proxima Midnight was almost defeated. Knowing that they were outnumbered, Proxima Midnight elected to retreat and took herself and the weakened Corvus Glaive back into the Q-Ship.[2]
Rescue of Doctor Strange[]
Ebony Maw tortures Doctor Strange
Refusing to return to Thanos without having fully accomplished his mission, Ebony Maw attempted to torture Doctor Strange with microsurgery needles so he would hand the Time Stone over. However, unbeknownst to him, Iron Man and Spider-Man had stealthily stowed away on his Q-Ship. Tony Stark confronted Ebony Maw, who mocked him for being no match to the Black Order. However, Iron Man blasted a hole in the spaceship's hull, causing Ebony Maw to be sucked into space and subsequently freeze to death. Thus, Ebony Maw was the first member of the Black Order to perish in the Infinity War.[2]
Battle of Wakanda[]
- "Where's your other friend?"
"You will pay for his life with yours." - ―Black Widow and Proxima Midnight[src]
Proxima Midnight and Corvus Glaive rescued Cull Obsidian and led a massive army of Outriders to Wakanda, where the Avengers had taken Vision with the Mind Stone. Pretending that Glaive died, Midnight and Obsidian confronted Captain America, Black Widow, and Black Panther, claiming that Thanos would obtain the Mind Stone in the end, even if they had to sacrifice their whole army to complete their mission.
Cull Obsidian and Proxima Midnight join the Battle of Wakanda
Proxima Midnight then ordered the Outriders to charge, and a massive horde soon swarmed out of the Wakandan forest, attacking the protective dome surrounding the Wakandan armies. When their opponents decided to open the barrier to stop the Outriders from flanking them, Proxima Midnight and Cull Obsidian joined the fray and began laying waste on the Wakandan armies. The Black Order then resorted to Threshers which caused even more casualties, prompting Wanda Maximoff, who had remained at Vision's side to be ready to destroy the Mind Stone, to join the battlefield as well.
Corvus Glaive ambushes Shuri
Noticing her presence, Proxima Midnight signaled Corvus Glaive to infiltrate the Wakanda Medical Center to get to Vision. Corvus Glaive entered the center, defeating the Wakandan guards, and knocked both Ayo and Shuri unconscious. Vision attempted to fight back, which caused both Glaive and Vision to fall out of the window into the forest.
Proxima Midnight attacks Black Widow
As Cull Obsidian left to assist Corvus Glaive, Proxima Midnight remained in the core of the battle and attacked Scarlet Witch to keep her from helping Vision. Even with Scarlet Witch receiving backup with Black Widow and Okoye, Proxima Midnight successfully held her own against them and nearly defeated them. However, Scarlet Witch used her powers to project her under one of the Threshers, killing her.
Cull Obsidian duels against Bruce Banner
Meanwhile, Cull Obsidian and Corvus Glaive respectively fought against Bruce Banner using a Hulkbuster armor and Captain America who had come to Vision's rescue after he was wounded by Corvus Glaive. While Cull Obsidian was eventually killed by Banner who lured him into the protective dome using the Hulkbuster's gauntlet, which could be fired from the suit, before Proxima's death, Corvus Glaive defeated Captain America and nearly killed him.
Corvus Glaive is killed by Vision
However, due to having dropped his weapon in the fight, Corvus Glaive was backstabbed by a weakened Vision using his very own weapon, thus putting an end to the fearsome Children of Thanos.[2]
Legacy[]
Earth’s Reaction[]
- "What if the aliens come back?"
- ―Reporter[src]
By 2024, humans on Earth knew about the Black Order following their attacks in New York City, Edinburgh, and Wakanda. Despite it being six years later, people were still fearful that aliens like them could return. At a charity event for the Blip-displaced, a reporter asked Peter Parker what would happen if they were to come back.[3]
Members[]
Deceased Members[]
Ebony Maw[]
- Name: Ebony Maw
- Activity: Unknown - 2018
- Status: Deceased
- Description: Ebony Maw was the former torturer of Thanos and one of his most trusted lieutenants. He used his advanced telekinetic powers to capture and torture his victims, such as Doctor Strange, who he brought back onto a Q-Ship after seemingly getting rid of Spider-Man who chased him. Ebony Maw attempted to get the Time Stone from Strange so he could give it to Thanos. However, he was ultimately killed when Iron Man blew a hole in his spaceship's hull in a surprise attack, casting him into outer space, where he froze and perished.
Cull Obsidian[]
- Name: Cull Obsidian
- Activity: Unknown - 2018
- Status: Deceased
- Description: Cull Obsidian was the strongest among Thanos' children. He used a chain hammer to fight his enemies, notably using it when facing Iron Man during the Attack on Greenwich Village. He almost killed Iron Man until he was saved by Wong. Although he was stranded in the Arctic by Wong, losing a hand in the process, Cull Obsidian returned to his allies and had a prosthetic hand implanted to replace his lost hand. He stood alongside Proxima Midnight, killing many enemies during the Battle of Wakanda. However, Cull Obsidian was ultimately defeated and killed by Bruce Banner wearing a Hulkbuster armor while assisting Corvus Glaive to take down Vision. Banner lured Obsidian into coming into contact with a gauntlet that could be remotely fired, and this blasted him into the protective dome, disintegrating him.
Proxima Midnight[]
- Name: Proxima Midnight
- Activity: Unknown - 2018
- Status: Deceased
- Description: A fearsome warrior, Proxima Midnight used a three-pronged spear in battle. She fiercely dueled against Wanda Maximoff when the Black Order attempted to take the Mind Stone from Vision, but she was forced to retreat along with Corvus Glaive when more Avengers arrived in reinforcements. Proxima Midnight later led the armies of Outriders in Wakanda. During the ensuing battle, Proxima Midnight simultaneously fought against Scarlet Witch, Black Widow and Okoye and nearly defeated them, but she was eventually killed by Scarlet Witch who used her levitation powers to position her in the path of an incoming Thresher when she let her guard down.
Corvus Glaive[]
- Name: Corvus Glaive
- Activity: Unknown - 2018
- Status: Deceased
- Description: A fearsome warrior, Corvus Glaive wielded a glaive that could cut through materials as strong as Vibranium. As such, Corvus Glaive was able to impale Vision's body when attacking him in Scotland, and would have successfully removed the Mind Stone from Vision's head if not for the interference of other Avengers. Corvus Glaive was believed to be dead by the Avengers during the Battle of Wakanda while in reality, he snuck into Shuri's workplace to reclaim the Mind Stone. Although he nearly killed Captain America who protected Vision, Corvus Glaive was eventually killed when Vision used his weapon against him, making him the last Black Order member to die.
Equipment[]
Weapons[]
- Corvus Glaive's Glaive: Corvus Glaive wielded a blade capable of piercing through Vibranium, and was able to stop Vision from phasing after he was impaled by it. The glaive could also deflect blasts of energy from the Mind Stone. Corvus was able to use this to his advantage to send a blast of energy right back towards Vision.
- Cull Obsidian's Chain Hammer: Cull Obsidian's weapon was a massive war hammer which could be turned into a plethora of different weapons based on Obsidian's desire. He could turn it into a pickaxe and a claw as well, and when a claw or hammer, Cull was able to throw it and pull it back with a chain. The hammer could also turn into a gauntlet, after which it could be used as a shield, a snare, or a long blade.
- Microsurgery Needles: Ebony Maw utilized microsurgery needles to torture his victims by telekinetically impaling them all over their body.
- Proxima Midnight's Spear: Proxima Midnight wielded a double bladed spear, one side which had three prongs and the other which had a flat sided blade. The three-pronged end was able to shoot powerful blasts of blue energy.
Vehicles[]
- Sanctuary II: The Black Order used this massive warship to go to different places in the universe along Thanos and the army.
- Q-Ships: The Black Order used the Q-Ships to go to different places on Earth and out of it during the Infinity War. Just before the Battle of Wakanda they used it for deploy the Outrider Dropships.
- Outrider Dropships: Proxima Midnight, Cull Obsidian and Corvus Glaive used these ships to transport themselves and the army of Outriders to Wakanda for the battle.
Relationships[]
Family[]
Allies[] |
Enemies[] |
Appearances[]
Trivia[]
- All four members have a word in their names alluding to black and darkness, hence why they are known as the "Black Order."
- In the comics, there's a fifth member with telepathic powers called Supergiant.
Behind the Scenes[]
- In the concept art of Avengers: Infinity War, Supergiant was shown as a member of the Black Order.
- An early draft of Avengers: Infinity War included one specific backstory for each one of the Black Order's members.[4]
