Warning: spoilers for Black Cat #2!
Marvel’s heroes have a little more hope as many of Earth’s greatest heroes fell in the opening fight. Among the heroes defeated by Knull, the Sorcerer Supreme was one of the most shocking, swallowed into blackness before he could bring his unique powers to bear. While Knull took control over many of the other fallen heroes, forcing them to his army, he decided to hold Doctor Strange as his prisoner. Luckily, even the King in Black can’t stop the Black Cat from pulling off a perfect heist.
Felicia Hardy, aka Black Cat, ed the other heroes in fending off Knull’s invasion in Black Cat #1. As things begin to turn sideways, she watched in disbelief as Doctor Strange was overwhelmed by the enemy’s forces. Realizing that she didn’t stand a chance in the battle, she was forced to retreat, especially once she was given a new mission by Captain America: to find a way to free Doctor Strange.
Black Cat #2, by Jed MacKay, C.F. Villa, and Brian Reber, opens with Black Cat and her crew preparing to rescue the Sorcerer Supreme. Equipped with some advanced tech, the master thief makes her way to the top of the Chrysler Building, where Doctor Strange is being held in a giant, black ball of goo. Black Cat then dons a temporary Anti-Venom suit to ward off Knull’s symbiotes as she dives into the dark sphere. She locates Strange, who is covered from head to toe by the symbiotes, unable to use his voice or hands to cast spells. Black Cat frees him with a second Anti-Venom suit. Unfortunately, by the end of the issue, Doctor Strange is still unconscious, but at least he’s out of Knull’s clutches and back in the fight.
Given the diversity of Doctor Strange’s mystical abilities, it makes sense that Captain America believes him to be the most vital hero in this fight. Unlike most other heroes, there are practically no limitations to what Stephen Strange is capable of. Marvel has already established that Knull’s symbiotes are vulnerable to specific types of energy, which Doctor Strange can easily conjure up. He can also use his powers for teleportation around the globe and even off-planet. Not only would this be helpful for transporting civilians to safety, but it addresses Knull's recent acquisition of the X-Men's teleporting Krakoan gates. As an added bonus, Doctor Strange has the mystical insight and experience to take on a being like Knull. After all, he’s faced off against many villains who, similar to Knull, are embodiments of darkness, including Dormammu, Nightmare, and Mephisto.
When the Sorcerer Supreme awakens, he'll actually be able to apply knowledge of Knull's attack so far to work against the tyrant, and he'll have a new Anti-Venom protective suit that should help him keep ahead of Knull's army. Of course, the King in Black knows all this, so before Doctor Strange can help turn the tide of battle, Felicia will have to keep him out of trouble as Black Cat continues from Marvel Comics.
