Thanos’ Black Order made a somewhat unexpected appearance in the latest episode of What If..?, facing off against their former master in an alternate reality of the series. In the comic books, the team is also sometimes at odds with Thanos, adding dimension to future appearances by them in the multiverse of the MCU.
The Black Order is a relatively new concept from Marvel Comics, but they've made a huge impact already. Their presence continues to be felt in the cosmic corner of the comics and could still be in the MCU if the franchise decides to take any cues from their ongoing adventures.
The Cull Obsidian
In the comic books, the team goes by the Black Order but they originally have another name: the Cull Obsidian. MCU fans will recognize it as the name of the brutish member of the team in live-action. His name in the comics is Black Dwarf, belying his enormous size. The team debuted in New Avengers #8 in 2013 and then made their first full appearance in Infinity #1 a month later. The line-up was largely the same as in the movies but featured some key differences in its earliest incarnation.
Supergiant
Comic fans know not every member of the Black Order made it to the MCU. A major character left out is Supergiant. She is a telepath who can mentally control anyone. She uses her powers to devastating effect in her early appearances, almost single-handedly defeating the X-Men on her first visit to Earth. She died during the Black Order's campaign against Wakanda, teleported along with their bombs by Lockheed. She died in the explosion but later returned as a psychic entity.
Black Swan
Another comic book member of the team who didn't make the MCU cut is Black Swan. Yabbat Ummon Turru is a very powerful being capable of perceiving incursions into the Earth-616 from other realities in the multiverse. She also can fly, generate energy beams, and more. She was the sole survivor of her reality after it was destroyed by beings from another. She is not originally part of the Black Order but s when the team after their initial assault on Earth in search of the Infinity Gems fails.
Seeking The Infinity Gems
There are Avengers: Infinity War. At the time of the Infinity event in the comics, the Infinity Gems were under the watch of the Illuminati. Individual of the Black Order sought out and attacked each member of the Illuminati, which included Iron Man, Namor, Black Panther, Reed Richards, and others.
War For Thane
An unexpected wrinkle for the Black Order in their hunt for the Gems was the discovery of Thane, Thanos' son. In New Avengers #11, Ebony Maw discovers that Thane is on Earth and the quest of the Gems quickly refocuses to Thanos' desire to kill his son.
Ebony Maw betrays Thanos and sides Thane, which leads to disaster for the Black Order. Supergiant and Black Dwarf are killed and the other of the team are trapped by Thane in a state of living death.
The Cabal
Comic book fans know the Fantastic Four have faced a lot of challenges from Namor the Sub-Mariner over the years. One of the biggest involved the Cabal, an alliance between the King of Atlantis and the Black Order. Not long after the Infinity event, Namor accepts the surviving of the Order, including Thanos, into the Cabal. Namor forms this group to deal with interdimensional incursions after his frustrations with the Illuminati and the heroes of Earth-616 boil over into outright anger.
Proxima Midnight and Corvus Glaive Are Married
In the movies, the Black Order doesn't have much in the way of personalities or backstories. Fans might be surprised to learn that two of its , Corvus Glaive and Proxima Midnight, are married in the comics. The two chief lieutenants of the Black Order are also among its most lethal. Between them, they unleashed devastating attacks on the X-Men and Wakanda. Both characters use spear-like weapons, with their instruments of choice being among the most deadly weapons in the Marvel Universe.
The Black Quadrant
After the multiverse was restored at the end of 2015's Secret Wars event, the Black Order reformed. Corvus Glaive led the revival, taking control of the Black Quadrant, an alien moon once under the command of Thanos. From there, the team launched their own campaign of terror on the galaxy.
This version of the team wasn't long-lived. Thanos returned, furious at their actions and use of his moon. Rather than die at the hands of the Mad Titan, Corvus Glaive took his own life with his own weapon.
Alliance With Hela
Hela, the Asgardian Goddess of Death, is a Thor villain that fans loved. The Black Order didn't love her all that much after she infiltrated the team. She helped Thanos escape imprisonment after Infinity and then worked with him to try and obtain Mjolnir, Thor's hammer, from the Ultimate Comics universe of Earth-1610. Once they had it, Hela turned on the Order and killed both Black Swan and Proxima Midnight. She claimed the survivors for herself in her bid to reclaim the rule of her home dimension.
The Lethal Legion
Despite their losses, the Black Order would reform again with most of its deceased back from the dead. They fought against the Lethal Legion in Avengers #676 and 677, an alien invasion force formed by the Grandmaster. This newest version of the Order was organized by The Challenger, an Elder of the Universe and a rival of the Grandmaster, for a contest between the two. In the end, the Black Order ends up catching the eye of the Grandmaster and once again finding a new benefactor.
