Avengers: Infinity War — Who are Thanos’ agents, the Black Order?

Thanos is coming, and he’s bringing his family with him in Avengers: Infinity War.

As every Marvel fan knows, next year the Avengers will take on the Mad Titan himself. Thanos is eager to get his hands on the coveted Infinity Stones. If he wins, he’ll use them to embark on an insane crusade to “rebalance the universe.” Worse still, he’s not alone. At San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel revealed that Thanos is coming with powerful allies — the Black Order. The newly-released Avengers: Infinity War trailer teases just how dangerous they are…

The Origin of the Black Order

The Black Order were created by Jonathan Hickman and Jerome Opena back in 2013. They were introduced as fearsome warriors who serve as Thanos’s generals, leading the Titan’s armies into battle. Their origin is being rewritten for the MCU though. Now, the Black Order are Thanos’s adopted “children,” abducted from across the galaxy. That means both Nebula and Gamora were once members of the Black Order.

Although Hickman created five original members of the Black Order in the comics, only four of the characters are being adapted for Avengers: Infinity War. So here’s what you need to know about Thanos’s children!

Corvus Glaive

Thanos’s right-hand-man, Corvus Glaive is a fearsome enemy indeed. The commander of Thanos’s forces, the comics established that Earth has never seen a military leader to equal Corvus Glaive. He’s a brilliant tactician, and the architect of many of Thanos’s most significant military victories. But Corvus Glaive is no slouch in direct battle either; he’s a powerful superhuman, with enhanced strength, speed, and resistance to injury. His weapon of choice is a terrifying weapon, a glaive that can literally slice through anything in the known universe. So long as his glaive is intact, Corvus can never be killed.

Fans were a little surprised to learn that Corvus Glaive would appear in Infinity War. He’s visually similar to the Other, an agent of Thanos who menaced Loki in The Avengers, but was killed by Ronan in Guardians of the Galaxy. As a result, most fans believed the chances of seeing Glaive himself on the big screen were slim. It was a delight to be proven wrong!

Cul Obsidian

Comic book fans know Cul Obsidian as the Black Dwarf, but it seems Marvel Studios have chosen a catchier name for him. He’s a physical powerhouse, a being who could give the Hulk a run for his money. That doesn’t mean he’s unstoppable though. In the comics, Cul Obsidian met his match when he tried to invade Wakanda. He wound up in all-out brawl with the Black Panther, an unforgettable scene that fans loved. We know Infinity War will feature a lot of key scenes set in the fictional African nation, and fans are desperately hoping we’ll see a movie version of this battle.

The Black Order’s most skilled warrior. [Credit: Marvel Comics]

Proxima Midnight

The Black Order’s most fearsome combatant, Proxima Midnight proved to be a recurring villain in Hickman’s run. She wields a deadly staff-weapon, forged by Thanos from a sun trapped in distorted space-time. To give you an idea of how powerful this energy-spear is, Proxima Midnight was able to take down the Hulk with one blow! It drew the Gamma energy from his body, reverting the Hulk to the form of Bruce Banner. She’s proved to be one of the most popular members of the Black Order, and fans are thrilled to see her enter the MCU.

Ebony Maw

Last but by no means least is Ebony Maw, a villain who successfully took down Doctor Strange! Where the other members of the Black Order are physical warriors, Ebony Maw is a master tactician whose skill is in outsmarting his opponents. He’s described as “a black tongue that spreads mischief and evil wherever he goes.” Ebony Maw’s manipulative skills would turn Loki green with envy. During the Infinity event, Ebony Maw was able to worm his way into Doctor Strange’s thoughts and coax the Sorcerer Supreme into unleashing extradimensional monsters on the Earth!

Set photos have suggested we’ll see that scene recreated in Infinity War, a prospect that delights Marvel fans. Intriguingly though, in the comics Ebony Maw had an agenda of his own. He sought to possess anything that Thanos coveted for himself. There’s no reason to assume the MCU version is any more loyal to the Mad Titan. But with Infinity Stones in play, the consequences of treachery could be terrible.

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Each one on their own is a terrifying threat. Together, and with the armies of Thanos behind them, The Black Order could well be enough to bring the Avengers to their knees. In fact, the stakes have never been higher for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.