While not a huge presence in the MCU in the rich Marvel Comics, Gorr the God Butcher stands out as one of Thor’s most memorable and tragic foes. His vendetta against gods comes from a deeply personal place.
However, what gives Gorr his terrifying power is a weapon older than the gods themselves: the Necrosword. This ancient, sentient blade turns Gorr from an ordinary mortal into a being capable of slaying deities. However, the origins of the Necrosword, and how it fell into Gorr’s hands, are linked to the God of Symbiotes, Knull.
The Origins of the Necrosword
Knull is a primordial being, born from the void that existed before the universe was created. He existed in the vast emptiness between realms and worlds until the gods of the universe interrupted his solitude. The invasion enraged him and led to him waging a one-man war against the celestial entities.
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Enraged by the invasion of light and life, Knull waged a one-man war against these cosmic entities. To achieve his goal Knull forged a weapon from the living abyss: the All-Black Necrosword. The sword was alive. In addition, it was capable of absorbing the strength and essence of its victims, growing more powerful with each slain god.
The Necrosword was a symbiote, similar to the one that would later bond with Spider-Man and Eddie Brock as Venom. This living blade was an extension of Knull’s will, and wherever it went, it caused havoc. However, eventually, Knull was separated from the Necrosword during his battles, leaving the powerful weapon adrift in the universe.
Gorr The God Butcher And His Quest For The Necrosword
Gorr‘s tragic story began on a barren, nameless planet where he and his family lived in extreme poverty and desperation. His people were praying daily to their gods for salvation from the harsh conditions they endured. However, no divine intervention ever came.
Gorr’s faith was shattered when his wife and children succumbed to starvation and disease. Moreover, this enraged him and established his hatred towards the gods. Wandering aimlessly, Gorr stumbled upon a strange and violent sight of injured Knull after fighting an Enigma Force wielder. As the King In Black fell, mortally wounded, the Necrosword slipped from his grasp.
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Gorr stole the Necrosword. The weapon sensed Gorr’s deep hatred for the divine and bonded with him almost immediately. In that instant, Gorr was transformed from a powerless man into the God Butcher.
Moreover, it’s never explicitly stated that the dark god fighting in this battle was Knull himself. Additionally, the moment Gorr takes hold of the Necrosword he inherits Knull’s original mission of god-slaying.
Empowered by the Necrosword, Gorr goes on a god-killing spree. In addition, the sword grants him incredible abilities like immortality, the power to create shadowy constructs, and the strength to fight even the mightiest gods like Thor. In Gorr’s hands, the Necrosword fulfills its dark purpose, continuing the legacy Knull started eons ago.
