King Arthur Pendragon (Camelot, Otherworld)

Identity/Class: Human;
    current citizen of Otherworld
    British citizen @ 6th Century;
    Arthur is believed to have been a fictional character by people of the modern era

Enemies: Sir Accolon, Asmodiar, Beliar, Catavolcus, Chaos King (Amatsu-Mikaboshi), Sir D'Arcy, Dr. Doom, Dragon of the Moon, Dreadknight, Sir Gilles, Sir Guy of Gascombe, Hawkes, Hobkin, Kang the Conqueror, Kevin MacCaul, Manchester Gods, Master Wilson, Mordred the Evil, Morgan Le Fay, Myth Monster, Necromon and the other Nether Gods (Mandrac, possibly Gog, Maegog, Nightshade, Wolfsbane), Neutron Knights, Le Ponneau the Pirate, Simon the Strong, Thunderbolts (Boomerang/Fred Myers, Centurius/Dr. Noah Black, Fixer/P. Norbert Ebersol, Mister Hyde/Calvin Zabo, Moonstone/Karla Sofen, Satana, Troll/Gunna), Tyrannus, Evil Walkers, Sir Guy Wanderell;
a band of Travelers ("Gypsies"); the French, Goths, Irish, Normans (Sir Robert de Quincy), Picts, Romans, Saxons, Tartars (Mohar Jinn, Timultor), Vikings (Leif and others);
White Stag, the Loathly Lady, Lucius, the Green Knight, Culhwch, Olwen

Known Relatives: Uther Pendragon (father, deceased), Igraine (mother, deceased), Guenevere (wife, deceased);
    Mordred (son by Morgause),
    Anna (alleged twin sister); Morgause, Morgan Le Fay, Elaine (half-sisters);
    Ector (foster father), Kay (foster brother),
    Conaan (paternal great-great-great grandfather, deceased), Urbien (paternal great-great-grandfather, deceased), Solomon (paternal great-grandfather, deceased), Constantine (paternal grandfather, deceased), Amlawdd (maternal grandfather, deceased),
    Gwert (maternal grandmother, deceased),
    Aurelius Ambrosius, Maines, Pandragon (paternal uncles, deceased)
    Duke Elise (maternal uncle);
    Leodegrance (father-in-law), Genievre (sister-in-law), Lot, Nentres, Uriens (brothers-in-law);
    Agravaine, Gaheris, Galeshin , Gareth, Gawain, Percy (Black Knight), Ywaine (nephews), Soredamors, Alteria, Clarissant (nieces);
    Hoel, Percy's father, Sir Reginald (cousins);
    Aeneas, Constantinus, Bran (ancestors, deceased), Vortigern, Llyr (ancestors);
    Dafydd ap Iowerth (alleged descendent);
    Sir Dandel (father of Percy, deceased), Lady Evaine (mother of Percy, deceased), Edward (son of Percy and Rosamund, presumed deceased), Geoffrey (son of Percy and Rosamund, presumed deceased), Sir Raston (apparently deceased), Black Knight of the Crusades (Eobar Garrington), Nathan Garrett (Black Knight, deceased), Dane Whitman (Black Knight) - distant relations, common ancestry;
    Last Knight (possible future relation);
    The incest-factor makes the relationship exceedingly difficult, and you can certainly find more relatives on the internet. See comments for discussion on the legendary sons and daughters of Arthur.

Place of Birth: Tintagil Castle, Gorre (Now part of modern Cornwall, England)

Base of Operations: "New Camelot," Avalon, Otherworld;
formerly Camelot Castle, England, @ 6th Century

First Appearance: Uncertain
(Atlas Comics): Black Knight Comics#1 (May, 1955)
(Marvel Comics): Strange Tales I#108 (May, 1963)

Powers/Abilities: Arthur was a highly accomplished swordsman, strategist, military leader, and warrior. Arthur may well have been possessed/enhanced by one of the Pendragon spirits that later augmented the Knights of Pendragon. It is believed that this same spirit went on to possess Adam Crown and the Black Knight (Dane Whitman), and it may also have possessed Dafydd ap Iowerth.

Arthur wielded the virtually indestructible sword Excalibur, and before that he used the magical sword of the stone. Excalibur's scabbard enchanted its wearer such that he would lose no blood, no matter how seriously he was wounded. Morgan stole this scabbard from him, robbing him of its protection.
Prior to this, he wielded the similarly enchanted, but apparently less powerful, Sword of the Stone.

He also possessed certain magical powers, though he may only have been able to access these under certain unspecified condition, including remotely protecting others from magical assault, opening dimensional portals, and resurrection under certain circumstances. In fact, while on Otherworld, it required three beings of magical power to prevent his resurrection; even while in this dead state, mystically bound by these beings, Arthur was able to reach across the dimensional barrier to Earth-616, partially deflecting Necromon's assault on Captain Britain.

History:
(Arthurian legend) - In the years of upheaval after the Roman withdrawal, Britain had become an island of small, squabbling kingdoms. King Constantine was slain by his former seneschal (major domo) Vortigern. Twelve barons decided Vortigern should be king, so Constantine's son and successor, Maines, was killed. Constantine's younger sons, Uther Pendragon and his Aurelius Ambrosius were forced into exile. Vortigern supposedly invited the Saxons into Britain, to aid in repelling the invasions of the Picts.
When Vortigern's people and most notably his sons saw how Vortigern favored the Saxons over his own people, they attempted to expel the Saxons. Hengist and Horsa, the Saxon leaders allegedly descended from Wotan (Odin, or a mortal incarnation of him?), objected and fighting broke out. Vortigern arranged peace negotiations, at which Hengist and his Saxons pulled daggers from their boots and turned on the unarmed Briton lords and petty kings, slaying them all. Vortigern was apparently spared and allowed to retain his lands???
(see comments)

(Arthurian Legend / Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#8: Merlin (fb)) -
Vortigern, king of Britain, failed repeatedly in his attempts to build a tower stronghold in the Welsh mountains, for the tower's foundations kept sinking. Vortigern consulted his magicians, and they told him he should find a boy without a father, and kill him and incorporate his bones and blood into the foundations of the castle. Vortigern sent out messengers, who came to a town called Kaermerdin (modern Camarthen) and there they saw some lads playing by the town gate. A sudden quarrel broke out between the two lads, whose names were Merlin and Dinabutius. As they argued, Dinabutius announced of being of royal blood and of Merlin never having had a father. Having found what they sought, the messengers dragged the boy back with them to Vortigern. Merlin objected to being killed, of course, and, when threatened with death, he called Vortigern's great magicians liars, and promised to solve the problem of the castle foundations himself. He told Vortigern he saw that the foundations fell every night because there was a pool beneath the earth they were lain on. Beneath the pool were two dragons sleeping that awoke to fight. When Vortigern dug under the foundations, he found the pool and when he drained it, the two dragons awoke and began to fight, one of which killed the other.

"Alas for the Red Dragon, for its end is near. Its cavernous dens shall be occupied by the White Dragon, which stands for the Saxons that you have invited over. The Red Dragon represents the people of Britain, who will be overrun by the White One..."

Merlin interpreted this as meaning the red dragon was Vortigern and the white one the sons of Constantine.
Merlin's prophecy might have been that Vortigern could not escape his fate; he would be killed by the sons of Constantine.
Other sources describe it as Merlin saw this as an omen predicting the reign of King Arthur, who was as yet unborn.

(Arthurian Legend/Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#8: Merlin (fb)) - Merlin proceeded to warn Vortigern that Aurelius Ambrosius, the son of Constantine, would come to drive out the Saxons and to kill Vortigern. Aurelius Ambrosius, joined by his brother Uther, sought to unite the small kingdoms against their common enemies such as the Irish, the Picts and the Saxons. Merlin then departed Vortigern's presence and went to Aurelius Ambrosius and became his chief advisor. Aurelius succeeded in all the things that Merlin had prophesied that he would, such as driving out the Saxons and indeed, killing Vortigern. Aurelius Ambrosius succeeded Vortigern as King of Britain.

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#8: Merlin (fb)) - It has been claimed that the occult stones that now make up Stonehenge once stood in Ireland, and that Merlin advised Aurelius to bring them to their current site in Britain. Merlin's magic allowed a party led by Uther Pendragon to move the tremendous stones.

(Arthurian Legend/Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#8: Merlin (fb)) - During the reign of Aurelius Ambrosius, a comet appeared in the sky. Shortly thereafter, an agent of one of Vortigern's sons poisoned Aurelius and Uther Pendragon assumed the throne. Merlin told Uther that the comet had signified his rise to power, and Uther continued to drive back the Saxons. Once victorious, he began to call for a wife who would provide him an heir to the throne. He warred for many years against Gorlois, Duke of Tintagel in Cornwall, and became greatly attracted to the duke's beautiful wife Igraine. Merlin, knowing that a great ruler was destined to be the son of Uther and Igraine, agreed to unite Uther with her in return for the care of their firstborn child. Merlin used his magics to give Uther the appearance of Gorlois, and in this form Uther went to Tintagel and made love to Igraine. Earlier that night, before Uther came to Igraine, the real Gorlois was killed in battle. Soon Uther married Igraine, who gave birth to Arthur.

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#8: Merlin (fb)) - Merlin had Arthur brought up in anonymity by a knight named Sir Ector, and raised alongside Ector's son, Kay. Merlin served as Arthur's tutor, and he also persuaded Uther to construct the Round Table that Arthur and his knights would later use. In the meantime, the island fell to warring once more for not all who were loyal to Aurelius were so taken with his brother. Uther, constantly embattled, grew ill with the stress of his wars, and his health began to fail. By the time Arthur was a young man Uther was near death.

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#16: Black Knight (fb)) - In his youth, Arthur was sometimes allied in battle with his distant cousin, the future father of Percy of Scandia.

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#8: Merlin (fb)) - Uther eventually died without ever seeing his son, and, left without a king, Britain was torn by was over the succession of the throne. Merlin had the nobles of Britain summoned to London for the Christmas season, promising a divine revelation as to the identity of the new king. There appeared a magic sword thrust through a steel anvil, into a marble block. Upon the anvil were inscribed in letters of gold: "Whosoever pulleth out this sword of this tone and anvil is rightwise King born of all England. Kay, newly knighted, fought in the tournament, and Arthur acted as his squire. As they left their lodgings one morning for the tournament field, Arthur in his excitement forgot Kay's sword. As they approached the field, Kay asked Arthur where it was, and when they found out that Arthur had forgotten it, he sent the boy back to fetch it with all due haste. Arthur, trying to be as quick as possible, came across the sword in a stone in the courtyard of an abbey and without a thought, he ran up, grabbed the sword, pulled it out, and ran back to Kay. Kay was surprised at Arthur's speed. He looked suspiciously at the sword and was amazed. He recognized it as the sword in the stone. He showed it to his father, who eventually got the truth from both them that Arthur had pulled it from the stone. Ector called an end to the tournament, and showed the lords of the realm the sword that his foster son had pulled from the stone. Various tests were imposed, but eventually it became clear that Arthur had indeed pulled the sword from the stone and was to be the next King of Britain. Arthur was reunited with his mother, Igraine, who became the Queen mother of Britain.

(Knights of Pendragon II#13 (fb)) - The Hobkin, magical creatures native to Avalon, allegedly used to "kick that Arthur's butt around for laughs."

(Hulk Weekly#44/2 (fb)) - Every time the forces of the Netherworld arose throughout history, a great hero would arise to drive them back. The greatest of all these heroes was King Arthur, whose knowledge went far beyond mortal matters. He pierced the timeless mists of Otherworld, and divined much of Elfin lore and the ways of ancient men. Each time Necromon's hordes threatened the world, Arthur and his heroes, assisted by the wizard Merlyn, were at the forefront of the battle to drive them back, and each time they were victorious. Arthur was presumably imbued with the spirit of one of the Pendragons.

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#16: Black Knight (fb)) -
Percy of Scandia was born at the castle of King Arthur in England during the first years of Arthur's reign. When Percy was a child, and Arthur securely in power, Percy and his parents moved to their estate in Scandia, the area now known as Scandinavia.

(Arthurian Legend) - Young king Arthur was faced with difficulties from the beginning. He had to drive the Saxons back. In order to do this, though, he needed to unify the petty kings of Britain to fight the Saxons.

(Black Knight I#1 (text story) / Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#8: Merlin (fb)) -
For years Merlin served Arthur as his chief advisor and magical protector. After Arthur broke the magic sword from the stone in battle, Merlin took him to the Lady of the Lake, who gave Arthur the enchanted sword Excalibur.

(Arthurian Legend) - Merlin advised Arthur that the unification of the petty kings was as easy as forming a Round Table where everyone was equal in the eyes of the King and had a voice in the affairs of the realm, or as difficult as beating the rebellious leaders into submission. After this was accomplished, the united forces of Romano-Celtic Britain began the long and arduous task of fighting the Saxons. Twelve Battles of Arthur documented the long, uphill struggle to free the island or at least to drive back the Anglo-Saxon invaders. The battles ended with the climax of the Battle of Badon in which Arthur is said to have worn the banner of the Virgin Mary on his shoulders for the first time.

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#8: Merlin (fb)/Arthurian Legend) -
Unaware that Morgause was his half-sister, Arthur seduced her after the Battle of Bedegraine but before his marriage to Guinevere. That same night, Arthur had a dream of a serpent that sprang from his side, destroyed his land and people, and fought him for its mutual destruction. The nightmare was so vivid that Arthur had it pictured in a painting at a Camelot cathedral.
Merlin translated the vision by claiming that Arthur would have a son born on May Day who would rise up to destroy both him and Camelot. This inspired Arthur to collect all the sons born on that day to nobleman, place them on a leaky boat, and send them out to sea. Mordred was one of those children, but after the sinking of the ship, Mordred washed up on a beach and was nursed to full health by a pious man. He grew to the age of fourteen and returned to his mother to be raised and educated. He was knighted at twenty and hated any knight deemed pure of heart.

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#8: Merlin (fb) / Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#16: Black Knight (fb)) -
Merlin knew he would need a great warrior who could stop the threat of the evil Mordred, but he also knew that Arthur would never believe anything evil of any of his knights, so that merely telling him about Mordred's intent was pointless. Merlin had Percy's parents train him in all known forms of combat.

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#8: Merlin (fb)/Arthurian Legend) -
After the Battle of Badon came peace, and Arthur began to look about him for a wife. Merlin arranged on Arthur's request for the young king to marry Guinevere, although Merlin, with his prophetic powers, warned Arthur that this marriage would lead to disasters at Camelot. Lancelot, Arthur's most trusted knight, went to fetch Guinevere and bring her back to Camelot. Along the way, they happen to romance each other and fell in love with each other. This courtly romance was doomed from the beginning just as time of peace finally settled on the land.

(Arthurian Legend) - The early part of Arthur's reign was filled with strange and mysterious events as Arthur accepted Christianity into Britain and began to overlook the ancient Celtic rites of his ancestors. The knights were kept busy with numerous quests such as those with the White Stag, the Loathly Lady and the Green Knight. There were such diversions as Culhwch and Olwen and in between times there were mundane events such as tournaments to keep everyone entertained as well. At the same time, Arthur's evil half-sister, Morgan le Fay, was plotting her brother's demise. Morgan went to great lengths to end Arthur's reign, her plots ranging from creating a False Excalibur to stirring up jealousy between the King and Lancelot.

(Arthurian Legend) - Arthur continued wars against Roman invaders and slew the Roman Emperor Lucius in battle.

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#8: Merlin (fb) / Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#9: Morgan le Fay (fb)) -
Morgan le Fay, Arthur's half-sister, became one of Merlin, Arthur, and the Knights of Camelot fiercest foes, as she wished to rule Britain herself. In addition she objected to the promotion of Christianity and the rejection of the ancient Celtic goddess-worship that she practiced.

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#9: Morgan le Fay (fb)) - In one of Morgan's first recorded plots against Arthur, she stole his sword Excalibur and its magic scabbard. She had both copied and replaced with exact copies that lacked their enchantments, after which she presented her lover, Sir Accolon, with the real Excalibur and magic scabbard, telling him that if he killed a particular knight the next day, he would become her husband and king of Britain. According to Morgan, this unnamed knight's death would make it possible for her to kill both King Arthur and her own husband, King Uriens. Accolon fought the knight the next day, unaware that the armored warrior was actually Arthur. Armed with Excalibur, Accolon seriously wounded Arthur, who nevertheless fought back with great courage. Yet Arthur might have been doomed had not the sorceress Nimue used her magic to force Accolon to drop Excalibur. Knowing Accolon's sword was Excalibur, Arthur seized it and quickly defeated Accolon, who then revealed Morgan's plot. Horrified to learn that his opponent was Arthur himself, Accolon repented before dying of his injuries. Until now Arthur had fully trusted his half-sister, but now he swore vengeance upon her.
Learning of Accolon's death and the failure of her plot, Morgan herself stole the magic scabbard again and hurled it into a lake.

(Marvel Preview#22) - Arthur brought an injured knight, Beliar, whom they had found in the forest, back to the Camelot, where he recovered with the aid of Merlin. Upon recovering, Beliar began to challenge Merlin repeatedly, who suspected his true nature and warned Arthur about him, though the King ignored his advice. Beliar became more and more bold, even to the point of trying to seduce Guinevere and nearly killing Lancelot in a jousting tournament. Finally, Arthur realized that Beliar was a threat to Camelot and banished him, but he kidnapped Guinevere when he left.
Arthur and Merlin followed Beliar's trail into an underground cavern, where they met Beliar's father, the arch-demon Asmodiar. The demon forced a battle between Arthur and Beliar, but when Arthur's skilled proved superior, Asmodiar began to magically augment his son's power until Arthur was at his mercy. Merlin pitted his might against the demon's, but found it to be a losing battle. Finally, when the deaths of both Arthur and Guinevere were imminent, Merlin caught Asmodiar off guard by taking Beliar's form, allowing him to attack him from behind and behead him.
Defeated, Asmodiar warned them that he would come again in the future, in a far more subtle form.

(Spider-Man Battles the Myth Monster!#1) - Arthur defeated and denounced the Myth Monster, convincing the people of Camelot that children suffering from ailments were not possessed or cursed. Merlin then used his magicks to imprison the creature within an enchanted amulet.

(New Excalibur#12 (fb) - BTS) - Seven men held the Ebony Blade, each an honorable and good man, but each one was driven mad by the sword and had to be put down.

(New Excalibur#12 (fb)) - The formerly gallant Sir Reginald, Arthur's own cousin, took up the Ebony Blade, and he, too, was driven mad by it and had to be put down. At that point, only Arthur, Percy, and Merlin were deemed noble enough to wield the Ebony Blade. Arthur was irreplaceable as king, and it was felt that if Merlin were corrupted by the Blade there would be nothing on Earth able to stop him. Percy thus took up the Ebony Blade.

(Strange Tales I#108/2 - BTS) - Mogard, a Knight of the Round Table, became jealous of the seeming favoritism Arthur granted Merlin. When Mogard called Merlin a fraud, Merlin animated a suit of armor as his Black Knight to oppose Sir Mogard, humbling him.

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#8: Merlin (fb) / Black Knight Comics#1) -
After the death of Percy's parents, Merlin summoned him to Camelot, where he instructed him to play the role of a timid fop so that no one would suspect how dangerous an opponent he could be.

(Black Knight Comics#1) - Percy received sanctuary in Camelot after telling Arthur that his lands in Scandia had been seized by the Baron of Emscore. Merlin then gave Percy the armor and secret identity of the Black Knight.
Later, on a hunt, Mordred's men led Arthur into a trap in which they tried to slay him, but the Black Knight arrived to help Mordred fight them off. After the villains had been defeated, Arthur was grateful and wished to see the face of his rescuer, but the Black Knight explained his oath of secrecy. Mordred then arrived, claiming to have heard the sound of battle, accused the Knight of having attacked Arthur, and assaulted him. Arthur quickly broke up the fight, after which Mordred said, "He is no true knight! Why dares he not lift his helmet?" The Knight replied, "The day you see the face 'neath this helmet...that day you meet your doom!"
Nonetheless, Arthur told the Black Knight he would always be welcome in Camelot and that he would never have to remove his helmet. Arthur dubbed him Sir Black Knight.

(Black Knight Comics#1/3 (fb) - BTS) - Mordred's agents kidnapped King Arthur and imprison him within his own castle.

(Black Knight Comics#1/3) - Mordred accused Arthur of abandoning his kingdom, but Merlin revealed to Percy that Arthur was being held within his own castle. The Knight freed Arthur, and the two of them fought off Mordred's men, and Arthur led the Knight through secret tunnels to return to the throne room. Unable to conceive of the true culprit, Arthur was grateful to Mordred for guarding his throne for him.

(Black Knight Comics#2 - BTS) - Viking warriors invaded a town outside Camelot, overpowering its guards and pillaging it until being driven off by the Black Knight.

(Black Knight Comics#2/2) - With Galahad and Lancelot away from Camelot, Mordred won a series of jousts in a tournament, after which he begged the honor of testing his skill at jousting with that of his king's. Arthur agreed, but Merlin learned that Mordred plotted Arthur's death, and he informed Sir Percy; the Black Knight arrived in time to stop the joust, and he ended the contest by defeating Mordred.

(Black Knight Comics#2/4) - When Arthur led his knights out to celebrate the time of shearing during the harvest season, Mordred contacted Sir Robert de Quincy and the Normans he had summoned, telling them that they time was ripe to strike. Modred plotted that after the Normans conquered Camelot, Arthur would be seized and Mordred would be named as the new king; at some point Mordred intended to betray de Quincy and take all of England for himself. The Black Knight rallied the warriors of Camelot to hold off this assault, and shortly thereafter Arthur and his men returned, attacking the Normans from the rear and driving them off.
Nonetheless, Arthur once again failed to recognize Mordred's motives, and he thanked him for honorably defending the castle.

(Black Knight Comics#3 (fb) - BTS) <June> - Itinerant knights came from across England to enter a battle tournament for great wealth.

(Black Knight Comics#3 - BTS) - Mordred led others in the tournament to focus's on the Black Knight, but he survived the assaults.

(Black Knight Comics#3/2) - Mordred paid a member of a band of traveling Gypsies to arrange a trap for Arthur during a great hunt for their lions. Warned of this plot by Merlin, the Black Knight followed the Gypsies into the woods. Mordred secretly struck down Arthur's horse with a crossbow, unseating Arthur and leaving him at the mercy of a pair of lions. The Knight came to the rescue, but as he and Arthur returned to Camelot, Mordred had his men and the Gypsies ambush them. Nonetheless, the attackers were little match for the combined force of the Knight's Ebony Blade and Arthur's Excalibur.
Later, Mordred claimed to have been thrown by his horse and injured his head just as he had been about to come to Arthur's aid. Percy taunted him with a song about the horse not dragging him far enough.

(Black Knight Comics#3/4) - Don't have it.
The Black Knight opposed Sir D'Arcy and Simon the Strong.

(Black Knight Comics#4) - Don't have it.
The Black Knight opposed Sir Guy Wanderell.

(Black Knight Comics#4/2) - Don't have it
The Black Knight opposed Kevin MacCaul and also encountered De Montfort (not the character from the Crusader stories).

(Black Knight Comics#4/4) - Don't have it.
The Black Knight opposed Mordred and the Le Ponneau the Pirate.

(Black Knight Comics#5) - Don't have it. "The Dragon of Kenswood Swamp"
The Black Knight opposed Mordred and Sir Gilles.

(Black Knight Comics#5/4) - Don't have it. "The Invincible Tartar"
The Black Knight opposed the Tartars Mohar Jinn and Timultor

(Avengers Annual#20/2 (fb)) - Tyrannus, deposed as an Emperor of Rome, raised and army and sought to conquer England. He was defeated by Sir Percy, the Black Knight, and brought before Arthur and Merlin, who banished him to Subterranea.

(Avengers Annual#22/2 (fb) - BTS, Thor Annual#17/4 - BTS, Doctor Strange III#11/2 - BTS) - The Black Knight and Merlin left Camelot to face Morgan Le Fay. The Maha Yogi impersonated Merlin during this absence.

(Journey into Mystery I#96 (fb)) - The Merlin imposter used his telepathic and clairvoyant powers in place of spells to predict the future for Arthur.

(Strange Tales I#134) - Kang the Conqueror traveled back in time to Camelot, where he overpowered the false Merlin and imprisoned him in a special cell. Kang then challenged Arthur and each of the Knights of the Round Table to single combat, defeating them all with a force blaster concealed within his lance. Per the terms of the challenge, Arthur and the Knights all went into exile, allowing Kang to conquer Camelot without further challenge. Uatu the Watcher, however, recruited the Human Torch and the Thing from the modern era to travel back to Camelot to prevent Kang from altering the course of time. While the Thing fought Kang's forces, the Human Torch freed "Merlin," who then located Kang's ship and destroyed his power energizer, greatly weakening him. "Merlin" then rallied the forces of Camelot to turn against Kang, forcing him to flee.

(Captain Britain I#35/1 (fb)) - Merlyn amused Arthur and his court at a feast with feats of levitation.

(New Excalibur#11) - Merlin was ambushed by a trio of "dragons" (actually Makluans). A time traveling Excalibur (Captain Britain, Dazzler (Alison Blaire), Juggernaut, Nocturne (TJ Wagner), Sage, Pete Wisdom) and Dane Whitman, the Black Knight of the modern era, were led to the conflict by Percy (who had lived through an alternate timeline (Earth-6120) where Merlin was slain in the assault, and Camelot and Arthur had subsequently fallen before the assault). Percy was dropped by a fiery blast, and Dane took up the Ebony Blade; Excalibur and Whitman helped Merlin regain his strength via distracting the dragons from him, and then they drove the dragons off. Percy then punched out Whitman and retook the Blade, telling him never to touch his sword again. The group then returned to Camelot and shared the warning of the dragons' threat to Arthur. The King dispatched scouts to locate the dragons' lair (hidden even from Merlin), and meanwhile they had a celebration of the arrival of their intended saviors. Arthur was particularly intrigued by Dazzler, enjoying her music and anecdotes, and he also complemented Braddock, telling him it would be an honor to serve beside him in the future.
Meanwhile, one of the scouts had found the lair, and his horse brought his corpse back to Camelot.

(New Excalibur#12 (fb) - BTS) - Pete Wisdom got drunk and hit on Guinevere. Arthur was less than appreciative, and after Wisdom tried to stab him with a carving knife, Arthur punched him out. Wisdom passed out in front of Guinevere's door; but Guinevere had been distraught over Wisdom's unpleasantness and had turned to Lancelot for sympathy, leading to the start of their affair.

(New Excalibur#12) - After the "dragons" attacked Camelot, Arthur led his knights in joining Merlin and Excalibur against them. The two Black Knights joined the fight, which seemed doomed to failure. However, having explored the true dragon's lair, Sage returned and revealed the dragons to be Makluans, and she instructed Merlin to conjure some Formosian herb, which caused the dragons to collapse into unconsciousness. Via the Lady of the Lake's magic, Excalibur and Dane Whitman returned to the modern era

(Thunderbolts I#169) - Led by Merlin King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table encountered the time-travelling Thunderbolts in the forest near Camelot. King Arthur wanted to know how the Thunderbolts' tower came to be in his realm and Satana told him that they had fallen under a sorcerer's enchantment, which kept their tower away from home. Though Merlin assured Arthur that all Thunderbolts were present he also revealed that one of them had the Black Knight's Ebony Blade. Arthur threatened to declare them enemies of Camelot if they did not hand over the Ebony Blade and leave. Mister Hyde assaulted Sir Galahad and a fight ensued. Moonstone picked up a tree to swat the knights away, but Arthur cut through the tree using Excalibur. Merlin then used magic to knock out the Thunderbolts, who were then brought to his dungeon.

(Thunderbolts I#170) - In the absence of the Thunderbolts Arthur tried to cut his way through their tower's wall with Excalibur, but before he could do it Merlin stopped him when he sensed somebody had trespassed into his tower. Arthur called his knights to arms and joined the battle in Camelot against the monsters released from Merlin's dungeon. Returning to the forest Arthur encountered Merlin, who had helped the Thunderbolts return to the future with their tower. Arthur thanked him for vanquishing the supposed threat and vowed Camelot would always stand at the side of their great wizard.

(Arthurian Legend) - As Arthur aged, Camelot went into decline. The evil work of Morgan began to take over the once glorious kingdom; the knights became mean, lost their chivalry, turned to fighting between themselves. Merlin, in an effort to save Camelot, suggested a grander quest than any of the others he had previously created, and told the Arthur to send his knights to quest for the Holy Grail. The Grail, which brought healing and eternal life, would be the key to lifting the Arthur's spirits and bringing his health back, and thus also the health of the realm. The knights scattered to the four corners of the earth. Perceval was caught in a wasteland belonging to a maimed king; Galahad, the most innocent of knights, the only man pure enough to sit in the Perilous Seat, vanished on his quest; and flawed Lancelot several times came close to finding the grail but always failed. The Grail was never brought to Camelot.

(Arthurian Legend) - Morgan became credited for disposing of Merlin by manipulating Nimue, Merlin's lover. Nimue had wished to acquire all of Merlin's powers and secrets and went to great lengths to seduce him, and steal his powers while he whispered in his sleep. Morgan had provided Nimue a spell that would make Merlin hers forever, but the spell imprisoned them both in a crystal cave under an oak tree. She eliminated Merlin for herself on Morgan's behalf.

(Arthurian Legend) - The court of Camelot had declined substantially in morals, and a general malaise surrounded Arthur.

(Spider-Woman I#41 (fb) / Arthurian Legend) - Morgan visited Camelot, during which time she pledged a truth between herself and her half-brother. Arthur and Morgan both overhead Lancelot referring to Guinevere as his love; Arthur loved both them both, Lancelot being his best friend, and so he endured their indiscretion and forgave them, though it broke his heart. Morgan, however, was furious, as she had sought to romance Lancelot herself. Her pledge of peace forced her to stay her hand from striking Lancelot down.

(Spider-Woman I#41 (fb) / Arthurian Legend) - Mordred noticed the relationship between Guinevere and Lancelot from the start and he and his half-brother Agravaine tried to discredit both Arthur and Lancelot. When Mordred found out that Lancelot and Guinevere had gone off on a tryst together, he called together some of his father's loyal knights and had them barge in on the lovers, and have them both taken prisoner. Lancelot managed to escape. Arthur arrived on the scene from negotiating and fighting wars, having apparently already learned of the affair from Morgan le Fay. Arthur could no longer deny the affair between his champion and his queen. Swords were drawn and blood was spilled. Their crime was in the open now, for all to see, and the king--pilloried by the laws he himself had enacted--was left with no choice but to sentence them both in accordance with those laws. For Lancelot that would mean beheading and for Guinevere to be burnt at the stake. Arthur looked on, stone-faced as Lancelot rushed in on his horse at the last minute, slaying fellow knights and friends in the process and forever shattering the fellowship of the Round Table. Lancelot rescued Guinevere and ran away with her to the Joyous Gard (his castle), where they lived for some time until she entered a nunnery. Arthur had no time to get her back, either by wooing or warfare for on the horizon was war.

(Arthurian Legend) - Arthur left Mordred as regent in Britain--still unaware of his long-term treachery or that he was his son by Morgause--and departed with Gawain to confront Lancelot in France. In Arthur's absence, Mordred wrote counterfeit letters describing Arthur's death in order to get himself named as the new King by parliament. Crowned at Canterbury, Mordred exiled the Archbishop of Canterbury for opposing him and then forced himself on Queen Guinevere who barricaded herself in the Tower of London for protection. His agents then informed him that Arthur was on the way back to Britain. Mordred tried to prevent Arthur's landing, but was forced to retreat back to Canterbury.

(Arthurian Legend) - Arthur was attacked in waves by Romans, Goths, Saxons, Picts, the French, the Irish, and by rebellious subject kings seizing upon the vulnerability of Camelot. It had in a sense already fallen for in the betrayal between Arthur and Lancelot and in the deterioration of the moral values of the men in charge of guarding the once grand kingdom.

(Iron Man I#150 (fb)/Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#8: Merlin (fb) / Black Knight I#2(fb))
- In the final year of the reign of King Arthur, there was a tremendous battle in which the Black Knight led Arthur's forces to victory over the forces of Morgan and Mordred. Hoping to prevent Arthur from discovering his guilt, Mordred fled the field of battle. Merlin and the Black Knight led their army to Castle le Fay, on the Northern Irish Coast, hoping to force the she-witch to tell the King the truth. Forewarned of this, Morgan laid a trap to kill any who entered her castle. Merlin detected this and instead imprisoned Morgan in Castle Le Fey, holding her there with a powerful spell that would bring death to her form should she ever leave its walls.

(Defenders I#152 (fb)/Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#8: Merlin (fb) - BTS) - The cosmic creature known as the Dragon of the Moon came to Earth and allied itself with Mordred against Camelot. During the final battle between Arthur's forces and Mordred's, Arthur assisted the Eternal known only as the Interloper in defeating the Dragon, banishing it back into outer space.

(Iron Man I#150 (fb)/Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#8: Merlin) - Merlin fell in love with Nimue/Vivienne, a faerie sorceress. Merlin taught many of his magic secrets to Vivienne, who, tiring of him, imprisoned him within an enchanted cave, where he fell into suspended animation.

(Iron Man I#150) - Arthur and his Knights encountered the time-traveling Iron Man (Tony Stark) and Dr. Doom. Arthur listened to their stories and intended to deliberate overnight on how to deal with them, but Doom escaped in the night and made an alliance with Morgan le Fay. With Doom having passed judgment for him, Arthur told Iron Man about Morgan, and Iron Man agreed to join forces against her. Morgan used her stolen fragment of Excalibur to reanimate the body of every man slain by Excalibur, and Doom led this army of corpses against Arthur, Iron Man, and the Knights of Camelot. Arthur rallied his forces against seemingly hopeless odds and led them into a savage battle. Iron Man, realizing the true threat in the battle, confronted Morgan and forced her to withdraw her spell. As the reanimated warriors collapsed around him, Arthur watched as Doom screamed in agony and flew away (having made a deal with Morgan to save the lost soul of his mother).
Doom and Iron Man subsequently combined their powers and returned to the modern era

(Spider-Woman I#41 (fb) - BTS) - Morgan reenacted the events of Arthur's discovery of the affair between Lancelot and Guinevere, with David Ishima believing he was Lancelot, Lindsey McCabe as Guinevere, and Spider-Woman as Morgan le Fay. It is unknown whether these events involved the spirits of the original participants or not.

(Black Knight I#1 (fb)) - After a year of happy marriage, Sir Percy joined Arthur's knights to ride forth for the final war against Mordred, whose treachery had been at last exposed for all to see.

(Arthurian Legend) - The last battle, The Battle of Camlann, marked the fall of Arthur.

(Marvel Super-Heroes II#17 (fb) / Black Knight I#1 (fb) / Arthurian Legend) - When Arthur repaired to Castle Scandia to plan strategy during a war against Mordred, Mordred's forces, backed by Saxon armies, sworn enemies to King Arthur, ambushed him before he could reach the castle. On the field, Mordred impaled his sire with his deadly lance, but Arthur pushed himself forward on the lance so that its bloodied point came out his back, allowing him to come within reach of Mordred and mortally wound his vile offspring.

(Excalibur: XX Crossing) - Just after his battle with Mordred, Arthur threw Excalibur into the water for the Lady of the Lake. However, Sidestep, a time-travel mastery rogue, had brainwashed Jean Grey into thinking she was Morgan Le Fay, and she prevented the Lady of the Lake from receiving the sword. However, a time displaced Shadowcat subdued Grey, and the Lady of the Lake received the sword.
see comments

(Black Knight I#1 (fb) - BTS / Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe#16: Black Knight I) - The bodies of both Arthur and Mordred were borne away by those few knights of both sides who survived the battle. The dying Mordred ordered his men to bring him to Castle Scandia where they could ambush his other great foe.

(Mystic Arcana: Black Knight#1) - Arthur clung to life and rallied against his foes. Mordred raised his dagger and prepared to strike Arthur, but one of his men slew Arthur instead.

(Arthurian Legend) - With his dying breath, Arthur requested Sir Bedivere, his most trusted confidant, to take Excalibur and toss into far off Lake Benoye and return and proclaim what he saw. Bedivere concealed Excalibur expecting it to be passed on to the next King of Britain and returned to tell Arthur on how it sank in the waters. Realizing that Bedivere had not complied with his wishes, Arthur compelled him to follow his last wishes. Bedivere commenced to Benoye and tossed away Excalibur, after which a hand rose from the waters, saluted him three times, and departed under the water. As Bedivere described these details, Arthur knew his desires had been met. Bedivere stayed with Arthur through the night and at dawn came nine women dressed like queens. Bedivere was frozen at the sight of them. They tenderly lifted the dying king from his rough bed on the ground and bore him off. Bedivere was anxious to see where they were going and followed as quickly as he could. It was as though lead weighted his feet, and he did not catch up with them until the nine queens had loaded Arthur onto a barge and had sailed halfway across the lake with the freed Merlin showing the way to Avalon.

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#9: Morgan le Fay (fb) / Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89#7: Topaz (fb)) -
It is unclear what, if any, role Morgan le Fay had in the end of Arthur's reign. However, it is said that she was alongside the mystic sisterhood known as the Sisters of Glastonbury Tor (possibly including of three or four queens) and the Lady of the Lake, who cared for the gravely wounded Arthur after his final battle with Mordred. They conveyed the mortally wounded Arthur to the extradimensional realm of Avalon, part of Otherworld, where he would await the day when Britain once again needed him to return.

(Hulk Weekly#44/2 (fb) - BTS) - After Arthur was buried in Avalon, the dark forces stole his body, taking it to a place of hiding. However they could not contain the hero's restless spirit.

(Rom#37 (fb) - BTS) - Some portion of the spirits of Arthur and his Knights was apparently captured by Morgan le Fay and imprisoned in an ice-like substance at the bottom of the waters flowing beneath a castle in Gwillyn Dale, Wales.

(Rom#37) - Rom observed the figures of the King and Knights when he retrieved his Neutralizer after it had been cast there by the Dire Wraiths. Later, when Rom was nearly overcome by Wraith magic, the King and the Knights escaped their prison and penetrated the darkness that surrounded and drained the Spaceknight. They joined him in slaughtering the Dire Wraiths, but there was no further trace of them when Rom revived later, and he wondered whether he had dreamed the whole thing.

(Hulk Weekly#43/2 (fb) - BTS) - Brian Braddock, a.k.a. Captain Britain, was on a transatlantic flight when dark forces attacked his mind. Sensing his plight, the spirit of King Arthur came to his aid, though the stricken hero was not aware of this outside help. With his aid, the hero was able to leap from the craft, landing in the sea. He was washed ashore on a strange island and drawn by a powerful force (Arthur once more) to a trio of standing stones, which marked the King's resting place. Passing out, Brian awoke amnesiac on the shores of Cornwall; the memories of his visions would be buried much longer than the rest of his recollections, until they were finally unlocked by Merlyn.

(Hulk Weekly#59/2) - Sent by Merlyn to awaken King Arthur in preparation for the battle between the forces of Camelot and Necromon, the Black Knight, Jackdaw, and Captain Britain successfully overcame one of a trio of stone watchers guarding Arthur's tomb. The Black Knight then destroyed the other two, still in their disguised forms of standing stones, blowing them up with the dragon pearl he had won earlier in his crusade. With the invisible containment field they had generated deactivated, the very ground beneath the heroic trio's feet shook and split, and the skeletal remains of Arthur sat up from their earthy grave. The centuries fell away, and flesh cloaked the once-dead warrior-king's form once more. As he turned to face his liberators, they kneeled before him, and the Black Knight pledged his undying allegiance and handed Arthur Excalibur.

(Hulk Weekly#60/2 / Marvel Super-Heroes (UK)#377/3) - Arthur held aloft his sword once more, stating that the dark powers should beware. He praised the courage which his new allies had shown, then, proclaiming that their foes were everywhere and in every time, he stated he would send Captain Britain home, accompanied by Jackdaw, whose special powers might prove useful. With a wave of his hand, they vanished.

(Hulk Weekly#61/2) - The Black Knight and Arthur, his identity concealed by a hooded cloak, rode swiftly back through the air astride the Knight's winged steed Valinor, unaware that Merlyn was watching their progress using his magic.

(Hulk Weekly#62/2) - They arrived at the castle to witness the forces of the Netherworld attacking. Necrom, leader of the enemy forces, climbed the side of Camelot, and reaching the top, threw one brave but hapless defender into the void, stating none could oppose him. Arthur stepped forward, and throwing back his hood announced that he opposed the netherlord. The Black Knight brought his ebony blade to bear alongside Arthur's Excalibur, and stood back-to-back with his liege, as Necrom defiantly taunted them.

(Hulk Weekly#63/2) - The battle commenced, and Arthur blocked Necromon's first sword swing, then swiftly dodged the second. The pair fought on in silence as the Black Knight watched their duel, until finally Excalibur shattered the netherlord's weapon into pieces. Arthur then called for the Knight to join the battle and drive the monster from Camelot. Realizing Necrom had backed up until he was under the heavy portcullis, the Knight severed the ropes holding it aloft; the villain grabbed upwards to catch the falling gate, but with his chest now exposed, both heroes plunged their blades into it. Dying, the vengeful creature ripped the portcullis loose, and threw it past his slayers and into the bridge which fixed the delicately balanced Camelot to the land of Otherworld. With it's anchor shattered, the entire castle plunged into the yawning abyss behind it. For a few moments it seemed as if Arthur and the Black Knight had been lost along with the citadel, but then they were spotted flying to safety atop Valinor. Reunited, the once and future king warmly greeted his old ally Merlyn and praised him for engineering their victory. With Camelot lost, another ally, Vortigen of the Proud Walkers proposed the use of his land to build it anew, and Arthur gratefully accepted this offer. Stating this new kingdom would be a land fit for heroes, Arthur informed the Black Knight that he would be a prince among all of them; however the Knight, while flattered and honored, noted that there would be other battles and that his quest was not ended, and that he would instead return to Earth.

(Marvel Super-Heroes (UK)#377/3) - Arthur and Merlyn discussed the mission Captain Britain and Jackdaw had been sent on, noting that the destiny the pair had to fulfill might even be more important than their own.

Merlyn led Arthur to the distant future (see comments).

(Doctor Who Monthly#60) - In the far future, in the final days of the Earth, Arthur led the defense of the last bastion of civilization against the forces of Catavolcus and his Neutron Knights, seeking to keep them from obtaining the Dragon, a powerful fission device. When Catavolcus finally broke through the citadel's outer doors, Arthur ordered his men to retreat to the inner chambers; meanwhile, in the heart of the stronghold Merlin used his mystic powers to summon the time-traveling craft of the Doctor as a means of escape for them all, and activated a countdown sequence on the Dragon. Arthur slew some attackers who had managed to breach Merlin's inner sanctum, and the defenders hastily retreated into the Doctor's TARDIS, which dematerialized even as Catavolcus reached it, scant seconds before the Dragon exploded. They alighted in an unspecified location and era, and the Doctor, who had inexplicably passed out, awoke next to his craft wondering if it had all been a dream...until he briefly caught a glimpse of Arthur, silhouetted against the skyline, holding a gleaming Excalibur aloft.

(Marvel Super-Heroes (UK)#383/1) - Captain Britain, who wrongly believed his ally Jackdaw had been killed and who was struggling with his mission he had been given on Earth-238, the Crooked World, was unaware that his progress was being monitored from Otherworld. Merlyn, standing next to the injured Jackdaw, asked King Arthur his opinion of the visions they watched; Arthur responded that his wizard's plan was sound, though there were many variables. However he felt Captain Britain had made the right choices thus far, and that they would just have to wait and see. The monarch noted that on this world was their weakest link.

(Mighty World of Marvel#13) - At the somber Otherworld funeral for Merlyn, Arthur paid final tribute to his fallen friend, acting as one of the pall bearers. He watched sadly as Merlyn's coffin was consigned to the Portal Perilous and was apparently consumed by the burning light beyond.

(Chaos War#3) - The Chaos King invaded Otherworld with his alien god army and fought King Arthur, his knights and other allies. They seemingly fell before the Chaos King.

(Journey into Mystery I#639 (fb) ) - When the Red Lord got trapped inside the god Manchester King Arthur and his court toasted his disappearance. They eventually regretted doing nothing about the Manchester God.

After the Manchester Gods took more and more land in Otherworld and many feared they would consume all magic and leave only dead soil behind. Master Wilson met for a parley with King Arthur, Dagda, the Lady of the Lake, Captain Britain and Merlyn, but no compromise was found and a war began.

(Journey into Mystery I#639) - Dagda was present in Camelot when King Arthur called everyone to arms against the Manchester Gods. During the call to arms Loki asked the Lady of the Lake for a chance to see the Holy Grail (he had to get it as part of a deal with Hela), but she replied with a quick nay.

King Arthur led his people into combat against the Manchester Gods at the Battle of the Valleys and they drove back the Manchester Gods.

(Journey into Mystery I#640) - King Arthur commandeered his troops on Hadrian's Wall to hold back the attacking Manchester Gods. Merlyn was afraid the wall wouldn't hold much longer, but then the Manchester Gods fell back. Loki revealed he and Leah had found one of the Manchester Gods' places of power on Earth, the Cragside mansion, and blew it up. He explained to a shocked Captain Britain and Arthur how destroying sites of power connected to the Manchester Gods on Earth would weaken them, which was only Plan B because Plan A was to infiltrate them and release their power source the Red Lord.

(Journey into Mystery I#641) - Dagda, King Arthur, Merlyn, the Lady of the Lake and Captain Britain met at the Round Table in Camelot to discuss tactics when Herne the Hunter arrived to tell them that the lines had collapsed and the wall was breached by the Manchester Gods after their enemies had destroyed the legendary sites connected to Otherworld in Britain. An emissary Engel of the Manchester God came to Avalon's leader to suggest a treaty. A short time later King Arthur signed a peace treaty with Master Wilson, turning Otherworld into a more democratic domain. Arthur was allowed to stay king of his domains and would even be given representation in Otherworld's future parliament. Arthur never learned that Loki and Leah had betrayed him and secretly helped the Manchester Gods by destroying the historical sites of legend in Britain, which Master Wilson promised to rebuild.

Comments: Created by unknown parties.
adapted into Atlas by Stan "The Man" Lee and Joe Maneely.
adapted into Marvel by Roy Thomas and Howard Purcell.

Rom#37: Possibly the reason Arthur's spirit didn't reach out to contact anyone prior to Captain Britain is because while Necromon's forces held his body, their ally (?) Morgan had captured and contained his spirit. Once it broke free in Rom#37, it was then able to reach out to Brian Braddock.
--Loki (plus that's what I had ASSumed, and it seemed to all come together nicely)

It is possible that the Dr. Who issue listed above represents a future incarnation of Arthur, rather than the modern Arthur traveling through time. Loki discusses this:

Arthurian Legend compiled by William Uchtman from The Arthurian Companion (Second Edition) by Phyllis Ann Karr, page 541). There's a lot of Arthurian Legend in this profile. I've included everything that didn't directly conflict with Marvel History, but kept it in quotes to make it clear that it is not confirmed as having occurred in the Marvel Universe in this fashion.

In addition there are three excellent essays on Arthurian Legend at the end of Marvel Preview#22:

Throughout the Black Knight series, Mordred refers to Arthur as his uncle and Morgan as his cousin (or even wife). It really wouldn't surprise me in the least if Mordred and Morgan truly had taken their relationship to a new level.
Similarly, he was consistently named Modred, but after the appearance of Modred the Mystic, he was later re-defined as Mordred. I have named in Mordred in each appearance, regardless of which spelling was used in the story.

In Arthurian legend, there is no clear indication that Excalibur was the sword in the stone since it was supposed to been created by the Lady of the Lake. However, a movie version (Merlin, 1996, starring Sam Neil) accounts for this by claiming Uther Pendragon first wielded Excalibur after Merlin received it from the Lady of the Lake and that Uther became unworthy of it. Merlin then forged it into stone and endowed it that only the true king of Britain could wield it. While this account seems very likely, it's not part of the actual legend. The same movie depicts the vision of the two dragons in the lake as Merlin's prophecy that Constantine's heirs would rise up against him and retake the throne from him rather than two actual dragons.
--Will
It's not the same sword in the Marvel Universe--Snood.

    This story shows Arthur standing as the last survivor in a field of battle, which isn't really how it's been described thus far in Marvel Super-Heroes, the Black Knight flashback or any others. It's not totally out of the question, but it seems unlikely.
    The story that takes place in Excalibur: XX Crossing#1 does not quite fit into the assumed chronology of the King Arthur legend. However, it could very well be the way events happened on Earth-616, as I don't believe the legendary account has been shown in such otherwise. It's also possible that the time-travel took Grey and Pryde back to an already-diverged Earth where Arthur, not Bedivere, returned Excalibur to the Lady, and their actions had no consequence to the timeline of Earth-616. --Madison Carter
    I really dislike that story, but I don't yet see any story, even a description in a Marvel Universe entry, that would definitively contradict it.
    Still, I like the image, so I'm going with it.

Here's a story from the MU that I can't make ANY sense out of:
or
What's the deal with that stuff from the Namor#62 flashback?

The full membership would include:
Aglovale, Agravaine, Agwisance, Bagdemagus, Baudwin of Britain, Bedivere, Bellengerus le Beuse, Belleus, Belliance le Orgulus, Bellinor, Blamore de Ganis, Bleoberis de Ganis, Borre, Bors de Ganis, Brandiles, Brastias, Breunor le Noir, Cador of Cornwall, King Carados of Scotland, Claleins, Clariance of Northumberland, Colgrevance, Constantine, Dinadan, Dinas, Dodinas le Savage, Dornar, Ector de Maris, Edward of Orkney, Epinegris, Florence, Gaheres, Gaheris, Galabarg, Galahad, Duke Galeholt, Galeshin, Galihodin, Galleron, Gareth, Gawaine, Geraint, Gingalin, Griflet, Grummore, Harry le fise Lake, Hebes le Renoumes, Helin le Blank, Helyan of Ireland, Hermind, Hervise de Revel, Ironside, Kainus le Strange, Karados of Estrangor, Kay, King of the Hundred Knights, Lambegus, Lamorak, Lancelot, Lavaine, Lionel, Lovel, Lucan the Butler, Mador de la Porte, Marhaus, Marrok, Meliagrant, Melias de Lile, Meliot de Logres, Mogard, Mordred, Nentres, Nerovens de Lile, Ozana le Cure Hardy, Palomides, Patrise, Pelleas, Pellinore, Percivale, Perimones, Persant, Pertolepe, Pinel le Savage, Plaine de Force, Plenorius, Priamus, Sadok, Safere, Sagramore, Segwarides, Sentrialle de Lushon, Servause le Breuse, Tor, Tristram, Ulbawes, Ulfius, Uriens of Gore, Urre of Hungrary, Vadalon, Yvonet li Avoutres, Ywaine.
--Will

Most of King Arthur's list of relatives here comes from the book, "The Arthurian Companion – Second Edition" by Phyllis Ann Carr (Copyright 2001). Others listed here come from "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Arthurian Legends" by Ronan Coghlan (Copyright 1991) and "Celtic Myth and Legend" by Mike Dixon-Kennedy (Copyright 1996). Of course, these names describe the convoluted family tree of the LEGENDARY King Arthur and not necessarily the King Arthur of the MARVEL Universe. Several of these personages just might not exist in the Marvel Universe.
    The entry for the Dragon Circle in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update (Issue#2) reports that Dafdd ap Iowerth "is not a reincarnation of (King) Arthur nor is he a direct ancestor of Arthur, who had but one child, Mordred, who himself died childless."
    This may be true in the Marvel Universe, but in Arthurian legend, Arthur did have many sons and Mordred himself did have two sons, Melehan and one unnamed, most likely out of wedlock. After their father's death in the Battle of Camlann, they tried to seize Britain, but Sir Bors, one of the Knights of the Round Table, killed Melehan and the other was slain by Lancelot himself.
    Other alleged children of Arthur from various sources include Borre, Adeluf, Amr, Agravaine, Arthur the Little, Gwydre, Ilinot, Llacheu, Loholt, Morgan the Black, Patrick the Red, Rowland (half-brothers, deceased); and Ellen, Gyneth, Melora (half-sisters, deceased);
--Will
    Arthur supposedly had a son other than Mordred named Loholt, but it has also been speculated Lancelot might have been the father.
--Greg O

King Arthur's ancestry is obviously festooned with a number of both historical and fantastic personages. Various writers and documenters purport both his mother and father claimed the Celtic sea-god, Llyr, as an ancestor as well as a lineage back to the Roman conquest of Britain by the descendants of Aeneas of Troy. Roman Emperor, Constantius, Emperor of Rome (c.265-337AD) and Votadini Ruler Cunedda (c.430 AD) appear as ancestors of Igraine. There is one curious name, which appears in the ancestry of Uther Pendragon: his great-great-grandfather, Conaan (not to be confused with the Cimmerian barbarian of the Hyborian Age), father of the Celtic Chieftain, Urbien. It is not clear from the collection of names if this is supposed to be the same Conaan who is grandfather of the vizier and magician, Merlin.
Also bear in mind that Arthur's reign in the Marvel Universe was from the latter part of the 5th century and into the early part of the 6th century.

On the other hand, most of these names must be taken with a grain of salt because dating the lifetimes of Arthur's ancestors with known dated events and personages connected to them (such as Constantinus, St. Brigid and Joseph of Arimathea) would suggest a lifespan of seventy to eighty years for the majority of them. The typical lifespan for men in the Fifth Century AD was only about fifty!
--Will U

Vortigern's history after the Saxons slews the British peace negotiators: At this point, Vortigern either conceded his lands to Hengist in exchange for his life and was allowed to live with the horror of what he had wrought, or he was spared and set free to flee to Wales.
--I just can't make sense of either of those two, b/c next thing we know, he is still King of the Britons and building a tower. Maybe the sinking of the tower came before he was driven out by the Saxons? Maybe after being driven out he was found and slain by Aurelius and Uther?
Will speculates:

Black Knight Comics#1/1 is reprinted in Fantasy Masterpieces I#11;#1/3 is reprinted in Marvel Super-Heroes II#12, the series which Fantasy Masterpieces evolved into;#2/1 is reprinted in Marvel Super-Heroes#13;#2/2 in Marvel Super-Heroes#14;#2/4 in Marvel Super-Heroes#15;#3/1 in Marvel Super-Heroes#16;#3/2 in Marvel Super-Heroes#19
Let me know if the rest of the Black Knight Comics are reprinted in other issues of Marvel Super-Heroes or any other comic.

...and since I know someone will bring it up despite my efforts to the contrary, Camelot was also features in What If I#33/2 and What If II#97.

At some point during the 90s Zombie King Arthur and the Zombie Knights of the Zombie Round Table from Zombie Camelot were created by Mys-Tech's subsidiary Omni using DNA from King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. They were accidentally released in Revolutionary War: Knights of Pendragon#1 by Dai Thomas and Kate McClellan and made it pretty quickly clear they were serving the Bane and Mys-Tech. The Green Knight took care of them.
--Markus Raymond

images:
Journey into Mystery I#639, p19, pan3 (main image)
Fantasy Masterpieces I#11, Black Knight story from Black Knight Comics#1, p2, panel 5 (full robe)
Iron Man I#150, p9, panel 4
Excalibur: XX Crossing, p29 (Arthur in battle)
Hulk Weekly #44, p.5, pan7 - Arthur fighting the hordes of Necromon back in the days of the original Camelot
59, p.8, pan 4-6 - Arthur arises and covers himself in flesh
pan 8 - The Black Knight pledges allegiance to Arthur
Doctor Who Classic Comics # (reprinting DWM#60 story in colour), p.2 (of story, not of magazine), pan6 - Neutron Knight story Arthur

Appearances:
Black Knight Comics#1 (May, 1955) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Joe Maneely (artist)
Black Knight Comics#2 (July, 1955) - Fred Kida (artist), Stan Lee (editor)
Black Knight Comics#3 (September, 1955) - Fred Kida (artist), Stan Lee (editor)
Black Knight Comics#4 (November, 1955) - Fred Kida (artist), Stan Lee (editor)
Black Knight Comics#5 (April, 1956) - Syd Shores (pencils), Christopher Rule (inks), Stan Lee (editor)
Strange Tales I#108 (May, 1963) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Steve Ditko (artist)
Journey into Mystery I#96 (September, 1963) - Stan Lee (plot/editor), Robert Bernstein (writer), Joe Sinnott (artist)
Strange Tales I#134 (July, 1965) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Bob Powell (co-plot/pencils), Wally Wood (inks)
Marvel Super-Heroes II#17 (November, 1968) - Roy Thomas (writer), Howard Purcell (pencils), Dan Adkins, Tom Palmer, others (inks), Stan Lee (editor)
Captain Britain I#35/1 (June, 1977) - Gary Friedrich (writer), Larry Lieber (writer/editor), Ron Wilson (pencils), Bob Budiansky & Tom Palmer (inks)
Hulk Weekly #43/2 (26th December, 1979)
Hulk Weekly #44/2 (2nd January, 1980)
Hulk Weekly #59/2 (17th April, 1980)
Hulk Weekly #60/2 (24th April, 1980)
Hulk Weekly #61/2 (1st May, 1980)
Hulk Weekly #62/2 (8th May, 1980)
Hulk Weekly #63/2 (15th May, 1980)
Marvel Preview#22 (Summer, 1980) - Doug Moench (writer), John Buscema (plot/pencils), Tom Palmer & John Tartaglione (inks), Lynn Graeme (editor)
Iron Man I#150 (September, 1981) - David Michelinie (writer/plot), Bob Layton (plot/inks), John Romita Jr. (pencils), Jim Salicrup (editor)
Marvel Super-Heroes (UK) #377/3 (September, 1981) - Paul Neary & Dave Thorpe (writers), Alan Davis (artist), Paul Neary (editor)
Doctor Who Monthly#60 (January, 1982)
Marvel Super-Heroes (UK) #383/1 (March, 1982) - Dave Thorpe (writer), Alan Davis (artist), Bernie Jaye (editor)
Rom#37 (December, 1982) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Sal Buscema (pencils), Ian Akin & Brian Garvey (inks), Al Milgrom (editor)
Mighty World of Marvel#13 (June, 1984) - Alan Moore (writer), Alan Davis (artist), Chris Gill (editor)
Defenders I#152 (February, 1986) - Peter B. Gillis (writer), Don Perlin (pencils), Dell Barras (inks), Carl Potts (editor)
Avengers Annual I#20 (1991) - Peter Sanderson (writer), Jeff Moore (pencils), Bud LaRosa (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Spider-Man battles the Myth Monster!#1 (1991) - Danny Fingeroth (writer), Jose Delbo (pencils), Harry Candelario (inks), Rob Tokar & Glenn Herdling (editors)
Excalibur: XX Crossing (1992) - Scott Lobdell (writer), Jae Lee (artist), Terry Kavanagh (editor)
Avengers Annual I#22 (1993) - Glenn Herdling (writer), Mike Gustovich (pencils), Ariane Lenshoek (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Knights of Pendragon I#13 (July, 1993) - Dan Abnett & John Tomlinson (writers), Mike Collins (pencils), Steve Pini & Bambos Georgiou (inks), Steve White (editor)
New Excalibur#10-12 (October-December, 2006) "The Last Days of Camelot" - by Frank Tieri (writer), Michael Ryan (penciler), Rick Ketcham (inker), Mike Marts (editor)
Mystic Arcana: Black Knight#1 (September, 2007) - Roy Thomas (writer), Tom Grummet (penciler), Scott Hanna (inker), Nathan Cosby (assistant editor), Mark Paniccia (editor)
Chaos War#3 (January, 2011) - Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente (writers), Khoi Pham (penciler), Tom Palmer (inker), Jordan D. White (assistant editor), Mark Paniccia (senior editor)
Thunderbolts I#169-170 (March-April, 2011) - Jeff Parker (writer), Kev Walker (pencils), Terry Pallot (inks), Tom Brennan (editor)
Journey into Mystery I#639-640 (August, 2012) - Kieron Gillen (writer), Richard Elson (artist), Lauren Sankovitch (editor)
Journey into Mystery I#641 (September, 2012) - Kieron Gillen (writer), Richard Elson (artist), Lauren Sankovitch (editor)

Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com

Paternal Line I	Paternal Line II	Maternal Line I	Maternal Line II	Maternal Line III


Llyr		Llyr	Llyr
Bran		Bran	Bran
Karadawc		Karadawc	Karadawc
Evdaf		Evdaf	Evdaf	Helaius (nephew of Joseph of Arimathea)
Kynan		Joshua	Kynan	Joshua
Kadien	Gerenton	Aminabad	Kadien	Aminabad
Morvawr	Conaan	Castellors	Gwrvawr	Castellors
Tudwal	Urbien	Manael	Ffrwdwr	Manael
Kynnvor	Solomon	Lambord	Kynwal	Lambord
Constantine	Constantine	Amlawdd	Amlawdd	Amlawdd
Uther	Uther =	Igraine	Igraine	Igraine
	Arthur