Real Name: Valinor

Identity/Class: Equine mutate (12th century and the modern era)

Occupation: Former steed of the Bloodwraith (Sean Dolan), the Black Knight (Dane Whitman), Karna and Hassan ibn Sabbah

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Cindy Adams, Al-Adil, Amergin, American Eagle (Jason Strongbow), Arabian Knight (Abdul Qamar), Beta Ray Bill, Black Knight (Eobar of Garrington), Blitzkrieg (Franz Mittelstaedt), Bloodwraith (Sean Dolan), Buckthorn, Captain America (Steve Rogers), Captain Britain (Brian Braddock), Captain Marvel (Monica Rambeau), Edward Catherwood, Brandy Clark, Doctor Macrae, Doctor Strange (Stephen Strange), Emir of Ghulistan, Gafael, Gargoyle (Isaac Christians), the Goddess, Hassan ibn Sabbah, Hawkeye (Clint Barton), Iron Man (Jim Rhodes), Jackdaw, Breeze James, Johann, Rick Jones, Karna, Lupe, Merlyn, Mockingbird (Bobbi Barton), Moondog, Moondragon (Heather Douglas), Old Sarah Mumford, Nightcrawler (Kurt Wagner), Owein, King Arthur Pendragon, le Peregrine (Alain Racine), Kitty Pryde, Roger, Rom, Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff), Shamrock (Molly Fitzgerald), the Soviet Super Soldiers (Darkstar/Laynia Petrovna, Gremlin/Kondrati Topolov, Ursa Major/Mikhail Ursus, Vanguard/Nikolai Krylenko), Sparrowhawk, Starfox (Eros), Thor (Eric Masterson), Tigra (Greer Nelson), the Walker (Vortigen), Wasp (Janet Van Dyne), Wonder Man (Simon Williams), the Wraith-Hunter Rangers, the X-Men (Archangel/Warren Worthington III, Beast/Hank McCoy, Colossus/Piotr Rasputin, Iceman/Bobby Drake, Professor X/Charles Xavier, Rogue/Anna Marie, Wolverine/James Howlett);
    formerly Amergin, the Avengers (Black Knight/Dane Whitman, Crystal/Crystalia Amaquelin, Hercules/Heracles, Vision/"Victor Shade"), Victoria Bentley, Black Knight (Percy of Scandia), Namor the Sub-Mariner (Namor McKenzie), Valkyrie (Brunnhilde)

Enemies: Andromeda (Andromeda Attumasen), Ashtoroth, Askalan, the Avengers (Crystal/Crystalia Amaquelin, Quicksilver/Pietro Maximoff, Swordsman/Phillip Jarvert of Earth-921, Vision/"Victor Shade," Wasp/Janet Van Dyne), Black Knight (Dane Whitman), Black Widow (Natasha Romanova), Cernunnos, Croglin and his goblin hordes (Bogweed, Hornwort, others), the Crusader (Arthur Blackwood), Deadpool ("Wade Wilson"), Dire Wraiths, Doomwraiths, Dreadknight (Bram Velsing), the Fomor (Balor, others), Gagol, Gargantua, Gawain (robot), Hellhorse, Hellravens, Hercules (Heracles), Iron Man (Tony Stark), Karadoc, Kharad Dur, Lockjaw, Morgan le Fay, Maegog, Magdalene (Marissa Darrow of Earth-9201), Mordred the Evil, Morrigan, Namor the Sub-Mariner (Namor McKenzie), Nightshade, Peter Reilly, le Sabre (Paul Richarde), Sersi, Speedball (Robbie Baldwin), Taranis, Wolfsbane

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: "Big Fellow," "Buddy," "Friend," "Noble Steed," "Old Friend," "the Valiant Valinor"

Base of Operations: Garrett Castle, Washington, DC, USA;
    formerly Garrett Castle, England, UK; Avalon, Otherworld; Hassan ibn Sabbah's den, Persia

First Appearance: Hulk Comic (UK) I#1 (March, 1979)

Powers/Abilities: Valinor is a magically mutated horse with bat-like wings with a 15' wingspan (from wingtip to wingtip) that are capable of flight.

    Valinor has superhuman stamina, sustained by magic, allowing him to ride much farther (at least the distance of the entirety of New York City if not internationally) and longer (up to at least to a few days without food or water, though Valinor does have to periodically rest). The magic sustenance also allows Valinor to survive much harsher conditions than an ordinary horse, such as extreme heat and cold.

    He also possesses enhanced speed and strength, allowing him to carry three full-sized human beings with ease, though flying long distances for long periods with several passengers tires Valinor faster. Valinor also has magic-honed senses that increase his navigational abilities when tasked to a certain location, allowing him to lead the way even if his passengers get lost.

    The magical enchantments cast on Valinor preserve his wings and create a mystic rapport between Valinor and the Ebony Blade artifact, possibly to the point of slightly changing Valinor's appearances to the degree of the bloodlust experienced by the wielder of Ebony Blade. For example, during periods in which Dane Whitman was completely uninfluenced by the Ebony Blade's curse, Valinor appeared a normal black horse, albeit with wings (though those have also seen to change from feathery to bat-like wings), while in the 12th century when Dane's soul was possessing his bloodlust-affected ancestor Eobar of Garrington, Valinor occasionally appeared to have a demonic-looking forked tail. He has also seemed to change color fully (such as appearing to have white or brown hair) or partially (eye color from brown to red or mane color from black to orange) (see comments).

    While not superhuman abilities, Valinor possesses above average intelligence for a horse, able to understand and obey complex commands from his masters, and he is experienced in land-base and aerial battle.

    During the time in which Sean Dolan wielded the Earth-371 Ebony Blade, he transformed Valinor into an energy-radiating, demonic, skeletal form. In this form, Valinor could teleport directly to the location of the Ebony Blade (both the Earth-616 and Earth-371 versions).

    While acting as Bloodwraith's steed, Valinor was affected by the Ebony Blade's curse due to his mystic connection to the sword and he would occasionally become erratic and wild when the bloodlust overtook Bloodwraith.

Height: 5'4" (at withers)
Weight: 1200 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black

History:
(Mystic Arcana: Black Knight#1 - BTS) - Moments before being stabbed in the 6th century, Sir Percy of Scandia, known the Black Knight, experienced a vision of his descendant Dane Whitman riding into action on the flying horse Valinor as the modern era Black Knight.

(Marvel Pets Handbook#1 - Valinor entry - BTS) - Centuries later, in the 12th century, the horse that would later come to be called Valinor was born in Iran (see comments). He came to become the property of sorcerer assassin Hassan ibn Sabbah.

(Doctor Strange II#68 (fb) - BTS / Marvel Fanfare I#53 (fb)) - At some point, the horse was magically mutated to have bat-like wings by Hassan ibn Sabbah to act as his mount, though the horse more often acted as a steed for the assassin Karna.



(Marvel Fanfare I#53) - In 1191 A.D., the assassin Karna was sent to seduce the Crusader Black Knight, then possessing the soul and consciousness of his modern era descendant Dane Whitman, and Karna traveled to meet the Black Knight on the mutated flying horse. Karna had the flying horse kick the Black Knight in the head as she flew over and Black Knight's ally Al-Adil had his archers shoot at Karna. When she was hit in the shoulder, Karna became unable to hold the horse's reins and she fell from the flying horse. After being rescued by the stunned Black Knight, Karna poisoned the Knight with a "thank you" kiss and carried his unconscious form back to her flying horse before departing to return to her master, Hassan ibn Sabbah. After seemingly being forced to slay Hassan ibn Sabbah, the Black Knight forced Karna to show him a way of Hassan's den and she led him to the stables, claiming that the Knight would not be able to leave on the savage mount of her master's creation. Uncaring how savage the horse was, the Black Knight jumped on the horse and flew off, stating that there was not a steed alive that he could not tame.

(Marvel Pets Handbook#1 - Valinor entry - BTS) - The Black Knight chose the flying horse, dubbed Valinor, as his regular steed.

(Marvel Fanfare I#53) - Returning to the Christian camp on Valinor, the Black Knight told one of the soldiers to ignore his strange-looking mount and asked what was going on with the camp fires, only to learn that King Richard had ordered the burning of the prisoners of war.

(Marvel Fanfare I#54) - After angrily confronting and attacking King Richard for burning prisoners, the Black Knight rushed outside and jumped on Valinor, flying into the air in a fit of angry isolation. Unaware he was being watched by the still-very-much-alive Hassan ibn Sabbah, the Black Knight noticed a single Crusader, a would-be German priest named Johann, fighting a group of enemies and, despite his anger at King Richard, the Knight flew Valinor down to assist Johann. The horse swooped down to hit one of the enemy agents with his front legs but one of the enemies attacked the Black Knight from behind, pulling Valinor down as well. Black Knight dismounted the horse and continued to aid Johann as the horse savagely attacked their enemies as well. Once their enemies had been defeated, the Black Knight realized the Johann he saved was destined to become the time-traveling Prester John and offered to give Johann a lift to the Crusaders camp on Valinor. As they departed, the Knight asked if Johann was fearful of his mount but Johann admitted that he had heard of stranger things. The two then returned to the camp and flew around it, finding it nearly deserted after the French parted ways with the now-ill King Richard. When Hassan ibn Sabbah subsequently attacked the camp seeking Conrad of Montferrat and he was driven away by the Black Knight, King Richard knighted the Black Knight for saving his life but also exiled the Knight, prompting the Black Knight to mount Valinor and depart.

(Marvel Pets Handbook#1 - Valinor entry - BTS) - Valinor accompanied the Black Knight when the hero journeyed to the extradimensional Avalon realm.

(Doctor Strange II#68 (fb) - BTS / Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Master Edition I#28 - Valinor entry - BTS) - Valinor was apparently turned over to the high druids of Avalon (see comments) and additional enchantments were cast on it by the druid Amergin to preserve its wings and mystically connect it to ancient Ebony Blade, though the enchantments were intended to only remain effective within the extradimensional Avalon.

(Marvel Comics Presents I#73 (fb)) - Weeks later, the Black Knight continued the ride the now-wingless (see comments) Valinor into battle during the Crusades, though the bloodlust brought on by the Ebony Blade began to take more of a hold over Dane Whitman's ancestor Eobar of Garrington, whose body Dane still possessed. When King Richard summoned the Black Knight back to England to task him with killing Saladin of Egypt, the increasingly in control Eobar rode Valinor out into the desert on his quest, soon learning Saladin's location from a Saracen. The Black Knight then spent days riding into the desert towards Saladin's camp with Valinor surviving the harsh conditions due to his magical sustainability, ultimately giving himself over to Saladin to preserve his future history.

(Avengers I#226) - After the modern era Avengers were transported to 12th century Otherworld by Doctor Druid, only to be met in battle against the giant Fomor Balor, the still-time-displaced Black Knight ignored the orders of the Druid Amergin and rushed to the stables to retrieve Valinor, whose wings had been restored. Amergin continued protesting Black Knight's actions, as Black Knight's involvement was not part of his plan for the Avengers, but Black Knight refused to listen as he mounted Valinor, noting that he could not stand idly by and watch his modern day friends get hurt.

(Avengers I#226 / Black Knight II#1 (fb)) - He then flew Valinor out of the stable and into battle against Balor.

(Avengers I#226) - An annoyed Balor quickly swatted the Black Knight and Valinor aside, briefly stunning them. The Avengers rescued the Black Knight while Valinor regained his senses and corrected his fall safely to the ground. The Black Knight then ordered a retreat back to Avalon and Captain America and Hawkeye dove onto the back of Valinor with the Black Knight to fly away. Regrouping with the Amergin, the Avengers battled the Fomor and the Black Knight used the Evil Eye artifact to prevent the Fomor from accessing Earth at the cost of his ancestor's body, Dane Whitman's soul and Valinor as well transported to Dane's proper time period. Inside the modern day Garrett Castle, the shattered shards of Dane Whitman's then-stone body reformed and his stone form transformed back into Dane's living flesh and blood with a surprised Valinor appearing by his side.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#44 / 2 (fb)) - The ancient sorcerer Merlyn chose the Black Knight, an American hero who rode the steed Valinor, as one of his latest champions.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#1 / 2) - While flying through the southwest England skies on Valinor, the Black Knight flew into the path of a helicopter carrying vital blood to a hospital in Trewelyn. When the helicopter due to almost hitting the Knight, the Black Knight landed Valinor in the snow and rushed to check on the helicopter pilot. Upon learning of the pilot's vital mission of delivering blood, the Black Knight picked up the blood, jumped back onto Valinor and rode off into the night to deliver the blood himself. Black Knight and Valinor successfully delivered the blood but when they took to the skies to resume Black Knight's earlier quest, they were shot at by a RAF plane, who assumed the flying duo was a UFO. Falling to the ground, the Black Knight called for Valinor but found only demonic Hellraven birds flying towards his position.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#3 / 2) - When one of the Hellravens went after Valinor, the Black Knight drew his Ebony Blade and came to Valinor's defense. After dispatching the Hellraven, Black Knight noticed that Valinor had been wounded and suggested they retreat to a nearby cave for cover. The Knight then led Valinor into the cave, unaware that they were being watched by the evil Mordred, and the Knight expressed concern that the high beach tide might sweep them out of the cave.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#4 / 2 - BTS) - After another man who was staying in the cave saw and attacked the Black Knight, the Knight admitted that he only sought shelter for he and his horse but the two fought until the two shared their stories of how they came to be there.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#5 / 2) - When a giant rock monster unearthed by Mordred attacked the Black Knight and strange cave dweller, the Black Knight became determined to defend them and he jumped onto the injured Valinor to battle the rock monster. Riding around the monster's legs, Black Knight commended the wounded Valinor on his speed as he slashed away at the monster, only to soon be swatted off Valinor. Valinor then ran, dragging the Black Knight along the ground until the Knight ordered his steed to halt and when the Black Knight went to retrieve his blade, he found the stranger had come to his defense, revealing himself as the heroic Captain Britain. The Black Knight quickly jumped back on Valinor and teamed up with Captain Britain to trick the rock monster into a patch of wet sand, in which the monster sank. Spotting Mordred the Evil in the distance, the Black Knight rode Valinor to attack the long-lived sorcerer but Mordred teleported away, leaving behind only his cloak to be cleaved in two by the Black Knight's Ebony Blade. Noting that they now knew the enemy they faced and that they were comrades-in-arms, the Black Knight then walked back along the beach with Valinor and Captain Britain.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#6 / 2) - Captain Britain brought the Black Knight and injured Valinor to the cottage of Old Sarah Mumford and asked that she treat the injured horse. Disguising her fears that the Knight's presence there was a bad omen, Sarah led the Knight to her barn, assuring the Knight that Valinor would be safe there.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#8 / 2) - After the immortal Walker Vortigen met the Black Knight and Captain Britain and held off another attack from Mordred, he returned to Old Sarah Mumford's cottage and suggested they leave despite the Black Knight's worries that Valinor was not yet ready for a fight. Deciding that Valinor was at least well enough to ride, the Black Knight was asked by the Walker to meet in the village of Stenleigh in two days before they split up and the Black Knight rode Valinor into battle against Mordred's trolls. During the battle, Valinor leaped over trolls and hit several with his hooves.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#9 / 2) - The Black Knight continued to ride Valinor in battle against Mordred's trolls until Gagol, leader of the trolls, knocked the Knight from Valinor's back with his sword. After the Knight defeated Gagol, he jumped back onto Valinor and they rode back to Old Sarah Mumford's cottage, only to find it in smoldering ruins. Finding a new tree, completely unaware that it was a transformed Mumford herself, the Black Knight noticed a fruit bearing from the seemingly dead tree and Valinor immediately ate the fruit, which completely healed the injured horse. His energy renewed and injuries now forgotten, Valinor then flew the Black Knight into the air once more in pursuit of Mordred.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#11 / 2) - Arriving to meet the Walker in Stenleigh, the Black Knight and Valinor swooped down and the Knight hit the gloating Mordred with the flat of his Ebony Blade before they ventured further into town. Suspecting his friend the Walker and Captain Britain were in danger, the Black Knight ordered Valinor onward and they crashed through the door of a burning barn to rescue their trapped allies. The Knight quickly pulled the Walker and the unconscious Captain Britain onto Valinor and they departed Stenleigh. Later that evening, the Black Knight, Valinor and his allies made camp in the nearby forest, where they met by the elf Moondog, who warned of Mordred's forces encroaching into the area.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#13 / 2) - Following a battle with the Iron Ogre, the Walker suspected the work of a dark Walker and the Black Knight mounted Valinor and suggested they leave their camp rather than stay and risk further attacks. The Knight then rode Valinor to accompany his allies to Moondog's elf village.

(Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions#1) - While flying over England, the Black Knight, Captain Britain and Valinor himself were transported away.

(Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions#3 - BTS) - Valinor, along with the Black Knight and Captain Britain, was returned to the exact place from which he was transported from following the Contest of Champions between the Elder of the Universe Grandmaster and Death herself.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#15 / 2) - When Croglin and his band of goblins attacked Moondog's village, Valinor aided in the battle by kicking several of the retreating goblins.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#16 / 2) - Following the battle against the goblins, Vortigen suggested they get the remaining elves of the damaged village but the Black Knight, looking over at Valinor, opted to stay behind to both cover the elves' escape and to aid the now-missing Moondog. As Captain Britain sought to return to Otherworld as Merlyn had originally intended, all three allies went their separate ways and the Black Knight mounted Valinor to depart the village, assuring Captain Britain that the elves would lead him to the gates of Otherworld and warning the British hero to stay on his guard.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#17 / 2) - Riding Valinor, the Black Knight watched as Captain Britain sailed away on an elfin ship and after waving goodbye to his ally, the Knight suggested Valinor tarry no longer, not while Moondog remained missing. He then rode Valinor around the area in search of Moondog, thinking to himself how he felt as if another chapter in his quest was about to unfold.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#18 / 2) - After searching the skies for an entire day on Valinor, the Black Knight began to feel his search was futile, as there was no sign of Moondog nor his captors. Landing Valinor near a lake, the Knight thought about how he should return to Merlyn in Otherworld but asked himself how he could return to Merlyn without the now-shattered Ebony Blade as Valinor drank from the lake. While Valinor drank, the Black Knight decided to follow Captain Britain to Otherworld but as he prepared to mount Valinor once more, he noticed the lake rippling and the Lady of the Lake's arm soon emerged from the lake presenting the Black Knight with the sword Excalibur.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#19 / 2) - After accepting Excalibur, the Black Knight glanced over at Valinor and recalled that Moondog was still missing but, as if on cue, the freed Moondog rode up on Vortigen's wolf Lupe. The Evil Walker Cormac attacked soon after but Excalibur itself cut Cormac's hand off, leaving the Black Knight to wonder if he was the master or the slave to his new sword as he pulled Moondog onto Valinor. Moondog then questioned where the Knight had gotten the sword when his Ebony Blade remained in pieces and the duo rode off on Valinor, the Knight promising to tell the tale another time.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#21 / 2) - As Captain Britain battled the demonic White Rider and the phantom Doomwraiths at the gates to the Otherworld realm, the Black Knight rode Valinor near to the island gates and swooped down to dissipate the Doomwraiths with Excalibur.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#22 / 2) - Following the White Rider's fatal stabbing of Captain Britain and the subsequent claim to his corpse by the Nethergod Mandrac, the Black Knight battled Mandrac's guards as Moondog and the other elves followed Mandrac himself but the Knight soon began to become overwhelmed and he called for Valinor. Jumping onto Valinor, the Black Knight retreated from the battle, scooping up Captain Britain's staff in the process. The Knight then rode Valinor past Mandrac's guards and through the gates into Otherworld.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#23 / 2) - Regrouping with Moondog and the other elves, the Black Knight and Valinor rode the trail following Mandrac but they were all soon attacked by Mandrac's children, Nightshade and Wolfsbane. Black Knight quickly rode Valinor into battle against Nightshade as Merlyn himself challenged Mandrac.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#24 / 2) - As Merlyn battled Mandrac, Mandrac struck the ground with his mace, cracking the ground beneath the Black Knight and Valinor, forcing Valinor and the Knight into the air as Moondog and the elves scattered to safety. Once safely back on the ground, Valinor rared up and the Black Knight heard the pounding hooves of Mandrac's demonic horse as it charged at Merlyn in the distance.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#25 / 2) - During the battle between Merlyn and Mandrac, the Black Knight noticed that Captain Britain's corpse was unguarded and he rode Valinor over to retrieve it. Pulling Captain Britain onto Valinor, the Black Knight ordered Valinor to fly away and they escaped moments before a slam of Mandrac's mace caused another rift in the rocky ground.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#45 / 2) - Following Mandrac's defeat and Merlyn's restoration of Captain Britain, the Black Knight and his allies were tasked with finding the tomb of the legendary King Arthur and the Knight jumped onto Valinor as the allies prepared to make their way to Camelot. Merlyn also tasked the Black Knight with scouting ahead as he and Captain Britain followed, and the Black Knight took to the skies on Valinor to do as ordered. As Valinor carried the Black Knight through the air, the demon Necromon was ordering the dragon Ashtoroth to bring him the charred remains of the Black Knight and the carcass of Valinor.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#46 / 2) - After flying for an entire night and day with no sign of danger, the Black Knight opted to have Valinor stop and rest, only to be nearly hit by an arrow fired by the blind Otherworld native Askalan. Unsure of what he had done to incur Askalan's wrath, the Black Knight agreed to have Valinor land but Askalan fought the Knight until the Knight revealed his identity. Recognizing the Knight as a champion of Merlyn, Askalan admitted that when he heard the wing-beats of Valinor, he assumed it was the dragon that had taken his eyes and killed his patrol and he fired an arrow, unaware that he was firing on the Knight and Valinor. Askalan then died and the dragon Ashtoroth returned to the scene, hitting the Knight with a blast of flame and prompting him to summon Valinor to his side. Removing his burning cape, the Knight mounted Valinor and took to the skies towards Camelot, pursued close behind by Ashtoroth. As they flew, the Knight ordered Valinor to fly faster or risk their doom.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#47 / 2) - The Black Knight continued ordering Valinor to go faster until he spotted a gap in the clouds and ordered Valinor to dive down just as Ashtoroth unleashed a swath of fiery breath. Hovering beneath the clouds, the Black Knight then ordered Valinor to fly up as he slashed Ashtoroth's underside. The Knight then had Valinor pursue the fleeing and injured Ashtoroth, intent on performing the killing blow, but when they landed, the Knight found no immediate sign of the dragon. Ashtoroth then jumped up from behind them, grasping the Knight from his saddle and knocking Valinor aside with his tail before flying off with the heroic Knight.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#48 / 2) - After the Black Knight downed and killed Ashtoroth, acquiring his powerful pearl for himself, he returned to Valinor and ordered the horse to its feet. Sensing the change in the Black Knight's personality due to Ashtoroth's pearl, Valinor refused to get up and when the Knight threatened his steed, Valinor rared up, catching the Knight with a glancing blow and knocking him down. Valinor's hit restoring his senses, the Black Knight opted to hide the pearl in his belt until such a time where he could master its power for greater use.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#49 / 2) - The Black Knight continued his airborne scouting mission on Valinor and as they approached mountains, the Knight ordered Valinor to fly higher but they were caught in a gusty crosswind that pulled them lower. Thankful that the wind did not smash them into any mountainous rocks, the Knight carefully flew Valinor in between the peaks until they came across the giant Gargantua, who forbid their passing. The Black Knight spoke to Valinor, stating that they should rise to the giant's challenge, and Valinor flew the Knight in between the giant's legs, at which point the Black Knight stabbed Gargantua from behind, causing the giant to fall into a crevice. The impact of Gargantua hitting the ground soon caused a collapse of the crevice they were flying in and the Knight was knocked from Valinor's back by a falling rock.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#51 / 2) - Following the defeat and capture of Gargantua, the Black Knight rode Valinor, with the captive Gargantua in tow, to Camelot. At first, the gatekeeper Gafael refused entrance into the castle but after hearing that the Black Knight had slayed dragons and that he possessed untold power, Gafael allowed Valinor, the Black Knight and the captive Gargantua to enter.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#52 / 2) - After Moondog and his elves neared Camelot, pursued by the demonic Maegog, the Black Knight called for Valinor before leaping from a tower onto his trusty steed's back. Flying down to the ground on Valinor, the Knight found no sign of Maegog and pursued the retreating demon into the woods, where he was beset by archers. As a hail of arrows flew at Black Knight and Valinor, they were transformed into starlings by the magic of Merlyn. Captain Britain appeared seconds behind Merlyn and after he sent Maegog running, the Black Knight rode up and Captain Britain leaped onto Valinor, knowing they could not fight all of Maegog's men at once. The duo then rode Valinor off towards Camelot to ensure the castle's safety. Merlyn soon appeared in front of Valinor and ordered the heroes to the Camelot gates, promising to cover their retreat while they rushed to aid against the siege of the castle.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#55 / 2) - Following Maegog's death, Necromon himself spoke through illusions to threaten Merlyn and Merlyn quickly ordered the Black Knight and Captain Britain to continue on their quest to find King Arthur, prompting the Black Knight and Captain Britain to mount Valinor and fly off. As the two heroes flew away atop Valinor, they failed to notice the Evil Walker Karadoc, who followed them with vengeance for his dragon Ashtoroth on his mind.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#57 / 2) - Valinor flew the Black Knight and Captain Britain up through the Mists of Time and when they emerged from the mists, they saw several islands, one of which Captain Britain was sure housed the resting place of King Arthur. Moments later, however, they were attacked by the dragon Kharad Dur, who knocked Captain Britain from Valinor. The Black Knight immediately ordered Valinor to dive to rescue Captain Britain, who hung onto Valinor for dear life as Black Knight battled the dragon's master, Karadoc. As Captain Britain hung onto Valinor, the stowaway elfin archer Jackdaw appeared from Valinor's saddle bags and fired an arrow into Kharad Dur's eye, causing the blinded Kharad Dur to breathe fire onto Karadoc. The flaming Karadoc then fell into the waters below, followed by Kharad Dur himself, and the three heroes then had Valinor resume flying them on their quest.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#58 / 2) - As they approached the oceanic islands of Otherworld, Captain Britain suggested they check one of the islands for King Arthur's resting place and the Black Knight ordered Valinor to lower. From Valinor's back, Captain Britain and Black Knight witnessed goblins and trolls patrolling the shores but Captain Britain soon spotted several familiar standing stones on one of the islands. Landing Valinor to investigate the stones, Captain Britain, Black Knight and Jackdaw soon found themselves attacked when a large stone giant emerged from within one of the standing stones.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#60 / 2 - BTS) - Once Captain Britain, Jackdaw and the Black Knight awakened King Arthur from his resting place, Arthur and the Black Knight made their way back to Camelot on Valinor.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#61 / 2) - Tiring of waiting on the Black Knight, Merlyn looked through the Mists of Time to see the Black Knight riding Valinor with the hooded King Arthur.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#62 / 2) - Shortly after a massive between the forces of Necromon and Camelot broke out, the Black Knight and King Arthur returned on the back of Valinor, unobserved by those in battle.

(Hulk Comic (UK) I#63 / 2) - When King Arthur and the Black Knight killed Necromon, the demonic death lord severed the castle Camelot from its land with a thrown portcullis but the Black Knight and Arthur were saved by Valinor, who flew them back to land to regroup with Merlyn. Following the battle, Vortigen offered his land on which to rebuild Camelot and as Arthur welcomed the Black Knight to a new Camelot, the Black Knight petted Valinor and admitted that while his quest was never ending, the only world he sought was the green Earth of home.

(Black Knight II#1 (fb)) - The Black Knight returned home to Garrett Castle in Britain on the back of the flying Valinor, only to learn that his close friend Victoria Bentley had purchased the British Garrett Castle to prevent it from being seized for back taxes in the Black Knight's absence.

(Rom I#65) - When the alien Dire Wraiths' Wraithworld neared Earth for an intended merger and Earth's intended savior, the Spaceknight Rom, became surrounded by taunting Dire Wraiths, the Black Knight and Valinor joined a large assemble of Earth's heroes that came to Rom's defense, noting that Rom appeared to be frozen in a trance. During the battle, Valinor kicked Dire Wraiths while the Black Knight slashed at them with his sword and the battle continued until Rom flew into space and aided in the destruction of Wraithworld, saving the planet.

(Doctor Strange II#68 (fb) - BTS) - Removed from Avalon, the Druidic magic that originally gave Valinor his wings became corrupted and foul, and they began to slowly kill the horse. When the sickened Valinor took to lying morosely in his stable stall, Dane Whitman called the veterinarian Dr. Macrae to Garrett Castle, hoping to find a cure for his steed.

(Doctor Strange II#68) - As Valinor laid in the stall, Dane Whitman angrily berated the perplexed veterinarian but was interrupted by the arrival of sorcerer supreme Doctor Strange and Victoria Bentley, who was concerned for Dane's recent moodiness. When Strange suggested Dane go easy on the veterinarian, Dane began to snap at Strange before realizing who he was and begging Strange to save Valinor. As a frantic Dane revealed how he had come about Valinor and admitted he didn't know what he would do without the steed, Strange recognized the innate magic within the horse, noting that it had since gone bad.

(Doctor Strange II#68 / Black Knight II#1 (fb)) - Strange then expressed confidence that he could help and he magically levitated Valinor to cast a spell to remove the original Druidic enchantments in an effort to heal the winged horse. When the now-wingless Valinor happily neighed and expressed a much better demeanor, a smiling Doctor Strange commented his beliefs that Valinor would live to a ripe old age.

(Doctor Strange II#68) - The addled Dane Whitman then attacked Doctor Strange, accusing him of mutilating Valinor, and despite Strange's insistence that the ancient Druidic magic that gave Valinor his wings was killing him, Dane continued his assault until Dr. Macrae hit Dane in the head with a shovel. From within his stable stall, Valinor then watched as Strange carried the unconscious Dane from the stables and Victoria Bentley asked Dr. Macrae to send her his bill. During a later attempt to free the addled Black Knight from the curse of his Ebony Blade, the Knight again accused Doctor Strange of mutilating Valinor but Strange was able to successfully lead the Knight into breaking the curse, restoring the Black Knight's sanity.

(Black Knight II#1 (fb) - BTS) - After the Black Knight became petrified and immobile due to the blood curse of his Ebony Blade, Valinor was left in the care of Victoria Bentley.

(Black Knight II#1) - The still-wingless Valinor was out in the field at the Garrett Castle in America when Avengers Captain America and Hawkeye delivered the petrified Black Knight to Victoria Bentley. As they left, Hawkeye grumbled about Bentley, remarking on how she had bought the British Garrett Castle "lock, stock and ex-winged stallion" and how the stallion out in the field was probably Valinor. Later, after Bentley summoned the spirit of the first Black Knight, Sir Percy of Scandia, to possess Dane Whitman's body and a multi-armed creature absconded with Bentley, Sir Percy rushed to Valinor despite Valinor being wingless. Bentley family butler Edward Catherwood called out to remind Percy that Valinor was wingless but Percy, suspecting that the spell that brought his spirit to the modern day might also affect Valinor, jumped onto Valinor. As Percy suspected, the spell removing Valinor's wings was undone by Percy's mystical presence, restoring Valinor. Percy then ordered Valinor to take to the air to rescue Victoria Bentley and Valinor flew Percy up to the demon, from where Percy succeeded in cleaving the demon's hand, freeing Bentley. Percy immediately Valinor to fly down and he caught the falling Bentley by the hand. The demon then dissipated into a mystic skull shape bearing the images of Morgan le Fay and Mordred the Evil, who warned Percy and Bentley, still atop Valinor, to let events take their supernatural course or risk their own lives. When the image itself dissipated as well, Sir Percy landed Valinor in the Garrett Castle courtyard as Bentley began explaining what she knew of Morgan le Fay and Mordred's plans to end the world.

(Black Knight II#2) - Sir Percy (still in Dane Whitman's body) and Victoria Bentley flew Valinor to the Braddock Lighthouse in England in hopes of enlisting the British superteam Excalibur's aid against Morgan le Fay and Mordred. Finding only Captain Britain, Percy and Bentley convinced the British hero to accompany them to the last known site of Castle le Fay via a rented airplane that Valinor also rode in as they traveled to what was now called the Giant's Causeway. Once landing there, the trio let Valinor out as they prepared to search for clues and they were briefly stopped by British police until Captain Britain proved himself by lifting one of their vehicles. The police also figured that only the Black Knight would be riding around on a flying horse so they let the heroes be, allowing Valinor to carry Percy and Bentley over to check the Causeway. While Valinor was carrying them around, the heroes came upon Irish orphan Sean Dolan and when Dolan fell over a cliff attempting to distance himself from Captain Britain, Sir Percy ordered Valinor up into the air to rescue Dolan. Valinor then landed with Dolan in tow and when the British-hating Dolan reluctantly agreed to show Sir Percy where he had recently seen lights in the area, Valinor flew Dolan, Percy and Bentley to the area. While still on Valinor, Percy recognized a portion of the Causeway as the former ramparts of Castle le Fay but soon became angry and frustrated that Morgan le Fay and Mordred did not show themselves.

    When the villainous Dreadknight attacked the Black Knight and Victoria Bentley, the Knight (with Dane Whitman briefly in control of his body again) mounted Valinor to engage Dreadknight and protect Bentley. Without Percy's helmet to keep Sir Percy's spirit in possession of his body, Dane Whitman soon began to petrify once more and he became too heavy, pulling down Valinor and ultimately falling from his flying steed. Valinor managed to fly even lower before Dane fell, saving Dane from any permanent injury from the fall. After images of Morgan le Fay and Mordred gloated of their plan to restore Castle le Fay and release black magic to corrupt the entire modern world, a barely moving Dane reluctantly put Sir Percy's armored helm back on, allowing Sir Percy to again control his body and Percy proclaimed to Valinor, Captain Britain, Victoria Bentley and Sean Dolan that would destroy the pieces of Castle le Fay before Morgan's plan came to fruition.

(Black Knight II#3 (fb) - BTS) - Deciding to enlist the aid of Doctor Strange in America, Victoria Bentley, Sean Dolan, Sir Percy and Valinor took a plane to Kennedy Airport in New York.

(Black Knight II#3) - Sir Percy had Valinor fly Victoria Bentley and Sean Dolan from Kennedy Airport to Doctor Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum but Bentley quickly felt they had become lost, prompting Sir Percy to assure Bentley that Valinor's magic-honed senses would lead them true to their destination. True to Sir Percy's words, Valinor did indeed fly them to the Sanctum Sanctorum but soon grew tired from carrying three passengers. Percy had Valinor land on the Sanctum's roof to rest but the Sanctum's magical protective enchantments flashed, briefly scaring Valinor and causing Bentley to fall from the horse. The enchantments slowed Bentley's fall and Sir Percy had Valinor fly lower in case a rescue was needed but Doctor Strange himself caught Bentley. Strange then welcomed them all into the Sanctum but suggested his friend Wong take Valinor to a more appropriate area of his Sanctum, prompting a warning from Sir Percy not to again remove Valinor's wings. When Percy claimed that Valinor had nothing to fear from the Avalonian magic so long as Sir Percy was with the horse, Strange replied with a ponderous "Hmm." and he allowed Valinor to remain in the house for the time being. Strange agreed to open a portal into the ether in an attempt to learn where Castle le Fay might reappear on Earth and Sir Percy mounted Valinor to enter the portal. Sean Dolan, refusing to be left behind, jumped onto Valinor as well as Doctor Strange and Percy entered the portal. Flying into Otherworld, Valinor carried Sir Percy and Sean Dolan and Percy soon spotted Castle le Fay.

    Flying up to the Castle on Valinor, Sir Percy, Dolan and Doctor Strange found Morgan le Fay and Mordred waiting for them and when Morgan fired a blast from the mystic Evil Eye at Percy, Strange protected Percy, Dolan and Valinor with a Shield of the Seraphim spell. Landing Valinor long enough to get Dolan on solid ground, Sir Percy responded by flying Valinor to engage Morgan, who unleashed Balor from the Evil Eye. Percy suggested Doctor Strange deal with Morgan and Mordred while he and Valinor dealt with Balor but after Percy slashed at Balor, Balor shot Percy off Valinor with a blast from his eye. Valinor then flew off as Morgan le Fay wrapped Doctor Strange and Percy in the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak but Valinor returned with the Asgardian Valkyrie after Victoria Bentley reopened the portal and allowed the spirit of Brunnhilde to possess her. The uncaring Balor swatted Valkyrie from Valinor but Valkyrie hurled the Ebony Blade to Sir Percy, who freed himself and destroyed the Evil Eye and, in turn, Balor himself, prompting Percy, Sean Dolan and Valkyrie to ride Valinor alongside Doctor Strange to stop Morgan le Fay and Mordred. Valinor then followed the mystic trail from Morgan le Fay and Mordred back to Earth, where Morgan and Mordred were unleashing Celtic demons.

(Black Knight II#4) - Sir Percy, Sean Dolan and Valkyrie remained seated on Valinor as the Celtic demons entered the Earth realm. When the demons began attacking civilians, Sir Percy flew Valinor near one of them and severed its head, suggesting the woman and her child get to safety as Sean Dolan cheered him on. After the Valkyrie leaped from Valinor into the battle herself, Valinor continued to fly Sir Percy and Sean Dolan around as Sir Percy smited as many demons as he could but they paused when Morgan le Fay cast a spell that pulled civilians into a large Wicker Man. Percy then led Valinor closer to the Wicker Man in attempt to cut the bystanders free with the Ebony Blade but when Valinor rared too far upwards, Sean Dolan fell from Valinor. The Wicker Man then grabbed the Ebony Blade and Sir Percy off of Valinor and used the Ebony Blade to power an attack on Doctor Strange and Valkyrie. Morgan le Fay soon forced Sir Percy into her service under the threat of his friends' lives and Percy rode Valinor to lead Morgan le Fay's demonic army as the reappearing Castle le Fay began casting waves of black magic that transformed everything in its radius into medieval forms. Strange summoned a mystic image of Victoria Bentley that appeared before Sir Percy and Valinor and pleaded with Percy to break his vow to Morgan. Upon seeing the deaths Morgan's forces might cause, Sir Percy removed his helmet, allowing Dane Whitman, who had not sworn a vow to le Fay, to regain control of his body and Dane flew Valinor to the head of the Wicker Man. Separating the Wicker Man with the help of Sir Percy's spirit, freeing Doctor Strange, Sean Dolan and Valkyrie in the process, Dane Whitman then flew Valinor to the base of Castle le Fay. Landing Valinor, Dane then began cutting at Castle le Fay with the Ebony Blade, ultimately banishing it back to the Netherworld alongside Morgan le Fay and Mordred. The heroes then rushed over to Valinor and Dane, who was no longer cursed by the Ebony Blade so long as Sir Percy's spirit remained within it. Doctor Strange also confirmed that Sir Percy's spirit provided enough magic within the Ebony Blade to keep Valinor in his magically winged form.

(Marvel Pets Handbook#1 - Valinor entry - BTS) - The Black Knight continued to occasionally use Valinor as his steed.

(Avengers Spotlight I#39) - In Washington, D.C., the Black Knight witnessed a group of armed thugs attack a limousine and he flew Valinor near them to halt the mugging.

(Avengers Spotlight I#39 / Mystic Arcana: Black Knight#1 (fb)) - The Black Knight ordered Valinor to swoop down and the hero ultimately caught the thugs using the Lance-Bola once used by his uncle during his tenure as the villainous Black Knight.

(Avengers Spotlight I#39) - He then landed Valinor as the police arrived to arrest the thugs, only to find himself arrested by the police as well on unidentified charges. As the Black Knight was put into the police car, Valinor flew off into the night. After the police revealed a couple of grisly murders that were perpetuated by someone resembling a knight but didn't have enough proof to hold the Black Knight, he was released and Valinor was waiting outside for him as he exited the station with his allies Victoria Bentley and Sean Dolan. The still-angry Black Knight immediately mounted Valinor and ordered him up into the sky, coldly remarking that he would see Bentley and Dolan back at his estate before flying off. Allowing Bentley and Dolan to arrive at Garrett Castle before him so he could think, the Black Knight ultimately landed Valinor at the castle and when Bentley's butler Catherwood asked if he should lead Valinor to the stables, the Knight remarked that his squire Sean Dolan could handle that. Catherwood admitted that he was aware that Dolan could handle it but he had become fond of Valinor. Catherwood then led Valinor away while Black Knight went inside with Bentley and Dolan to think over what had happened that night.

    Following a visit from Eleanor and Jenny Blackwood regarding Eleanor's husband Arthur, better known as the fanatical Crusader, the Black Knight began to suspect that the Crusader's next victim could be the visiting Emir of Ghulistan and he rushed out the stables, where Sean Dolan saddled Valinor for another trip. The Knight and Dolan then flew off on Valinor, followed closely in a car by Victoria Bentley and the Blackwoods. As predicted, the Crusader attacked Emir and the Black Knight came to Emir's defense, battling the Crusader while Valinor watched over the fleeing Emir.

(Avengers I#343) - When the Avengers received a fake distress call, seeming from Johnny Storm of the Fantastic Four, Black Knight flew Valinor into action alongside the other Avengers to Four Freedoms Plaza to investigate. Having placed the fake call, Earth-9201's Magdalene and Earth-921's Swordsman, both of the reality-hopping Gatherers, fired a power beam that hit Valinor, knocking the Black Knight from the horse, and destroyed the Avengers' flight craft. The Vision rescued the falling Black Knight and when the Knight expressed concern for the hit Valinor, Thor rescued the frightened horse.

(Avengers I#344) - The still-frightened Valinor remained on the rooftop where the surprised Avengers landed following the attack from Magdalene and Swordsman as a fight between the Avengers and the extradimensional duo ensued. Once the fight ended with Magdalene and Swordsman's teleporting away, Valinor was standing next to the recovering Avengers

(Knights of Pendragon II#2) - After an ancient psychic presence stormed through Darkmoor, the Black Knight flew Valinor over the stones and when Valinor reacted strangely, the Knight questioned what was bothering Valinor and wondered aloud what presence could have brought the Black Knight there to investigate. Landing Valinor on the ground, the Black Knight noticed secret Mys-Tech operative Breeze James nearby and became suspicious.

(Knights of Pendragon II#3) - Continuing his investigation, the Black Knight followed Breeze James to Stoneyfast Abbey and when James reported to her superiors about a rogue Gawain robot, the Knight flew Valinor over her head to confront the robot. Not quite sure of what was going on, the Black Knight reared Valinor up and suggested he and Gawain have a chat. His programming thinking that the only Black Knight was Sir Mordred the Evil himself, Gawain jumped at Valinor, spooking the horse and knocking Black Knight from the saddle. As Valinor watched, the Black Knight quickly gained the upper hand and had the Gawain robot at his mercy until Breeze James hit the hero with a disruptor that downed the hero.

(Infinity Crusade I#1) - Valinor was flying the Black Knight over the New York state thruway when the Knight saw an image of the Holy Grail in the sky. A short time later, the cosmic Goddess appeared to various superhumans promising an end to suffering and when she appeared before Black Knight and Valinor, the Goddess promised the Knight a Crusade with an end goal of galactic salvation.

(Infinity Crusade I#4) - After coming under the thrall of the Goddess, Black Knight was on Valinor as he and the X-Man Archangel guarded a portion of the Goddess' Paradise Omega base in preparation of an attack from superhumans not serving the Goddess.

(Infinity Crusade I#5) - When several superhumans invaded Paradise Omega, the Goddess-controlled Black Knight flew Valinor over to engage the young Speedball alongside Archangel. Iron Man soon arrived to aid Speedball, blasting Black Knight from Valinor and Archangel with two repulsor blasts.

(Avengers I Annual#22) - While at Garrett Castle, the Black Knight received an Avengers priority alert and he rushed over to Valinor, asking Edward Catherwood if Valinor was saddled. Catherwood replied that while Valinor had been restless since the Knight had last rode him, Valinor was ready to go. Black Knight jumped on Valinor and ordered him to fly to Avengers Mansion. As they arrived, the Black Knight asked Valinor to be careful, as the Mansion seemed too quiet. Valinor was soon hit from afar by the Black Knight's old foe, le Sabre, and the Black Knight and le Sabre got into an aerial battle on their steeds. Diving from Valinor to battle le Sabre hand-to-hand, the Black Knight ordered Valinor to take care of le Sabre's mount. Valinor responded by kicking le Sabre's animated stone gargoyle mount, shattering it. When the Black Knight learned from le Sabre that a Convocation of Wizards sought to acquire his Ebony Blade, the Knight rushed back to Garrett Castle with the Avengers, leaving Valinor outside as he entered to find that Sean Dolan had been transformed into the Bloodwraith by the blade. The Avengers were soon forced to battle Bloodwraith and Valinor witnessed Hercules knock Bloodwraith through the stone wall of the castle. Bloodwraith eventually disarmed the Black Knight and after the Avengers convinced Bloodwraith to concede and depart, Bloodwraith took up Valinor as his steed. Valinor rared up and flew Bloodwraith from Garrett Castle.

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Master Edition I#28 - Valinor entry - BTS) - Valinor became the property of Bloodwraith.

(Avengers I#366 / 2) - Following a three-way battle between the Black Knight, Bloodwraith and the mercenary Deadpool in which Bloodwraith accidentally absorbed Victoria Bentley's soul into the Ebony Blade, a guilt-stricken Bloodwraith called for Valinor and flew away to exact revenge, promising that he would strike a blow for the Black Knight as well. As Bloodwraith flew away on Valinor to retrieve his stolen Ebony Blade from Deadpool, a grim Black Knight threatened to kill the Bloodwraith the next time they saw each other but Valinor and Bloodwraith soon teleported away due to Bloodwraith's connection to the Ebony Blade. Arriving in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia at Deadpool's hidden base, Valinor kicked Deadpool against the wall and Bloodwraith retrieved the Ebony Blade. Soon realizing that Victoria Bentley's soul inside Ebony Blade tempered its bloodlust effect on him, Bloodwraith spared Deadpool, departing the shack and mounting Valinor. He then flew off on Valinor, warning Deadpool that Valinor and himself were not just extensions of the Ebony Blade but rather, they were one and the same.

(Namor the Sub-Mariner I#60 (fb) - BTS) - Valinor accompanied Sean Dolan to Aran Island, where Sean hoped to live a monastic lifestyle near his native Ireland in an attempt to curb the Ebony Blade's curse.

(Namor the Sub-Mariner I#60) - Valinor was present near Dolan as he prepared to hurl the cursed Ebony Blade into the waters and was surprised when Dolan drew the Blade, transforming again into the Bloodwraith. Sensing evil looming across the seas, Bloodwraith had Valinor fly him as he traced the evil to Namor the Sub-Mariner and Andromeda. Refusing to add another foe to his rogues gallery, Namor tackled Bloodwraith off the back of Valinor and the two fiercely fought until Bloodwraith broke free of Namor's grasp. The falling Bloodwraith immediately summoned Valinor to his rescue but Namor continued the battle atop the flying Valinor. When the bloodlust of the Ebony Blade increased, the affected Valinor savagely bucked Namor from his back, allowing the Bloodwraith to impale the aquatic hero, absorbing his soul into the Ebony Blade.

(Avengers Unplugged I#6 (fb) - BTS) - After Morgan le Fay took possession of the Earth-616 Ebony Blade, Valinor sought to rid Sean Dolan of the curse of the Ebony Blade once and for all so he brought the powerless Dolan to Avengers Mansion.

(Avengers Unplugged I#6) - Valinor arrived at Avengers Mansion and left Dolan in the Avengers' care but Dolan was drawn to and drew the Earth-374 Ebony Blade that was being kept at the Mansion. The alternate reality Ebony Blade transformed Sean Dolan into the Black-Wraith and following a brief battle with the Avengers, the Black-Wraith exited Avengers Mansion, only to be surprised when Valinor feared his new visage and attempted to turn away from Dolan. The Black-Wraith then wounded Valinor with the Earth-374 Ebony Blade, transforming Valinor into a energy-charged, skeletal form. Valinor then flew the Black-Wraith away from the Avengers on a quest to retrieve souls for the Ebony Blade and the first stop was the suicidal Peter Reilly, whom the Black-Wraith killed and absorbed into the blade. When the Black-Wraith next flew Valinor towards one of Peter Reilly's co-workers, the Avengers' Swordsman intercepted and knocked the Black-Wraith from Valinor, whom Crystal attempted to calm before the Black-Wraith could summon him back. With Crystal in tow, Valinor then suddenly teleported away to the location of the Earth-616 Ebony Blade with the Inhumans' island Attilan. Crystal retrieved the Earth-616 Ebony Blade from its resting place then mounted Valinor anew, teleporting back to the Avengers' battle against the Black-Wraith. The Black-Wraith knocked Crystal from Valinor's back with a tossed oil drum and when the Vision threatened to destroy the Earth-616 Ebony Blade if the Black-Wraith did not release the captured Crystal, Valinor kicked the blade from the Vision's hands and into the hands of the Black-Wraith. Taking up the curse once more, the Wraith transformed back into Sean Dolan and restored Valinor to his original form. Dolan then explained how Valinor could have brought him the Earth-616 Ebony Blade at any time but had chosen to bring Dolan to the Avengers to rid Dolan of the blade's curse and, after being mutated further by the Earth-374 Ebony Blade, Valinor realized that the Earth-616 was the lesser of two evils and arranged to reunite Dolan with his original blade. Dolan then mounted Valinor and prepared to leave, promising that he would endeavor to master the Ebony Blade rather than let it control him as Earth-374's Proctor had.

(Thunderbolts I#20 - BTS) - In an effort to determine if the former criminal Thunderbolts were serious about going legit, the heroic Hawkeye posed as the villainous Dreadknight to help the Thunderbolts defeat the Crimson Cowl's Masters of Evil and as they were subsequently escaping the arriving police, "Dreadknight" falsely claimed that he had appropriated the Black Knight's Atomic Steed since the Knight had once stolen his flying steed Valinor. The suspicious Jolt admitted to herself that, while "Dreadknight" sounded genuine about reforming, she did not know that the Black Knight had stolen Valinor from Dreadknight.

(Marvel Pets Handbook#1 - Valinor entry - BTS) - Valinor ceased acting as the steed for Bloodwraith, his fate unrevealed after Bloodwraith was trapped within the borders in the ravaged nation of Slorenia.

Comments: Created by Steve Parkhouse and John Stokes.

    The Marvel Database Wiki lists Valinor as appearing in Hulk Comic (UK) I#4 & #60, and while Valinor is referenced in those issues only as the Black Knight's horse or a "winged horse," I could not find where Valinor is seen in that issue at all. Similarly, the Database also lists Valinor as appearing in Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions#3 but I similarly could not find Valinor anywhere in that issue. While we can assume Valinor was somewhere in the floating space arena where the transported heroes were housed but the only time we actually see Valinor throughout the entire mini-series was when he was transported away alongside Black Knight and Captain Britain in #1. If Valinor was indeed inside the space arena then he would have been BTS in #3 when all the transported heroes were sent back to the exact location they were in when they were transported away. The Database also lists Valinor as appearing in Heroes for Hire I#2 and while there is a winged black horse seen in the issue, it's specifically identified as being the no-longer-mutated Hellhorse, steed to Dreadknight rather than Valinor.

    The Appendix in Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions#1 mentions that Black Knight was most recently in 12th century England but had recently returned to the modern era. However, we see in the issue that Captain Britain, Black Knight and Valinor are transported to the Contest of Champions from a midair flight through England. According to the Marvel Chronology Project website, that transportation occurs in between Hulk Comic (UK) I#13 & #15. I'm honestly not sure why it was placed there specifically. The "Siege of Camelot" storyline ends with the Black Knight in modern era Otherworld, expressing a desire to return home to Earth. With that in mind, I don't really see why he could not have been back on Earth by the time of Contest of Champions#1 (which is exactly the status that issue's Appendix states) and traveling with Captain Britain in England when they are transported away...unless that contradicts the status of Captain Britain at the time? I chose to go with the Chronology Project for the purposes of this profile but I wanted to note this point. It absolutely would contradict Captain Britain's status, as by the time the Black Knight finishes the Otherworld Saga and is ready to return to England Captain Britain has been transported away to Earth-238 (the "Crooked World") with an accompanying change of costume and powers. So it can't be after the Otherworld Saga, but it also can't be before then because Black Knight and Captain Britain don't meet until the start of said adventure. - Loki

    Valinor was miscolored several times throughout his appearances (some of which you can see above in the images), occasionally be colored white or brown or black with red mane. His eyes have been miscolored red and his wings have been drawn both as feathery and leathery, bat-like wings. In one appearance (Marvel Comics Presents I#73), he was even drawn without wings at all! All of these art errors could be explained away as his appearance could slightly change based on the bloodlust of his Ebony Blade-wielding master and the missing wings in Marvel Comics Presents I#73 could be explained as the Avalon location-specific Druidic enchantments could have been wearing off due to Black Knight's long time away from Otherworld, much how his time in the modern era outside Avalon started making him sick.

    The flashback in Black Knight II#1 mentions that the druid "Amergis" bestowed Valinor on the Black Knight. I'd imagine this is meant to be "Amergin" but prior to that issue, all we were told (in Doctor Strange II#68) is that Valinor was bestowed on the Knight by the high druids of Avalon. While I do think "Amergis" is just a misspelling of "Amergin," I suppose there might've been another druid in the high druids of Avalon named "Amergis" that had actually presented Valinor to the Black Knight?

    Marvel Fanfare I#53-54 establishes that Valinor was magically "created" by the assassin leader Hassan ibn Sallah sometime before 1191 A.D. before being taken by the Black Knight. One might try to argue that story contradicts earlier accounts in Doctor Strange II#68 & flashbacks in Black Knight II#1 mentioning that the high druids of Avalon had given the Black Knight Valinor and cast the magical enchantments on the horse that gave him wings. However, I think both can be true. The way I see it (and as confirmed in Marvel Pets Handbook#1), Hassan ibn Sabbah did create Valinor's wings. As we see in Marvel Fanfare I#53, the Black Knight escapes ibn Sabbah by stealing Valinor and he rode Valinor for a time as his new steed, at least until he saved King Richard from assassins and was exiled. Perhaps in an untold story, following his exile from King Richard's England, the Black Knight settled in with the high druids of Avalon in Otherworld and continued to fight in the Crusades elsewhere as Eobar Garrington's Ebony Blade bloodlust slowly took him over and gave his rage more control over his body than Dane Whitman's consciousness (as we can see in the flashback in Marvel Comics Presents I#73). In between the time in which he was exiled from King Richard's England and just before the flashbacks in Marvel Comics Presents I#73, perhaps the high druids examined Dane's flying horse and performed Druidic enchantments on the horse to preserve his wings while in Avalon before returning Valinor to Dane for use as his regular steed (the name Valinor either coming from the druids or Dane himself as a nod to the Lord of the Rings books that he would've been familiar with). With Valinor as his regular steed, the Knight then returned to the Crusades, fighting in them outside Avalon, which, again, might explain why Valinor appears without wings in the flashback in Marvel Comics Presents I#73. If Dane/Eobar had been fighting in the Crusades outside of Avalon for an extended period, Valinor's wings might have disappeared as the Druidic enchantments began to wear off..That might also explain why Valinor is seen with his wings chronologically next in Avengers I#226, as the Knight was based in Avalon during that story so the proximity to Avalon might have restored the enchantments. I think my theories at least explains the contradictions of Dane saying the druids gave him Valinor vs. the Marvel Fanfare issues showing Dane stealing the horse from Hassan ibn Sabbah. Might as well have those theories explain the missing wings as well...

    While Valinor's entry in the OHotMU: Master Edition I#28 states that Valinor was born in the extradimensional realm of Avalon, that information muddied (while not outright conflicting) information seen in Marvel Fanfare I#53-54 mentioning that Hassan ibn Sabbah magically mutated Valinor. While Valinor COULD have been born in Avalon and somehow brought to the Middle East, where he was mutated by ibn Sabbah, Valinor's entry in the Marvel Pets Handbook#1 confirms that Valinor was born Iran, which makes more sense.

    This profile was completed on 08/30/2026 but its publication was delayed, as it was intended for the Appendix's 25th anniversary celebratory event.

Profile by Proto-Man.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Valinor should be distinguished from:

• ARAGORN - Black Knight's original winged steed--Avengers I#48
• ARAGORN - winged steed of the Vatican's Black Knight, slain by Alyosha Kravinoff--Black Panther IV#3
  
• STRIDER - Black Knight's later winged steed--Heroes for Hire I#2
  
• VALINOR - the Blessed Realm or Undying Lands, home location of the immortal Valar--The Lord of the Rings book
  
• VALINUS of Earth-Amalgam - amalgamation of Marvel's Teminus & DC's Validus--Spider-Boy Team-Up#1
• other "Valinor" characters, groups, items, races or events
  

Appearances:
Hulk Comic (UK) I#1 (March 7, 1979) - "Sent on a Quest by Merlin, to Mystery-Shrouded Cornwall..." story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), John Stokes (art), Dez Skinn (editor, designer)
Hulk Comic (UK) I#3 (March 21, 1979) - "The Giant Hellravens of Mordred Swoop Down at...the Black Knight" story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), John Stokes (art), Dez Skinn (editor)
Hulk Comic (UK) I#4 (March 28, 1979) - "A Mysterious Stranger Attacks Merlyn's Champion!" story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), John Stokes (art), Dez Skinn (editor, designer)
Hulk Comic (UK) I#5 (April 4, 1979) - "On a Mysterious Quest in Cornwall, Merlyn's Champion...the Black Knight" story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), John Stokes (art), Dez Skinn (editor, designer)
Hulk Comic (UK) I#6 (April 11, 1979) - 2nd story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), Paul Neary (pencils), John Stokes (inks), Dez Skinn (editor, designer)
Hulk Comic (UK) I#8 (April 25, 1979) - 2nd story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), Paul Neary (pencils), John Stokes (inks), Dez Skinn (editor, designer)
Hulk Comic (UK) I#9 (May 2, 1979) - "The Dark Rider-Trapped by Gagol, Leader of the Trolls!" story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), Paul Neary (pencils), John Stokes (inks), Dez Skinn (editor, designer)
Hulk Comic (UK) I#11 (May 16, 1979) - 2nd story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), Paul Neary (pencils), John Stokes (inks), Dez Skinn (editor, designer)
Hulk Comic (UK) I#13 (May 30, 1979) - "This Week a New Threat Follows the Company of...the Black Knight" story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), Paul Neary (pencils), John Stokes (inks), Dez Skinn (editor, designer)
Hulk Comic (UK) I#15 (June 13, 1979) - "The Goblin Hordes Sweep Down at the Comrades of...the Black Knight" story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), Paul Neary (pencils), John Stokes (inks), Dez Skinn (editor, designer)
Hulk Comic (UK) I#16 (June 20, 1979) - "Moondog-Helpless Prisoner of the Goblin Hordes!" story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), Paul Neary (pencils), John Stokes (inks), Dez Skinn (editor, designer)
Hulk Comic (UK) I#17 (June 27, 1979) - 2nd story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), Paul Neary (pencils), John Stokes (inks), Dez Skinn (editor, designer)
Hulk Comic (UK) I#18 (July 4, 1979) - "Vortigen & Moondog-Trapped by the Evil Walker!" story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), Paul Neary (pencils), John Stokes (inks), Dez Skinn (editor, designer)
Hulk Comic (UK) I#19 (July 11, 1979) - "Excalibur-the Legendary Weapon Falls into the Hands of...the Black Knight" story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), Paul Neary (pencils), John Stokes (inks), Dez Skinn (editor, designer)
Hulk Comic (UK) I#21 (July 25, 1979) - "The White Rider Brings Death to Merlyn's Champion...Captain Britain" story - uncredited writer & artist, Dez Skinn (editor, designer)
Hulk Comic (UK) I#22 (August 1, 1979) - "To Battle-for the Body of a Fallen Crusader!" story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), Paul Neary (pencils), John Stokes (inks), Dez Skinn (editor, designer)
Hulk Comic (UK) I#23 (August 8, 1979) - "Merlyn & the Black Knight Face Mandrac's Demon Offspring!" story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), Paul Neary (pencils), John Stokes (inks), Dez Skinn (editor, designer)
Hulk Comic (UK) I#24 (August 15, 1979) - "Mandrac the Nether-God Challenges the Power of Merlyn!" story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), Paul Neary (pencils), John Stokes (inks), Dez Skinn (editor, designer)
Hulk Comic (UK) I#25 (August 22, 1979) - "The Giant Mace Hammered Down at Merlyn!" story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), Paul Neary (pencils), John Stokes (inks), Dez Skinn (editor, designer)
Hulk Comic (UK) I#44 (January 2, 1980) - "The Quest for King Arthur Begins Anew!" story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), Paul Neary (pencils), John Stokes (inks), Dez Skinn (editor, designer)
Hulk Comic (UK) I#45 (January 9, 1980) - "Merlyn Leads the Quest for Arthur's Tomb!" story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), John Stokes (art), Dez Skinn (editor, designer)
Hulk Comic (UK) I#46 (January 16, 1980) - "Journey into the Mystic Realm of Otherworld with...the Black Knight" story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), Paul Neary (pencils), John Stokes (inks), Dez Skinn (editor, designer)
Hulk Comic (UK) I#47 (January 23, 1980) - 2nd story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), Paul Neary (pencils), John Stokes (inks), Dez Skinn (editor, designer)
Hulk Comic (UK) I#48 (January 30, 1980) - 2nd story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), Paul Neary (pencils), John Stokes (inks), Dez Skinn (editor, designer)
Hulk Comic (UK) I#49 (February 6, 1980) - 2nd story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), Paul Neary (pencils), John Stokes (inks), Dez Skinn (editor, designer)
Hulk Comic (UK) I#51 (February 20, 1980) - "The Secret Location of Camelot is Revealed!" story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), Paul Neary (art), Dez Skinn (editor, designer)
Hulk Comic (UK) I#52 (February 27, 1980) - 2nd story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), John Stokes (art), Dez Skinn (editor, designer)
Hulk Comic (UK) I#55 (March 19, 1980) - "Merlyn's Magick Versus the Might of Necromon's Evil Six!" story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), John Stokes (art), uncredited editor
Hulk Comic (UK) I#57 (April 2, 1980) - "This Week-the Attack of Kharad Dur!" story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), John Stokes (art), Paul Neary (editor)
Hulk Comic (UK) I#58 (April 10, 1980) - "An Ancient Menace Stalks the Grave of King Arthur!" story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), John Stokes (art), Paul Neary (editor)
Hulk Comic (UK) I#60 (April 24, 1980) - "Forces Gather for the Climax of the Quest" story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), John Stokes (art), Paul Neary (editor)
Hulk Comic (UK) I#61 (May 1, 1980) - "The Return of the Six Proud Walkers!" story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), John Stokes (art), uncredited editor
Hulk Comic (UK) I#62 (May 8, 1980) - "The Scene is Set for the Final Battle..." story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), John Stokes (art), Paul Neary (editor)
Hulk Comic (UK) I#63 (May 15, 1980) - "The Final Battle for Camelot" story - Steve Parkhouse (writer), John Stokes (art), Paul Neary (editor)
Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions I#1 (June, 1982) - Mark Gruenwald (story, editor), Steven Grant (story), Bill Mantlo (story, script), John Romita, Jr. (pencils), Pablo Marcos (inks), Bob Layton (additional art), Tom DeFalco (editor)
Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions I#3 (August, 1982) - Mark Gruenwald (story, editor), Steven Grant (story), Bill Mantlo (story, script), John Romita, Jr. (pencils), Pablo Marcos (inks), Tom DeFalco (editor)
Avengers I#225 (November, 1982) - Steven Grant (writer), Greg LaRocque (pencils), Chic Stone (inks), Mark Gruenwald (editor)
Avengers I#226 (December, 1982) - Steven Grant (writer), Greg LaRocque (pencils), Chic Stone (inks), Mark Gruenwald (editor)
Doctor Strange II#68 (December, 1984) - Roger Stern (writer), Paul Smith (pencils), Terry Austin (inks), Carl Potts (editor)
Rom I#65 (April, 1985) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Steve Ditko, P. Craig Russell (art), Mike Carlin (editor)
Black Knight II#1 (June, 1990) - Roy Thomas, Dann Thomas (writers), Tony DeZuniga (art), Mark Gruenwald (editor)
Black Knight II#2 (July, 1990) - Roy Thomas, Dann Thomas (writers), Tony DeZuniga (art), Mark Gruenwald (editor)
Black Knight II#3 (August, 1990) - Roy Thomas, Dann Thomas (writers), Rich Buckler (layouts), the Slashing Dudes (finishes), Mark Gruenwald (editor)
Black Knight II#4 (September, 1990) - Roy Thomas, Dann Thomas (writers), Rich Buckler (layouts), Tony DeZuniga (embellishes), Mark Gruenwald (editor)
Marvel Fanfare I#53 (October, 1990) - "Paradise Lost" story - Steven Grant (writer), John Buscema, Jose Marzan (art), Allen Milgrom (editor)
Marvel Fanfare I#54 (December, 1990) - "Dishonor!" story - Steven Grant (writer), Tod Smith (pencils), Christopher Ivy (inks), Allen Milgrom (editor)
Avengers Spotlight I#39 (December, 1990) -  Roy Thomas, Dann Thomas (writers), Greg Capullo (pencils), Tim Dzon (inks), Mark Gruenwald (editor)
Marvel Comics Presents I#73 (March, 1991) - "Sands of Time" story - Jason Balgobis (writer), Russell Lyman (script), Dave Cockrum (art), Terry Kavanagh (editor)
Avengers I#343 (January, 1992) - Bob Harras (writer), Steven Epting (pencils), Tom Palmer (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Avengers I#344 (February, 1992) - Bob Harras (writer), Steven Epting (pencils), Tom Palmer (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Knights of Pendragon II#2 (August, 1992) - John Tomlinson, Dan Abnett (writers), Phil Gascione (pencils), Adolfo Buylla (inks), Stuart Bartlett (editor)
Knights of Pendragon II#3 (September, 1992) - Dan Abnett, John Tomlinson (writers), Phil Gascione (pencils), Adolfo Buylla (inks), Stuart Bartlett (editor)
Avengers I Annual#22 (1993) - "Blood Wraith" story - Glenn Herdling (writer), Mike Gustovitch (pencils), Ariane Lenshoek (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Master Edition I#28 (March, 1993) - Peter Sanderson, Murray Ward (research, text), Keith Pollard (pencils), Josef Rubinstein (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Infinity Crusade I#1 (June, 1993) - Jim Starlin (writer), Ron Lim (pencils), Al Milgrom (inks), Craig Anderson (editor)
Infinity Crusade I#4 (September, 1993) - Jim Starlin (writer), Ron Lim (pencils), Al Milgrom (inks), Craig Anderson (editor)
Avengers I#366 (September, 1993) - "Swordplay3" story - Glenn Herdling (writer), Mike Gustovich (pencils), Ariane Lenshoek (inks, colors), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Infinity Crusade I#5 (October, 1993) - Jim Starlin (writer), Ron Lim (pencils), Al Milgrom (inks), Craig Anderson (editor)
Namor the Sub-Mariner I#60 (March, 1995) - Glenn Herdling (writer), Geof Isherwood (art), Gorilla Rockwitz (editor)
Avengers Unplugged I#6 (August, 1996) - Glenn Herdling (writer), M.C. Wyman (pencils), Sandu Florea (inks), Mark Gruenwald (editor)
Thunderbolts I#20 (November, 1998) - Kurt Busiek (writer), Mark Bagley (pencils), Jon Holdredge (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Mystic Arcana: Black Knight#1 (September, 2007) - Roy Thomas (writer), Tom Grummett, Scott Hanna (art), Mark Paniccia (editor)
Marvel Pets Handbook#1 (2009) - Michael Hoskin (head writer, coordinator), Madison Carter, Sean McQuaid, Stuart Vandal, Gabriel Shechter, David Wiltfong, Ronald Byrd, Eric J. Moreels, Jacob Rougemont, Markus Raymond, Jeff Christiansen, Mark O'English, Mike O'Sullivan, Chris Biggs, Rob London (writers), Keith Pollard (Valinor entry art), Mike Fichera, Jason Lewis, Gally Articola, Courtney Via (art refurbishment), Pond Scum, Nelson Ribeiro (art reconstruction), Jeff Youngquist (editor)

First posted: 09/15/2026
Last updated: 08/30/2026

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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

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