View source for Knowhere

{{Short description|Fictional location from the Marvel Comics universe}}
{{Infobox fictional location
| name        = Knowhere
| image       = 
| caption     = 
| blank_label = Publisher
| blank_data  = [[Marvel Comics]]
| first       = ''[[Nova (Richard Rider)|Nova]]'' (vol. 4) #8 (January 2008)
| creator    = [[Dan Abnett]]<br>[[Andy Lanning]]
| type        = Space Station
| people      = [[Cosmo the Spacedog|Cosmo]]<br />[[Guardians of the Galaxy (2008 team)|Guardians of the Galaxy]]<br>[[Nova (Richard Rider)|Nova]]<br>[[Knull]]<br>[[Black Order (comics)|Black Order]]
| races       = 
| locations   = 
}}
'''Knowhere''' (pronounced "nowhere") is a fictional location appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[Marvel Comics]] and in related media. It is depicted as the enormous severed head of an ancient celestial being and serves as an [[Interdimensional doorway|interdimensional]] crossroads and scientific observatory.

Knowhere appears in the live-action [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]] films ''[[Thor: The Dark World]]'' (2013), ''[[Guardians of the Galaxy (film)|Guardians of the Galaxy]]'' (2014), ''[[Avengers: Infinity War]]'' (2018), ''[[The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special]]'' (2022), and ''[[Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3]]'' (2023)<ref name="WGTC">{{Cite web|url=https://wegotthiscovered.com/tv/what-is-knowhere-in-the-guardians-of-the-galaxy-holiday-special-the-teams-new-hq-explained/|title=What is Knowhere in 'The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special?' The team's new HQ, explained|first1=Tristyn|last1=Akbas|date=November 25, 2022}}</ref> as well as the [[Disney+]] animated series' ''[[What If...? (TV series)|What If...?]]'' and the Disney XD animated series ''[[Guardians of the Galaxy (TV series)|Guardians of the Galaxy]]''.

==Development==
When asked about how they came up with the idea, authors [[Dan Abnett]] and [[Andy Lanning]] said:

{{blockquote|Honestly, they just came to us. The severed Celestial head was, I think, something that popped out of Andy's mind one day. Similarly, one morning, I said "what about a talking Russian dog?" We run with these things and develop them together. It's hard to pin down where exactly they originate.<ref>[http://www.novaprimepage.com/AbnettLanning3.htm An Interview With Nova's Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning!] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724080725/http://www.novaprimepage.com/AbnettLanning3.htm |date=2008-07-24 }}, Nova Prime</ref>}}

==Overview==
Located within what appears to be a severed head of a [[Celestial (comics)|Celestial]] floating along the Rip (the extreme outer edge of all [[spacetime]] with no specific physical location), Knowhere acts as a makeshift port of call and observatory of the [[End of the Universe]] for intergalactic travelers of all species and from all times. First appearing in ''[[Nova (Richard Rider)|Nova]]'' (vol. 4) #8 (see ''[[Annihilation: Conquest]]''), the station is administered by its chief of security, [[Cosmo the Spacedog|Cosmo]], a [[telepathic]] and [[Psychokinesis|telekinetic]] [[Soviet space dog]] originally lost in Earth orbit in the 1960s.<ref name="CB">{{Cite web |last=Burlingame |first=Russ |date=May 27, 2018 |title=Guardians of the Galaxy: What's that Huge Head and Who are the Celestials? |url=https://comicbook.com/comicbook/news/guardians-of-the-galaxy-whats-that-huge-head-and-who-are-the-cel/ |access-date= |website=[[ComicBook.com]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

Knowhere maintains minor facilities for close observation of the end of the Universe, a main hall, a marketplace and other amenities including the bar, Starlin's. Cosmo assigns special "passport" bracelets allowing instantaneous transportation to and from anywhere in the Universe via the deceased Celestial's "Continuum Cortex", located within the brain-stem, from where sensors can also detect subtle disruptions in space-time occurring outside The Rip in the greater Universe.{{r|CB}} Facilitated by Cosmo and [[Nova (Richard Rider)|Richard Rider]], Knowhere comes to be used as the base of operations for the new [[Guardians of the Galaxy (2008 team)|Guardians of the Galaxy]].<ref>[http://www.brokenfrontier.com/lowdown/details.php?id=1339 Inside Look: ''Guardians of the Galaxy'' #1] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080902033455/http://www.brokenfrontier.com/lowdown/details.php?id=1339|date=September 2, 2008}} by DnA, Broken Frontier, May 21, 2008</ref>

The origins of Knowhere as well as who could conceivably decapitate the godlike alien and how it appeared at the end of the Universe were uncertain for a time. Abnett and Lanning have said that the origin is "A mystery that will have to wait for now, but it's a biggie!"<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110811195128/https://www.marvel.com/news/comicstories.1911.Lost_In_Space~colon~_Nova_%239 Lost In Space: Nova #9], Marvel.com, November 21, 2007</ref> Eventually, an answer was given: the [[Symbiote (comics)|Symbiote]] God [[Knull]], while recounting his origins to [[Eddie Brock]], revealed that he was the one who originally beheaded the Celestial with the use of [[Gorr the God Butcher|All-Black the Necrosword]] and used the detached head to create more symbiotes, then long after Knull abandoned it, it would become the location of Knowhere.<ref name="WGTC"/><ref>''[[Venom (comic book)|Venom]]'' (vol. 4) #4 (September 2018)</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Cates |first=Donny |date=26 July 2018 |title=Yep! The severed celestial head in VENOM #4 would someday erode and decay and become Knowhere! Good catch! |url=https://twitter.com/Doncates/status/1022604840051109888 |access-date=27 July 2018 |website=[[Twitter]]}}</ref>

== Other versions ==
During the ''[[Secret Wars (2015 comic book)|Secret Wars]]'' storyline, Knowhere is shown to be the moon that orbits [[Battleworld]]. According to  [[Doctor Doom|God Emperor Doom]], this Knowhere is the head of the Celestial who came to collect Battleworld but was slain in battle by the God Emperor himself and its head is still in orbit around Battleworld as a reminder of Doom's power.<ref>''Guardians of Knowhere'' #1 (September 2015)</ref>

==In other media==
===Television===
Knowhere appears in ''[[Guardians of the Galaxy (TV series)|Guardians of the Galaxy]]'' (2015).

===Marvel Cinematic Universe===
{{further|Knowhere (Marvel Cinematic Universe)}}
[[Image:Knowhere,_as_depicted_in_the_2014_film_Guardians_of_the_Galaxy.png|thumb|Knowhere as depicted in the 2014 film ''Guardians of the Galaxy'']]
Knowhere appears in media set in the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]] (MCU). This version initially serves as the [[Taneleer Tivan (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Collector]]'s headquarters,<ref name="StitchKingdom">{{cite web |url=http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disney-guardians-galaxy-official-character-descriptions-minor-spoilers-70951/# |title='Guardians of the Galaxy' Official Character Descriptions (minor spoilers) |publisher=Stitch Kingdom |date=May 15, 2014 |access-date=May 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517134111/http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disney-guardians-galaxy-official-character-descriptions-minor-spoilers-70951/ |archive-date=May 17, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> in which his Tivan Corporation mines cellular material to sell on the black market, before it is later sold to the [[Guardians of the Galaxy (Marvel Cinematic Universe team)|Guardians of the Galaxy]], who convert it into their headquarters.<ref name="WGTC" />
* In ''[[Thor: The Dark World]]'' (2013), [[Sif (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Sif]] and [[Volstagg (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Volstagg]] travel to Knowhere to give the Collector the [[Reality Stone]] for safekeeping.
* In ''[[Guardians of the Galaxy]]'' (2014),<ref>{{citation |title=Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy: The Art Of The Movie |page=236 |year=2019 |isbn=9781302500719|author1=Various }}</ref><ref name="USATodayFeb2014">{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2014/02/17/guardians-of-the-galaxy-sneak-peek/5554079/?AID=10709313&PID=6149513&SID=1rgrwkvgpx4pq |title='Guardians of the Galaxy' crew comes down to Earth |last=Truitt |first=Brian |publisher=[[USA Today]] |date=February 17, 2014 |access-date=February 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016030609/http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2014/02/17/guardians-of-the-galaxy-sneak-peek/5554079/?AID=10709313&PID=6149513&SID=1rgrwkvgpx4pq |archive-date=October 16, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Gamora (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Gamora]], [[Peter Quill (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Peter Quill]], [[Drax (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Drax]], [[Rocket (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Rocket]], and [[Groot (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Groot]] visit Knowhere to sell an orb to the Collector, during which they learn that it contains the [[Power Stone (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Power Stone]]. 
* In ''[[Avengers: Infinity War]]'' (2018), Gamora, Quill, Drax, and [[Mantis (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Mantis]] travel to Knowhere in an unsuccessful attempt to stop [[Thanos (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Thanos]] from claiming the Reality Stone.<ref name="WGTC"/>
* An alternate timeline version of Knowhere appears in the ''[[What If...? (TV series)|What If...?]]'' episode "[[What If... T'Challa Became a Star-Lord?]]" (2021).
* In ''[[The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special]]'' (2022), the Guardians, along with their new member [[Cosmo the Spacedog|Cosmo]], renovate Knowhere following the events of ''Infinity War'' before holding a Christmas celebration for Quill.<ref name="WGTC" />
* In ''[[Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3]]'' (2023),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/1276415/guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-3-ending-explained/|title=Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 Ending Explained: The Rocket To Knowhere|first=Joshua|last=Meyer|date=May 4, 2023|website=/Film}}</ref> the Guardians have successfully made Knowhere their headquarters. They later use it as a mobile starship to combat the [[High Evolutionary]]. After defeating him and rescuing his captives, Drax and [[Nebula (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Nebula]] leave the Guardians to raise the High Evolutionary's captives on Knowhere.

===Video games===
* Knowhere appears in ''[[Disney Infinity 2.0]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krupa |first=Daniel |date=July 23, 2014 |title=Guardians of the Galaxy Coming to Disney Infinity |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/07/23/guardians-of-the-galaxy-coming-to-disney-infinity |access-date=November 6, 2021 |website=[[IGN]] |language=en}}</ref>
* Knowhere, merged with the ''[[Strider (1989 arcade game)|Strider]]'' series' Third Moon to become '''Knowmoon''', appears as a stage in ''[[Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://comicbook.com/gaming/2017/07/21/sdcc17-marvel-vs-capcom-infinite-live-blog/|title = SDCC17 Marvel Vs. Capcom: Infinite: Live Blog}}</ref>
* Knowhere appears in ''[[Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2]]''.
* Knowhere appears in ''[[Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series]]''.
* Knowhere appears in ''[[Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy]].''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Kaleb |date=October 29, 2021 |title=Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: Where to Find Star-Lord's 2014 Movie Costume |url=https://screenrant.com/marvels-guardians-galaxy-star-lord-mcu-costume-location/ |access-date=November 24, 2021 |website=[[Screen Rant]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Reception==
Russ Burlingame considered the rendering of Knowhere "one of the most striking and potentially bizarre images" from the ''Guardians of the Galaxy'' movie trailer.<ref name="CB" />

David S. Silverman and Douglas Brode described Knowhere as a "criminal lair" at "the fringes of space". They considered the setting a modern incarnation of the frontier of classic [[Western (genre)|Western]] films, "a place where outlaws and renegades skirt the trappings of society far from the dictates of civilization".<ref>{{cite book |author1-first=David S. |author1-last=Silverman |author2-first=Douglas |author2-last=Brode |editor1-first=Douglas |editor1-last=Brode |editor2-first=Shea T. |editor2-last=Brode |date=2020 |title=The Twenty-First-Century Western: New Riders of the Cinematic Stage |publisher=[[Lexington Books]] |chapter=The Western Didn't Die, It Just Went Off-World |isbn=9781793615114 |page=261}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* ''Nova'' (vol. 4) #8 and #9 (published November and December 2007)
* ''Guardians of the Galaxy'' (vol. 2) #1 (published May 2008)
* ''Guardians of the Galaxy'' (vol. 2) #8 (published December 2008)
* ''Deadpool'' (vol. 6) #30 (published May 2017)

==External links==
* [http://www.marvel.com/universe/Knowhere Knowhere] at Marvel.com
* {{Marveldatabase}}

{{Guardians of the Galaxy}}
{{Marvel Cosmic}}
[[Category:Guardians of the Galaxy]]
[[Category:End of the universe in fiction]]
[[Category:Fictional elements introduced in 2008]]
[[Category:Fictional space stations]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics locations]]