Eddie Brock

Venom
File:Venomlethal1.jpg Venom Art by Mark Bagley (1993)
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Amazing Spider-Man #252 (alien symbiote) Amazing Spider-Man #298 (as Venom)
Created by	David Michelinie Todd McFarlane (contested, see below)
In-story information
Alter ego	Eddie Brock
Team affiliations	Sinister Six
Abilities	A human host linked to an alien symbiote whose previous link with Spider-Man created the equivalents of his abilities. In addition, the being can produce its webbing, change its appearance and cannot be detected by Spider-Man's spider-sense.

Venom (Eddie Brock) is a comic book anti-hero in the Marvel Comics universe, and an enemy of Spider-Man. He is usually counted as one of the web-slinger's greatest enemies, alongside Dr. Octopus and the Green Goblin.

Character history

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Secret Wars: Spider-Man's new "costume".

While embroiled in a major crossover storyline fighting the Secret Wars on an alien planet, Spider-Man had to give up his web shooters to help the heroes escape being crushed by a mountain (dropped on them by the Molecule Man). Needing to find equipment to replace his web shooters, Spider-Man was informed by other heroes of a machine in a nearby lab which could repair his suit. Spidey went searching, but unwittingly activated the wrong machine, freeing from imprisonment a sentient alien symbiote. As Spider-Man touched the black blob, it flowed over his body, forming a new costume which he soon discovered responded to his thoughts, was able to mimic street clothes and seemed to provide an inexhaustible supply of webbing. Once back on Earth, Spider-Man learned the true nature of the costume, and discovered that the symbiote desired to fuse permanently with him, enveloping him at night as he slept, using his unconscious body to go out and fight crime. With the aid of Mister Fantastic, Spider-Man removed the costume by using sonic waves, to which it was vulnerable, but it broke free from the Fantastic Four's custody, and attempted to bond itself to Spider-Man in a church tower. The clanging of the church bells, coupled with Spidey's forced rejection of the symbiote, weakened the alien, and it slithered away, apparently to die.

Meanwhile, reporter Eddie Brock had been penning a number of articles in The Daily Globe on the recent Sin-Eater case, a storyline that ran in Amazing Spider-Man’s sister title, The Spectacular Spider-Man. Following a false lead, he proceeded to write a series of columns identifying Emil Gregg as the perpetrator of the crimes. When Spider-Man caught the real criminal, policeman Stan Carter, Emil Gregg was discovered to be a compulsive confessor. The Globe became a laughing stock, and it fired Brock, who was shunned by his peers, and forced to write scathing celebrity exposes and alien abduction drivel for the scandal rags. Brock took up weight lifting in the hopes of reducing his stress, but was unsuccessful in alleviating his obsessive hatred of Spider-Man. Planning to kill himself, Eddie went to a church to apologize to God for not being strong enough to handle life. In that church, Eddie was found by the alien costume, which bonded itself to the failed reporter. The process left both, already emotionally unstable individuals, permanently damaged. Adopting the name Venom in reference to the tawdry stories he was forced to write after falling from grace as a reporter, the new symbiotic pair decided to take their revenge on Spider-Man. At one point, Venom actually broke into Parker's home, severely frightening his wife, Mary Jane Watson.

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First full Appearance of Venom in Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #299

It is interesting to note that this 'origin' story has been in some ways retconned in order to add depth to the characters involved. It is revealed that Eddie was diagnosed with cancer before the Sin-Eater case, and was told he had little more than 3 months to live. It is this, not the Sin-Eater situation, which finally drove Eddie to decide to kill himself.

The symbiote's motivations were also changed. It was originally implied that the symbiote sought Eddie because they both had a hatred of Peter Parker/Spider-Man, but the revised canon is that the form of cancer Eddie had came with an enhanced production of adrenaline - exactly what the symbiote feeds off of, thus making some type of cure that heals him of his disease.

Venom is jet black with a large symbol of a white black widow spider on his chest. He has a gaping mouth filled with razor-sharp teeth, a long, lolling tongue, and is often depicted drooling a green slime-like substance. He is stronger than Spider-Man and his webbing, which the symbiote generates from the mass of its own body, is more durable than Spider-Man's mechanically-generated webs. The symbiote's shapeshifting ability allows Venom to camouflage himself like a chameleon or to assume the likeness of nearly any person. Venom also has the ability to remain undetected by Spider-Man's spider-sense, making him one of Spider-Man's deadliest foes. However, the symbiote is highly vulnerable to fire and high-frequency sound.

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Venom's first confrontation with Spider-Man.

Despite his lethal ability and homicidal hatred of Spider-Man, Venom remains curiously protective of those he considers "innocent". He will generally avoid killing bystanders or innocents in his quest for vengeance. Of course, the fact that he is insane means that his definitions of "innocent" and "necessary casualties" fluctuate as his needs demand. He has teamed up with Spider-Man on several occasions, most notably to battle the symbiote's homicidal offspring, Carnage, and has occasionally worked alongside other anti-heroes and superheroes, such as The Punisher and Ghost Rider. His concept of justice is simply to kill criminals brutally and without hesitation, even for crimes as small as theft, which has made him greatly feared. He can even be harsh to the heroes he works with, but he later forgets his disagreements with them and focuses on beating the opponent. Venom is especially intolerant of those aiding Spider-Man. Despite the way he acts, he does have his merciful side, and will even save heroes from certain death, if he thinks it necessary. However, Venom has on several occasions renewed his quest to see Peter Parker/Spider-Man (and, on occasion, Spider-Man's clone, Ben Reilly) dead. Reilly, under the name Scarlet Spider, won his first heroic victory against Venom.

Some time later, Venom was finally successfully brought to justice and put on trial, his symbiote held in check with a chemical inhibitor that prevented it from manifesting. He was saved from jail when the Black-Ops government agency, the Overreach Committee, coerced him into becoming one of their agents, via the implantation of a bomb inside his chest. After combating several unusual threats in this role, Venom misinterpreted an order to intimidate J. Jonah Jameson as an instruction to kill him, leading to his first true confrontation with Spider-Man in some time. The ensuing battle at a construction site, however, ended when an explosion concussed Venom, giving him selective amnesia, making him forget Spider-Man's true identity. Shortly thereafter, Venom operated on himself to remove his bomb, but when he attempted to publically release the secrets of the Overreach Committee, an overdose of the chemical inhibitor forcibly separated Brock and his symbiote, which apparently died.

Carelessly discarded, the alien regenerated, seeking out Brock shortly after the Amazing Spider-Man and Peter Parker: Spider-Man titles were rebooted. Re-combined as Venom once more, they absorbed Cletus Kasady's symbiote, and joined the Sinister Six, but soon regretted it and then tried to kill their former teammates. He left Sandman near death after biting a great chunk out of him, and attacked Electro, leaving him also for dead. He made some sort of peace with Spidey (again), only to blame him for his wife's suicide. Venom lost his chance for revenge when the powerful human/alien hybrid known as Senator Ward split Brock and the symbiote apart once again.

A clone of the Venom symbiote then appeared, (in a story reminiscent of The Thing) created from a severed sample of the symbiote scavenged by the government from an earlier battle. This clone - created by a covert alien race lurking in secrecy within the government - actually burned out its hosts, killing them, unlike the original symbiote. The only two to survive it for a significant period were the Antarctic researcher Patricia Robertson, thanks to technology, and the X-Man Wolverine, thanks to his healing factor. Robertson was later fully overcome by the symbiote, but Brock, having since recombined with his symbiote, absorbed the clone. Filled with its intelligence and the alien design it had been created for, Brock professed he would carry that design out himself, but did not get the chance when he discovered that he had cancer, and he could not survive without a permanent merge with the symbiote. In the end, Spider-Man convinces the symbiote to go through with this "permanent merge."

Venom II

However, Brock then proceeded through a religious awakening and sold the symbiote to the crimelord Don Fortunato, intending to donate the $100 million received to charity before dying. Angelo Fortunato became the second Venom for a brief period of time (technically, the Venom clone and its hosts were not really Venom). Upon hearing that Angelo Fortunato, the Don's son, had died after the symbiote abandoned him in mid-air jump, Brock slit his wrists in an alley, and his fate is uncertain.

Venom III

After Angelo's death, the symbiote bonded with Mac Gargan, the Scorpion, and became part of the new Sinister Twelve. While he was swiftly defeated by Spider-Man, as the Avengers, Fantastic Four and Daredevil dealt with the rest of the Twelve, he remains bonded with the symbiote. Mac Gargan is now the third Venom.

Love Interests

Ann Weying is Eddie Brock's ex-wife and, all things considered, she tolerated him pretty well.

In his own series, Eddie met two women among the homeless and underpeople he protects: Elizabeth and Beck, with Beck being the more serious relationship. In the 2003 Venom series he chased after Patricia Robertson (U.S. Army Communications Specialist and host to a clone of the Venom symbiote), who was only interested in killing him. Venom has also (literally) drooled over the Black Cat and Mary Jane Watson-Parker.

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A long-haired Eddie Brock (right) with Beck (left), his on-again/off-again girlfriend.

In the 90s Spider-Man animated series, Eddie Brock falls head over heels for his psychiatrist, Dr. Ashley Kafka (Carnage's shrink and John Jameson's girlfriend in regular continuity), and his symbiote becomes jealous.

Eddie Brock in the Ultimate Universe is introduced as a mentor figure to Peter Parker (who at the time was going through a rough patch with Mary Jane), who is all too familiar with rejections and bad relationships. During the course of the story he hits on Gwen Stacy, who rejects him.

Powers and abilities

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Later artists would exaggerate Venom's fangs and tongue giving him a more monstrous appearance.

The various Venoms possess abilities parallel to those of Spider-Man, based on the symbiote's time bonded with the wall-crawler: Superhuman strength, agility, superhuman reflexes, and the ability to adhere to walls. It is unclear whether these powers were copied from Spider-Man or innate to the Symbiotes themselves. However, Venom's strength and durability are greater than Spider-Man's. In addition, Venom's living costume has the ability to take the appearance of any form of clothing, blend with its surroundings, and even mimic most people. The suit can also shoot webbing similar to that of Spider-Man, but as this is made from the symbiote itself, overuse weakens it. Venom has been known to use his webbing or costume-generated tendrils to suffocate his victims. The symbiote also has a few rarely-used abilities. It contains a small 'dimensional aperture', similar to a pocket, that allows the wearer to carry items upon his/her person without adding mass to the costume. This was only seriously demonstrated by Peter Parker, who carried his camera in the suit's aperture. When the symbiote was separated from Parker, the aperture emptied and the camera returned to Earth. There is no evidence to prove that Brock ever used the aperture himself, and none to indicated that Carnage or any other symbiotes have such a pocket. Secondly, the symbiote even has some psychic powers - it is able to gain all the knowledge a person has just by a simple touch. It has used this power on its own kind and on Eddie Brock's wife. Third, the symbiote can extrude itself down to a molecule's width and travel along phone lines. Finally, the symbiote is able to heal the host (a power that all the symbiotes share), and can protect its host in numerous ways. An example would be that it makes sure the host gets enough oxygen even if they are at the bottom of the ocean.

File:Ven carn.jpg

Venom fighting Carnage.

The amount of power each of the hosts has is determined by the symbiote itself, within the ability of the symbiote to grant them. While bonded to Spider-Man, it only slightly increased his abilities, but made Eddie Brock stronger than Spider-Man. Over the years Venom's strength has seemed to increase. He has demonstrated strength ranging from slightly greater than that of Spider-Man to capable of lifting a medium tank. This range is attributed to the discretion of individual writers, and can be contradictory. Though his strength is generally depicted as being weaker than his offsprings, mainly Carnage and Toxin. There were a few times when Venom's powers were greatly increased, such as during his battle with Juggernaut, when he was mutated by the Mercurial Virus (liquid mercury made sentient), or when he absorbed his offspring Carnage, though the latter story has been retconed.

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Venom mutated.

The symbiote also allowed him limited chameleonic abilities, and immediately granted Angelo Fortunato its full abilities - a factor in its abandonment of him when he failed to succeed to its liking - while the former Scorpion has only used the symbiote once, and it is unclear to what extent he has been enhanced.

The original Venom, Eddie Brock, had some notable skills aside from the superhuman abilities granted by his costume. He was highly skilled in investigative journalism and deductive reasoning. He was also extremely athletic, especially in terms of strength; his strength was of the order of an Olympic athlete. There was some relationship between the costume's ability to augment his strength and the physical condition he was in; the better shape he was in, the stronger the costume made him.

In some incarnations, the symbiote (and, by extension, Venom) requires a certain chemical (possibly Phenethylamine) to stay sane and healthy. This chemical is only found in two sources: chocolate and human brain tissue. Thus, in these incarnations, Venom is either forced to steal/purchase large amounts of chocolate or becomes a cannibal, devouring the brains of those he kills.

Controversy over creator credit

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Todd McFarlane's Venom (1989).

Writer David Michelinie and artist Todd McFarlane are generally credited with the character's creation, based on a number of plot ideas and concepts from various other creators, though the degree to which McFarlane should be credited with co-creating the character has been a source of dispute in the comic book industry. Venom's existence was first indicated in Web of Spider-Man #18 (September 1986), when he shoved Peter Parker in front of a subway train without his spider-sense warning him, though he did not appear on-panel. Another hint was given in Web of Spider-Man #24 (March 1987), when Peter Parker had climbed out of a high story window to change and go into action but found an arm coming through the window and grabbing him, despite his spider-sense not warning him. He then made a partial appearance on the final page of The Amazing Spider-Man #298, in which he was obscured by shadow, before making his first full appearance on the final page of #299 (May 1988).

The question of who created the character of Venom became an issue of contention in 1993 when writer David Michelinie wrote in to the comic book industry magazine Wizard, which had referred to Michelinie in issue #17 (January 1993) as the "co-creator" of Venom. In his letter, which was printed in issue #21 (May 1993), Michelinie contended, despite his praise of McFarlane, without whom he conceded the character would not have attained the popularity that it did, that he was the sole creator of the character. Michelinie pointed out that Venom's earliest appearances were in Web of Spider-Man #18 (Sept. 1986), written by Michelinie and drawn by Marc Silvestri; and Web of Spider-Man #24, plotted by Michelinie, scripted by Len Kaminski, and drawn by Del Barras.

The character would remain unseen and inactive until Amazing Spider-Man editor Jim Salicrup required a villain for that book’s 300th issue, and after Michelinie suggested the female-symbiote character, Salicrup changed the character to a male. Michelinie then devised the Eddie Brock identity. Michelinie contends that the plots for issues #298-299, as well as the visual descriptions of the character, were written and brought by Salicrup before McFarlane was ever assigned to the book.

Writer Peter David corroborated Michelinie’s view in his But I Digress column in the June 4th, 1993 Comics Buyer's Guide, in which he related that Michelinie discussed the ideas behind the character with David at the time of its creation. At the time, David was the writer on The Spectacular Spider-Man who wrote the Sin Eater story from which Eddie Brock’s back story would be derived, long before McFarlane was assigned to the art duties on Amazing. Because artists who design the costumes or appearances of major characters and/or illustrate their first appearances are generally credited as the co-creators of them, Venom represents a complex situation, because the costume from which Venom's appearance is derived was not designed by McFarlane, and the only aspect of Venom’s appearance to which McFarlane contributed was giving the character an evil looking mouth.

Erik Larsen, who followed McFarlane as artist on Amazing, and who added the pointy teeth and tongue as well as the green drool to Venom's appearance (and who would go on to found Image Comics with McFarlane), responded to Michelinie's letter with one of his own that was printed in Wizard #23 (July 1993), in which he dismissed Michelinie's contributions to the character, arguing that Michelinie merely "swiped" the pre-existing symbiote and its powers to place it on a character whose motivations were poorly conceived, one-dimensional, unbelievable, and clichéd. Larsen also argued that it was McFarlane’s rendition of the character that made it sellable.

The pre-existing elements that dealt with the symbiote alien costume itself - to which Michelinie did not contribute - have also been noted. For example, editor Jim Shooter came up with the idea of switching Spider-Man to a black-and-white costume, possibly influenced by the intended costume design for the new Spider-Woman. Artists Mike Zeck and Rick Leonardi, as well as others, designed the black-and-white costume. Writer/artist John Byrne asserts on his website that the idea for a costume made of self-healing biological material was one he originated when he was the artist on Iron Fist to explain how that character’s costume was constantly being torn and then apparently repaired by the next issue, explaining that he ended up not using the idea on that title, but that Roger Stern later asked him if he could use the idea for Spider-Man's alien costume. Stern in turn plotted the issue in which the costume first appeared but then moved on and it was writer Tom DeFalco and artist Ron Frenz who had established that the costume was a sentient alien being and also that it was vulnerable to high sonic energy during their run on The Amazing Spider-Man that preceded Michelinie's. Regardless, Peter David's position is that Michelinie is the sole creator, since the idea of creating a separate character using the alien symbiote was Michelinie’s, as was Eddie Brock's backstory, and that without the idea to create such a character, the character would not have existed.

It is perhaps not coincidental that this dispute arose at a time when artists such as McFarlane and Larsen were enjoying a great deal of popularity and clout with readers, and exploiting their popularity by publishing creator-owned books with their new company Image Comics, and it is possible that this issue was a subtext of the greater debate over the importance of writers versus artists that was being waged in the industry at the time. In any case, Venom was created under a work-for-hire contract, and Marvel owns all rights to the character.

Source: But I Digress by Peter David; 1994; pages 104-106; Reprinted from the June 4, 1993 Comics Buyer’s Guide

Source: http://www.byrnerobotics.com/FAQ/listing.asp?ID=7&T1=Miscellaneous+Questions#96

Source: Correspondence with Peter David.

Source: Wizard #21 (May 1993)

Source: Wizard #23 (July 1993)

Other versions of Venom

Ultimate Venom

Main article: Ultimate Venom

MC2

In the "Spider-Girl" title (the MC2 Universe), the Venom symbiote appears, first attempting to re-bond with Peter Parker (and calling himself "Spider-Venom"). Later, the symbiote appears again when it is forcefully bonded to Spider-Girl's friend Norman "Normie" Osborn III (the grandson of the original Green Goblin and a former rogue bearing that same name) by the spiteful Fury, the Goblin-Queen. After an initial rampage, it looks as if Normie and the symbiote have come to an agreement and Normie wishes to use the symbiote to become a hero.

Spider-Man 2099

Later, in the "Spider-Man 2099" series, the symbiote resurfaces from the sewers of Nueve York and bonds with the half-brother of Miguel O'Hara (Spider-Man 2099) to form Venom 2099. The symbiote was eventually isolated before a virtual riot unleashed it and it joined with the powerful Sub-Mariner Namor.

Marvel Mangaverse

In this continuity, Venom is quite human; a renegade member of Spider-Man's ninja clan, and also Spider-Man's older cousin. The distinctive black and white design is here the result of a full-body tattoo or body paint.

The symbiote also makes an appearance, although this time it as a more mystical origin, associated with a rival ninja clan whose outfits look very much like the original black costume. The creature has broadly similar attributes to both the original symbiote and the Ultimate version; it draws energy from the wearer, which can potentially kill the host after time, bestows increaased strength and agility, and reduces the host's ability to control their own violent urges.

Venom in video games

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Venom in Marvel vs Capcom 2

Venom has also appeared as a playable character in several video games. He was a playable character in Marvel vs. Capcom and Marvel vs. Capcom 2. He also appeared in the Spider-Man game Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage and starred in Spider-Man and Venom: Separation Anxiety, both of which were based on actual comic book plotlines. He also appeared in the "Spider-Man" video game for the Sony Playstation, Sega Dreamcast, Nintendo 64, and Game Boy Color as a boss (twice). In the Spider-Man arcade game Venom must be fought three times: Twice normally, and once when he has grown ten times his normal height. After defeating the main antagonist Dr. Doom, as a surprise final challenge, the player must fight off a series of Doom-created clones of the symbiote. In the video game based on the Ultimate Spider-Man storyline, Ultimate Spider-Man, Venom is a playable character and can wander about the massive virtual city at will. A major difference between the way Spider-Man and Venom play, other than the different attack moves, is the fact that the symbiote is said to be constantly feeding off of Brock, represented in the game by his health meter constantly draining at a slow rate. Venom can replenish his health at any time by 'feeding' off of pedestrians. Venom is also an unlockable character in Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects.

Venom in film

In the 2002 film Spider-Man, it is mentioned that a Daily Bugle photographer named "Eddie" hasn't been able to get a good photo of Spider-Man. Presumably this is Eddie Brock, and in the novelization of the film Eddie actually has a cameo and is mentioned by his full name, with J. Jonah Jameson unwittingly making an ironic allusion to Venom by screaming "Next time, get a decent suit!". Also Brock was set to be played by R.C. Everbeck and a cameo role was filmed, but was cut during production, later to be restored in the DVD edition of the movie.

Venom has been rumored to be one of two villains in the upcoming 2007 film Spider-Man 3. Kirsten Dunst, who plays Mary Jane Watson in the film franchise, has claimed Venom will appear in this film and will be played by Topher Grace, much to the chagrin of many long time fans who feel that Grace does not have the intensity to pull off the ferocious character. It is worth noting that the Ultimate version of Venom is much different, and would be more plausible for Grace to pull off. There is no official statement from Sony confirming or denying this. Sam Raimi has supposedly gone on record as saying that while he is in directorial control of the Spider-Man film saga, Venom will never appear as a villain. This had lead to some fans wondering, if Venom does appear, whether Raimi would portray Venom as a rival superhero, or some other form different from the comics. Recent promotional images of Spider-Man 3 show Peter Parker wearing a black suit, increasing speculation that Venom will indeed be a villain in the film.[1] This has now been confirmed according to certain movie websites, in particular a recent interview with Thomas Haden Church in which he confirms Venom will feature, which can be viewed here.

Animated series

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Venom in Spider-Man: The Animated Series.

Venom appeared in the Spider-Man animated series. Despite the fact that he is a popular character, Venom was only featured in a handful of episodes before disappearing into a different realm. These episodes are the following:

• The Alien Costume, Part 1: John Jameson and a fellow astronaut discover a rock known as "Promethium X", which is said to be more powerful than plutonium. Unknown to the astronauts though, Promethium X also contains a mysterious element which manages to break free and tries to consume the two astronauts. The space shuttle crashes on the George Washington Bridge, near the Hudson River where the Rhino is sent by the Kingpin to steal the Promethium X. Spider-Man arrives on the scene and manages to save Jameson and his fellow astronaut, yet unknown to Spider-Man, Eddie Brock is on the bridge too, and takes photos of him (and the Rhino as well). When Jonah arrives, Eddie takes advantage of his hatred for the wall-crawler and frames Spider-Man for stealing something from the shuttle, which leads to a $1 million bounty on Spider-Man's head. Eddie fails to mention also seeing the Rhino at the scene.

Meanwhile, Spider-Man emerges from the Hudson River and notices a black stain on his costume. When he falls asleep, the mysterious stain consumes his body and thus Peter Parker finds himself a new costume. Amazed at his new abilities, Peter Parker's life seems to be amazing with his new suit; until he and his loved ones notice a disturbing change in his behavior.

• The Alien Costume, Part 2: The story continues where it last left off, with the whole city hunting Spider-Man for Jonah's $1 million bounty. Spider-Man manages to fight them off until he is shot with a Sonic Blaster device, which weakens him. Despite this, Spider-Man manages to escape, and focuses his attention on Eddie Brock and Jonah Jameson. After Jonah visits his hospitalized son and hears him utter the word "Rhino", he fires Brock and calls off the manhunt for Spider-Man.

Noticing another disturbing change in his behavior, Spider-Man seeks the assistance of Doctor Connors, who studies the suit and realizes that it is a living organism known as a Symbiote which looks to bond with another living organism. Spider-Man then uses the symbiote's powers to find a clue in Eddie's apartment, only to run into the Shocker. The two fight, and Shocker gains the advantage, without realizing that Spider-Man is onto his trail once more. Following Shocker leads him to Alistair Smythe and the Promethium X, which Spider-Man steals. Spider-Man then studies it properly, and realizes the Promethium X's true potential. Angry that Spider-Man has the Promethium X, Kingpin and Shocker form a plan to kidnap John Jameson in an attempt to gain it back. Using Jonah as bait, they manage to lure Spider-Man, with the Promethium X, to an old church, only to find that it was an ambush by Shocker. While Shocker puts up a good fight, he comes to the realization that Spider-Man is too powerful. Eddie Brock tries to intervene, but is webbed up for his efforts. With Shocker at the mercy of Spider-Man, he begs for his life, only to have the symbiote push Shocker off the belltower, almost sending him to his death. Spider-Man, finally realizing that the suit is turning him into a monster, saves the villain's life, then tries to separate himself from the suit. He finds it impossible to free himself at first, but then the church bells start ringing deafeningly, and the symbiote sloughs off Peter and slinks weakly away. Peter Parker leaves, relieved to be away from the symbiote.

However, and unfortunately for Parker, the symbiote has found a new host... and that new host is Eddie Brock!

• The Alien Costume, Part 3: Kingpin is once again in possession of the Promethium X, but Smythe discovers that it has almost completely turned into lead - apparently, that is the nature of the element. Kingpin realizes that Spider-Man must have known that it would be useless to him, which is why he surrendered it so easily in the last episode. Meanwhile, Spider-Man swings through the city in his old costume, feeling fantastic until he comes across Rhino and Shocker. Rhino is easily defeated whereas Shocker has Spider-Man at his mercy. While it seems bleak, an unknown "ally" arrives and defeats the two villains singlehandedly. That new "ally" turns out to be Eddie Brock and quickly reveals himself to be a new enemy of Spider-Man known as Venom. Trying to reason with Brock is hopeless. Venom even webs up Spider-Man and removes his mask high atop a crowded street. Venom continues to haunt and make life miserable for Spider-Man, until Spider-Man fights back - plotting a plan to trap Venom at the space shuttle. Venom foolishly follows, and the symbiote is ripped off his body once the rocket launches. The Symbiote is then webbed up and stuck to the rocket, and Spider-Man manages to escape. Eddie Brock, however, is left behind and imprisoned at Ravencroft Mental Facility/Prison.

• Venom Returns: The symbiote returns to Earth and travels to Ravencroft to reunite with Eddie, who then escapes as Venom. He is ordered by Dormammu, to whom the symbiote owes its earthly return, to steal a machine from Stark Enterprises capable of releasing Dormammu from his own faroff dimension. When Venom battles Spider-Man and War Machine, he is easily defeated by the two heroes. In the next episode, Iron Man, Venom, and Spider-Man unite to battle Carnage, Baron Mordo, and Dormammu. In the end, Venom makes a sacrifice to save his love, Dr. Ashley Kafka. Venom was voiced by Hank Azaria

Before Eddie Brock became Venom, his episode appearances were:

• Night of the Lizard - Daily Bugle editor J. Jonah Jameson offers 1,000 dollars to any Bugle reporter for getting a photo of the Lizard; Eddie Brock attempts to earn this reward. Margaret Connors (wife of Dr. Curt Connors) reveals to Spider-Man the tale of her husband's scientific experiments with reptiles in his hope to regrow his lost arm and how this led to his transformation into the Lizard. Brock, overhearing this, writes down the story and heads back to the Daily Bugle to publish the exposé, but is stopped by Spider-Man, who webs him onto a lamppost.

The following morning, Eddie tries in vain to tell Jameson and the police that Dr. Curt Connors is the Lizard, and narrates the incident that he was going to send his story to the Bugle, but Spider-Man webbed him onto a lamppost. When Eddie opens the door, he sees Curt Connors back to normal, thus discrediting his claim.

• The Spider-Slayer - At Oscorp, Brock meets up with Norman Osborn , and tells what he was going to do with the robots he created. Flash Thompson, while dressed as Spider-Man, is captured by one of the Spider-Slayer robots. Eddie Brock is at Spencer Smythe's lab in the hope of exposing Spider-Man's secret identity on T.V. When Brock unmasks Spider-Man, he 'discovers' that Spider-Man is Flash Thompson. J. Jonah Jameson realizes that Thompson is not Spider-Man, and that Brock is making a fool out of him. During an explosion at Spencer Smythe's lab, Eddie Brock rushes towards the exit. Jameson later fires Brock.

• The Return of the Spider Slayers - Eddie Brock is trying to get a job at another newspaper when he is attacked by one of the Spider-Slayer robots. Spider-Man proceeds to rescue him. Because of their damage to the newspaper building, his new boss fires him before Eddie can even begin. In a fit of anger, he screams out at Spider-Man: "I'll get even with you! I'll get even with you if it's the last thing I do!"

Venom has also appeared in the later television series, Spider-Man Unlimited. Throughout this series Venom is seen working together with Carnage in an effort to perpertuate the spread of an alien hive mind throughout the series' Counter-Earth.

It should also be noted that within this series Venom also displays powers markedly similar to that of Carnage.

Although he has blonde hair in the comic books, in this animated series Brock/Venom has red hair, though still kept in a crew cut style.

The ECW wrestler Nova often wore outfits of inspired by comic book superheroes. He wore a Venom-style outfit at the Hardcore Heaven 2000 Pay-Per-View.

Controversy arose when parents were angered by a talking Venom action figure that snarled, "I want to eat your brains", saying that it was inappropriate for children.

List of symbiote hosts

Venom's Hosts

• Spider-Man (Peter Parker)
• Eddie Brock
• Ann Weying (Eddie's ex-wife)
• Angelo Fortunato
• The Scorpion (Mac Gargan)

Alterniverse

• May Parker (Venom) (Earth/Universe/Paradise X)
• The Punisher (Frank Castle)(in an issue of What If...)
• Norman "Normie" Osborn III, grandson of the Green Goblin (MC2)
• The Hulk (in an issue of "What If...")
• Thor (in an issue of "What If...")

Wildstorm Universe

• Bonded with Pike in the Backlash (Wildstorm) and Spiderman crossover

2099

• The half-brother of Miguel O'Hara (Kron Stone)
• Namor the Sub-Mariner

Ultimate Venom

• Spider-Man (Peter Parker)
• Eddie Brock Sr.
• Eddie Brock Jr.

Venom Clone's Hosts

• Patricia Robertson
• Wolverine (James "Logan" Howlett)
• a husky
• a raven
• Several residents of Voici, a town in Canada's Northwestern Territories

• Cover of the Venom-Punisher What-If? comic.
  Cover of the Venom-Punisher What-If? comic.
• Punisher with the Venom symbiote.
  Punisher with the Venom symbiote.
• Ann Weying as She-Venom.
  Ann Weying as She-Venom.
• "Wolvenom" (left) and Patricia Robertson (post alien implants, right.)
  "Wolvenom" (left) and Patricia Robertson (post alien implants, right.)
• Eddie Brock (left) and Patricia Robertson (right).
  Eddie Brock (left) and Patricia Robertson (right).
• Mac Gargan as "Scorpom".
  Mac Gargan as "Scorpom".
• Normie Osborn as "Goblin-Venom".
  Normie Osborn as "Goblin-Venom".
• Kron Stone, Venom 2099.
  Kron Stone, Venom 2099.

Bibliography

Solo series and oneshots

• Spider-Man: The Trial of Venom oneshot (1992)
• Venom: Lethal Protector #1-6 (February – July, 1993)
• Venom: Funeral Pyre #1-3 (August – October, 1993)
• Venom: The Madness #1-3 (November, 1993 – January, 1994)
• Venom: The Enemy Within #1-3 (February – March, 1994)
• Hulk vs. Venom oneshot (April, 1994)
• Venom: The Mace #1-3 (May – July, 1994)
• Venom: Nights of Vengeance #1-4 (August – November, 1994)
• Venom: Separation Anxiety #1-4 (December, 1994 – March, 1995)
• Venom: Carnage Unleashed #1-4 (April – July, 1995)
• Venom: Sinner Takes All #1-5 (August – December, 1995)
• Venom Super Special oneshot (August, 1995)
• Rune vs. Venom oneshot (December, 1995)
• Venom: Along Came a Spider #1-4 (January – April, 1996)
• Venom: The Hunted #1-3 (May – July, 1996)
• Venom: The Hunger #1-4 (August – November, 1996)
• Venom: Tooth and Claw #1-3 (December, 1996 – February, 1997)
• Venom: On Trial #1-3 (March – May, 1997)
• Venom: License to Kill #1-3 (June – August, 1997)
• Venom: Seed of Darkness oneshot (July, 1997)
• Venom: Sign of the Boss #1-2 (September – October, 1997)
• Venom: Finale #1-3 (November, 1997 – January, 1998)
• Spider-Man: Venom Agenda oneshot (January, 1998)
• Venom #1-18 (June, 2003 – November, 2004)
• Venom vs. Carnage #1-4 (August – December, 2004)

Reprints

• Venom: The Return oneshot (1990; reprints Amazing Spider-Man (1963 series) 330-347, Amazing Spider-Man Annual #25)
• Venom: Deathtrap: The Vault graphic novel (March, 1993; reprints Avengers: Deathtrap: The Vault)
• Venom: Shiver trade paperback (2004; reprints Venom #1-5)
• Venom: Run trade paperback (2004; reprints Venom #6-13)
• Venom: Twist trade paperback (2005; reprints Venom #13-18)
• Venom vs. Carnage trade paperback (2005; reprints Venom vs. Carnage #1-4)

Appearances in novels and short stories

• Spider-Man: The Venom Factor by Diane Duane, October 1994
• "An Evening in the Bronx with Venom" by Keith R. A. DeCandido and John Gregory Betancourt, in The Ultimate Spider-Man, ed. Stan Lee, December 1994
• Spider-Man: The Lizard Sanction by Diane Duane, October 1995
• "The Deviant Ones" by Glenn Greenberg, in The Ultimate Super-Villains, ed. Stan Lee, August 1996
• Spider-Man: The Octopus Agenda by Diane Duane, October 1996
• Spider-Man: Venom's Wrath by Keith R. A. DeCandido and Jose R. Nieto, October 1998

External links

• A speculative essay on Marvel Symbiotes
• Insania 1998--A Website on Venom, his allies, and enemies
• Extensive information on Venom and Venom 2099
• Venom's profile at Spiderfan.org
• The Unofficial Venom page
• http://members.tripod.com/~outsidetl/features/symbiote.html "Psycho-analysing My Symbiote" (Fanfiction) A comical take on Venom.
• Villains of Marvel Comics - Venom Profile
• Marvel Database: Venom

See also

• Symbiote