Marvel's New, Totally Rebooted Venom Is Already 10x Freakier Than the Original (2024)

Summary

  • Ultimate Spider-Man has introduced a creepy artificial intelligence copy of Peter Parker, with signs pointing to the inevitability that it will become this new continuity's incarnation of Venom.
  • This AI twist on the Venom symbiote adds a fresh new context to the classic struggle between the heroic Peter Parker and his worst influences, made manifest by the symbiote.
  • Venom symbolizes Peter's own doubts and impulses, setting up a clash between the hero and his twisted mirror.

Marvel’s new Ultimate Spider-Man has seemingly introduced its version of Venom, and its relationship to both Spider-Man and his family makes it creepier than ever. This is a version of Venom that’s closer to Peter than he’d like to admit, and one that might lead him down a journey of self-discovery even as it threatens his life.

AIPT released a preview for Ultimate Spider-Man #8 – written by Jonathan Hickman, with art by Marco Checchetto –which highlights the creepiness of Peter Parker’s new personal AI, which many fans have immediately come to suspect will become this continuity's Venom.

In the preview, Peter’s AI housed in his Spider-Man suit reveals that it can talk to him even when he’s not wearing it and asks Peter to wish his kids a happy birthday from him. While this makes sense, since the AI is a copy of Peter’s psyche, it’s still majorly creepy, and Peter acknowledges it as such.

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Ultimate Spider-Man's Reimagining Of Venom Is Even More Terrifying Than The Original

Ultimate Spider-Man #8 – Written By Jonathan Hickman; Art By Marco Checchetto, Mathew Wilson, & Corey Petit

Marvel's New, Totally Rebooted Venom Is Already 10x Freakier Than the Original (2)

The Ultimate Venom theory is bolstered by the preview for Ultimate Spider-Man #8, where the AI begins to reach for Peter in a way that looks remarkably like black, Venomy tendrils.

As explained in Ultimate Spider-Man #7, both Spidey and the heroic Ultimate Green Goblin’s suits, built using Stark Tech, contain Ais which can be programmed to mimic personalities. Peter chooses himself as the AI’s model, which immediately begins giving him a slightly anxious, snippy monologue in his own voice. This world’s Otto Octavious, Harry Osborn’s tech guy, explains that the AIs are actually consciousnesses, meaning that they can make their own decisions to some degree, based on what the personalities they’re modeled on might do.

Given its black speech bubbles and the suggestion that it might have a will of its own, it seems to be telegraphed that this AI is destined to become Venom. The Ultimate Venom theory is bolstered by the preview for Ultimate Spider-Man #8, where the AI begins to reach for Peter in a way that looks remarkably like black, Venomy tendrils. Otto also explicitly mentions that nothing shy of a full shutdown of Spidey’s suit could turn off the AI, which sounds like strong foreshadowing for how Peter might have to fight the suit in the future.

Marvel's New, Totally Rebooted Venom Is Already 10x Freakier Than the Original (3)
Venom

Venom is a symbiotic alien entity bonded with various human hosts, notably Eddie Brock and later Flash Thompson. It grants superhuman strength, agility, and a shape-shifting black costume. Initially a Spider-Man villain due to its origins, Venom evolved into an antihero, battling both villains and his own dark impulses. The character embodies themes of duality and redemption within the Marvel Universe.

The New Ultimate Venom Is A Twisted A.I. Version Of Peter Parker

A Fresh Take On Classic Lore

Marvel's New, Totally Rebooted Venom Is Already 10x Freakier Than the Original (4)

All the set-up for Ultimate Spider-Man’s new Venom is there, it’s just a matter of what lights the spark.

All great supervillains are in some way dark mirrors of the heroes they fight, and if this new version of Venom is ‘Peter’ then it only takes this idea to its logical conclusion. So many Spider-Man stories are about Peter overcoming his own doubts, failings and worst impulses, and the new Venom could literalize this struggle. So much of Ultimate Spider-Man has so far focused on Peter’s self-actualization, him owning his own life, and him actively confronting something that’s expressing the worst parts of himself might be the next step in this process.

The most notable thing so far about the AI is its obsessiveness and care for Peter’s children, which reflects how strongly Peter feels about protecting his family. If the AI were to decide that Peter’s wasn’t doing a good enough job protecting his kids, or that it had some level of ownership over them, then this could be the thing that turns it bad, especially if – like in mainstream continuity – Peter abandons the suit. All the set-up for Ultimate Spider-Man’s new Venom is there, it’s just a matter of what lights the spark.

Source: AIPT

Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) #8 will be available August 21, 2024 from Marvel Comics.

Ultimate Spider-Man #8 (2024)

Marvel's New, Totally Rebooted Venom Is Already 10x Freakier Than the Original (5)
  • Writer: Jonathan Hickman
  • Artist: Marco Checchetto
  • Colorist: Matthew Wilson
  • Letterer: VC's Cory Petit
  • Cover Artist: Marco Checchetto
Marvel's New, Totally Rebooted Venom Is Already 10x Freakier Than the Original (6)
Spider-Man

Spider-Man is the name given to several individuals who have employed a spider-moniker throughout Marvel Comics. Typically gaining their powers through a bite from a radioactive spider, the different Spider-Man heroes employ super-strength, agility, and intellect while utilizing webbing to swing and tangle up their foes. The most notable of these Spider-Men is Peter Parker, who remains one of the most popular superheroes throughout the world.

Marvel's New, Totally Rebooted Venom Is Already 10x Freakier Than the Original (2024)

FAQs

What is Venom's real name? ›

Venom (Eddie Brock) In Comics Powers, Villains, History | Marvel.

Is Venom a good guy? ›

Since his debut however, Venom has evolved into an antiheroic figure, slowly distancing himself from his initial goal to ruin Spider-Man's life to try and do good instead, even putting aside his differences with and helping Spider-Man at times.

Is Venom the weakest symbiote? ›

In addition, Venom has come out on top as the victor in many battles with Symbiotes like Carnage, Hybrid, and Scream (all of which are arguably more powerful than he is).

Why does Venom hate Spider-Man? ›

He hates Spiderman because he thinks he is the cause of all the bad luck in his life. Venom is bigger and stronger then Spiderman. His webbing is much stronger then that of of Spiderman. His weakness is Super Sonic noises such as the ringing of church bells.

Who is the 7th Venom? ›

The seventh spawn of the Venom symbiote, Sleeper was the result of an unusual and difficult pregnancy. Delivered by Doctor Steven at Alchemax's astrobiology laboratory, the infant symbiote narrowly avoided being captured by the Symbiote Task Force and bonded to the Scorpion.

What is Venom's girlfriend name? ›

She-Venom (Anne Weying) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. She is the ex-wife of Eddie Brock. She is the first character who goes by the She-Venom identity, and she is also colloquially referred to as the Bride of Venom.

Are Venom and Eddie in love? ›

Venom and Eddie's more-than-platonic relationship isn't a modern twist. The pair have been coyly showing their true feelings for each other as far back as 1996, in issue three of Venom: The Hunger.

Why did Venom choose Eddie? ›

Venom came to empathize with Eddie's status as a "loser", eventually deciding to turn on its own kind and save the Earth from being invaded. The symbiote ultimately agreed to work alongside Eddie as a vigilante, to only hurt bad people despite its own confusion of how it can tell the difference of who is good or bad.

Why does Venom call himself we? ›

It is just a way to highlight how the union works. “We" implies a collective effort, and Venom is the product of a melding between a man and an extraterrestrial creature. Two creatures uniting on a very specific kind of wedding and acting now as a singular entity.

Who is Marvel's Anti-Venom? ›

When Eddie Brock separated from the Venom symbiote, remnants of the symbiote remained inside his body. Quickly succumbing to his cancer, Brock became a volunteer at the F.E.A.S.T. Center, founded by "Martin Lee", who gave him the job. Lee's healing touch caused Brock's cancer cells to disappear.

Is Toxin a good guy? ›

The Toxin symbiote has a long and troubled history in the Marvel universe as both a villain and an anti-hero. Toxin's place in Venom and Carnage's genetic line and its difficulty with hosts have all helped define the symbiote and its ever-expanding place in the Marvel Universe.

Why did Eddie Brock get fired? ›

Pressured by the authorities to reveal the killer's identity, Brock writes an exposé announcing Gregg as the Sin-Eater. However, the real Sin-Eater is caught by Spider-Man and Brock is revealed to have been interviewing a compulsive confessor. Brock is fired from his job in disgrace and Anne divorces him.

Why can't Venom make weapons? ›

I think the reason here is because he doesn't exactly has the ability to do so, by him stated that he's the weakest member of the symbiote species, he can't exactly have as many varieties of weapons like people expected or what he wanted.

Why did Venom lick the screen? ›

Venom sees Holland's Spider-Man on TV, licking the screen and remarking that "He looks delicious." The implication was clearly that the Symbiote wanted to go after Spider-Man.

Who is Venom Harry or Eddie? ›

Speaking to Gizmodo, Arfmann explained the studio's motivation behind making Harry Osborn the new Venom. As it turns out, the biggest reason to make Harry into Venom is his longstanding friendship with Peter Parker, which makes their eventual rivalry more dramatic.

What is Venom riot's real name? ›

Once discovered on a comet without going through the Venom symbiote, it turned into one of the four symbiotes. The host of the original work was Trevor Cole and Carlton Drake of this work, and the leader of the symbiote in the original work was Scream, but it was changed to Riot.

What does Eddie call Venom? ›

In the comics Venom describes their bond as being like marriage, he tells Eddie he loves him and Eddie calls him “darling” and “my love”.

Is Carnage Venom's Brother? ›

When a symbiote offspring of Eddie Brock, AKA Venom, merges with serial killer Cletus Kasady, the result is the nightmarish murdering menace known as Carnage! Reborn from an alien creature, he's a more psychotic and dangerous being that spawns a family of symbiotes.

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