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 it, and one that might lead him down a journey of self-discovery even as it threatens his life.
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.
"Even Nerds Like to Feel Like a Badass Once in a While": Spider-Man Perfectly Sums Up Why He Loves His Iconic Black Suit
Spider-Man's darkest period was when he was bonded with the Venom symbiote, but Marvel is revealing why he really enjoyed his time in his black suit.
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
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, 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.
- NAME
- Venom (Symbiote), Eddie Brock (most prominent host)
- Alias
- Eddie Brock
- Created By
- David Michelinie, Todd McFarlane
- POWERS
- Superhuman strength, speed, agility, and endurance, Ability to cling to surfaces, Shape-shifting abilities (forming weapons, shields), Regeneration and healing factor, Immunity to Spider-Man's spider-sense, Enhanced senses, Able to produce webbing, Bonding with a host to share or amplify powers, Immunity to all Earthly diseases
- RELATIONSHIPS
- Eddie Brock (primary host and ally), Peter Parker/Spider-Man (initial enemy, later uneasy ally), Anne Weying (former wife of Eddie Brock and occasional host), Cletus Kasady/Carnage (offspring of the Venom symbiote and a deadly enemy)
- HISTORY
- The Venom symbiote is an alien organism that first bonded with Peter Parker (Spider-Man) during the "Secret Wars" storyline. After Parker rejected the symbiote, it found a new host in Eddie Brock, a disgraced journalist. The symbiote and Brock bonded over their mutual hatred for Spider-Man, becoming the anti-hero known as Venom. Over time, Venom has evolved from a villain to an anti-hero, often fighting alongside other heroes to protect innocents, though his methods remain brutal.
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
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 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) |
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- Alias
- Peter Parker, Ben Reilly, Otto Octavius, Yu Komori, Kaine Parker, Pavitr Prabhakar, William Braddock, Miles Morales, Kurt Wagner
- Created By
- Stan Lee, Steve Ditko
- Franchise
- Marvel, Spider-Man
- Race
- Human
- First Appearance
- Amazing Fantasy
- Alliance
- Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men, Secret Defenders, Future Foundation, Heroes for Hire, Mighty Avengers, New Avengers, Web-Warriors
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.
