Symbiote antihero Venom has always been a little weird and gross, and that's part of what makes him so interesting and/or terrifying. As the Venom War heats up, his appearance reaches new heights of horror, as seen in official Marvel variant covers, courtesy of superstar artist Peach Momoko.
The ultimate showdown of Daddy issues, Venom War started as a battle between Eddie Brock and his son, Dylan. Both Brocks have wielded the Venom symbiote, and each one believes the other will end the world if they bond with the symbiote once more.
Venom War #4 (2024) |
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| Release Date: |
November 6, 2024 |
| Writer: |
Al Ewing |
| Artist: |
Iban Coello |
| Cover Artist: |
Iban Coelo |
| Variant Covers: |
Peach Momoko, Chris Giarrusso, Joshua Cassara, John Giang, Clayton Crain |
Venoms versus Zombiotes! As the war for control of the Venom symbiote rages, the threat of the zombiote hordes has only grown – and now it is impossible to ignore! But that doesn’t mean the war is over…in this issue, another contender for champion is taken off the board! |
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Marvel's November solicits revealed the covers for the final two issues of the main Venom War miniseries, including variant covers in the beautiful yet frightening style of Peach Momoko. In both, the effects of the war can be seen on Venom himself, as he looks more bloated, misformed, and sinewy than ever.
Peach Momoko's Style Is Perfect for Venom
merged Marvel characters with Japanese folklore, called the "Momokoverse." These layers to her work make her a perfect artist for Venom, a character who is horrifying, but also can be funny, powerful, friendly, or even sexy.
Venom War #5 (2024) |
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| Release Date: |
November 27, 2024 |
| Writer: |
Al Ewing |
| Artist: |
Iban Coello |
| Cover Artist: |
Iban Coello |
| Variant Covers: |
Peach Momoko, Chris Giarrusso, Martin Coccolo, Kyle Hotz, Clayton Crain |
Who is the last Venom standing? There is just one battle remaining in the war for control of the Venom symbiote…and the victory leaves both host and symbiote forever changed! The time is nigh to end the war, decimate all the forces arrayed against them, and set the stage for an all-new Venom the likes of which no one has ever seen! |
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Venom War is also a great time to bring Peach Momoko in to work on him. Venom is being pulled in multiple directions, as his human friends fight over bonding with him, while there's an invasion of other, very strong symbiotes. That doesn't even get to zombiotes, a variant unleashed by an evil temporal version of Eddie Brock that not only takes over humans, but twists them into zombified monsters. Even Wolverine has fallen to one of these creatures, twisted into a terrifying alien killing machine. The entire story seems tailor-made for Peach Momoko's style.
This Version of Venom Would Never Make the MCU
While the Venom films have had their own fun and charm, they usually don't seriously engage with the horror of the character. Some of his scarier aspects are played for comedy, so even with all the CGI budget in the world, a version of Venom that resembles Peach Momoko's art isn't likely on screen. In many ways, that's what makes her art so special - it's not like anyone else's style, and it's not something you see in other types of media. Venom is a very malleable character, merging with many people and heroes, and only in her hands does his horror truly shine.
Venom War #4 will be released on November 6, and Venom War #5 will be released on November 27, from Marvel Comics.
- 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.
