By Joshua H. Stulman

Venom is perhaps the most successful villain to debut in the Amazing Spider-man comic series. The Venom Alien first appeared as a radical costume change for Spider-man. After several appearances the alien joined with washed up reporter, Eddie Brock, to become the spider-hating Venom!

In the mid ‘90s, Venom became so popular that Marvel began to feature him in a number of miniseries meant to transition him from villain to anti- hero. Since then, he has reverted to villain and back again-even joining the Guardians of the Galaxy. At one point Spider-Man’s best friend became Venom to work as a secret weapon for the United States military. But today Venom is back and coming out with a new movie on October 5th.

Here’s 10 great facts about Venom:

10. You Mean It’s Alive?!

In 1984, Marvel editor-in-chief, Jim Shooter was looking at new ways to raise revenue at Marvel. He came up with the Secret Wars, a story that would unite most of the Marvel universe for the first time. It would also be a springboard for shaking up the status quo of Marvel. Here, Magneto becomes good, Dr.Doom’s face is finally revealed, Thing quits the Fantastic Four and much more. One of the major changes was a complete redesign of Spider-Man’s costume. Because Spider-man is the Marvel mascot, any messing with the classic red and blues was major headlines. Shooter left the background story to the Spider-man editor/writers headed by Danny Fingeroth. The original Venom saga ran from Amazing Spiderman #252 to #259. And just like a Twilight Zone episode, at the conclusion fans were shocked to discover the costume was Alive!

9. Venom Was Meant To Be A Female

After the Venom symbiote returned to face Spider-Man on his own, Marvel was looking to bring it back with a new host. To help distinguish the character from the recent “Kraven’s Last Hunt” storyline that saw the villain assume the black Spider-man costume, writer David Michelinie wanted Venom to be female. The new motive for the Venom story would be about jealousy of the newly married Spider-Man. Some elements of this concept story remained and have been picked up by different writers over the years.

8. Venom’s Secret 1st Appearance

Venom was an instant hit with his debut in Amazing Spider-man #300 and cameos in #298 & #299. However co-creator, David Michelinie, snuck a rare Venom cameo as early as 1986. In two stories that Michelinie wrote, he included two separate scenes where Peter Parker is randomly attacked by an unknown assailant that doesn’t trigger his spider-sense. The scenes aren’t further addressed until the 1992 Spider-Man Annuals. Here Michelinie reveals that these were early Venom attacks. (Some more astute readers suspect that the later explanation from the annuals was Michelinie’s attempt to assert that he was the lone creator of Venom).

7. Venom Is A Mother!

Well if one Venom is so popular… how about another?! The son of Venom would eventually become known as Carnage, who debuted in Amazing Spider-Man 359-363. But his seeds were literally laid much earlier in Amazing Spider-Man 344 & 345. Here The Venom Alien breaks Eddie Brock out of jail and leaves something behind for his roommate Cletus Kassidy. Turns out the Venom Alien can reproduce asexually…. just like real life Hammerhead Sharks and Komodo Dragons.

6. There’s A Whole Planet Of Venom Symbiotes

Planet of the Symbiotes was a multipart story that ran during the Spider-Man Clone storyline. Here a whole ship full of Venom symbiotes arrive on earth and begin taking over. Everybody joins in to stop this very “alien” esque invasion.

5. So Who’s Eddie Brock?

While the concept of the alien costume becoming a villain was fooled around by a number of artists and writers (including John Byrne), Spider-Man writer, David Michelinie needed to develop his alter ego. After passing on a female counterpart, Michelinie came up with disgraced reporter, Eddie Brock. To explain Brock’s hatred of Spider-Man, Michelinie referred to a previous popular murder mystery called the “Death of Jean DeWolff” which ran in Spectacular Spider-Man #107-111. Here the police captain and close friend of Spider-Man is murdered. After several twists and turns, the murderer known as the Sin-Eater is revealed to be a fellow NYPD officer Stan Carter. Michelinie retroactively inserted Eddie Brock’s background as a rival reporter who publishes an article revealing the wrong identity of the serial killer. When Spider-Man solves the case it ruins Brock’s career.

4. Venom Cures Cancer

Over the years, the Venom Alien has possessed a number of different hosts. But it always has a soft spot for Eddie Brock. When Eddie rejects the Venom Alien, he discovers that he has terminal cancer. It seems the Venom Alien had been keeping the disease at bay all these years. Nearing death Eddie is ready to accept his fate when suddenly he is covered by a white symbiote offspring known as Anti-Venom, a mixture of the Venom Alien and Mr. Negative’s powers that in turn cures him of the diseases.

3. Venom Is An Avenger

Villain turned anti-hero, there is something a little unsettling about Venom’s methods that are very un-heroic. However, when the Venom Alien is used by the United States. Venom finds himself merged with wounded warrior and #1 Spiderman fan, Flash Thompson. Thompson as Agent Venom joins the Avengers at Captain America’s behest, much to the current leader, Hawkeye’s, chagrin.

2. Venom Eats Brains

One of Venoms most famous lines is, “We want to eat your brains”. It was always a threat to Spider-Man. Turns out it actually has happened. In Venom: The Hunger series, the Venom Alien is left to its own and actually eats the brain of a thug. Go figure!

1. Venom Is In Love With Spider-Man

While Venom’s first appearance saw Spider-Man face a stronger more lethal version of an enemy with his powers, it was Venom’s second story in Amazing Spiderman  # 315-317. That is a real heart breaker. The conclusion centers on the Venom Alien’s jealousy of the newly married Peter Parker. Venom sets out to destroy Spider-Man, but Parker realizes the Venom Alien is actually in love with him. The alien prefers Peter Parker to current host Eddie Brock. When Spider-Man offers himself up as host, the Venom Alien jumps at the chance trying to leave Brock for Parker. However the symbiote bond is too permanent and the attempt sever ties with Brock renders both unconscious.

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Joshua H. Stulman

Owner, BrooklynComicShop.com