Since Eddie Brock became the Venom symbiote, he has been forging his path as a hero in his own way.
Venom began as a simple costume change for Spider-Man, but evolved into one of Marvel’s most popular and complex characters. From his humble beginnings as a black suit to his transformation into a key part of Spider-Man’s story, Eddie’s journey from villain to anti-hero to hero is a reflection of evolution and redemption in the Marvel Universe.
A journey of redemption in the Marvel Universe
The character wasn’t always the feared symbiote we all know today. His story started out surprisingly modestly. What began as a costume change for one of Marvel’s heroes eventually morphed into a new character who has been both a hero and a villain.
Spider-Man’s black suit made its first appearance in “Amazing Spider-Man” #252 in 1984. Originally, this costume change was planned for Marvel’s next big event, “Secret Wars.” However, this simple design would become an essential part of Spider-Man’s history, and give rise to one of Marvel’s most popular characters.
Marvel acquired the design for the black suit from a fan named Randy Schueller. No one could have imagined that this simple design would become so important to Spider-Man’s story, or give rise to a character as popular as Venom.
Early comics and evolution
The true transformation began when Spider-Man discovered that his new black suit was actually an alien symbiote. Desperate to get rid of it, Peter Parker went to a church where he used the bells to separate himself from the symbiote. It was at that church that Eddie, a humiliated and abandoned former photographer, became the symbiote’s new host. This bond was forged in a common hatred for Spider-Man, making Venom one of Spider-Man’s most dangerous enemies.
Venom quickly became one of Spider-Man’s most feared villains. Unlike other villains who sought wealth or power, the symbiote only wanted Spider-Man’s death. With its immunity to Peter’s spider-sense and its knowledge of his secret identity, Venom had all the tools to be the deadliest foe in Spider-Man’s rogues gallery.
The evolution towards a hero
Venom’s popularity led Marvel to give him his own limited series in 1992. In “Venom: Lethal Protector,” Eddie Brock returns to San Francisco and becomes the city’s lethal protector. Although Venom used lethal force against criminals, his main goal was to protect the innocent. This series further explored who Venom was when he wasn’t hunting down Spider-Man and placed him in unusual situations, such as discovering a hidden city beneath San Francisco.
Over the years, the character has evolved significantly. From being a ruthless villain, Eddie began to struggle with his morality, shifting from antihero to hero. This was clearly shown in Donny Cates’ 2016 series, where Venom finally becomes a hero and begins to control his worst impulses.
The black king
Today, Eddie has put his violent past behind him and embraced his role as a hero. With the support of his son Dylan and other heroes of the Marvel Universe, Venom has ascended to cosmic levels, becoming the King in Black and ruling nearly all of the symbiotes. His evolution from a brutal Spider-Man villain to a powerful hero is a testament to the character’s development and importance in the Marvel Universe.
Venom has come a long way since his humble beginnings, and his journey of redemption remains one of the most fascinating in comic book history. Now, Venom is not only one of the most powerful characters, but also one of the most complex and beloved by fans.
