Forget Venom, Marvel Gave Spider-Man a Better Symbiote Partner

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While Venom is famous for being Spider-Man’s original alien partner, a far more reliable ally has since emerged. It’s true that Venom made Spider-Man physically stronger and faster, and even improved his abilities in some ways. However, the dangers of the symbiote were too significant, leading Spider-Man to end their partnership long ago – though Venom still fondly remembers their time together. It’s interesting to consider how different things might have been if Spider-Man had teamed up with a more dependable partner from the start.

The mystery surrounding Spider-Man’s whereabouts may soon be solved. Following a brutal battle with the villain Hellgate, Peter Parker ventured into space, teaming up with the eccentric scientist Xanto Starblood. Their goal was to enhance Spider-Man’s abilities so he could return to Earth. Peter received the Technarachnid Suit, a powerful costume with qualities similar to a symbiote, to help him. Now, he’s learning the suit’s true origins and encountering a potential ally who surpasses even Venom in their capacity to help him.

Spider-Man’s New Ally Glitch is the Partner Venom Never Was

In The Amazing Spider-Man #15, Joe Kelly and Emilio Laiso continue Peter Parker’s spacefaring journey. To help Rocket Raccoon settle a huge debt, Spider-Man is forced to compete in an intergalactic pay-per-view fight against a colossal monster named ‘Betty.’ The battle begins, and Spider-Man performs well, primarily due to the advanced Technarachnid suit. However, the suit’s realistic features and the announcer’s words lead Peter to a shocking discovery: the suit isn’t just a shell, but a living creature being controlled by modifications made by Xanto.

Peter intentionally releases the alien creature he’s bonded with and restarts his Spider-Man suit, briefly causing everything to go dark. This allows their minds to connect, and they share memories with each other. Peter learns the alien was originally part of a collective intelligence called the Technarchy, but broke away and spent centuries alone before being captured by Xanto and transformed into a weapon. Once the reboot is complete, the alien introduces itself as Glitch. Instead of becoming Peter’s costume again, Glitch provides him with a different, weaker suit.

Chaos erupts when Rocket and Peter’s team find themselves in a brawl within the gladiator arena. Luckily, Glitch is able to reach Betty and convince her to help them escape. Peter and Xanto go back to the lab to resume their efforts to enhance Spider-Man’s powers. Xanto insists that Glitch agreed to be part of the experiments, but Spider-Man won’t allow anyone to be controlled against their will. Glitch, now free for the first time in years, begins to understand what his newfound independence means.

Glitch is Already Leaps and Bounds Better Than a Symbiote

Although symbiotes are popular, I’ve never been a big fan. They look impressive, but I’ve always been bothered by the unhealthy, dependent relationships they have with their hosts. While Marvel has improved how they portray symbiotes, I still remember all the trouble Venom caused Spider-Man, and that’s kept me from liking them. However, I think the character Glitch is different – it avoids the issues I had with Venom, and that makes it a more compelling character.

Glitch can connect with others, even sharing thoughts like the symbiots, but he doesn’t actively seek those connections. Unlike symbiots, who need hosts to survive, Glitch finds his connection with Peter annoying and prefers to be independent. He doesn’t enjoy sharing Spider-Man’s memories and would rather be on his own. While symbiots are pushy and demanding, Glitch is much more relaxed and easygoing.

The main challenge is that Glitch is hesitant to bond with a host, which is natural after being held captive for so long. Unlike Venom, they’re not quick to jump into a partnership. However, they are willing to work with Spider-Man—they even created a suit for him! They just need clear boundaries and respect for their personal space. This sets the stage for a much healthier relationship than Peter ever had with Venom, or any symbiote for that matter.

Honestly, I don’t see Peter and whoever he’s with sticking together for long. He seems to be just drifting in space until he has to deal with Hellgate again. But I’m really excited about the potential team-up between Spider-Man and Glitch! It feels like a much healthier dynamic than what we saw with Venom, and could really help Spider-Man grow. I know Spider-Man’s stuck out there in space right now, and maybe this is only temporary, but they could be an amazing duo while it lasts.

https://comicbook.com/comics/news/most-powerful-symbiotes-ranked-marvel-comics-venom/embed/#

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2025-11-07 17:12