Sleeper: The Symbiote Ready to Out-Danger Carnage in Marvel’s Darkest Turn!

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In the latest issue #5 of All-New Venom, we’ve learned who the new Venom is, as this comic continues its mission of reshaping the symbiote realm within the Marvel Universe. Concurrently, it’s setting up a significant narrative involving a young symbiote. The series has unveiled a new entity called SCAR, an organization designed to manage and control symbiotes. Interestingly, Flash Thompson, Agent Venom, is secretly working for SCAR within their symbiote prison. He’s passing information to a symbiote known as Sleeper, the seventh offspring of the Venom symbiote. Sleeper has played a pivotal role in various symbiote conflicts over the past few years and appears to be growing increasingly agitated about the way other symbiotes are being treated.

In issue #4 of All-New Venom, it was unveiled that Sleeper is actually Rick Jones. Utilizing information gleaned from Agent Venom, he’s been orchestrating actions against any adversaries opposed to symbiotes. Yet, in issue #5 of All-New Venom, we witness the extreme lengths Sleeper will go to accomplish his objectives. Symbiotes have escalated into an unprecedented level of peril lately, with numerous ones obtaining divine powers akin to Knull and Venom. If Sleeper isn’t at that stage, his behavior hints towards the possibility of him transforming into a new Carnage – a symbiote indifferent to human lives.

Sleeper’s Actions Show a Disdain for Humanity

In issue #5 of the revamped Venom series, we learn more about the Sleeper symbiote. Firstly, it’s evident that Sleeper holds minimal regard for human beings, as shown when it seizes control of Rick Jones, rendering him unconscious and erasing his memories afterwards. Jones remains unaware of Sleeper’s actions and has no influence over them at all. This behavior is unusual among symbiotes who typically strive to form a bond with their hosts. Later in the issue, Sleeper manages to overcome MODOK by shooting him and taking control of his body. In an ethically questionable move, Sleeper decides to erase everyone’s memory of itself while Venom was discussing why such actions were wrong. Despite Venom’s objections, Sleeper carries out its plan, much like Ozymandias, and departs the scene, leaving Venom and its new host to ponder just how dangerous Sleeper truly is.

It’s straightforward to argue that Sleeper is vastly different from Carnage due to their actions. Unlike Carnage, who engages in widespread massacres of hundreds of people, Sleeper primarily erases people’s memories, including its own host. However, the use of mind control by Sleeper to conceal its existence and mission from society raises significant concerns about its regard for human life. Memory is a crucial aspect of our existence, and tampering with it can be as devastating as death. This disregard for the sanctity of memory suggests a dangerous disrespect for human lives that could potentially lead Sleeper to consider eliminating any who pose a threat to its secrets. Already viewing humanity’s actions as detrimental to their people, it wouldn’t be surprising if Sleeper came to see all humans as an obstacle that needs to be removed.

Sleeper Is on a Slippery Slope

Carnage’s warped ideology has driven him to murder nearly everyone in his vicinity. He displays a complete disregard for the lives of others and is infamous as one of the deadliest villains in the Marvel Universe. To say someone is heading down a path similar to Carnage is a grave warning, but Sleeper seems to be following that path. Sleeper operates under its own unique mandate; details about their mission are scarce, except for their conflict with SCAR, AIM, and those who pose a threat to symbiotes. It’s likely that Sleeper believes their actions are justified because they are protecting the symbiotes, which serves as a rationale for all their actions. If they are capable of wiping minds, it’s not a significant leap from taking lives.

Among the most potent and capable symbiotes currently in existence, Sleeper has an alarming ability that was recently displayed when he mind-controlled a group of humans merely because they had witnessed him battling MODOK, Madame Masque, and Venom. This act, which mimics Charles Xavier’s telepathic manipulation, is hard to justify due to its questionable morality. However, it appears that Sleeper does not view his victims as fellow humans, much like how Carnage disregards them – a chilling similarity.

All-New Venom #5 is on sale now.

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2025-04-06 15:40