Are Symbiotes Marvel’s NEW Big Bad?

The highly anticipated fifth issue of “All-New Venom” promises to reveal the long-awaited identity of the new Venom, a character who has become one of Marvel’s key figures in recent years as symbiotes have grown increasingly significant within the Marvel Universe. Initially, there were four potential candidates for this role, but through the events of “All-New Venom,” that number has been gradually narrowed down. This series not only delves into the enigma surrounding the new Venom but also explores the global response to the growing symbiote menace on multiple fronts. Over the past few years, symbiotes have significantly altered the balance of power, particularly as more potent ones arrive on Earth and reproduce.

Over time, governments in the Marvel Universe have established an increasing number of covert organizations to tackle planetary perils. SHIELD was just the start; agencies like SWORD, HAMMER, ARMOR, and now SCAR have emerged. In All-New Venom, a new agency, SCAR, is introduced, as symbiotes pose a significant risk, suggesting imminent changes.

Symbiotes Have Become Exponentially More Dangerous

Historically, Symbiotes have posed a significant threat, yet their danger was somewhat contained due to limited numbers. Characters like Venom and Carnage, initially less powerful but still potent in one-on-one encounters, endangered New York City. However, only a few symbiotes existed, usually just one per character.

However, this balance shifted within the last decade, starting with the arrival of Gor the God-Killer. His All-Black the Necrosword was unveiled as a Symbiote, evolving over millennia into a weapon that absorbed the power of the gods it vanquished. This marked the emergence of symbiotes as a force beyond their previous capabilities. While Venom and Carnage were formidable threats, a symbiote capable of killing gods represented an entirely new level of danger. This paved the way for the character who would redefine the symbiotes’ potential threats — Knull.

As a devoted cinephile, I’ve witnessed Knull make his mark in “Thor: God of Thunder” and “Venom,” then face off against the Silver Surfer himself in “Silver Surfer: Black.” It was around this period that Carnage was resurrected, linking to Knull’s power, which ignited the saga known as “Absolute Carnage.” This event marked a significant expansion in the use of symbiotes, surpassing even the “Venom Bomb” from “Mighty Avengers,” which was merely a team book tale. The grand spectacle of “Absolute Carnage” was followed years later by Knull’s return in “King In Black.” In this storyline, the Earth was swarmed by billions of symbiotes, making them more prevalent than ever before. It appears that symbiotes have become a formidable force, capable of overwhelming everyone and placing them under control of whoever holds sway over these creatures. Such a state of affairs cannot be allowed to persist.

A Symbiote War?

In the novel, the freshly introduced Venom series has been subtly building up an intriguing plotline. Initially, we encounter SCAR, a secretive organization that focuses on developing weapons and containment facilities to combat the symbiotic threat. Interestingly, within the book’s narrative, Flash Thompson, who is now Agent Venom, operates covertly as an informant for symbiotes operating outside. This peculiar setup hints at an impending conflict between rogue symbiotes and the government force designed to quell them.

In the Marvel realm, Sentinels were fashioned to annihilate mutants. So, if there’s a group dedicated to combating symbiotes, it suggests that there are strong anti-symbiote factions at play. Is the series All-New Venom possibly leading towards a confrontation that could bring symbiotes back to the limelight in the Marvel Universe? There seems to be something brewing covertly, and the danger posed by symbiotes is just one aspect of this mysterious development.

All-New Venom #5 is on sale now.

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2025-04-03 06:10