Every Animated Version of Marvel’s Venom Ranked (And #4 Is The Grossest)

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Over the last three decades, Marvel has introduced countless characters, but Venom consistently stands out as a fan favorite. Originally just a suit worn by Spider-Man, Venom has evolved into a popular character with his own extensive history. His success has led to hundreds of solo comic issues and a complex network of supporting characters and a continuously evolving, increasingly intense backstory.

As a huge Venom fan, it’s no surprise to me he’s become so popular across different platforms! Beyond the comics, he’s been playable in video games, starred in three blockbuster movies (grossing a massive $1.8 billion worldwide!), and popped up in tons of Marvel cartoons. I’ve been on the hunt for the *best* animated versions, the proper TV shows where Venom really shines. Lots of shows try their own take on him, which can be fun, but honestly, only a handful truly capture what makes the character special.

8) Venom in Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel

While this version of Venom looks the part that fans want, he doesn’t really add much to the story. Despite being voiced by the great Danny Trejo, Venom spends most of the special just standing around, occasionally hissing at the heroes, and teaming up with villains he wouldn’t normally associate with, like Red Skull and MODOK. There is one memorable moment – he steals hot dogs from Stan Lee during a musical number – which might make this version more appealing depending on your perspective.

7) Venom in Marvel Super Hero Adventures

Venom appears in this preschool cartoon just once, and while the episode is funny, it’s a very simplified take on the character. He shows up as a hotdog vendor and jumps between different people, causing playful trouble. It’s cute and lighthearted, but doesn’t offer the complex portrayal of Venom seen in other series. Considering the show is aimed at young children, it’s not surprising that this version of Venom is more silly than scary – there are no brains being eaten here!

6) Venom in Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers

This version of Venom doesn’t stick around for long, only showing up in two episodes. While he looks cool, he’s a disappointment because he lacks the traits fans love – like his fixation on Spider-Man or his tendency to act as a morally gray anti-hero. He briefly controls both Spider-Man and The Hulk, but is quickly defeated and forgotten.

5) Venom in Spectacular Spider-Man

Similar to the first Venom story, this one doesn’t quite have enough screen time to fully develop the character. However, the series offers a fresh take on Venom’s intense focus on Spider-Man. After Spider-Man separates from the symbiote, it finds a new host in Eddie Brock, who also harbors a strong dislike for Spider-Man and Peter Parker. Once bonded, Venom shares all of Peter’s confidential information with Eddie, and the two team up to make Peter’s life miserable.

This version of the character feels a bit too simple and lacks detail. While it fits the overall look of the series, it doesn’t quite do Venom’s design justice. Unfortunately, the series was cancelled before it could really explore the character’s potential, despite a strong start to the story.

4) Venom in Spider-Man Unlimited

The animated series *Spider-Man Unlimited* didn’t last long, but it stood out with its futuristic, cyberpunk style. What’s most important for fans, though, is that it really highlighted Venom. The show started with Spider-Man already having his powers and familiar enemies like Venom and Carnage. These two villainous symbiotes traveled to a different dimension called Counter Earth in a spaceship, and Spider-Man quickly followed to try and stop them.

This version of Venom stands out because of how truly repulsive it is. Instead of a typical sleek look, his symbiote appears as a shifting, gooey substance, almost like a lava lamp, that drips off him and seems to move on its own. This is a departure from previous animated versions of the character, and the unsettling design doesn’t stop there. He has naturally sharp teeth and frightening eyes, but also prominent bone structures that make him look incredibly powerful and intimidating. At one point, he even merges with Carnage, creating a monstrous, two-headed creature. While this is a fresh and unique take on Venom – still focused on defeating Spider-Man – not much of this version was actually shown.

3) Venom in Ultimate Spider-Man

I’m a big fan of this version of Venom! What really stands out to me is how well he fit into that whole interconnected universe of Marvel animated shows from around 2012. It was awesome seeing him pop up not just in *Ultimate Spider-Man*, but also in *Avengers Assemble* and even *Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.* – it really felt like one big, connected world!

What really makes this Venom stand out is that he appears in more episodes than any other animated version of the character – a total of four seasons! The show also took a very different approach to Venom’s backstory, creating him as a result of an experiment by Doc Ock using Spider-Man’s DNA. Throughout the series, he acts as both an enemy and an ally, offering a unique and unexpected take on the character that might surprise fans.

This version of Venom is unique because it’s shared by several different people, including Spider-Man, Harry Osborn, Scorpion, Nova, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, and even Flash Thompson, who became Agent Venom. Interestingly, despite all these hosts, Venom never actually bonded with its original host, Eddie Brock.

2) Venom in Marvel’s Spider-Man (2015)

The Venom featured in Marvel’s Spider-Man draws heavily from the rich backstory developed by Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman in the 2010s. This includes elements like the All-Black symbiote, various other symbiotes, the dragon-like Grendel, and even their home world, Klyntar. Venom appears frequently throughout the series-he even battles Thanos in the *Guardians of the Galaxy* cartoon-and ultimately serves as the main villain for multiple story arcs, including the show’s finale.

This version of Venom is incredibly versatile, shifting between his familiar muscular form and using his symbiote to change shape and create creepy, tentacle-like appendages. There’s a memorable scene where he even grows a huge mouth on his chest, sending out a long, thin tendril to try and grab Spider-Man. Overall, it’s a fantastic and often overlooked take on the character, though it doesn’t quite reach the top spot.

1) Venom in Spider-Man: The Animated Series

The Venom from *Spider-Man: The Animated Series* is widely considered the most memorable animated version of the character, and many fans still believe it’s the best. Despite not appearing in many episodes, this portrayal perfectly captures the classic Venom – a truly terrifying villain fueled by an intense hatred for Spider-Man. He’s physically Spider-Man’s match, and arguably even smarter, making him a compelling and visually striking villain, even for a cartoon.

The Venom symbiote in *Spider-Man: The Animated Series* delivers a particularly chilling line: “You know nothing about us, but we know everything about you. You’ll see us everywhere, even in your nightmares.”

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2025-09-27 17:42