Summary
InMarvel Comics, Venomstarted out as a part of Spider-Man’s lore. This alien symbiote corrupts its host, typically Peter Parker, with monstrous desires, monstrous actions, and in some iterations, monstrous dance moves. But over the years,Venom has become an important character in his own right.
In fact, Venom now has his own movie franchise starring the acclaimed Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock, the other individual who often has the alien symbiote attached to him. There have been many versions of Venom that show him both attached to a host he corrupts, or acting upon no one’s volition but his own. Throughout both the comics and film adaptations, these are the best.
5Venom Original
Peter Parker’s Mr. Hyde
Any list of Venom appearances has to require the most iconic iterations of the character. With the great powers thatthe Amazing Spider-Manalready possesses, interaction with the Venom symbiote will always lead to great power being used irresponsibly. Venom enhances Spider-Man’s abilities, giving him more strength, webbing, and swinging options. According to the movie, it also makes him more likely to walk down streets flicking gun fingers, flirtatious winks, and righteous dance moves at those who walk by.
Fans know that Spider-Man often holds back his strength when fighting, being capable of punching the jaws off of villains in the rare times he fights at full power. But with the venom symbiote, Spider-Man no longer has any reservations. If he needs to destroy a villain with violence, Venom’s influence will assure that he does. Venom’s taking Spider-Man as his host makes for an enhanced and more arrogant Peter, whose quickness to resort to violence and lack of a conscience allows him to be more effective in a fight — when he keeps a lid on it, at least. Spider-Man is the first and one of the greatest examples of how a person can change through combining with the alienmenace that is Venom.
4Agent Venom
The Flash Thompson Venom
Eugene “Flash” Thompsonis the classic archetype of the high school jock/bully that picks on the weaker, nerdier main character (in this case, Peter Parker) before the latter gains powers and a chance to stand up for themselves. Flash’s characterization often does not go further than this, especially in film or television adaptations of the characters. But a few times, the world of Eugene “Flash” Thompson is fleshed out, especially when he becomes Agent Venom.
When high school was over, this jock bully archetype became a soldier. He made a great name for himself, earning a Medal of Honor for a mission that unfortunately cost him his legs. After the tragedy, he was met with an even more intense life-changing event. He bonded with the Venom symbiote and went from being known as Flash Thompson to Agent Venom, a soldier who at some points tangled with the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy. This Venom-Flash combination possesses abilities such as super strength, organic webbing, spider sense and a symbiotic costume, making him a great soldier to have in a fight.
3Venom Deadpool
The Merc With A Symbiote
A man as wild as Deadpool is the last person who would need the Venom symbiote to corrupt him. Yet, this was exactly what happened in onebizarre What If? storyline. But Venom did not affect Deadpool in the way he usually affects his host. The ‘What If Deadpool Was Venom?’ storyline can be described as a series of entertaining yet nonsensical events.
First, Deadpool is hired by Galactus to kill The Beyonder, who attached MODOK to his backside with a ‘Retcon Expungifier.’ Unexpected events occur when a Spider-Man with Venom powers fights the Beyonder. In response, Spider-Man is attacked, which forces the Venom symbiote to separate from him and unite with Deadpool.
Venom Deadpool sells Tony Stark like he is a product, and tries to join multiple superhero teams but is rejected (apart from the Defenders, who he rejects in a humorous scene). He kills more people than he can count and, does a series of miscellaneous feats that are both amazing and strange. And as all of this is occurring, we have symbiote Jheri-Curls to look at too.
2Venom Thor
The God Of Symbiotes
The God of Thunder, Thor Odinson of Asgard, is not the type of individual one would expect to operate in the same story as the possessive alien symbiote that is Venom. But that is the case with Venom Thor, a mixture of two different and powerful beings that creates an even better form.
Thor Odinson of Earth-1089 is an example of another vastly powerful form being made as the result of a ‘What If?’. The adventures of this Venom are not as eccentric as those of the ‘What If?’ Deadpool-Venom combination, but the character was much more powerful. On this Earth, the Venom symbiote destroyed its typical host in Spider-Man. It attempted to bond permanently with Thor, but was not quite triumphant. Black Bolt eventually came into the fold and prevented a complete transformation from taking place.
Venom Thor was a dangerous sight. A creature corrupting a host with godly powers, able to summon lightning and wieldthe hammer of Mjölnircould have been a danger to the galaxy had it been allowed to stay within Thor and move forth with its desires. A symbiote-Asgardian amalgamation is one for the ages, the blackening symbiosis, red cape, and hammer being a symbol of destructive potential.
1God Of Light Venom
The Ultimate Venom
Although the last Venom could wield Mjölnir, this Venom could do so much more. Named the ‘God of Light Venom’ by fans in videos online, this Venom’s powers and capabilities far exceed any other Venom, and with ease.
The main villain during the King in Black storyline, this version of Venom appears, is Knull. Knull is an eldritch God with power of great and dark proportions, often referred to as Lord of the Abyss, Cosmic Satan, and of course, the King in Black. In this story, Knull has almost completely taken over the Earth with a symbiote army. Venom and Eddie Brock, the archetypal host of the symbiote, become separated. But fortunately, a part of Eddie’s mind is able to interact with the symbiote hivemind.Venom soon rages a fight against Knulland, soon after, is chosen to be the individual who wields the Enigma Force.
This is what makes this version of Venom so powerful. Within him, he holds the powers of both the symbiote and Captain Universe at the same time. He has the power to not only wield Mjölnir, but to use it in combination withSilver Surfer equipmentto create a devastating weapon of godly proportions. This Venom’s capabilities exceed any others by an unholy margin, using them to launch Knull into the sun.
