After a nasty attack,Venomshows how creepy and intimidating its original form can be.Marvel’s All-New Venomhas enjoyed his time bonded to Mary Jane Watson, who has allowed him to develop his abilities even further than previous hosts.
As Doctor Octopus prepares to vivisect Rick Jones inAll-New Venom #9, Venom shocks Doc Ock with a replica of his cybernetic arms. However, Venom’s counterattack is interrupted by S.C.A.R. agents, who neutralize Venom with a chemical attack. The symbiote, losing its structure, becomes a liquid mess covering Mary Jane’s body. Still, MJ and Venom keep fighting.
Venom is unrecognizable after the attack, but he looks even scarier after losing his shape.
All-New Venom Looks More Intimidating Without His Iconic Eyes And Smile
All-New Venom#9; Written by Al Ewing; Art By Carlos Gómez
Although weakened, Venom is still able to disruptDoctor Octopus' enhanced appendages.Without eyes, mouth, muscles, and chest symbol, Venom reverts to a creepy mass of sentient black goo barely resembling a human being. Venom’s inexpressive appearance makes the symbiote feel like an unstoppable being with no goal other than survival, something even more menacing than his traditional devilish smile.
When they bond to a host,symbiotes usually adopt a consistently anthropomorphic appearance. However, their original liquid form is a terrifying concept all on its own. The idea of a liquid alien being sneaking up on its victims to attack or attach to them might be even scarier than a towering villain or anti-hero with bulging muscles and sharp fangs.
Venom Deserves A Major Appearance Overhaul Every Once In A While
Marvel Has Rarely Updated The Symbiote’s Design
Venom’s shapeshifting nature should make him one of the most visually versatile characters in Marvel Comics, yet Marvel has rarely taken full advantage of it. Ever since his introduction asSpider-Man’s black costumein 1984, the symbiote’s design has remained tethered to Spider-Man’s suit motifs. Even when bonded to entirely different hosts, Venom’s overall look has mostly stayed the same.
Marvel’s overreliance on the familiar Spider-Man-inspired design has limited Venom’s potential. When bonded to Mary Jane Watson, the symbiote has only slightly deviated from its standard form, with the addition of gold accents. Given his ability to change his shape and appearance, Marvel could be far more experimental with Venom’s look depending on the host, their personality, and their physical characteristics.
Albeit temporary,All-New Venom #9’s faceless symbiote is an eerie design that offers something fresh and unsettling. It proves that the symbiote could look radically different but still feel likeVenom. If Marvel embraced a similar approach more often, fans could see a variety of host-specific designs that refresh the symbiotes without them losing their core identity.
