Peter Parker, a.k.a. the Amazing Spider-Man, was the first person to bond with the Venom Symbiote. Next was Eddie Brock and, when Marvel Comics felt that character had run his course, the alien suit was passed to Mac Gargan and later "Agent Venom" Flash Thompson.
Eddie would eventually regain his alien other, though recent years have seen him become a true anti-hero (with the Venom Symbiote shown to have its own distinct personality, similar to what we've seen in the movies starring Tom Hardy).
Now, in the wake of Venom War - which has seen Eddie and his son, Dylan, butt heads - the Marvel Universe is getting an All-New Venom comic.
Al Ewing will write the series, while Carlos Gómez is on art duties; however, the biggest difference in All-New Venom will be that the Lethal Protector is getting a new host and an Earthbound story which brings the character back to his roots after years of cosmic, universe-altering adventures.
We don't know who the new Venom is yet, but according to Polygon, the book will introduce four possibilities: Robbie Robertson, Madame Masque, Rick Jones, and Luke Cage.
"I do like Rick Jones!" Ewing says. "Has the sidekick now graduated to main hero? That is the question. It’s good writing a version of Rick that has come through a lot of stuff and out the other side. This is a much more laid-back, joke-telling, wisecracking Rick than we’re used to from me."
"Madame Masque is another great suspect. She’s coming direct from the Gang War, which is where we last saw her in a Spidey context. She’s got plans," he continued. "Do those plans involve commandeering a symbiote? Do they involve getting revenge on other gangs in an identity which nobody would ever suspect? The ultimate mask for Madame Masque?"
"Robbie Robertson is somebody else who was touched by the big Gang War and Spidey. He’s never been tempted by power or superpowers. Has that changed after his son got so involved with the New York criminal underworld and falling in love with the Beetle? Does Robbie want to find a way to get things under control in a way that you know he can’t as a newspaper man?"
Ewing concluded by saying, "[We’ve] seen that Luke Cage has had trouble hitting the streets and doing what he loves to do while behind the desk of the mayor. Would this be a way to do that? Would this be a way to pull on another identity, kick the ass that he knows needs kicking, but in a capacity where he’s not dealing with it in an official capacity?"
"He doesn’t have to answer questions that he would if he went out on the streets in his mayor outfit and did what he used to do for the community. Maybe a symbiote is the perfect cover for him..."
Who do you think would be the best choice to suit up as Venom? Let us know your thoughts below and stay tuned for more on All-New Venom as we have it.