Welcome to a milestone edition of Venom Unleashed! In our 10th column, we’re celebrating with a fan-fueled Q&A with Venom editor Jordan D. White, exclusive art, and more. From multiversal threats to symbiote fashion choices, Jordan tackles your burning questions head-on, no matter how cosmic, creepy, or cocoa-themed they may be.
In this edition, we break down the results of our latest fan survey, tease a shocking MJ transformation in Venom #251, and explore what Knull’s return means for the Marvel Universe at large. Jordan also weighs in on Gwenpool hypotheticals, the emotional toll of symbiote bonding, and whether Venom really would enjoy a nice hot cocoa with marshmallows.
Whether you’re here for lore deep-dives or want to know what’s on Venom’s playlist, this anniversary column has something for every kind of symbiote fan. Oh, and don’t forget to pick up All-New Venom #9 out in comic shops today!
Let’s dive in, fangs first.
AIPT: Jordan, happy 10th column anniversary (ever!). Let’s kick things off with the fan survey results. For the first question:
It looks like fans are split, but leaning slightly toward complexity: 52% want a mix of evil and emotional depth, while 48% still love pure cosmic horror. How do you and the creative team balance that tension in current or upcoming Venom arcs?
Jordan: I feel like I spend a lot of time heaping praise on Al Ewing, but…I think he is very much a master of giving characters emotional depth. That is absolutely one of his strengths. So I think we will absolutely see that in the upcoming arcs all the time.
But from Knull? Look at your question–talking about a “hint of HUMANITY”?!? Knull is not human and is offended that you would want him to be.
AIPT: For the second poll, fans had a clear favorite for MJ’s symbiote direction: Over a third voted for “wings, big horror-dragon energy.”
Both stealth mode and full mech options tied at 18.8%. Are there any upcoming plans to explore more functional or tactical transformations, especially as MJ asserts more control?
Jordan: I just read a script this week with a VERY unexpected transformation in it, and it’s NONE of these options. Well, it’s sort of CLOSE to one of them, but the point of it is very different from what was intended here. It’s in VENOM 251–we shall see if you remember this and guess what I am referring to. But yeah–MJ has certainly got a lot of imagination when it comes to the symbiote, and she will continue to bring things out of it!
AIPT: Okay, fan survey portion over, let’s talk All-New Venom #9 (out today!), starting with Flash—
The next issue of All-New Venom sees Toxin bonding with Flash Thompson. Do you see this shaping Flash’s identity moving forward, or maybe this is just a one-off joining?
Jordan: Well–Flash has Anti-Venom flowing through his veins, so he cannot bond with Toxin long-term. It’s a one-off for now. But that is a heck of a look when he does it, isn’t it?
AIPT: And on the MJ front:
We also see MJ officially ending things with Paul. What made now the right time to close that chapter, and how does this shift her role and emotional focus within the Venom title going forward?
Jordan: I think things have been building between MJ and Paul for a long time. Their relationship was founded on a trauma bonding, and they now live in a completely different and safer world than the one they came together in, they have lost the “children” they were helping together…and things have only gotten more complicated from there. MJ is tired of pretending everything is ok and avoiding the problem. It was time to tackle it head-on.
Paul came in thinking he needed to fix things…and he was wrong; it was too late. Things were broken beyond repair, if they ever had truly been repairable at all. As for what it means going forward…that is something that shall be revealed as we go forward. But it is going to have a significant impact.
Everything is not okay…anymore!
Courtesy Marvel
AIPT: Thanks for the honest answer, Jordan! Now, let’s dive into your fan questions!
BIG PICTURE / LORE & WORLDBUILDING
AIPT: Richard Newby kicks things off with a big-picture multiversal concern:
We learned from the Eventuality in Ewing’s previous run of Venom that the purpose of the King in Black, as ordained by the Celestials, is to maintain the multiverse. So now that no one is currently the King in Black, how is that impacting the multiverse, and will we see any ramifications of that when Knull returns?
Jordan: You’re asking the right kind of questions–the same kind that we asked ourselves when planning out the stories from here. Let me twist your question on its head a little bit, though–is no one currently the King in Black? Are you sure? What WOULD happen if there was NO ONE in that position, no one at all?
Courtesy Marvel
AIPT: Kiekan returns with a deep-dive into symbiote lore:
With Knull’s return teased for Venom #250, will there be opportunities to further expand symbiote lore—specifically around symbiote societal structures? Over the years, we’ve seen glimpses of various factions, from Knull’s cult to the Space Knights’ cover-up efforts, and even the symbiotes introduced way back in the 90s Planet of the Symbiotes super specials. Are there plans to explore how these different sects coexist or interact, if at all?
Jordan: I will be honest with you–that is not one of our priorities right this second. I think, though, that Knull being back wouldn’t give a TON of time to explore that, as Knull would want symbiotes back under his thrall. Those were all things that developed while he was locked in his “Klynta,r” and they were left to their own devices, no?
Honestly–anything is possible, there is a story coming up that I know if going to involve more symbiotes in a larger way, so it could happen. But right now, I think we are more being driven by the psychological approach than the sociological.
AIPT: Draconian6 has Gwen on their mind as the rematch with Knull looms:
Will Ghost Spider have a role to play in the rematch against Knull? We know that she no longer has a symbiote, but it seems her symbiote may be stalking her. Unless it’s something else?
Jordan: If you mean in Venom 250, then no, Gwen is not gonna be there. But Knull might just be around for longer than that…and there is a much better chance that she could be dragged into the fight the longer he sticks around. As for her symbiote…check out ALL-NEW SPIDER-GWEN to see what it’s up to!
Coming August 20th.
Courtesy Marvel
AIPT: Aaron Jameson takes us back to Bellow Place:
Is it possible to see Rick Jones and Sleeper in a solo story, perhaps returning to Bellow Place?
Jordan: No plans for a Rick/Sleeper spin-off right this moment, but keep asking, and you never know what can occur. Rick has been so many things; he should have a crack at being a symbiote hero!
AIPT: Christian S is curious about cross-title creativity:
If you could bring one concept from your time on the X-titles into the Venom sphere, what would it be?
Jordan: Interesting. The two could not be much more different–in many ways, my favorite things about my time on X are so completely other from what makes Venom comics work, it’s bananas. I mean…do we want to explore the politics of nation-building through a symbiotic nation?
I sort of feel like that isn’t actually a book Venom fans would want, myself included? But I could see taking the idea that the book shifts from being a superhero book to a broader sci-fi series. I mean, honestly, the idea of symbiotes completely changing the world could be a pretty big one. It’s not something we’re planning to do right now, but maybe someday.
CODENAME: CODEX / IDENTITY & PSYCHOLOGY
AIPT: Kiekan is digging into MJ’s relationship with the symbiote:
Over the years, Marvel has explored the power dynamics between symbiotes and their hosts—stories like Separation Anxiety and Planet of the Symbiotes from the 90s touched on who’s really in control. With MJ now bonded to the symbiote, will we see a deeper look into that dynamic—specifically, how much control MJ retains, whether she fears being influenced, and how the symbiote feels when it’s not in charge?
Jordan: There is a conversation about this next issue–how is that for service?
Venom and MJ, by Mark Brooks.
Courtesy Marvel
AIPT: JoaoVenomfan31 wonders about the emotional impact of MJ’s bond:
Do the symbiote’s feelings and emotions affect MJ more than other hosts since they’re bonded on a molecular level?
Jordan: I don’t think so because, despite the extreme necessity and importance of their bond to their survival, on a mental/emotional level, they are resisting the fullness of the bond that the symbiote usually shares. More on this next issue as well.
KNULL, COSMIC HORROR, AND TWISTS OF FATE
AIPT: Hank asks about where the tone of the book is headed:
Does Knull’s return signify a shift in the overall tone of the book? Is it departing from the current street-level hijinks back to cosmic horror?
Jordan: I don’t think the answer is as simple as that. Al has said that 250 is going to start a bit of a tonal shift, but don’t expect that MJ is moving to space or anything like that. Something begins in 250 that is going to lead somewhere big, but Venom is still going to be Webslinging through NYC as well. There is room for both in the book.
AIPT: SSG-03 goes dark with a hypothetical twist:
What happens if MJ went with Carnage instead of Venom?
Jordan: That would be an interesting question, and I wonder if we might see it someday! Carnage likes redheads.
Carnage and MJ, art by David Nakayama.
Courtesy Marvel
AIPT: Tim is revisiting a fan-favorite era:
What are your feelings on the Space Knight era of Flash-Venom? Which symbiote do you feel would be the most interesting to have in that role?
Jordan: I enjoyed it well enough, but I do think it may have been a little more of a departure from the core of what made Venom popular than was advisable, long-term. Honestly, I think the idea has a lot of value, but as for which symbiote should be featured there, I suspect it might be best for a line of symbiotes NOT derived from the Venom line. Like–the Venom line of symbiotes are all caught up in very Venom-y things, and that is probably as it should be…but that doesn’t mean there couldn’t or even shouldn’t be a whole other slew of symbiotes out there serving as a Space Knight fleet.
ALL-NEW VENOM SUPPORTING CAST?
AIPT: Mike asks with a casting question:
The Avengers drafted Storm to their team, and the interactions with different characters have been very interesting. What’s one character from a different corner you’d like to draft and be a part of MJ/Venom’s supporting cast?
Jordan: I mean, we literally have Rick Jones and Luke Cage in our book, so we sort of already did that. If we’re talking about random people that I want in more comics, I will always say Gwenpool. She is not going to be in this book, I don’t think, but I would always be happy to have her. Oh, since she knows all about Peter and MJ’s marriage, she could come in and tell them all about it! That could be fun.
Back in the day, I pitched doing a Marvel Legacy issue with Gwenpool and Gwen Stacy, where Poole is back in time and spends the whole time trying to make sure Stacy never sleeps with Norman Osborn.
Courtesy Marvel
RAPID-FIRE & PERSONALITY PICKS
AIPT: Blueknight asks the most fashion-forward question of the bunch:
Considering MJ is a Fashionista, I’m kinda surprised she hasn’t taken advantage of the symbiote’s ability to look like any form of clothes yet. Do you plan to do any of that in the future?
Jordan: My read is that she is still too uncomfortable with it. I think that is something that hosts do when they have embraced the symbiote, and I think MJ still looks at it as a necessary evil. The awesome new things she has been doing with it have been on the hero side, but I think she wants to keep it out of her personal life. We shall see how that goes.
AIPT: CloudFlower’s got cozy vibes in mind:
Venom’s favorite beverage: hot cocoa? with müshmallows.. shaped like stars
Jordan: Not really a question, but I like it. Can someone do an homage to the J Scott Campbell AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #601 cover with Venom drinking hot cocoa?
It ain’t much, but it’s honest work.
Courtesy Marvel
AIPT: Mike Trobaugh closes us out with a musical twist:
When Venom is swinging through the city, which two songs are at the top of each of their playlists?
Jordan: Oh, dang, I feel like I am going to bomb this, but let’s give it a go. Let’s say MJ would be “After Midnight” by Chappel Roan–I think it reminds her of her carefree club days.
Meanwhile, only a month after the symbiote arrived on Earth back in 1984, Bruce Springsteen’s album Born in the USA was released, and its slew of hits became the soundtrack to the symbiote’s introduction to Earth music…so I am going to say it is rocking the title track from that as a nostalgia feel.
That’s a wrap on Venom Unleashed #10! Be sure to check out exclusive art below, and take part in the next edition by answering the fan survey below!
If you can’t see the fan survey, click here.
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