He has one of the most iconic names in the Marvel Comics universe. However, the origin of the name Venom is not exceptional. Find out where the name of the most cult symbiote in the entire Marvel Universe comes from.
Venom 2 is currently a hit in theaters
In 1984, Todd McFarlane and David Michelinie create a brand new character: the terrifying Venom. Its very first appearance dates back to the superb crossover Secret Wars, in which he is still only an “alien costume”. It was then necessary to wait until 1988 to see the symbiote Venom making its first appearance on planet Earth in the form we know it. It was during this time that he met Eddie Brock, his favorite host.
In the cinema, the character has appeared three times. The first time in 2007 in Spider-Man 3 in the guise of Topher Grace. It then took until 2018 to see the character return to the forefront in his own film, soberly titled Venom. Worn by Tom Hardy, the feature film grossed over $ 856 million in box office revenue. A score above expectations which pushes Sony to produce a sequel, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, released on October 20. This sequel, directed by Andy Serkis, is off to a great start at the box office, as it has already grossed over $ 397 million in revenue.
Where does its name come from?
He is certainly one of the coolest characters in all of Marvel Comics, not least thanks to his iconic name. But in fact, where does the name Venom come from?
To hear this special name for the first time, you have to go back to the magazine The Amazing Spider-Man # 300. It is in this episode that it is revealed thatEddie Brock is a former Daily Globe reporter, a rival newspaper of the Daily Bugle where Peter Parker works. Seeking to make a name for himself, Eddie Brock uses a false source that leads him to incriminate an innocent man in a series of murders. Spider-Man obviously catches the real killer, which discredits Eddie Brock’s word and legitimacy. The latter is therefore dismissed from his position, and blames Spider-Man for this affront. A story generally taken up by Sam Raimi in Spider-Man 3.
But the story in the comics doesn’t stop there. Unable to find work, Eddie is forced to write articles in tabloids. A new training that gave him the impression of writing “venom” (“venom” in English) permanently. Thus laying the foundations for his future pseudonym. At this same time, his wife decides to leave him (as it is a little told in Venom) and he learns he is terminally ill with cancer. Convinced that the whole world has it against him, he goes to a church and plans to kill himself. That’s when he crosses paths with Venom, recently abandoned by Spider-Man in this same church. A story once again taken up in Spider-Man 3. Venom and Eddie then decide to team up, having a common hatred towards the weaver.
Realizing that they need a recognizable name, the two friends then decide to take the nickname Venom, on the proposal of Eddie Brock. And there you have it for the little story of the birth of Venom and its emblematic name! In any case, Venom: Let There Be Carnage is still in the movies, the opportunity to meet the symbiote’s worst enemy: Carnage!
