How Venom Became The Amazing Spider Man’s Best Friend in 1985

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Do you remember, as a kid (that assumes you being my age today, that is), tracking down that “black Spiderman costume” origin comic book back in the day? That origin was featured in Marvel’s Secret Wars #8, and it was always so expensive, especially for a early 1990’s middle school kid. A quick lesson for those much younger as to what constituted an “expensive” comic book: long before the days of the Web, there was a monthly published price guide called Wizard. If you wanted to know comic book prices, you could either a) sneak a quick peak at it if the issue was not in plastic wrap, or b) spend your hard earned cash to take it home to do some hardcore research. When you found something like Secret Wars and Wizard said it was estimated to be $20, the comic book shop was charging $25 for the back issue. Of course, if you took that comic book worth $20 to the local shop, you were offered $10. Sigh…the days before Ebay and web sites…I do miss them.

Well as fate once happened, one day in the mid-90’s, I did find an issue of Secret Wars #8. The issue was found at a local junk/flea market store, at half of the estimated price per Wizard! I was ecstatic; I’m sure I ran home, got whatever cash I had saved up (or begged my parents for a small loan), and flew back there on my bike to buy it before someone else discovered this buried treasure. As luck would have it, it was still there…and to this day, I still own it.

Flash forward +25 years, and this past Wednesday, I picked up this:.

This is a great story with some wonderful art. It takes place a) after our Marvel heroes return to Earth after the conflict with their enemies on a distant world, and b) after Peter Parker and Black Cat begin a romantic relationship. Peter Parker is still donning his new found black alien symbiote suit, and he and Black Cat have begun to return to dishing out justice on the criminal elements of New York City. Simple enough, right? The new and improved Spider Man is making the world a better place with an efficient new suit. Wrong.

This issue instantly takes on the perspective of the alien symbiote. What is the symbiote’s perspective’s tone? It’s scary…very, very scary.

We immediately learn of the thoughts of the symbiote and its new found “love” for the piece of meat that is Peter Parker. Peter is a lucky “friend” to the symbiote, as the symbiote feels Peter Parker’s meat sack is “brave and strong.” The problem, per the symbiote, is Peter’s emotions. The symbiote is tired of Parker’s worries about his job as a freelance photographer, his relationship with his aunt, his guilt regarding his uncle’s death, and his constant self-doubt regarding his bond with his soul mate: Mary Jane. What is the symbiote’s solution to this self-doubt and anxiety? The symbiote decides to attach itself to Parker while Parker is asleep, use his brave and strong meat, and let Peter’s brain rest. The symbiote wants very badly to make his new friend very proud.

The new and improved "symbiote" Spider Man then hunts crime for his beloved new “friend.” This symbiote controlled Spider Man is ruthless and vicious; no surprise given the symbiote’s eventual possession of Eddie Brock as Venom. We see

• Symbiote Spider Man punch in the face of a purse burglar

• Symbiote Spider Man kill four jewelry store robbers

• Kill at least three gang members in a street corner shoot out

• And almost beat the antagonist of the story, Hammerhead, to death

Peter Parker, despite sleeping through the bloodshed and violence, finally decides to have the Fantastic Four’s Reed Richards analyze the suit. After a battery of tests, the truth of the symbiote is revealed; the new improved suit is in fact an intelligent, parasitic, and sentient alien. The symbiote goes ballistic at Peter's understanding of his new suit, feels betrayed by his new found friend, and attempts to completely consume Peter Parker. Richards views the attempted possession take place as Peter screams in terror, uses an on-hand sonic blaster, and forces the symbiote off of Parker. The story ends with the symbiote once again caged and alone, kept at some unknown location within a glass chamber.

I thought this was a very well written comic book story. One almost feels sympathy for the alien being; despite being a vicious and psychotic parasite, the being is alone and caged. It's scared, insecure, and wants attachment with another living creature, and will do whatever it takes to make the host part of its long term life. Peter Parker is the perfect host, as he too is deeply scared, insecure, and unsure of the value of his existence and the consequences of his choices. He is the perfect, human superhero archetype; powerful yet deeply human. The symbiote is ultimately the dark shadow and obscure reflection of the human superhero Peter Parker. The symbiote is the antithesis; the cold, dark antihero lurking in the background, wanting acceptance and approval for it's existence too.

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I highly recommend this one to anyone curious about the upcoming Venom film to pick this one up ahead of time. It's a quick read, and the art is amazing. Thanks for checking this out, and let me know what you think of the comic or even the new film.