When Marvel Comics released the first issue of All-New Venom, there were many mysteries in play. Chief along these was the identity of the new host of the Lethal Protector. Less important, but just as intriguing, was why the symbiote’s white emblem was now rendered in gold. Now, Marvel has revealed the reason and how it is tied to a new power for the anti-hero.
Written by Al Ewing, with art by Carlos Gomez, Venom #255 continues the Death Spiral crossover with Amazing Spider-Man. The storyline centers around a costumed serial killer dubbed Torment. Eddie Brock, currently bonded to the Carnage symbiote, has been trying to track Torment without success. This is because, unbeknownst to him, Carnage has been communicating with Torment. More, he has been slowly steering him towards Eddie, Peter Parker, and Mary Jane Watson.
Peter and Mary Jane are engaged in a similarly uncomfortable alliance, given MJ’s unwilling status as the current Venom host. Despite this, the two hit the streets together after Torment murdered classic Spider-Man villain Shocker. It is in the middle of this that the two former lovers discover Carnage, not knowing he is currently bonded to Eddie Brock. It is also at this moment that the symbiote reveals it has a plan to take down its psychotic child once and for all.
Venom is bonded to Anti-Carnage
Venom ambushes Carnage and begins beating him senseless as his fists turn gold and begin to glow. Venom explains that the golden bits of his current look are more than an aesthetic choice. They are all that remains of the Anti-Carnage left over after 2024’s Venom War.
Also known as Eganrac, Anti-Carnage is a magic metal created by a future version of Dylan Brock dubbed Old Man Dylan. Forged of his the blood of Molten Man, chaos magic, and Dwarven craftsmanship, Eganrac was specifically designed to poison the Carnage symbiote and its host. Old Man Dylan had enough to make two bullets, one of which he gave to Loki as payment for taking him to the Dwarven smiths that made Eganrac. The other was used to separate a young Dylan Brock from the Venom symbiote, thus averting the future that created Old Man Dylan.
The good news is that Venom survived his encounter with Eganrac and bonded with it. This made Venom’s touch absolutely toxic to Carnage and his host. The bad news is this also meant Venom nearly killed Eddie Brock, not knowing his “other” was currently bonded to Carnage.
Venom #255 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
