When Marvel announced the new Web of Venom series, it hyped the mystery around its main character. The advance press confirmed the anti-hero was a symbiote, as the title suggested, but rather than being tied to Venom, this symbiote was said to have an association with Peter Parker and Spider-Man. Now, the origin of both the host and the symbiote has been revealed.
Written by Jordan Morris, with art by Luke Ross and Ramon Rosanas, Web of Venom #1 opens with the mystery anti-hero duo planning a jailbreak. It is immediately made clear that the bond between host and symbiote is still new. Still, they eventually agree to a plan trying to impersonate Spider-Man and convince the guards to release their target.
When that plan fails, the duo start fighting the guards. The symbiote explains it can reshape itself into nearly any weapon. This leads the host to start throwing boomerangs made of symbiote substance. This is the final clue to the host’s identity before a flashback reveals how he was bonded to a symbiote. It also reveals why he modeled his costume on Spider-Man, even before trying to impersonate him.
Who is the new Spider-Man symbiote anti-hero?
The host half of the new symbiote anti-hero is revealed as Fred Myers, aka Boomerang. First appearing in 1966’s Tales to Astonish #81, Myers was a disgraced professional baseball pitcher who turned to terrorism as part of the Secret Empire. While originally introduced to fight the Incredible Hulk, Boomerang would later join various incarnations of the Masters of Evil and Sinister Six. For the most part, however, he fought Spider-Man and, for a time, was Peter Parker’s roommate.
Boomerang was approached by fellow jobber supervillain, Overdrive, about a business opportunity. Specifically, how crime boss Tombstone was paying for low-level supervillains to get superpowers or have their powers enhanced. Reluctantly, he agreed to accompany Overdrive, only to get caught in the middle of an NYPD raid on the illegal lab. In the scuffle that ensued, a jar containing a symbiote broke, leaking onto Boomerang.
This symbiote, who is known only as Passenger, had been on Earth for over 200 years without ever making contact with an “other.” However, through the symbiote hive mind and contact with Boomerang, it knew all about Spider-Man, Venom, and Earth’s other superheroes. This led to it creating a new look with the musculature of Venom and the colors of Spidey. Boomerang was reluctant to permanently bond with Passenger, but agreed to give it a try long enough to rescue Overdrive from police custody.
The symbiote duo found their name in the midst of this mission of mercy. In reference to his return to supervillainy, Boomerang introduced himself to the other villains he helped escape as Comeback. It was a name Passenger approved of, saying it worked on many levels.
Web of Venom #1 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
