Superhero comics and soap operas thrive on drama, and this includes relationship drama. It is rare for any power couple, even a popular one, to be allowed to stay together without any trials or tribulations. Such is the case with one duo, who Marvel fans have wanted to see reunited for some time. Unfortunately, Amazing Spider-Man #26 makes it clear this isn’t in the cards. Indeed, one half of the couple directly tells the other they “never want to see you again.”
Written by Joe Kelly, with art by Francesco Manna and Ed McGuinness. Amazing Spider-Man #26 continues Marvel’s Death Spiral crossover event. Most of the action follows Spider-Man as he chases down the serial killer called Torment. This task becomes doubly urgent when the symbiote Carnage bonds with Torment, and they go after the families of Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson.
At the same time, the Venom symbiote, Dylan Brock, and Mary Jane are rushing Eddie Brock to the hospital. Following the 2024 Marvel Venom War event, a fatally wounded Eddie bonded with an equally weak Carnage. He hoped to keep the psychotic symbiote in check, using it to target other killers.
Unfortunately, even this focus was one rule too many for Carnage, who sought out Torment while Eddie slept as an “upgrade.” Without Carnage, Eddie is on death’s door and desperate to make amends to everyone he wronged. This includes Dylan, Mary Jane (whom he tormented as Venom), and his longtime symbiote companion.
Why Venom calls it quits with Eddie Brock
Eddie Brock abandoned both his symbiote and his Dylan in his efforts to become the King in Black. This caused them a lot of physical and emotional torment at the hands of the villain Meridius, who was revealed as a future version of Eddie Brock. Even ignoring that, Eddie was far from a decent father or partner, and his apology is too little, too late.
Dylan questions Eddie’s statement that “next time I’ll get it right,” and how he seems to presume there will be a “next time.” Mary Jane is less subtle, outright calling Eddie out as an addict. She also compares his apologies to the worthless promises of her abusive father. The Venom symbiote is coldest of all, telling Eddie not to die because he doesn’t want to hear Spider-Man complain about it later.
Even with the myriad of Venom hosts over the past two decades of Marvel Comics, this revelation seems unlikely to stick. For better or worse, Eddie Brock is forever entwined with Venom, in adaptations if not the comics. Regardless, it is still shocking to see the Venom symbiote react with such indifference to its most beloved “other.”
Amazing Spider-Man #26 is now available wherever Marvel Comics are sold.
