As a long-time comic book enthusiast and film critic hailing from the bustling city of Gotham, I must say that the Venom franchise has certainly taken me by surprise. The way they’ve managed to breathe new life into a character so intrinsically tied to Spider-Man is nothing short of impressive.
In the absence of Spider-Man, “Venom” served as the cornerstone for Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, continuing the thematic threads from Marc Webb’s “Amazing Spider-Man” films and broadening the Spidey aspects on the silver screen. Starring Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock/Venom, this 2018 film established a direction for the entire franchise moving forward. Considered one of the best in the series, “Venom” demonstrated that the character of Venom could thrive independently from Spider-Man, who had joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The risk taken with “Venom” was well worth it, as the film grossed over $850 million at the box office against a budget of around $110-$116 million.
Reframing Venom as a unique spin on “The Odd Couple” with superhero flair – drawing inspiration from the cherished “Venom: Lethal Protector” comic books of the 1990s – was an innovative approach to reacquaint viewers with the character post his controversial appearance in “Spider-Man 3,” where Topher Grace portrayed the villain. Without Spider-Man, Venom had a chance to be a hero and he did not disappoint. Following the release of “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” in 2021, the “Venom” series is gearing up for its conclusion this fall with “Venom: The Last Dance.” This final installment will show our protagonist fleeing from not one, but two separate worlds. As we prepare for the finale, let’s revisit some intricate details that might have been overlooked during your first viewing of “Venom.”
A Jameson survives the crash
In a literal sense, “Venom” starts with a bang as the crash of the Life Foundation’s spacecraft claims all lives except for four alien lifeforms and one fortunate astronaut who is mysteriously infused with an alien symbiote. The incident takes place in Malaysia, and it catches the attention of Carlton Drake (played by Riz Ahmed) and his team stationed in San Francisco. They recognize the surviving astronaut as Jameson. This brief mention proves significant later in the film’s end credits, where we discover that his full name is J.J. Jameson III, portrayed by actor Chris O’Hara. If this connection to the Spider-Man universe seems deliberate, you are correct.
As a gamer, I’ve always been intrigued by the lore behind the iconic villain, Venom. In the original Marvel comics, it turns out that John Jameson, son of my boss J. Jonah Jameson at the Daily Bugle, is no stranger to space adventures. Though he’s not usually linked with Venom in the comic books, there’s a fascinating connection between them in an animated series storyline.
The Life Foundation has an unintended double meaning
Readers familiar with the “Venom: Lethal Protector” comic series will quickly identify the Life Foundation as a significant adversary in its early storyline. Interestingly, the name Life Foundation carries an unintended dual meaning that resonates with the 2017 movie “Life.” In essence, Carlton Drake’s quest to discover life in outer space and among stars mirrors the premise of this science fiction/horror film, even though they are not directly connected. During the production phase of “Life,” some fans speculated that it was a clandestine prequel to “Venom,” although both projects were produced by Sony.
Viewing the trailers for “Life,” where scenes from “Spider-Man 3” (which introduced the Venom character) were interspersed, and considering the plot of discovering a gooey alien lifeform that consumed those around it, led many to speculate that “Life” and “Venom” shared some connection. This theory gained more traction when it was revealed that the screenwriters for “Life,” Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese, had previously drafted a script for “Venom.” The duo humorously suggested that “Life” could be considered an unintentional prequel to “Venom,” although this was said in jest. However, with the release of “Venom” a year after the premiere of “Life,” and its villainous organization named the Life Foundation, it’s hard not to wish that this fan theory were accurate.
Drake’s desire to cure cancer calls back to a specific Marvel comic
When Eddie interviews Carlton Drake early on in the film, he passingly mentions that Drake, at only 19 years old, had discovered a gene therapy that tripled the life expectancy of those suffering from pancreatic cancer. It’s a small line that establishes Drake’s supposedly noble intentions with his vast wealth and resources. It also gives Eddie an opportunity to discuss Drake’s questionable experiments. While Drake began the Life Foundation as a means to reach for the stars, there’s no doubt that he sees the potential in the symbiotes’ healing properties as well, which can do everything from resetting and healing broken bones to (quite possibly) resurrecting the dead.
In comic books, there’s a significant link between the Venom character and cancer treatment. For instance, in Brian Michael Bendis’ “Ultimate Spider-Man” series, an altered origin story for a version of Venom from another universe suggests that Peter Parker’s and Eddie Brock’s fathers were researching a cure for cancer when they initially encountered the alien symbiote. Furthermore, in the main Marvel Universe, during the early 2000s, Eddie Brock was portrayed as having cancer, which the Venom symbiote is depicted as feeding on to amplify its power. However, the 2018 “Venom” series introduced a retcon where this cancer diagnosis was revealed to be a lie that the symbiote told Eddie to keep them together, which is quite confusing and complex.
There are sly references to Venom’s creators
It’s no wonder that the 2018 movie “Venom” includes numerous nods to the original Marvel comics. From Eddie Brock’s compassion towards homeless people to lines directly lifted from the source material (“Eyes, Lungs, Pancreas. So many snacks, so little time.”), the film offers plenty of Easter eggs for Marvel Comics fans. Even the most observant viewers might have missed a few subtleties, such as quick references to Venom’s creators. Did you spot the name of the law firm where Anne Weying (played by Michelle Williams) works? The firm is called Michelinie and McFarlane, which is a tribute to writer David Michelinie and artist Todd McFarlane, who jointly created Venom and his iconic appearance.
As a diehard Venom fan, I can’t help but notice another delightful Easter egg hidden within the comic’s narrative. During Eddie/Venom’s thrilling escape from the Life Foundation’s security team, they pass by the Schueller Building. But who was Schueller? Well, he was a passionate Marvel fan from Illinois who penned an idea for a stealth black costume for Spider-Man in the early ’80s. Although the origins of the suit in the comics differed significantly from the alien symbiote that eventually became Venom, Marvel’s then Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter purchased Schueller’s idea and, as fate would have it, Venom was born. Interestingly enough, the Venom character didn’t resonate with Schueller himself. As he put it in an interview for CBR in 2007, “I never took a liking to the costume-turned-villain concept.” Yet, he was ecstatic that his idea was utilized at all.
Venom’s craving for chocolate makes more sense now
In the movie, Venom swiftly emphasizes that the title character has a persistent appetite for human brains, which may be off-putting, but there’s a logical explanation behind it. It’s not simply an alien preference for the texture of brains, but rather a specific chemical they crave. Throughout the film, Venom frequently discusses consuming people, and indeed, he does consume a few heads during the storyline. However, at the end of the movie, Eddie manages to persuade Venom to stop eating human beings, or at least the decent ones. The symbiote agrees, albeit it later disregards this promise by devouring a thug who tries to extort protection money from Mrs. Chen (Peggy Lu).
In the movie “Venom: Let There Be Carnage”, it’s revealed that Venom develops a fondness for chocolate instead of brains, which is hinted at towards the end of the initial film. This preference arises due to both chocolate and human brains sharing a common chemical compound called phenethylamine, which can boost mood and concentration among other things. Interestingly, this concept also appears in Venom’s comic book history. At the conclusion of the four-part comic series “Venom: The Hunger”, Eddie Brock finds out that Venom can sustain itself just as effectively on chocolate as it can on human tissue. Eddie explains in “Venom: Sign of the Boss” #1 that it’s more socially acceptable and enjoyable to consume chocolate.
Venom calls Eddie a loser because he’s one too
As a gamer, I found myself deeply immersed in the world of “Venom”. Throughout the movie, this alien symbiote, Venom, constantly belittled Eddie for being a loser. He’d lost his fiancé, his job, his apartment, and now, with Venom along for the ride, he was losing his grip on reality too. Venom always found a chance to bring Eddie down a notch and assert dominance over him.
Unlike Riot and Carnage in later stories, Venom doesn’t fabricate weapons physically. Instead, he employs his tendrils or makeshift defenses during fights. In their final encounter, Riot acknowledges that Venom has a “powerful host,” suggesting that Eddie is the key to Venom’s ability to fight him effectively. It’s evident that on his home planet, Venom was somewhat subordinate to other symbiotes in control, and he doesn’t seem to struggle with his decision to abandon his people and live on Earth. Some Marvel comics hint at an intriguing truth about Venom: he is an outcast among the Klyntar, a fact that “Venom” himself embraced.
Stan Lee’s cameo hints at the Multiverse
Stan Lee’s memorable cameos, found in every Marvel film, are among their most delightful aspects. Ranging from portrayals of fictionalized versions of himself to live-action comic book characters, his roles never fail to impress. His brief scene in the 2018 movie “Venom” is no exception, as he advises both Eddie and Venom not to give up on Anne. This moment is heartwarming, but it also leaves us puzzled when considering the broader live-action Marvel universe context. What’s intriguing about this scene is that Lee appears to be aware that both Eddie Brock and Venom are sharing the same body – a detail we’re still trying to figure out.
In the 2017 Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film “Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2,” Stan Lee appears conversing with a cluster of Watchers, potentially hinting at his role as an informant for beings across multiple universes. This isn’t the only MCU link; in “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” Eddie and Venom make their way to the MCU, which directly connects to the post-credits scene from “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” Could it be that Stan Lee’s cameo as Venom was a foreshadowing of this multiversal crossover? Given his ties with the Watchers, such a notion doesn’t seem implausible and could provide a plausible explanation for how he knew about Venom’s presence at that moment. Even Venom himself appears taken aback by Lee recognizing his secretive whereabouts.
A deleted scene better explains Eddie’s career
In “Venom,” several scenes were removed before final editing, but one particular scene, titled “Ride to the Hospital,” offers a deeper understanding of Eddie Brock’s past and professional life. This deleted scene shows Eddie and Venom engaging in a heated argument inside a rideshare en route to meet Anne and her new partner, Dr. Dan Lewis (portrayed by Reid Scott). During their dispute, Eddie reveals an intriguing detail about his childhood: he admits that he used to steal other children’s toys not for personal gain, but to earn praise when he later returned them. Although this may appear insignificant, it sheds light on Eddie’s behavior at the film’s start, providing a more comprehensive backstory.
Given this new information, it appears that Eddie’s career decisions are driven more by self-interest rather than heroism. This is particularly evident when Eddie leverages Anne’s confidential legal documents to accuse Carlton Drake, which ultimately leads to both their dismissals. It’s no surprise that Anne ends their engagement, leaving Eddie to deal with the consequences of his actions. Unlike in his youth, Eddie can’t simply rectify things by correcting his initial mistakes. Instead, he must undergo a transformation and prioritize others over himself – a lesson that takes him much of the film to grasp.
Tom Hardy’s son was very critical of Venom
It can be challenging to portray a character from a comic book when your own child at home is deeply invested in the original source material. Tom Hardy experienced this firsthand while working on “Venom,” as his son is an avid fan of the Marvel comics. Before the film’s release, Hardy shared with SyFy that his son was very critical, but in a positive way. As someone who has read numerous Marvel comics, not just Venom, he had specific ideas about what needed to be done because it was faithful to the source material. In contrast, as an adult, Hardy felt it was crucial to make adjustments to the material to create fresh opportunities that might not have existed in the comic books.
Hardy emphasized that he doesn’t invent things about his son, stating that if it’s not in the comic book, it simply doesn’t exist for him. However, despite this, Hardy shared that his son was pleased with the final result, although he expressed firm opinions on how the character should be portrayed in future installments. This leaves us curious about whether some of the ideas behind “Let There Be Carnage” and the upcoming “The Last Dance” might have originated from Venom-related discussions at home between Hardy and his son.
There’s a real-life reason Anne doesn’t get back with Eddie
In the beginning of “Venom,” it isn’t shocking when Anne ends her relationship with Eddie because he manipulated her and cost her her dream job. As she explains, he exploited her. Seizing control over her life, Anne leaves Eddie, establishes her own home, starts dating a kind physician, and secures employment elsewhere. However, despite Eddie’s reappearance in Anne’s life, the movie doesn’t conclude with the main character winning back the love interest, and this was intentional.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Michelle Williams, famous for her roles in ‘Manchester by the Sea’ and ‘The Greatest Showman’, shared that when they were making ‘Venom’, she expressed to director Ruben Fleischer that she wanted the film to convey a sense of empowerment similar to the #MeToo movement. This desire was reflected in the character Anne, as she made sure Anne would have the same level of agency often missing from other female superhero characters. This choice undoubtedly led to Anne transforming into She-Venom during the climactic third act. Williams further explained that she wanted the story to subtly explore the current dynamics between men and women, and described working on ‘Venom’ as a fresh and enjoyable experience.
There is a rom-com reimagining of Venom
Following the debut of “Venom”, a lot of enthusiasts started discussing online the romantic duo named “SymBrock”, which refers to the relationship between Eddie and his alien symbiote. A line from the movie, “I am Venom and you are mine”, was understood by some in a more affectionate sense instead of the menacing one it was presented with. It didn’t take long for artwork depicting this pair to spread. Eventually, Sony recognized the free promotion and remade the “Venom” trailer ahead of its home video release in December.
Titled as the “Authentic ‘Rom-Com’ Preview,” the video lived up to viewers’ anticipations post its cinematic debut, echoing numerous romantic comedy tropes from the 2000s and 2010s. The 2021 sequel, “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” was similarly met with identical responses by audiences, being termed a “split-up movie.” As for the upcoming third part, “Venom: The Last Dance” – with its tagline reading “‘Til death do us part” – it appears that the Venom storyline will carry on these subtle (or perhaps not so discreet) romantic undercurrents in the future.
Venom still works without Spider-Man
It was hard for many people to accept the concept of Venom getting his own movie without Spider-Man being involved, given how closely connected Venom’s origins are with Spidey. The movie “Venom” provided an explanation that made it work, and created a unique version of the character that distinguished him from Spider-Man, even though Sony continued to label it as part of their Spider-Man universe. However, if you felt that something was missing from “Venom,” you weren’t alone. There were rumors circulating online that Tom Holland filmed a cameo for the movie, but director Ruben Fleischer clarified that wasn’t the case.
According to Fleischer, while we may have been anticipating Tom Holland’s presence in the movie, it never happened. However, “Venom” has linked with both the “Spider-Verse” series and the MCU, showing Holland’s Spidey on TV unmasked. Whether a version of Holland’s Spider-Man character is part of the complex SSU timeline or not, Venom and Eddie Brock are thriving independently. Of course, a confrontation with Spider-Man would be exciting, but Venom has established his own identity separate from his webslinging adversary.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-08-19 14:31