10 Spider-Man Villains Who Need a Symbiote Upgrade

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The newest Venom has been revealed in the All-New Venom comic series, so check out that title for the new identity of the person who bonded the iconic symbiote. The new Venom brought back memories of past Spider-Man characters who bonded symbiotes, in and out of the comics. It also raised a question: Which villains should bond with symbiotes next?

Some of Spider-Man’s greatest villains have already bonded with symbiotes, such as Scorpion wearing Venom or Ben Reilly’s Sensational Spider-Man briefly bonding to become Spider-Carnage. Plenty of other Spider-Man foes deserve the power upgrades that symbiotes can offer, opening new doors for villains who may deserve a little more spotlight––and symbiotes draw a lot of attention these days.

10

Scorpion Could Bond To Venom Again

Mac Gargan has actually bonded with the Venom symbiote before. In one case, he became the newest version of Venom, just with an altered design. He later used the Venom symbiote to disguise himself as the black-suited Spider-Man in the Dark Reign era. He later used the symbiote to augment his Scorpion persona.

The Scorpion is one of Spider-Man’s earliest foes, but he’s fallen out of the spotlight in the last few decades. Scorpion is no longer a big threat, overshadowed by modern foes like Kindred. The Scorpion needs to permanently bond to another symbiote again to give him a power boost and elevate him to the A-tier of Spider-Man villains.

9

Doctor Octopus Could Become “Monster Ock” In Marvel Comics

Doctor Octopus has gone through a lot of changes in the past ten years. From his brain-swap in Superior Spider-Man to his role as Superior Octopus, to his eventual return to his original body, Doc Ock has served as both a great Spider-Man ally and the Web-Head’s greatest enemy. Doc Ock has actually bonded with a symbiote before… in the Spider-Man PS1 game.

In the final level of the game, Doc Ock bonds with the Carnage symbiote to become Monster Ock. Fans haven’t seen this fusion anywhere else, and Doctor Octopus deserves to bond with the Carnage symbiote again in comics, making the bond canon.

8

Electro Needs A Symbiote After Web Of Shadows

Like many of Spider-Man’s earlier foes, Electro just doesn’t steal the show quite like he used to. Newer villains like Kindred have eclipsed Electro, while classic villains like Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus have more longevity and better character development. Electro needs a symbiote to bond to in Marvel Comics.

A version of Electro has already bonded with a Venom symbiote in the Spider-Man: Web of Shadows game. When symbiotes invaded New York City, Electro was just one of many who bonded with them. The symbiotes gave him a power boost he sorely needed in modern Spidey comics.

7

Mysterio Bonded To Venom In Symbiote Spider-Man

During the Symbiote Spider-Man miniseries, the symbiote took control of Peter Parker’s body without Spider-Man’s knowledge. This led to a never-before-seen encounter with Mysterio that Peter didn’t remember. During the first miniseries, Mysterio actually bonded with the Venom symbiote.

The result was a Mysterio who had real power. The symbiote augments the abilities of its host, so it was able to make many of Mysterio’s illusions real. Whenever Mysterio gains real power, as he did in the Shattered Dimensions game, he instantly becomes one of the deadliest Spider-Man villains, and he deserves a permanent power boost that a symbiote could offer.

6

The Black Cat/Venom Fusion

Black Cat has worn several symbiotes, but usually on variant covers. Black Cat was also a main character in the Symbiote Spider-Man miniseries, which took readers back to the era when Peter Parker first wore the symbiote he acquired in Secret Wars. Black Cat deserves a symbiote upgrade, but would she use her new powers for good or evil?

The moral alignment of symbiotes is all over the place in modern comics. The all-new Venom is a hero, and Flash Thompson made Venom a good guy when he used the symbiote as Agent Venom. If Black Cat bonded with a symbiote, she’d likely still fight by Spider-Man’s side. Many artists would also love to design a Black Cat/symbiote hybrid costume.

5

Morbius, Vampire Symbiote

What would a vampire/symbiote fusion look like? Morbius is already powerful on his own, but a symbiote bond would make him one of Spider-Man’s strongest villains. Symbiotes come with their own list of weaknesses, such as fire and intense sounds, so there would be many ways to defeat the Morbius/symbiote hybrid.

The strengths of this bond would far outweigh the weaknesses. Marvel fans have never seen a fusion like this before, and the artistic possibilities are endless, giving artists a chance to design a new version of Venom and Carnage with vampiric fangs and claws.

4

Kingpin Could Rule An Empire Of Symbiotes

Kingpin doesn’t seem like the symbiote-bonding kind of villain, but people rarely choose to bond with symbiotes. The fusion usually happens out of necessity. Kingpin is a powerless human in an increasingly powerful world filled with heroes, so he may see a symbiote as a way to even the playing field.

In Spider-Man: Life Story, an older Peter Parker bonded with the Venom symbiote to strengthen himself and counteract his aging, slowing body. The Kingpin could bond with a symbiote for the same reasons, seeing it as a way to gain power so he could fully defeat heroes like Daredevil and Spider-Man in combat.

3

Hobgoblin Could Use A Venom Boost

In the “Go Down Swinging” arc, Dan Slott’s conclusion to his Amazing Spider-Man run, readers saw Norman Osborn bond with a symbiote, combining Green Goblin and Carnage into Red Goblin. The merger was unprecedented and created one of the coolest villain fusions.

How would a different Goblin look with a symbiote? The Hobgoblin usually doesn’t even use Goblin serum, so he could use a symbiote upgrade. The Hobgoblin could become the Orange Goblin with the right symbiote fusion, using a flaming symbiote sword reminiscent of the Necrosword.

2

Symbiote Inheritors Travel The Spider-Verse

Readers first met Morlun in the “Coming Home” arc when he hunted and nearly killed Spider-Man, introducing the concept of spider-totems and their power across the multiverse. Years later, Dan Slott introduced the Inheritors in the Spider-Verse comic event, a group of vampiric hunters who traveled the multiverse hunting variants of Spider-Man.

The Inheritors would be absolutely lethal with symbiotes on their side. They already hate Spider-Men, thirsting for their life force. Bonding to symbiotes would only give them more power, emboldening their multiversal hunts––and their unique designs would lead to some pretty cool new symbiote looks.

1

Chasm Already Became Spider-Carnage

Ben Reilly originally bonded with the Carnage symbiote following the events of the Clone Saga when he fought as the one and only Spider-Man (briefly). Spider-Carnage was so cool and unique that the design even made its way into Spider-Man: The Animated Series.

Now that Ben Reilly is a Spider-Man villain (again), he deserves to bond with a symbiote. His spider abilities and his demonic powers as Chasm would pair well with the strengths of a symbiote. With a boost from Carnage, for example, Chasm could become a powerful threat, just like Green Goblin and Carnage’s fusion, Red Goblin.

“}]] While villains like Doc Ock and Mysterio have previously bonded with the Venom symbiote, Spider-Man’s other foes would benefit from an alien costume.  Read More