Did Marvel Just Nerf Symbiotes? – Spider-Man 2099 Introduces the Perfect Anti-Venom Weapon

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Symbiote Spider-Man 2099! Symbiotes in Marvel Comics have always been presented as immensely powerful cosmic beings that even have the potential to reach godhood, though their power-scale seems to have been dialed back as of late in Spider-Man 2099 continuity with the introduction of a new anti-Venom weapon. So much so, in fact, that one would be right to question if the symbiotes just got permanently nerfed.

In a preview for Symbiote Spider-Man 2099 #3 by Peter David and Rogê Antônio, Miguel O’Hara has teamed up with Kron Stone in an utterly shocking move that seemingly goes against everything Miguel stands for. At least, it would, if Miguel wasn’t currently possessed by the offspring of the Venom symbiote – which, itself, has re-bonded to Stone (the original Venom 2099).

The two join forces after Stone barges into O’Hara’s office (since Miguel is the new CEO of Alchemax). Hoping to steer Stone in the right direction after mistakenly believing he has control over his own symbiote, Spider-Man agrees to team-up with Stone (who’s also his half-brother) if they leave the building together right then. However, on the way out, they were accosted in the hallway by Alchemex security, which used sonic weapons called Beta Blasters to incapacitate both Spider-Man and Venom like it was nothing.

Spider-Man 2099 Turned Venomized ‘Upgrades’ Into Massive ‘Downgrades’

It used to be that a symbiote attack could have meant the end of the world (as shown in the King In Black event), but now, with these Beta Blasters, it seems anyone can take down these historically vicious Spider-Man antagonists. The guards who used the Beta Blasters seemed shocked that they actually worked (which explains the ‘beta’ in the name), meaning this is a totally new invention in the Marvel Universe. However, while it may be new, it’s here now, which utterly upsets the balance of power in Marvel Comics lore.

Getting ‘Venomized’ in Marvel Comics was always synonymous with getting an upgrade. Even someone as virtually untouchable as Deadpool got even more powerful when he wore the Venom symbiote and became Venompool. However, with these new Beta Blasters floating around, anyone with a Venomized upgrade from this point forward would actually be getting a pretty significant downgrade. It doesn’t matter if the Venomized characters-in-question (like Deadpool) were already powerful, as they would suddenly become vulnerable to the Beta Blasters thanks to the symbiote they were wearing, making the symbiotes themselves utterly worthless – or, as previously put, ‘nerfed’.

Symbiotes Aren’t Totally Useless in Marvel Comics Canon – For 1 Important Reason

While the invention of these Beta Blasters seemed to have closed the door on the symbiotes’ collective future in Marvel Comics canon, that’s actually not the case for one reason: they were invented in 2099. The vast majority of Marvel Comics is set before the year 2099, and the fact that 2099 is more of an alternate universe rather than a potential future only separates these weapons further from Marvel’s main Earth-616 continuity. Therefore, while symbiotes might be nerfed in 2099, they’re still as deadly as ever in the prime Marvel Universe.

So, did Marvel just nerf symbiotes? Yes and no. However, that’s only assuming these Beta Blasters are able to put Spider-Man and Venom down for good, because if they can’t, then the answer is a resounding ‘no’. Although, it can’t be argued that the Beta Blaster is at least effective enough to combat Spider-Man 2099 and Venom, meaning it is still the perfect anti-symbiote weapon.

Symbiote Spider-Man 2099 #3 is available May 22, 2024.