Venom’s Origin Changes Forever, As Marvel Reveals the 2 Words That Bonded Him to Spider-Man

Warning! Contains spoilers for Venom War #1!

Of all the hosts that the Venom symbiote has had over the years, the one that it could never truly get over was Spider-Man. For decades, readers were left to speculate about exactly why the Venom symbiote couldn’t move past is bond with Spider-Man, but Marvel just revealed the two words that made Spider-Man such an important host.

Readers are finally given the answer in Venom War #1 by writer Al Ewing and artist Iban Coello. In this story, the Venom symbiote recounts its past, how its first host only wanted to wage war and used the Venom symbiote for horrific acts of war. The Venom symbiote was treated as nothing more than a weapon, and eventually began to believe that it might just be inherently bad.

This all changed when Peter Parker got the symbiote way back in Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #8 by Jim Shooter and Mike Zeck. In this story, Peter’s iconic spider suit is destroyed, and seeking a new one, he discovers the Venom symbiote. Believing it to be nothing more than a clothing replicator, Peter tries the now iconic black suit on, and his first words bind him to the Venom symbiote forever.

Spider-Man Always Knew The Venom Symbiote Wasn’t Bad

Venom War #1 by Al Ewing, Iban Coello, Frank D’Armata, Ariana Maher

When Peter first gets the black suit, he makes a simple throwaway remark that the suit is “not bad.” These two words are what bond Spider-Man and the symbiote forever. Regardless of how Peter might feel about the symbiote, the Venom symbiote will always want him as its host, because Peter is the only host it’s ever had that didn’t treat it like a weapon. During his brief time wearing the black suit, Spider-Man uses the Venom symbiote to save lives, to keep the people of New York City safe. This is the first time in the Venom symbiote’s life that it actually does something good, instead of simply causing destruction.

All the Venom symbiote’s hosts have used it to cause destruction in some way. Mac Gargan uses it during Dark Avengers and happily kills whatever person Norman Osborn lets him. Eddie Brock is by far the most destructive of the hosts. Peter is one of the few hosts who uses the Venom symbiote entirely selflessly. While characters like Flash Thompson certainly leave a positive impact on the Venom symbiote, it’s Peter who first shows Venom that it can be something more than a weapon, and that acknowledgment is something Venom has never forgotten.

Spider-Man Was The First Heroic Host Venom Had

The Venom symbiote has truly only ever wanted what is good for its host, but because most hosts use it for evil, it began to view itself as a weapon. It’s only after bonding with Peter that it finally begins to feel like a hero, which is why it’s so devastating when Peter becomes convinced the Venom symbiote is a malicious entity. No matter how many hosts that Venom has gone through, the words “not bad” will always draw it back to Peter Parker. While Eddie Brock is no doubt the most recognizable Venom host, Spider-Man will always be the best one.