Venomverse: 10 Best Venomized Marvel Characters, Ranked (According to Ranker)

Introduced as the “black suit” in The Amazing Spider-Man #252, the symbiote has become a slimy staple in the history of Marvel Comics. The proceeding issues would lead to the arrival of Venom, a hideous extraterrestrial parasite with an insatiable appetite. The anti-hero continued its meteoric rise in popularity as comic-book readers yearned for darker tales featuring their favorite characters since the success of Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns.

With the anticipated sequel Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse swinging its way into cinemas later this year, it’s worth mentioning that Spidey’s antithesis also exists across multiple dimensional planes. Even before the creation of the Venomverse, the symbiote certainly got around, forming an array of estranged relationships. According to Ranker, these have been a few memorably menacing Venomized characters to come into viscous fruition.

10 Dr. Otto Octavius (as Spider-Man)

When Doc Ock assumed the identity of Peter Parker after trading consciousnesses in the 2013 series The Superior Spider-Man, readers became entangled in the initially controversial spin. Even more absorbing was when Octavius (as Spider-Man) became attached to Flash Thompson’s symbiote.

Known canonically as “Superior Venom,” this increasingly strange hybrid breeds inner conflict as the symbiote latches on to Otto’s proclivity for criminality. Manifesting four extra limbs, Superior Venom eerily takes on cephalopodic physiology that simultaneously pays homage to the villainous host’s mechanical tentacles. Although defeated by the Avengers, Otto’s brief loss of control depicts the intense mental struggle exacerbated by the symbiote and its destructive aftermath.

9 Flash Thompson

Agent Venom has become a fan-favorite for exhibiting the symbiote’s ability to restore as well as redeem. The heavy influence of Spider-Man’s heroics inspired Peter Parker’s former bully, Eugene “Flash” Thompson, to enlist in the military. After sacrificing his legs in battle, the paralyzed veteran was selected as a part of Project: Rebirth 2.0.

Instead of receiving DNA from Steve Rogers, Flash is enhanced with a government-sanctioned symbiote. Their symbiotic relationship proves to be one of the most powerful as they establish strong mutual respect. Similar to Flash, Venom has had aspirations of being a hero, especially when attached to Peter. Together, Flash and Venom use their valiant chemistry to fight alongside the Secret Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy.

8 Devil Dinosaur

To save Devil from the clutches of Vincent Stegron and his army of lizard-human hybrids, the symbiote detached itself from Eddie Brock to form another carnivorous companionship. Featured in Venom (2016) #153, the Venomized mutant t-rex is a ferocious beast to behold with an interesting duality based on a shared behavioral attribute between the two beings.

Regardless of Stegron’s reptilian mind control, Devil is an incredibly loyal creature who fiercely shows his devotion for both Moon-Boy and Moon-Girl. This, in turn, leaves the crimson-colored dinosaur vulnerable to manipulation. However, the codependent natures of both Devil Dinosaur and the symbiote come together in unison to overpower Stegron.

7 Mac Gargan a.k.a Scorpion

After Eddie Brock passed away in Mark Millar’s Marvel Knights Spider-Man series, the symbiote desperately searched for a new host. Mac Gargan’s deranged dependency on the Scorpion alias made him the perfect candidate to bond with the symbiote when the unhinged criminal was separated from his notorious green bodysuit.

Based on their venomous hatred for the friendly neighborhood web-crawler, Gargan and the symbiote become one to form, arguably, the most disturbing version of the character. While retaining some of his previous villain traits, most notably his scorpion tail now molded by the amorphous goo, Gargan violently succumbs to the ravenous urges of the parasitic entity. The Venomized Mac joined the ranks of the Sinister Twelve forcing Spider-Man into his deadliest fight ever.

6 Groot

“I am Groot” evolves into “I am Venom” once the symbiote fastens to the cosmic bark of the anthropomorphic tree-like organism. When Flash Thompson a.k.a Agent Venom was chosen to be the Earth representative for the Guardians, the symbiote subsequently became homesick. After the symbiote was isolated and contained on the ship in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 #21, its desire to return to its homeworld, Klyntar, caused it to break loose and chaotically bind to the lovably curious Groot.

Venomized Groot is an awesome, monstrous creature who puts up a solid fight against the team onboard. Fusing with the symbiote, the qualities associated with the species, Flora Colossus, are enhanced resulting in one supremely invasive plant. The alien sycophant has even bonded with Baby Groot enabling him to sprout “Venom-fly traps” as seen in the animated Disney XD series Marvel’s Spider-Man: Maximum Venom.

5 Drax

The rage dwelling within Drax the Destroyer turns out to be highly compatible with Venom’s thirst for vengeance. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 #22 follows the symbiote in its search for both Klyntar and a host aboard the ship (now canonically known as the “Milano”), eventually slithering its way inside the grief-ridden warrior.

Created by the Titan god Kronos using the soul of a man whose family was slain by Thanos, this brooding reincarnation is a formidable killing machine in his own right. Drax is possessed by the tattoo-infused symbiote giving him shapeshifting abilities like bladed fists that compliment his weapons proficiency. Venom effortlessly adapts to Drax’s state of being, rendering them both a dangerous duo as they take down the remaining Guardians.

4 Eddie Brock

The toxic relationship between former journalist Eddie Brock and the symbiote is unquestionably iconic and, debatably, the most important. Eddie’s jealousy for coworker Peter Parker and the alien’s feeling of rejection towards Spider-Man inject depth into their parasitic alliance giving Venom status as one of the greatest in his respective Rogue’s Gallery.

Conceived by writer David Micheline and artist Todd McFarlane, the two creators worked off an idea by fan Randy Schueller to bring an edgier, black suit into the equation. The concept for the suit was eventually tweaked into a sentient being that could thrive off of innermost desires…and decapitated heads. Eddie’s preexisting mental conditions are worsened (or strengthened, depending on one’s perspective) as he becomes one with the grinning monster.

3 Red Hulk and Ghost Rider

When the demonic Blackheart unleashes the Nine Circles of Hell upon Earth, it’s up to the Circle of Four to seal the portal with the help of an anti-hero amalgamation. In a last-ditch effort, the team, consisting of Agent Venom, Red Hulk, X-23, and Ghost Rider (Alejandra Jones), is forced to use otherworldly methods.

The symbiote separates from Flash Thompson to fuse with both Red Hulk and the Spirit of Vengeance forming a most diabolical combination. Thaddeus Ross’s gamma-infected alter ego along with the possessive nature of both the Spirit and the symbiote completes this trifecta of other halves. With its flaming skull and oozing spikes that protrude from its massive crimson-blended body, the chain-wielding behemoth is a terrifying sight to behold.

2 Deadpool

An unhinged unity materializes as the symbiote transforms Wade Wilson into the merc with a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth. While an alternate Deadpool from Earth-90211 was partying with the omniscient antagonist Beyonder, the loquacious mutant merged with the symbiote following an encounter with Peter Parker.

Two negatives make a positive as “Venompool” turns to heroism, however, it proves to be too much of a good thing as the envious hybrid began eliminating other heroes to thin out the competition. Seeking therapy to combat feelings of emptiness, unfortunately, took an adverse effect on Venompool leading him to have a deadly existential crisis. Across the Venomverse, another apocalyptic event transpired around a variant of Venompool, who was recruited by a venomized Steve Rogers to fight in a war against the symbiote-assimilating organisms, the Poisons.

1 Wolverine

With Adamantium coursing through his bones, Logan is no stranger to having substances biologically compounded to him. Yet the only thing more fearsome than a virtually immortal mutant on a berserker warpath is one that is also infected with powerful alien abilities.

Both Logan and Venom share innate survival instincts that help them outlast a nuclear blast in Venom Vol. 1 #9. After the symbiote clone withstands radiation by fusing to cockroaches, it eventually connects with the Wolverine based on his aggressive nature and regenerative factor, considering him to be the ultimate match. In an alternate reality, featured in Edge of Venomverse Vol 1. #4, the symbiote attaches to Old Man Logan, feeding off of his intense, weathered fury, and solidifying him as an imposing resistance leader against the Poisons.

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