Venom Unleashed #6: The big reveal and what comes next

The moment we’ve all been waiting for has arrived—All-New Venom has unmasked its host, and if you managed to avoid spoilers, you experienced the full impact of the reveal in issue #5. But just as one mystery closes, a new chapter begins. This month in Venom Unleashed, we break down the shocking revelation, examine what it means for the future of the character, and dive into the results of our latest fan polls.

Spoilers ahead for All-New Venom #5.

With Mary Jane Watson leading the pack in our final pre-reveal survey (narrowly edging out Robbie Robertson), we sat down with editor Jordan D. White to answer your questions and see how MJ became the new Venom, what went into crafting this twist, and how it reshapes the symbiote’s legacy. Plus, we get insights into what’s next for All-New Venom, including upcoming interactions with past symbiote hosts, the role of AIM, and whether a Venom & [Blank] team-up book could be in the cards.

From Al Ewing’s meticulous storytelling to the deeper implications of MJ’s bond with the symbiote, there’s a lot to unpack. So, let’s dive in—because if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that Venom’s story is just getting started.

Plus, exclusive art for All-New Venom #6 and Eddie Brock: Carnage #3!

AIPT: We’re back for the next edition, and we also now know who All-New Venom is, but wait, we have one last poll to look at before talking things over. The last fan survey results are in, and Mary Jane was the highest rated with over 17% (when you count the various ways you spelled her name), and Robbie Robertson was next at 14%!

First question, Jordan: Was Mary Jane always your first choice as the identity with this series pitch, and can you talk a little about what that conversation was like when MJ was chosen?

Jordan D. White: We started with the idea of a mystery host, and there was a dinner where we started throwing around ideas for who the host could be. So while we didn’t kick off the whole idea of the book with MJ in place, it was at that first planning dinner that we locked her in, and she’s been the center of the book ever since. What the conversation looked like…well, it started with just spitballing really random ideas, but once the idea of MJ came up, we started circling her until we could not deny it was the best idea.

I think, like a lot of really great ideas, the first reaction was “No! Obviously we cannot do that, that would never work!” But the more we thought about it, the more the reasons not to do it revealed themselves to be reasons TO do it. The things that made us say “No” were the very things that would be most interesting to explore for her character. And, as a fan of MJ since I was a kid, the idea of Al Ewing writing her was a HUGE thrill.

AIPT: Our next poll question was, “Which former Venom host are you most excited to see interact with the All-New Venom?”

With a whopping 17%, folks want Eddie to interact with new Venom. Peter and Flash Thompson were tied for second with 12%. Might you tease if we’ll see these interactions soon (or at some point)?

Jordan: I have good news for you–I know when every single one of those characters will be interacting with our new Venom. One will be very soon; one is a bit further off, but there are plans laid for every one of them. I cannot say I know when they will meet Mac Gargan or Zombiote Lee Price. Oh, and of course, I look forward to her continued interactions with Dylan Brock! 

AIPT: Last poll question, folks were asked: With Wolverine and Spider-Man getting a team up book, who would you think would work best in a Venom and [blank] team up book? Carnage was listed quite a few times, as well as Anti-Venom. A few more options I liked: 

• Venom & Juggernaut: Monstrosity
• I’d personally love to see an “Untold Tales of Venom and Nightcrawler”, for the sheer contrast between their respective approach to Catholic guilt.
• Wonder Man. Edgy ’90s antihero meets Silver Age-originating literal pacifist.

Jordan: I love Wonder Man, so that sounds like it would be a very good time. And honestly, the basics of SPIDER-MAN/VENOM (especially with the new reveal) and VENOM/ANTI-VENOM would be great. I miss Wade, so I would always be up for VENOM/DEADPOOL. You know, I think VENOM/HAWKEYE would be pretty cool, or even VENOM/THING? Oh, how about VENOM/HAN SOLO? Or maybe like VENOM/ONE-PIECE? Heck, what non-Marvel thing would all the readers most want to see Venom cross over with? I mean, I am confident I won’t be able to make it happen, but I am interested to hear! 

AIPT: Just one more question from AIPT, as we got well over 200 questions in the latest survey! Robbie Robertson works out details with Paul in the latest issue. As an editor, when working on a mystery/detective yarn like this, is it particularly tricky getting all the details right with the writer?

Jordan: Not when the writer is Al Ewing. This sort of mystery story is complicated–there is a lot the writer has to keep track of and know ahead of time so that all the clues can simultaneously point in the right direction AND still gently mislead the reader until the right moment, and Al did an AWESOME job of that.

If you go back and reread the series with the reveal in mind, you can see how it was all in there from the very beginning. And I THINK I was very careful, myself, to never say that the All-New Venom WAS one of the four suspects, just that those were DYLAN’S four suspects. It’s a fine distinction…but one that is true.

AIPT: I always appreciate readability in my comics!

For our first fan question, Y. Lu asks: Was there any character you guys really wanted as a Venom suspect but couldn’t use because they were unavailable?

Jordan: Very early on, I think both Kraven and Norman Osborn were names that we threw out that seemed really appealing. This was before the whole “Trial of Madame Masque” angle came about–Al came up with that as it was a great way to fit the four characters that we landed on.

But yeah–with Kraven, I think the main reason we didn’t go with it was that there have been stories about Kraven in a symbiote before. The same is true with Norman as well, and additionally, they had a lot of plans to use him in Amazing Spider-Man at the same time our book would be happening.

So those were early contenders that we abandoned. Rick was always a big one for me, so I was really glad he made the cut. 

AIPT: Personally I could see Kraven really rocking the symbiote.

Next up, Bizarnage has a solid question about naming: Hey, Jordan! Has there been any discussion on giving the Venom symbiote a name? I think back to how Michelinie, Remender, Costa, Cates, and others all had “Venom” being the entity that comprised the symbiote plus the host. Or are we sticking with “Venom” being the combined name and symbiote name? I love how less confusing newer symbiotes are making the naming conventions like Natasha + Sliver = Widow, Normie + Rascal = Red Goblin, and Kintaro + Clinter = Kid Venom.

Jordan: There has been discussion about the fact that Venom and Carnage are both the names of the symbiote AND the names of the combined entity…but I think it’s such an established thing that I think it would be more weird to change it at this point. In my mind, the large bulk of the symbiotes we all know stem from Venom, it was the first symbiote to become deeply bonded with a human…and I feel like it became more human the more that it became, and I think the more human it’s offspring became–not literally, but culturally and emotionally.

So when Venom bonded with Eddie, it didn’t understand the idea of itself having a self, it was just part of a bonded pair–hence “We are Venom.” But over time, the symbiote became more of a character on its own. And the later symbiotes started off more as their own characters.

So, yeah, I have thought about it, but I think Venom and Carnage are staying their names. 

AIPT: If the name sticks, right Jordan?

Hank wants to know: Does anyone currently hold the title of King in Black? Or is it just empty?

Jordan: Another great question that is one we have talked about very recently! I cannot give you too much of an answer on this right now as the answer is going to prove important to come upcoming stories. 

AIPT: I do love great questions, and certainly the next King in Black is a major arc on the way.

Wedding bells are in the air for Violet Storm who asks: Will there be a wedding anytime soon? Or at least some romance?

Jordan: You…you want MJ and Paul to get married? I mean, if we get enough fans calling for it, I am sure we can make it happen. Not a request I was expecting, but I will see what I can do. 

In all seriousness, there has been some big romance talk recently around these parts. I was trying to figure out a love interest for Dylan and was disappointed to find that MJ’s cousin Kristi was shown as being in college at one point–I thought she would have been a great love interest for him. 

AIPT: Big romance = excited.

Mike Hext wants to go back to the beginning for you, Jordan who asks: What was your favorite Venom story before this?

Jordan: Amazing Spider-Man #347, “The Boneyard Hop”. That’s the story where Venom gets Spider-Man on a deserted island and says neither leaves until one is dead. Spidey eventually tricks Venom into thinking he’s killed him, and Eddie and the symbiote decide to just retire and live on the island in peace as Peter sneaks away back to society. Hit at the right time for me, age-wise, and made Venom both SUPER cool to me and also kind of not that bad a guy? Like, he REALLY wanted Peter dead, but he wasn’t bad otherwise. 

AIPT: Dermie is the first to ask about this character: Is there any chance of Andi Benton turning up again sometime soon?

Jordan: I was very happy to have her in VENOM WAR: DEADPOOL recently and to get her a new design that wedded her new Silence identity with her older Mania look, which I missed. I think it turned out really cool. We don’t have any plans for her right this minute, but she is welcome back any time in my book.

AIPT: No plans. Got it.

Alexander asks: Since the Venom symbiote is no longer bonded with Eddie or Dylan at present, has the future of the Venomworld or the Eventuality becomes Anti-All and eliminates the Ninth Cosmos been changed at this point?

Jordan: I think the folks who saw those visions certainly would believe they’ve been averted–the thing they were told led to them was taken away. Is it as simple as that? That remains to be seen. Maybe we need to head back to the Eventuality to ask. 

AIPT: I love that we can ask cosmic questions regarding Venom but also hunker down in the street-level stuff.

Next up, Ol’ Monster-Face asks: Now that the real Venom host has been revealed, what was your favourite clue Al Ewing left in issues #1-4? And/or, what was your favourite red herring?

Jordan: My favorite clue was the couples counseling session that MJ missed because it was dropped so casually and felt very natural. It felt like just a piece of the MJ/Paul relationship plot because it WAS that, and therefore, it slipped under the radar as a Venom clue, the meeting they were late for. 

AIPT: Funny how that didn’t occur to me as a clue when I first read that!

Next, Joshua Aguilar asks: Hello Mr. White, hoping you’re well, my question for you is, now that we’ve seen Rick Jones as the new Agent Sleeper, is there a possibility of expanding this storyline with the appearance of a possible Agent Toxin or even a symbiote squad led by Flash Thompson/Agent Anti-Venom? Given Flash’s military background, seeing him command a tactical symbiote team could open up interesting narrative possibilities. Is that something the creative team has considered exploring? Thank you very much for your attention.

Jordan: Flash already has a gig working for S.C.A.R. while trying to keep his symbiotic allies safe from his co-workers. I actually wonder if Sleeper would take order from Flash? Not that Sleeper would not like or trust Flash…I just get the feeling that Sleeper thinks Sleeper knows best a lot of the time. Doesn’t feel like a big order follower. As for an Agent Toxin, that is an interesting idea–who knows what will happen when Toxin gets a new host…IF Toxin can get free and find one!

AIPT: Jonathan 1811 asks: Will the story with AIM continue even after the identity reveal?

Jordan: There will be more A.I.M. to come! 

AIPT: Andi question number two, incoming.

Twisted Lemon asks: We’ve seen a lot of the “guy” Symbiotes (Sleeper, Toxin; etc.) lately in All-New Venom, is there any plans for the girls to show up–such as Gemma Shin (Agony), Scream or Andi Benton in the future? 

Jordan: Another call for Andi! She’s got more fans out there than I realized! There is no plan for them right this second, but you do raise a good point. 

AIPT: Damian M asks: Will there be an expansion on how symbiotes are currently treated on Earth and will Venom be tackling that more directly?

Jordan: Yeah–S.C.A.R. has very big thoughts on how symbiotes should be treated, and they are for sure going to continue being part of our tale in ALL-NEW VENOM! They gave Flash an ultimatum he is going to need to deal with sooner than later… and they fully intend to rid the world of these gooballs one way or another! 

AIPT: Did anyone ask about Andi yet, cuz Clay K asks: What are the chances of us getting a Teen Titans like book with some young symbiote heroes?  A roster like Andi, Dylan, Normie, Bren, Sleeper. 

Jordan: A THIRD CALL FOR ANDI! This has gotta be a sign. I will see what I can do about getting Andi in a book somehow. Dylan is still a regular here, though he does not have powers so much right now. Normie is showcased in AVENGERS ACADEMY over on Marvel Unlimited. Bre has no symbiote anymore. And Sleeper is keeping on using Rick, as you shall soon see. So, no plans for them as a team right now…but we will keep tabs. 

AIPT: Fans of X-Men Monday will know all about Nacho Teso’s question who needs to know: Do you still play the ukulele? Would Venom be a good ukulele player?

Jordan: You know, with a symbiote, you could just…FORM a ukulele. Like, make the body and strings out of symbiote. Heck, you could probably change the notes of the strings by adjusting the thickness rather than using the fretboard. So yeah–I imagine it would be super easy for Venom to play the uke. As for whether I still do…I still am ABLE to, but I have not done it a lot recently. Just too busy hanging out with my kid and playing Minecraft. 

AIPT: Let’s end on the future. Jeffrey asks: What can we expect to see from the series in the coming year (and might this book have a crossover)?

Jordan: You can expect a lot more MJ now that we know it’s her inside the symbiote! You can expect more fun and intrigue, but you can also expect some darker turns!

You can expect a big Spidey villain to become a thorn in Venom’s side! And yes, you can expect a really awesome crossover that was planned out really well at a recent editorial summit! It’s going to be awesome, extremely dark, and I CANNOT wait to tell you all about it. But I cannot right now! 

Check out exclusive art below!

All-New Venom #6 art.

Eddie Brock: Carnage #3 art.

That’s a wrap on Venom Unleashed #6, but the column doesn’t end here. After you’ve read All-New Venom #5, take the fan survey below and ask your questions. Your question may be answered in the next edition!

If you can’t see the survey, click here.