Back in 2018, writer and artist Carl Potts flipped Spider-Man’s moral compass in the fan-favorite What If Peter Parker Became the Punisher?, a bold one-shot that asked what would happen if great power came with too much responsibility. Now, seven years later, Potts revisits that haunting alternate universe in Venom: Black, White & Blood #3 with artist Damian Couceiro, reuniting his hardened Peter Parker with Gwen Stacy and introducing the most dangerous voice yet inside his head: the Venom symbiote.
In this exclusive AIPT interview, Potts discusses how the invitation to return came about, the toxic origins of his “false widow” twist, and the emotional tug-of-war between love, guilt, and vengeance that defines this version of Spider-Man. He also teases Gwen’s unexpected role in Peter’s struggle, and reveals how he envisioned a story that works as both a spiritual sequel and a chilling standalone.
What happens when the hero who vowed never to kill again merges with the symbiote that always wants to? Read on as Carl Potts dives deep into the making of “What If Peter Parker Became the Punisher?” — round two, and this time… it’s personal.
AIPT: It’s been seven years since What If Peter Parker Became the Punisher. What made now the right time to revisit that universe, and how did the invitation to return come about?
Carl Potts: Mark Basso was the editor of the What If Peter Parker Became the Punisher? issue. Based on my years of association with the Punisher character, Mark approached me with the concept. I had to come up with a rationale for how Peter could take that darker turn. I researched and found a spider species (the “false widow”) that is toxic and has a skull-like pattern on its abdomen. I made that toxic species the spider that gets irradiated and bites Peter, altering his personality enough to drive him down a darker path. The spider’s skull markings also influence Peter’s costume.
Based on the final scene, I had an idea of how to continue the story, but Marvel was not open to more Punisher-related content at the time.
A while back, Mark contacted me about using the What if? Peter is in a short story for a Venom: Black, White & Blood issue.
AIPT: In this new story, Peter has Gwen by his side and the Venom symbiote whispering in his ear. How did you approach showing his growth — or regression — from where we last saw him in 2018?
CP: The Venom: Black, White & Blood issue is an anthology, so I had less pages to tell the tale. That made it necessary to tightly focus on the heart of Peter’s conflict: His vow to Gwen to cease any super hero activities. Peter is successful in doing so until he is pulled into the Beyonder’s teleporter to take part in Secret Wars. During his time on Battleworld, the What If -? Peter merges with the Venom symbiote. The symbiote’s influence magnifies Peter’s desire to protect innocents and make sure those who threaten innocents are defeated in ways that permanently end their threat.
AIPT: The Venom symbiote represents that urge to punish, while Peter wrestles with his conscience. How did you find the right balance between the Spider-Man we know and the darker, more conflicted version that exists in this reality?
CP: He’s the same Peter from the first What If -? story, so there is still the influence of the radioactive toxin from the false widow spider bite. In the new tale, Peter’s internal struggle to maintain his vow to Gwen is greatly magnified by the symbiote’s presence.
AIPT: Gwen’s presence adds a new emotional layer to this “Punisher Peter” world. What role does she play in grounding or challenging Peter here, and how different is she from her main-universe counterpart?
CP: In this reality, Peter and Gwen have been happily married for a while and he’s managed to successfully check his impulses to put on the costume and severely punish evil doers. At the end of this new story, Gwen is given an even stronger motive to preserve her marriage, and she takes an active part in helping Peter deal with the symbiote.
AIPT: Venom: Black, White & Blood has a striking, stripped-down visual format. How did working within that black-and-white-and-red palette influence your writing and tone?
CP: Since only red/magenta ink would be used with solid black, I tried to describe scenes where the foreground, middle ground, and background planes could have visual contrast using that limited palette. Since I’m an artist and writer, I usually visualize scenes in my head as I write them, whether or not I’ll be drawing the story.
AIPT: Your original What If issue became a bit of a cult classic. Did fan reactions to that story shape how you approached this follow-up, or did you deliberately try to surprise them?
CP: I’m pleasantly surprised how many fans still approach me at conventions to say how much they enjoyed that Want If -? issue! Editor Mark Basso handed me the basic concept, and I think I managed to come up with an intriguing rationale for how Peter could go down that path.
The new tale adds the exciting element of the Venom symbiote. If I like a story I’ve created, I’m fairly confident that others will enjoy it as well. You can surprise readers by having something unexpected happen, or by how something they expect happens. The ideal is to surprise them on both fronts.
AIPT: If Peter Parker and Frank Castle ever sat down for a coffee, what do you think their small talk would sound like? (And who picks up the check?)
CP: I can’t see that situation happening without extreme extenuating circumstances forcing both characters to sip java together!
If they did meet like that, I expect it would be a short conversation! There is little for them to have a meeting of the minds about.
Castle picks up the check. Peter leaves a big tip.
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