Venom Unleashed #15: Jordan D. White talks Death Spiral, MJ’s heroic turn, and the secrets of Torment

Happy 2026! With a new year comes a new escalation in Marvel’s Spider-Symbiote corner, and all roads are leading toward Death Spiral, the upcoming event that’s been quietly cooking since the earliest planning days of All-New Venom.

As always, readers came out in force for this month’s Venom Unleashed polls and fan questions, zeroing in on Mary Jane Watson’s symbiote journey, Eddie Brock’s long game, and the terrifying new villain waiting in the wings. Editor Jordan D. White joined us to unpack what he could—while still keeping the biggest surprises under wraps.

This latest edition was captured via audio recording. Want to hear the entire, unedited chat? Listen to the AIPT Comics podcast this Sunday!

Before diving in, make sure to check out the exclusive art and a brand new fan survey at the bottom of this article so you can contribute!

Let’s dive in.

Poll #1: The Moment That’s Been Locked In Since Day One

AIPT: Jordan hinted that one moment in Death Spiral has been locked in since the very beginning of planning the event. What are you most excited to see when that moment arrives?

The results were decisive: 40% of readers said they’re most excited to see a major development in Mary Jane’s symbiote relationship, edging out a potential Eddie vs. Carnage showdown.

Given how strongly readers responded to MJ’s role, I asked Jordan how early that relationship began shaping Death Spiral.

Jordan: Oh, I mean, again, that’s such a huge part of what the book is. What Venom, All-New Venom is. That knowing going in that that would be a part of it. I mean, again, that’s not the driving force of the story, but there is absolutely very important relationship issues in this and leading to even more afterwards.

One key ingredient of Death Spiral is how far apart its core players were placed before the event ever began.

Jordan: We basically set all three of these characters up in very new and different places and in a way that they couldn’t really interact with each other. And we knew that when they finally did, it would be a big deal.

That convergence wasn’t accidental. It was planned early—and collaboratively.

Jordan: We were excited to start cooking that and all three writers of the three respective stories were very excited to work on it together. We, I think we started cooking it in a bar at a Marvel retreat… just throwing around ideas and there’s absolutely awesome stuff that came about that night from just bitballing things that is essential to what the book is.

Poll #2: Is MJ Still an Anti-Hero?

AIPT: Jordan suggested MJ might be shifting from “anti-hero” to something else entirely. What do YOU think her 2026 role will look like?

Over 50% of readers said they want something they haven’t even guessed yet, with a street-level hero arc coming in second.

Jordan was quick to clarify that his earlier tease wasn’t meant to be that mysterious.

Jordan: Well, I feel a little bad because I wasn’t trying to be that mysterious.

AIPT: And then, plainly:

Jordan: No, I mean, I just meant like a hero.

AIPT: He went on to place MJ firmly in Venom history.

Jordan: I think she’s… by far the most heroic Venom. Straightforward heroic Venom.

AIPT: With Venom #253 now on shelves, the series enters a new phase involving AIM and Madame Masque, a character who hasn’t had much spotlight in the last decade. Did Jordan have a favorite Madame Masque story?

Jordan: This one.

AIPT: He elaborated on how recent continuity helped make her the right fit.

Jordan: I did, of course, see her in Gang War, which I thought was super fun. And I think that’s the reason we ended up using her… When you pick up on the Venom number one and you’re reading ‘The Trial of Madame Masque,’ it picks up a lot of stuff right from Gang War…

AIPT: And yes—he teased that one of the most anticipated moments of Death Spiral is already being drawn.

Jordan: I will tease that he’s drawing the moment that I was referring to—the moment. I’m super excited for it, and I can’t wait for people to see it.

AIPT: Gotcha Question of the Month: Buddies or Friends (read Venom #253 to get this joke!)?

No dodging allowed.

Jordan: Oh God. Well, I guess I’m going to hope it’s Buddies because I’m not into Friends. I started watching Friends when it started coming out and then I just stopped being into laugh track style sitcoms.

Death Spiral Villain Spotlight: Torment

Spencer asks: What can you tell us about Torment?

Jordan: Well, not a ton because I don’t want to give away a lot, but I guess I’ll go ahead and say he’s super evil. He’s a serial killer, a very different kind than Carnage is.

Jordan emphasized that Torment’s methodology matters.

Jordan: Torment’s very different. Very much in keeping with the targets that Eddie has been after.

AIPT: The visual design was also a priority.

Jordan: The design is so cool from Ed McGuinness. It’s so creepy and weird.

Patrick asks: Was Torment inspired by the McFarlane story, or is the shared name a coincidence?

Jordan: Super it is. That’s obviously a classic… we were originally going to call him Death Spiral… I think it was Nick Lowe who first suggested that we call him Torment.

AIPT: And why it fits:

Jordan: It does really fit what his MO is… it just felt like such a Spider-Man name.

Barrett asks: With two big Spider/Symbiote events coming up, will ASM and Venom both be tie-ins for the foreseeable future?

Jordan: Not like this, no.

AIPT: He stressed that Death Spiral is intentionally dense—but temporary.

Jordan: This is a big crossover that we’re doing this way specifically, but afterwards… you can go back to just Venom or vice versa.

AIPT: The event runs for two months, plus a kickoff issue—nine issues total.

Anonomous asks: Will Dylan and Sleeper play important roles in Death Spiral?

Jordan: One of them will have an extremely important role. And the other one, not so much.

Symbiote Lore & Host Memories

Murphy asks: Did you look at prior stories when writing the Rick Jones and Toxin bond?

Jordan: Yeah, I can’t imagine Al Ewing didn’t look at that… I’m confident he had a very good grasp of who Rick Jones was.

AIPT: He also recommended revisiting Peter David’s Captain Marvel run with Rick and Genis-Vell.

Garlador asks: Can we expect Venom to share more prior host memories with MJ?

Jordan: I think she might be more selective, and she definitely doesn’t want Eddie in her head.

AIPT: Some memories might help. Others… not so much.

RadiantBlue asks: Which Venom host is your favorite?

Jordan: I mean, right now, MJ.

Traditionally?

Jordan: I would have said Eddie… the dark mirror of Spider-Man.

Midnighter82 asks: Does Symbie have a host?

Jordan: Symbie does not have a host.

Jimmy asks: Does MJ need to eat more to support the symbiote?

Jordan: That’s a great question. I would say probably yes… but when she’s in Mary Jane form, the symbiote is her clothes and probably is doing a bunch of work supporting itself.

AIPT: One immutable truth remains:

Jordan: We know that symbiote loves chocolate.

Eddie, Carnage, and the Eventuality

Anonomous asks: Would you ever tackle a Carnageverse?

Jordan: That’s a great question… what defines an alternate universe character as a Venom?

AIPT: Jordan framed Venomverse as shorthand for something broader.

Jordan: It’s really much more of a symbioteverse.

AIPT: And yes—there has been an anti-hero Carnage before.

Jeduwin asks: How much does the factor into Eddie’s current story?

Jordan: I doubt Charles is thinking very much about the eventuality… He is fully removed from any King in Black connection.

AIPT: But the road eventually circles back.

Jordan: It’s Eddie Brock, and it’s the eventuality… all things lead to it.

And that’s a wrap on Venom Unleashed #15!

Check out exclusive art and a new survey below!

Can’t see the survey? Click here.