🕷️ Why Venom Hates Spider-Man: The Origins of Their Rivalry in Marvel Comics 🕷️
- David @ 98 Comics
- Mar 4
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 5
Why does Venom hate Spider-Man so much?
Let's dive deep into comic histology and find out more.
Venom is one of Spider-Man’s most dangerous and persistent enemies, fueled by an intense and personal hatred for Peter Parker. But what led to this deep-seated animosity?
The answer lies in the intertwined fates of both Eddie Brock and the alien symbiote Venom, who share a common grudge against Spider-Man. In this article, we’ll break down why Venom despises Spider-Man so much, looking at key comic book moments that shaped their rivalry history.
The Symbiote’s Rejection: A Bond Betrayed
Venom’s hatred for Spider-Man begins with Peter Parker’s encounter with the alien symbiote. In The Amazing Spider-Man #252, Peter returns to Earth from the Secret Wars storyline wearing a sleek black suit that enhances his abilities, later that year Secret Wars #8 also shows the black suit.
However, Spider-Man will soon discover that the suit is a living organism that is bonding with him and influencing his emotions in dark ways.
In The Amazing Spider-Man #258 (1984), Peter Parker finally discovers the terrifying truth about his new black suit. After sensing that the suit is behaving strangely, moving on its own and even controlling his actions while he sleeps, Peter decides to seek help from Reed Richards, from the Fantastic Four.
Upon examination, Richards uncovers the shocking revelation: the black suit is not just a piece of advanced technology, but a living alien symbiote that has bonded with Peter, feeding off his life force.
Realizing the danger, Richards uses sonic waves to forcibly separate the symbiote from Peter. The creature attempts to fight back but is ultimately contained in a specialized cell until it escapes.
Eddie Brock: A Shared Grudge
The symbiote’s hatred alone would have been enough, but the perfect host to channel its anger came along.
Enter Eddie Brock, a disgraced journalist whose life was ruined because of Peter Parker. Brock falsely reported that a man named Emil Gregg was the serial killer known as the Sin-Eater. However, Spider-Man exposed the real Sin-Eater, proving Brock’s story was false and leading to his career downfall.
Bitter and humiliated, Brock was at his lowest when he encountered the symbiote. Their shared hatred for Spider-Man forged an instant bond, and together they became Venom, vowing to destroy the web-slinger Spider-Man. This iconic story plays out in Spider-Man #300 a prized comic for the budding collector.
Venom’s Personal Vendetta Against Spider-Man
Venom’s obsession with Spider-Man is deeply personal. He doesn’t just want to defeat Peter Parker, he wants to ruin his life and kill him. Because of the symbiote’s time with Peter, Venom retains Spider-Man’s powers and has one key advantage: he does not trigger Peter’s spider sense, making him an unpredictable and formidable opponent.
As such, Venom ambushes Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man #316, launching a brutal attack. The battle ensures that Spider-Man narrowly escapes, but not before Venom makes a chilling discovery, he now knows where Peter Parker lives. This realization heightens the threat Venom poses, as he is not just targeting Spider-Man, but Peter’s personal life as well.
Maximum Carnage: When Venom and Spider-Man Teamed Up
Despite his hatred for Spider-Man, Venom eventually evolved beyond a pure villain. In Venom: Lethal Protector, Brock moves to San Francisco and starts acting as an anti-hero, protecting the innocent while still holding a grudge against Spider-Man. Though their rivalry never fades, this shift in Venom’s character adds complexity to their relationship.
Unfortunately, the offspring of the Venom symbiote bonds with serial killer Cletus Kasady, creating a creature so brutal that Venom is forced to team up with Spider-Man to stop him. This uneasy alliance shows that while Venom despises Spider-Man, he is willing to put aside his hatred when a greater threat arises.
In Maximum Carnage, Venom again finds himself working alongside Spider-Man to defeat Carnage and his chaotic allies. These moments of reluctant teamwork highlight the complex nature of Venom’s relationship with Spider-Man, one fueled by hatred but occasionally tempered by a sense of justice.
Will Venom Ever Forgive Spider-Man?
At its core, Venom’s hatred for Spider-Man is built on betrayal, loss, and shared resentment.
The symbiote was abandoned by its first host, and Eddie Brock lost everything because of Peter Parker. Together, they formed a perfect storm of vengeance.
While their relationship has evolved over the years, sometimes shifting from outright hostility to reluctant alliances, one thing remains certain: Venom will never forgive what Spider-Man did to him. And as long as the symbiote remembers, the hate will endure.
For comic book fans, Venom’s rivalry with Spider-Man remains one of the most compelling narratives in comic history. Their battles, uneasy truces, and emotional stakes continue to captivate audiences, ensuring that the story of Venom and Spider-Man will never truly end.
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