#venom: first host

[vulpinesaint]

my sleeper highlights. go baby go :D

[eddiebrockx]

⚠️ SPOILERS for Venom issues #164 and #165 (the 2016 to 2018 comics in general), Venom: The First Host, and the Venom comics in general. ⚠️

Incoming mini-essay! (TL;DR - Sleeper is the manifestation of everything I love about Venom as a comic series, Eddie and the Symbiote are top tier parents, and Spider-Woman is fucking awesome.)

Okay so, I know everyone jokes about issues 164 and 165 because “wow omg Eddie Brock is pregnant.” However, I feel like there isn’t a lot of discussion (that I’ve seen) around how Eddie and the Symbiote handled raising Sleeper because it reveals a lot about their growth up until that point.

It’s been previously established that the Symbiote has been through multiple abusive relationships in the past. The only people who have treated it relatively well as a host are Flash Thompson and, obviously, Eddie Brock. However, even in those relationships we see that it struggles with unhealthy tendencies. The most obvious being just hiding things to protect itself, which it has developed mostly as a coping mechanism (although sometimes it's just used as an easy way to create drama instead of as a sign of its trauma; the downside of having so many different people creating different comic arcs). Beyond itself, it has also seen all of it's children--Carnage, Riot, Lasher, Phage, Agony, and Scream--become incredibly violent in the hands of their hosts.

Because of this, it rightfully fears the idea of having any more children and seeing them become either like itself or its siblings. Comic issues #164 and #165 entirely focus on this idea because the Symbiote is going to spawn soon. Of course, usual Venom shenanigans ensue; people try to kidnap Eddie and the Symbiote, they escape, etc. But what's important is two things: 1) the Symbiote's dreams for the baby, and 2) we get to see Spider-Woman kick absolute ass.

In issue #165, we get these panels:

“It's true Eddie. Didn’t want my baby to be another monster. Wanted it to be a hero. A hero like you. Like Venom.”

I feel Eddie had a right to be upset at this point in time--what with not being told that your significant other is literally going to give birth--but he also doesn't at all slack on getting the Symbiote what it needs next. A quick run to Alchemax later, and they are able to (with some complications) deliver the new symbiote. They decide they will raise it separate from a host within the lab, Eddie and the Symbiote carefully watching over it's growth. Their main goal is to prepare it for a host, so hopefully it won't join its siblings.

Also (sort of a side rant) but I really want to emphasize how much I love Spider-Woman in this scenario. She, like a lot of people in Venom comic history, initially tries to attack Venom. However, upon learning that the Symbiote is pregnant, and seeing it's side of things, she promptly leaves them alone. On top of that, she steps in to rescue them, even when it wasn't necessary to do so. I don't know, I just really appreciate seeing her here. She rocks, and this also means she's one of the few characters who actually understands the relationship Eddie and the Symbiote have (and she doesn't want to destroy it).

"It's beautiful, Eddie." "It is."

I really loves this for a lot of reasons. Mostly because I'm weak to good parenting in stories, but I really want to emphasize how important it is that they're trying so hard. Eddie and the Symbiote have both been constantly fighting and internal and external struggle against the idea that they are a monster. Their mistakes have defined both of their lives. After a lot of trial and error--being broken up and reuniting again and again--that they are now taking steps to improve not only their relationship, but their overall lives and the life of their new kid.

And their new kid is absolutely overpowered. Sleeper is probably my favorite character in Venom history by a longshot. Sleeper is calm, cool, and collected, AND they're strong as hell. We get to see all of that and more displayed in Venom: First Host.

For those who haven't read it, the gist of this arc is that the Symbiote's first host--a Kree--is on a mission to find it again, along with a Skrull. Meanwhile, on Earth, Eddie and the Symbiote are trying to raise their baby in peace. They save the Kree from the Skrull, who then asks the Symbiote to return with him. It, of course, declines. And then the Kree goes absolutely nuts and tries to steal their kid so they're forced to make a sacrifice: the Symbiote goes with the Kree.

"If that is your choice...I honor it. You have my envy, Brock. You must be a great man." "No. Not great. But together we make something...more."

Stuff ensues. Eddie has to go on a rescue mission with the Skrull from before to save the Symbiote; and his kid is more than ready to help. Which, is awesome, because Sleeper is OP. They have the ability to camouflage themselves, secrete a pheromone that confuses the senses of those around them, AND can live with a dead host (they lobotomize the Kree guy and use his body to go have adventures after Eddie and the Symbiote reunite. All of this is awesome, but the only part I truly wish to highlight to you is this:

"We wanted better for you." "And I'll have it. This body is strong. There are depths of knowledge and memories in this mind. Worlds. Galaxies. I've been kept in a cage my whole life. There's so much to see out there. And I will see it. I know you did your best, father. But I don't need a cage anymore."

Sleeper has grown up; Sleeper is free. Thanks to Eddie and the Symbiote's efforts, Sleeper is their own individual. It's hard for them to accept their child leaving, but it's alright. Not only because Sleeper returns to them in the next couple of arcs anyways, but because they succeeded. While they had hoped that Sleeper would end up with a good host, they've instead given Sleeper the tools to be free on their own. They don't need to rely on a host's whims to be a hero, to be good.

It's powerful, and I love it. It's so compelling to see these character who have had such a difficult time finding themselves, finding their place in the world, raise such a strong and good individual. Sleeper goes on to be a vital asset in the King in Black arc (which I have words for, but I appreciate Sleeper's role in it) as well as a good big sibling to his human brother.

I can't even fully articulate how much I love this entire arc, just that it's the encapsulation of everything I really love about Venom. We get romance, we get parenthood, we get growth, we get all the good shit. I love it. Anyways, I'll leave you with that. I just wanted to share some of my many (many) thoughts about these comics.

[eddiebrockx]

I completely agree, and also! I think it’s important to acknowledge that just because the symbiote has had “better” hosts (I.e. people who are just more stable 💀), it makes the symbiote’s decision to stay/come back to Eddie all the more important.

Like, I’m actually a huge fan of Flash Thompson as Agent Venom. The friendship he gains with the symbiote is wonderful, and it reestablishes the symbiotes desire to be better.

However, it wants to do that with Eddie (and I agree that it should, as much as I love Flash).

Case and point, these panels from Venom: First Host.

“You have my envy, Brock. You must be a great man.”

“No. Not great, but together we make something…more.”

If there’s anything to love these comics for, it is this: together we are better. The relationship Eddie and the symbiote have has always been flawed, but they are also good for each other in ways no one else is.

And this is why I’m always rooting for them over any other pair in Venom’s whack history. Let my little sillies be silly together forever 💞

look. i know the symbiote has had arguably better hosts than eddie. but god do i fucking love those two idiots together eddie fucking sucks and thats why i love him. he's a huge, delusional, self-absorbed prick and i love him and condone everything he does including murder <3

[cold-red-venom]

Come get y'all juice

[altdeldraw]

we know eddie brock is a dick but now i'm just finding out venom's kree host was also a bit douchey so what i'm saying is

he has a type

[transrightsjimin]

movie-only venom fans continuously thinking up scenarios that already happened is so funny.

"omg what type of dog would venom be??" [10 replies guessing bulldog]

"lmao imagine there's a venomverse just like spiderverse"

"what's next? venom island, venom planet?"

well, u see....

[lady-in-the-lair]

I wish Sleeper had stayed an extra two minutes to say goodbye to Symby : ( would that have been so hard : (

[elsannej]

Leaked shot from Venom 4 (real)

Comic!Eddie cradled his baby so carefully - meanwhile this is 100% how movie!Eddie would hold Sleeper.

[lethalitisms]

[[ I love love love thinking about how terrifying a villain that venom was to Peter specifically. Because its so fucked up. They'd just show up to his personal address(!) and make threats. But just to Peter specifically. But still there'd be plenty of collateral damage. And Eddie is PRIDEFUL about it later, telling norman that "between the two of us, I scared spider-man the most" YEAH YOU SHOWED UP AT HIS HOUSE UNPROMPTED. You knew parts of him because of his previous time with the symbiote. And he has the gall to be proud about it. ]]

[nyxypoo]

venom endo

[johannepetereric]

"Our powers are still immature...see things differently than Venom. More like feeling than seeing. Feel different inside, too. Like there are different organs that do different things now.

"Such as?"

"Such as--we have a subtle array of chemical and pheromone production at our disposal. In either direct liquid contact or aerosol form. We can create confusion, bring on euphoria or sleep. And we can be very persuasive."

So THAT'S why they're called Sleeper!

[vulpinesaint]

partners who enact incredible violence together stay together

[gl1tzh]

want to put the parasite from parasite days and venom in a chamber and see what happens

[kaijudyke]

i wish i could telepathically transmit the knowledge of how the alien costume arc actually played out in the comics into the brain of everyone on earth so that i never again have to hear anyone say that the symbiote made peter evil

[peterbwatsonparker]

As I’m also a venom fan I live for the concept of more time in symbiosis more Eddie is inhuman,so imagine him doing weird body horror things with his body,experiencing some outside mutation like fangs,claws,pointy ears and weird eyes and also having a powerful healing factor.Honestly it would funny seeing two frenemies dealing with their mutant side:a spider and some kind of monster fusion

Have to love body horror fr. Is it a permanent change/something that varies based on time spent with/away for the symbiote or somewhere in between (e.g. some features vary but some changes are permanent)?

[the-scarecrow-of-aus]

Hypothetically...

Ghosts are made of ectoplasm, the infinite realms is 'made' from that same ectoplasm, some of the kryptonians might have become ghosts, martians may have become ghosts, metahumans may have become ghosts... danny got fused with pure ectoplasm in the accident.

what's to say ghosts dont get their abilities from absorbing ambient ectoplasm in the zone then learning to use it as that ectoplasm remembers being used, and since danny got hit with the full force of the zone channelled through his body...

He got all their potential powers but possibly their weaknesses too!

But a martians weakness to fire is just common sense to a human so danny doesn't think much of the accidental burns in science labs that do more damage to him then they do to dash! Besides it's not like the GIW or the Dr fentons know their laser and plasma guns would hurt a Martian, why would they? It's designed for ghosts.

Danny might pass off a sore throat after using ghostly wail because it drains a lot of power, not that his body shuts down power to repair the damage to his throat and body.

The far frozen developing ice cores to harness their powers, how many ice meta humans have there been through time? Usually they didn't like hot temperatures either

The biggest can of worms is that ghosts are creatures of emotion... just like the lantern corps, how many ring wielders have passed on but still remember raising their ring and shouting with emotion to control their power or losing control!

(Sorry, I'm rambling)

Kryptonite = Ecto-Ranium

Danny hated this green stones, they completely negated his powers and make him feel very weak. So as he finally had time to work on it in his intership in Gotham.

The reason he even found about it, was his parents playing with them and then getting Cancer from it. And started to blame ghost for it, Jazz took him after that away from them to Gotham. The stone had played on his development, he was fucking tiny because of that.

So while Jazz worked in Akrham as assistant psychologist, he took a internship in Wayne Enterprises.

This was how Tim and Kon meet him in the Lab, working on a bracelet while glaring at a Box. Then he put on the Bracelet on his wrist.

Conner had felt it on his body as Danny open the Box and Danny started to laugh in a soft joker way:"HAHAHA! You can't fucking hurt me anymore! Stupid stone!"

Tim helped Conner up after he closed the box:" Stupid Stone?"

Danny truly proud of what he was able to do:" Yes that stupid shit made me weak all the time, since my parents got it. And now i learned there are more i fixed the problem for me in the future!"

Tim and Conner looked at each other, only someone of Kryptonian blood should feel the effects of Kryptonite.

Tim:" Well Batman can't try to call Dibs on him." The fanfic that gave me the idea https://archiveofourown.org/works/45178483