In a haunting potential future where Dylan Brock, the one and onlyVenom, broke the world, a dark force has claimed something sacred to give the world’s last symbiotes a chance at redemption. However, the price has taken something critical from Brock: his name, his memories, and his identity. Now only knowing himself as “Old Man,” Dylan has been imbued with dark magic from the progenitor of evil, Chthon.
Venom #38- Torunn Grønbekk, CAFU, & Germán Peralta - follows Old Man alongsidehis new ally Doctor Strange, as Strange guides the symbiote hybrid to obtain a new power capable of ending his future’s threat before he can cause it.
In the fallout of the Venom War, a hive of symbiote / machine hybrids inevitably rise in power. In response, Old Man nukes the world, ultimately failing and leaving Earth a desolate rock. When at his lowest and most desperate,the Elder God Chthon appears to offer Old Man a way out.
Venom #38- Written by Torunn Grønbekk; Art by CAFU & Germán Peralta; Color by Frank D’Armata
As the present Venom War wages onward, Dylan Brock needed to change his tactics; his father could time travel so he needed to as well. Even without his identity, Old Man retains his original purpose:destroy the future.He has no intention of fixing his broken timeline, he wishes to stop it from happening entirely. In his efforts to free his past from his future, Old Man has been developing aweapon made from Venom. While the specifics of the weapon are still unknown, it does possess various rounds that have shownexplosive potential against the symbiote machines.
These powers don’t technically belong to Old Man, they belong to Venom. Every potential outcome of the Venom War is inevitably dependent on Venom.
His journey towarderasing the futureeventually landed him at the doorstep of Chthon’s stronghold, andthe Elder God was ready for a deal.In exchange for giving up every ounce of his human identity and memory, Chthon agrees to imbue Old Man’s symbiote weapon with the horrificpowers of the Darkhold. Now, armed with terrifying dark powers and an unyielding purpose, Old Man and Venom continue to aimlessly wander until their goals are achieved. However, these powers don’t technically belong to Old Man, they belong to Venom. Every potential outcome of the Venom War is inevitablydependent on Venom.
Venom is the Key to the Future, Not The Brocks
A Darker Threat is Beyond the Horizon of the Venom War
The dueling prophecies that the Brocks have seenboth end with Venom as the common factor.To truly stop the future apocalypse, Venom must rise to become the hero, not his hosts. Asthe true King in Black, Venom has an omniscient connection to all symbiotes from across reality and time, especially with himself. Regardless of the time or place, now every version of Venom has access to Chthon’s magic whether they realize it or not. Imbued with the radical powers of the Darkhold, Venom may better determine his own fateas the Anti-Allor to become something else altogether.
Every Named Symbiote in Marvel Comics History (Ranked Weakest to Strongest)
From Venom to The King in Black, Marvel has created dozens of symbiote Klyntar. But which of these alien weapons could be considered the strongest?
While Marvel is still building toward the climax of the Venom War and theintroduction of the All-New Venom, Old Man and the Venom of the future will continue their quest while the Venom of the present struggles to find his new home. The true capacity of the symbiote’s growing potential is still a mystery, but what is guaranteed must be something powerful enough to stop a growing threat hidden within the war’s chaos, the King in Crimson. With Chthon’s dark magic and a destiny of destruction, the fate of the Marvel Universe lies only in the hands ofVenom.
Venom #39is available now from Marvel Comics.
Venom
Venom is a symbiotic alien entity bonded with various human hosts, notably Eddie Brock and later Flash Thompson. It grants superhuman strength, agility, and a shape-shifting black costume. Initially a Spider-Man villain due to its origins, Venom evolved into an antihero, battling both villains and his own dark impulses. The character embodies themes of duality and redemption within the Marvel Universe.
