Comics A Poll For Venom Fans: Eddie Brock or Mac Gargan?

[Kevin Roegele]

I don't know...Well Eddie Brock's Venom is THE Venom, the one that brought the character to be one of Spider-Man's arch-enemies (ok ok...some of you will probably argue about this, but at the very least he is extremly popular) but that "we have to protect the innocents"...never liked it. On the other hand Mac Gargan....completely lacks any inhibitions Brock might have, has a cool design on his own, but...I only see him running around taking down lower class heroes in thunderbolts (if someone could tell me something I missed about Mac Gargan than was very ground breaking, I'm ok because I just knew what he did in Beyond! and in thunderbolts, so I might be wrong if I missed some of his appearances).

What I didn't like about Mac Gargan, is that in the last Thunderbolts issues, he has the typical "Eddie Brock" Venom face, and not his Venom appareance, you know with those "eyes within the eyes" stuff.

I don't know for you, but I'd really like to see a fight between Eddie Brock Venom and MacGargan Venom. Could be cool to show who the real Venom is (I don't know, by making that Mac Gargan's symbiote is just that clone from the Venom miniseries and that the real symbiote is on the loose...well it's still better than Norman Osborne sleeping with Gwen Stacy lol...), just kidding, it was just a stupid idea of mine, sorry

I like the idea of Brock giving up the symbiote and someone becoming the new Venom.

I just don't like the fact that it's an already existing villain. It suggests that being the Scorpion isn't as good as being Venom.

I'd rather have seen a female Venom, as Michelinie originally intended.

 

[moraldeficiency]

I'm gonna go against the grain and say neither. I think one of the original ideas was to have the symbiote kinda float between villians, heroes and regular people who just don't like bugs very much. I like eddie but he was a one note villian. Gargan is currently great but that's mainly because over the years he's become such a joke as scorpion (he originally used to be pretty cool like a evil version of Spider-Man). My favorite part in "Last Stand" was the symbiote talking to Gargan "You've never had a friend like me", great line. The symbiote should be a personality all to himself and bounce between hosts to spice up the possibilities and give the characters more depth and experience. Plus how cool would a Lizard Venom or a Doc Ock Venom or even a Punisher Venom be?

 

[SpideyInATree]

I like the idea of Brock giving up the symbiote and someone becoming the new Venom.

I just don't like the fact that it's an already existing villain. It suggests that being the Scorpion isn't as good as being Venom.

I'd rather have seen a female Venom, as Michelinie originally intended.

I agree. I didn't mind when Brock put the suit up for auction. That was a really cool part of Millar's storyline. It's just that having the symbiote go to Scorpion just didn't make any sense. It still doesn't make any sense. A female would be pretty cool to see in the suit and a different change of pace.

 

[The Shredder]

The symbiote should be a personality all to himself and bounce between hosts to spice up the possibilities and give the characters more depth and experience. Plus how cool would a Lizard Venom or a Doc Ock Venom or even a Punisher Venom be?

Back in the mid-to-late 1990's I read that this originally was going to be the plan. With Eddie Brock scheduled to meet his demise in ASM #400, followed by the symbiote going from host to host giving Spidey fans a taste of different villains in Spider-Man rogues gallery as Venom. But the popularity of Brock as a character in the Marvel Universe threw a roadblock in any such plans, and thus we got the temporary death of Aunt May as an alternative. Personally, I like the Brock/Symbiote relationship. As it has been conveyed to the readers in the past that the Symbiote truly loved Parker, and in time, grew to love Brock as well. This kind of characterization, I feel, is much more interesting and brings a bit more depth to the character of The Symbiote than just the notion of The Symbiote being a entity that is essentially a parasite looking to bond with whatever host.

 

[The Shredder]

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[The Shredder]

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[Dangerous]

I think the symbiote should remain w/ Gargan 'cause he made Venom interesting and fun to read again, and Brock as Venom had become a bore. Not only that but Brock /Venom basically no longer has any validity as a decent villain. But then most of y'all prob know my thoughts on the subject.

 

[moraldeficiency]

Back in the mid-to-late 1990's I read that this originally was going to be the plan. With Eddie Brock scheduled to meet his demise in ASM #400, followed by the symbiote going from host to host giving Spidey fans a taste of different villains in Spider-Man rogues gallery as Venom. But the popularity of Brock as a character in the Marvel Universe threw a roadblock in any such plans, and thus we got the temporary death of Aunt May as an alternative. Personally, I like the Brock/Symbiote relationship. As it has been conveyed to the readers in the past that the Symbiote truly loved Parker, and in time, grew to love Brock as well. This kind of characterization, I feel, is much more interesting and brings a bit more depth to the character of The Symbiote than just the notion of The Symbiote being a entity that is essentially a parasite looking to bond with whatever host.

I agree that brock has been the best venom or symbiote being in general. The problem is unless he gets amnesia or is placed in some reset duex de machina I just don't get his character anymore. At first his motivation was simple, "Can Peter come out and play?", but too much has happened. Too many truces and relizations have happened to Eddie and I just don't believe he's learned nothing from all this. The problem was caranage. When bugs and venom teamed up and made a truce, this was so contrary to Eddie's character that he no longer has motivation or focus. Making his a hero a la Punisher was even worse and now I just can't figure how he would be a believable character at all. What I was saying is the symbiote itself has its own personality (actually it's a criminal by its own people for wanting to merge with others instead of just devour them), its learned human emotions from Peter and I think its currently an interesting entity by itself. Reign part four had some interesting takes on the symbiotes feelings and where it was at. I wouldn't mind see this concept explored a bit more rather than the symbiote just being a power-up/attitude adjuster.

 

[The Shredder]

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[The Shredder]

Agreed. I never cared too much for the whole "Lethal Protector" angle, or some of Brock's revealations over the years, but it should be interesting to see how his upcoming return will ultimately play out. And exactly what kind of changes and motivations it will bring to not only Brock, but to The Symbiote as well. Should be interesting indeed.

 

[moraldeficiency]

Yeah I hated that angle as well and what exceptionally crappy writting and plot devices to boot. Then they really crossed the line when they decided that the symbiotes are like rabbits without the need for other rabbits. Carnage was cool but after that it got really stupid.

 

[The Infernal]

Brock is/was and always will be Venom, no matter who wears the symbiote.

 

[TwilightPro101]

Brock. Classic. Enough said.

 

[TheCaptain22555]

Mac Gargan has always been Scorpion to me, just as Eddie Brock has always been Venom to me.

 

[shigsy2003]

Eddie is Venom to me and he always will be.

 

[Knightsaber Priss]

Eddie is Venom to me and he always will be.

I concur with you. I seem to recall one of the Spidey writers, can't recall their name, said in an interview Venom will always be Eddie Brock and the symbiote. My question is this though. Eddie was initially supposed to be a temporary host for the symbiote. What is it about his character that has we fans so attached to him? Why can we just not accept another human host? I haven't been able to put my finger on it myself.

 

[freemadison]

I concur with you. I seem to recall one of the Spidey writers, can't recall their name, said in an interview Venom will always be Eddie Brock and the symbiote. My question is this though. Eddie was initially supposed to be a temporary host for the symbiote. What is it about his character that has we fans so attached to him? Why can we just not accept another human host? I haven't been able to put my finger on it myself.

In my mind, Eddie Brock has always been a boring character with rather weak motivations and logic. I think the problem is most people who read comics are averse to major change. If the symbiote had changed hosts during Michieline's initial run than I think people would have accepted the symbiote as a traveling parasite tormenting Spidey in various ways. But now people have their own opinion of what defines Venom and one of those things include Brock. I think most people who love Venom were just attracted to how badass he looks anyways.

What I don't like is how Gargan Venom seems WEAKER than Brock Venom even though Gargan is already enhanced with superstrength and the whatnot. Now Venom gets his ass kicked in every issue of T-Bolts.

Ben Reilly for Venom please. Woot.

 

[EnvyEquatesHate]

Venom is a persona comprised of two minds.

Edward Brock and The Black Symbiote. It's always been that way. Venom isn't a name just given to a person who wears the symbiote. It's never, ever been that way. It was agreed between the two entities that when they become one, they become a totally different being. That being is Venom. Marvel seems to have forgotten this very integral fact of Marvel history.

 

[EnvyEquatesHate]

Ben Reilly for Venom please. Woot.

.....

You're on crack.

 

[Knightsaber Priss]

In my mind, Eddie Brock has always been a boring character with rather weak motivations and logic. I think the problem is most people who read comics are averse to major change. If the symbiote had changed hosts during Michieline's initial run than I think people would have accepted the symbiote as a traveling parasite tormenting Spidey in various ways. But now people have their own opinion of what defines Venom and one of those things include Brock. I think most people who love Venom were just attracted to how badass he looks anyways.

What I don't like is how Gargan Venom seems WEAKER than Brock Venom even though Gargan is already enhanced with superstrength and the whatnot. Now Venom gets his ass kicked in every issue of T-Bolts.

Ben Reilly for Venom please. Woot.

Ben Reilly? Oh boy.....they might as well just give the symbiote to Willie Lumpkin.

 

[ragingdemon155]

Come on now...Who couldn't tell that this poll was going to be a blow out?

Eddie Brock is and always will be Venom in my eyes and apparently judging from the poll results..in the eyes of many Spider-man fans. We all know that Eddie Brock/Venom isn't as popular as he was doing his 90's run, but obviously there is still a huge buzz about him. I love old school Venom and his twisted sense of morality. Loved the idea of him being the polar opposite to Spider-man. Then the mini series started up and the character just became completely stale.

However, Mac Gargan as Venom was just stupid to me. It's served its purpose during Millars Run but enough is enough. Personally, can't wait to see Eddie Brock reclaim the symbiote.....even if it probably won't last long.

 

[Knightsaber Priss]

Come on now...Who couldn't tell that this poll was going to be a blow out?

Eddie Brock is and always will be Venom in my eyes and apparently judging from the poll results..in the eyes of many Spider-man fans. We all know that Eddie Brock/Venom isn't as popular as he was doing his 90's run, but obviously there is still a huge buzz about him. I love old school Venom and his twisted sense of morality. Loved the idea of him being the polar opposite to Spider-man. Then the mini series started up and the character just became completely stale.

However, Mac Gargan as Venom was just stupid to me. It's served its purpose during Millars Run but enough is enough. Personally, can't wait to see Eddie Brock reclaim the symbiote.....even if it probably won't last long.

Well, it better last long! I, as a Venom fan, will be very disappointed if they can't find a way to revitalize Eddie Brock/Venom. I'm no pro and I can think of a few good ways to accomplish this.

 

[ragingdemon155]

Listen, I agree....I would love for Venom to appear in the front lines of Spidey villains again. SSM would be the perfect title to attempt it in also since Aguirre-Sacasa seems to have the great respect for continuity (Something that can't be said for JMS)...

 

[shinlyle]

Ben Reilly? Oh boy.....they might as well just give the symbiote to Willie Lumpkin.

That's what I thought, as well....and also, how is the symbiote going to bond with a floating cloud of dust?

(waits for the clone-fans to show up with the "real clones don't disintegrate" talk)

Also, why would you want the heroic Ben Reilly to join with the murderous symbiote? That's just as bad as Jason Todd being brought back in the Batman books.

 

[Spade]

Gargan. As Venom. Sucks. End of story.

A Venom who acts like he did during McFarlane's run with the strength of Gargan's Venom to maintain that superiority over the post-Other Peter and who is back to causing Peter hell...oh, what am I saying. I'm asking quality from Marvel under Quesada. They'd probably make him an anti-hero again.