The first and most
famous Venom, Eddie Brock, was a reporter for the Daily Bugle before he
fabricated a story revealing the identity of the Sin-Eater. Shortly after the
story was published Spider-Man caught
the real Sin-Eater, and Brock was disgraced as a news reporter, costing him his
job and then his wife. Now writing for cheap gossip magazines, Brock centers the
frustration of his life on utter loathing of Spider-Man, which only escalates
when it is revealed he has cancer. In response, Brock begins working out,
bringing his body to a higher performance. Unable to cope with his misfortune,
Brock contemplates suicide and goes to a church to pray for forgiveness.
Meanwhile, the symbiote, having recovered and needing another human host in
order to survive, finds itself psychically attracted to Brock for both his
increased adrenaline and mutual hatred for Spider-Man.
Together they formed
into the first version of the dark, villainous creature known as Venom. This
name originally applied to Brock, over the symbiote. But over the years as the
symbiote itself lent toward more intelligence and moved to additional human
hosts, the name began to apply to the symbiote as well as its hosts. Brock as
Venom fought Spider-Man many times, and came close to winning on several
occasions. As well as helping Eddie to seek continued revenge against
Spider-Man, the symbiote also allowed him to indulge in a sporadic career as a
vigilante. Eddie and the symbiote both share, at times, a desire to protect
innocent people from all harm, even if it means working side-by-side with the
hated Spider-Man.
Originally, the symbiote was portrayed as a mute and lonely creature craving the
company of a host. More recently, it has been shown as increasingly abusive of
its hosts, and having the powers of speech. Also the Venom Symbiote itself has
no known name, as "Venom" is essentially the moniker it has adopted
since its history with Spider-Man on Earth.
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