Description

Ultimate Spider-Man: Volume 6 – Venom           Trade Paperback
Featuring Ultimate Venom who originally appeared in Ultimate Spider-Man Issues #33,34,35,36,37,38.
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Mark Bagley
Inkers: Art Thibert & Rodney Ramos
Colorist: Transparency Digital
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos
Editors: C.B. Cebulski, Ralph Macchio, Joe Quesada, Brian Smith & Stephanie Moore
Cover by: Mark Bagley

Venom, or the Venom Symbiote, is a character appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics, commonly in association with Spider-Man. Venom made his first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #300 (May 1988). Venom was originally conceived as a supervillain but has since become more of an antihero. Venom is a Symbiote, a sentient alien, with a gooey, almost liquid-like form. As with real-world symbiotes, it requires a host, usually human, to bond with for its survival. After bonding, the Symbiote endows its enhanced powers upon the host. When the Venom Symbiote bonds with a human, that new dual-life form refers to itself as “Venom”. The Venom Symbiote’s first known host was Spider-Man, who eventually separated himself from the creature when he discovered its true nature. In Marvel Superheroes Secret Wars, a being known as The Beyonder gave Spider-Man a prize of sorts, in what appeared to be an extraordinary black costume. Eventually, this costume was revealed as an alien symbiote, who sought to permanently bond with Spider-Man. When Spider-Man rejected it, the symbiote turned malevolent and sought out another. The Symbiote went on to merge with other hosts, most notably Eddie Brock, its second and most infamous host, with whom it first became Venom and one of Spider-Man’s deadliest enemy. According to S.H.I.E.L.D., it is considered one of the greatest threats to humanity, alongside Magneto, Doctor Doom, and Red Skull.

Venom is widely considered one of the Greatest Comic Book Villains of All Time!Now, Marvel Comics Presents, Ultimate Venom! You asked for him, you got him: Ultimate Venom! Spider-Man’s ultimate villain gets the Ultimate treatment! And if that were not enough, how about the first time in the Ultimate Universe that Spider-Man wears the black suit.

Stories/Spoilers
In part #1, “Origins”, Lamenting the loss of Mary Jane, Peter Parker is wallowing in his basement (and his sorrows) when he stumbles onto a hidden door in his basement. The secret room is full of boxes labeled “Parker”. Inside, he finds pictures of him and his parents before they died, and also a video tape. Peter finds his way upstairs with the tape while Aunt May reminisces to Gwen about the time she proposed to Jimi Hendrix (albeit she was on the scaffolding at the time). In his room, Peter pops in the tape. Taken 10 years back, it features a young Peter with his parents, Uncle Ben, Aunt May, Edward Brock Senior and Junior, respectively. Turns out Brock Sr. and Richard Parker were genetic researchers collaborating on a project (which we later find out is called “The Venom Project”) that could have changed the face of modern medicine. Brock wants to hire a publicist, but Mary Parker (Peter’s mom) says it won’t do any good at their current stage. Peter’s dad suggests they wait until Phase II of the project before talking about press. In the background, we see that Peter and Brock, Jr. (who looks a few years older than Peter), were best buddies in their youth. Fast forward to today, Aunt May, it turns out, was watching the tape with Peter. A bit shaken since she didn’t expect to see Ben, she explains the tape to Peter and reveals that both little Eddie and Peter’s parents died in the same tragic plane crash. May suggests that Peter track down Eddie, who went to live with his grandparents after the crash and give him a copy of the tape. Peter does so and discovers that Eddie now goes to Empire State University. Peter goes to E.S.U. to meet with Eddie, in awe and anticipating taking in all the college scenery. After meeting “the short end of the roommate stick,” Eddie and Peter go out for some coffee. Eddie imparts the wisdom of his extra years to Peter, which is basically a frank stating of the academic, financial, and romantic difficulties in going to college to pursue his father’s dream, spoken with just a tinge of bitterness. On hearing about Peter’s recent breakup, Eddie tells him that, five years from then, Peter won’t even remember her name. When the conversation shifts to their parents, Eddie laments that it’s hard to remember his parents, when Peter presents him the tape. Citing it as “about the nicest thing anyone has ever done” for him, Eddie takes Peter to a lab in the Reed Richards Science Center on campus. He opens a refrigerated locker containing a large beaker of black goo. When Peter asks what it is, Eddie answers: “It’s our inheritance.” From issue #33.

Next in part #2, “Inheritance”, Eddie Brock shows Peter what their fathers were working on before they died, which was a cure for cancer. Eddie goes on to explain what it is, which their fathers called “the suit.” It temporarily takes hold of a patient’s biology and finds out what does the body need, solving the problem with a natural solution. If cancer were to spread a tumor to the body, the suit would search the body for the right natural toxins, find solutions in the patient’s own body chemistry, and put them to work. It then would find the cancer and kill it. Eddie tells Peter that their fathers were working on a phase two of the suit, but they ran out of funds. So, they took part as staff at Trask Industries, but when said company found out they were working on a cure for cancer, they took away all their work. Their fathers later died in a plane crash hours after meeting a lawyer in order to sue Trask. Eddie reveals that the suit was what they were making on their own behind the company’s back. Eddie’s grandfather maintained a sample of the suit which his father had kept years ago. Eddie reveals he found out about the suit from their father’s notes a couple months ago and had it moved to the university weeks ago. Eddie then says that Doctor Conners thinks it is useless, but that Eddie’s and Peter’s fathers were still on the right track with the suit. When Peter asks whose DNA, their fathers used to program the suit, because it was DNA specific, Eddie reveals it was programmed to the DNA of Peter’s father. Peter is about to see Mary Jane after classes, but Gwen reminds Peter of their breakup. Although he is not happy, he agrees he still shouldn’t talk to her. When Eddie shows up to pick up Peter in his car, he decides to bring Gwen along with him while MJ’s friend Liz asks her who that guy in the car is, MJ says she has no clue. Liz tells MJ Peter is not special, but she denies it. When Liz asks MJ what is special about him, she does not answer the question, Liz then walks away saying that she does not want to know what she was going to say. After hanging out with Gwen and Eddie, Peter watches a tape of his father in his house, in which he says how angry he is at Trask for taking all the things they needed to finish the suit and how all he wanted was to help people, finalizing with “Never trust a man in a tie.” Angrily, Peter decides to break into the lab where the suit is and perform the necessary tests to complete it. However, a little part of the suit gets on Peter’s hand and spreads all over his body. When he wakes up from a cocoon made by the suit, Peter realizes he’s covered by black version of his Spider-Man costume. From issue #34.

Next in part #3, “Legacy”, After receiving the black suit, Spider-Man goes to test out the suit by fighting some crime in the city. First, he successfully prevents the kidnapping of a famous pop star by defeating the kidnappers and guiding the hijacked limo to safety. Later, he runs into an old nemesis robbing a bank: The Shocker. With his shockers of no use against Spider-Man’s new suit, The Shocker is easily dispatched by the super-hero’s new powers. Adoring his new powers. Spider-Man starts chasing after yet another criminal who just committed a murder. In a fit of rage, the suit amplifies Spider-Man’s anger, and he nearly kills the criminal. Fighting against the suits influence, Spider-Man’s entire life flashes before his eyes before the suit is obliterated in an explosive flash. From issue #35.

This issue is the first time in the Ultimate Universe that Spider-Man wears the black suit.

Next in part #4, “Today”, In Eddie Brock Jr.’s dorm room, he and Gwen are talking about various subjects when Eddie starts to make a move. Gwen immediately rejects his advances and leaves angrily. Turning on the news, Eddie sees Spider-Man’s recent antics and figures out what is happening. Eddie rushes to the laboratory, to find Peter attempting to steal the rest of the symbiote. Peter explains the entire story of his secret life and what happened to him concerning the symbiote. He explains that it is extremely dangerous and should be destroyed as soon as possible. Feigning understanding, Eddie leaves slowly and Peter heads out of the complex. Heading for a smokestack, Peter drops the dangerous symbiote into the fire, destroying it forever. Meanwhile, back at the lab, Eddie returns in a hurry to see that Peter actually took the symbiote. Eddie quickly heads over to the second sample of the symbiote that he had kept a secret from Peter. Dipping his hand into the goo, Eddie reaches for the power that Peter once had. From issue #36.

Next in part #5, “Still”, Awaking from a nightmare of the recent events with the symbiote, Peter travels to Mary Jane’s house to explain his feelings. Emptying all his feelings out, Peter tells Mary Jane that he loves her and wishes their fight had never happened. Mary Jane, although shows love for Peter, simply cannot take the stress of Peter’s secret life and turns her cheek on him. Meanwhile, at the laboratory, Eddie has let the symbiote take control of him and he devours a janitor and two security guards for energy. At Midtown High on a particular rainy day, Peter’s spider senses go off to reveal Venom lurking outside waiting for him. Peter sneaks out of the classroom to go and confront the black menace. Upon arriving, Peter learns that the black symbiote is actually attached to Eddie himself. From issue #37.

Finally in part #6, “Father’s Pride”, Peter and Eddie engage in a fight. Peter holds back as he does not want to hurt his old friend. He tries to convince Eddie that the symbiote is evil and needs to be destroyed, but it falls on deaf ears. Bringing the fight to the rooftops, Peter is fed up and begins a full-on assault against the monster. The fight is then brought to the streets below where Eddie is accidentally hit with loose electrical wiring, an apparent weakness of the symbiote. Trying once again to convince Eddie of the goo’s evil, Peter is nearly consumed with the symbiote desires to feed upon him. With police arriving at the scene, Eddie once again stumbles upon a loose electrical wire and is seemingly defeated. Peter quickly leaves the scene before the police can apprehend him and returns home as fast as possible. From issue #38.

Trade Paperback reprints/collects: Ultimate Spider-Man (2003) Issues #33,34,35,36,37,38.  Marvel Comics

Trade Paperback is bagged & boarded and will be carefully / securely packaged then shipped via USPS Priority Mail to ensure that it arrives to you perfectly and quickly.

Fourth Printing
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Publication Date: 2005
Format: FC, 168 pages, TPB, 10.25″ x 6.5″
ISBN-10: 0785110941
ISBN-13: 9780785110941

Collectible Entertainment note: Trade Paperback is in Fine condition.  Nice!  Please See Scans!!  A must have for any serious Venom and/or Spider-Man collector / enthusiast.  A fun & entertaining read.  Highly Recommended.

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