Warning: Spoilers ahead for Extreme Venomverse #2As Venom‘s new multiverse storyline progresses in Extreme Venomverse, it presents surprising implications for Spider-Man’s relationship with Black Cat. As something continues to hunt Venoms from across the multiverse, this series takes a look at alternate universes featuring the symbiote. One of these universes presents an alternate scenario for Peter Parker’s run with the black suit.
Al Ewing, Vincenzo Carratu, and Federico Blee’s story “The Sinister Secret of Black Cat’s New Costume!” in Extreme Venomverse #2 takes place on Earth-258. It presents an alternate look at the events depicted in Amazing Spider-Man #258, the seminal issue by Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz where Peter learns the truth about his black symbiote costume. In this new story, Black Cat sneaks into the Baxter Building Lab shortly after Spidey has the Fantastic Four run tests on the symbiote. The Venom symbiote latches onto Black Cat, but she adapts better to it than Peter ever did. Her natural explanation is that his fear of bonding with the suit represents his fear of bonding with her.
Black Cat Bonds Better with Venom Symbiote than Peter Parker
The aforementioned Amazing Spider-Man #258 takes place at the point in Peter’s life when his relationship with Black Cat starts to fall apart. The issue prior, Spider-Man and Black Cat were closer than ever, with Felicia saving Peter’s life from Puma and then sharing a kiss later in the issue. Things take a turn in #258 when Black Cat reaches Peter Parker’s apartment just as he’s sharing a moment with Mary-Jane, a woman she’s never seen before. Peter then chastises Black Cat because she “ruined everything” with Mary-Jane. She tries to leave, but the symbiote’s web stops her. She initially thinks that it’s Peter who tries to prevent her from leaving his life. However, in Extreme Venomverse #2, she concludes it’s the symbiote who did the deed.
Spider-Man Fears Bonding With Symbiotes (And Lovers)
Extreme Venomverse #2 goes out of its way to re-contextualize classic moments from the old-school Amazing Spider-Man series. Above all else, the issue overtly tackles themes of rejection present in Spider-Man’s relationships with Black Cat and Venom. Both the symbiote and the cat burglar were rejected by Peter Parker when they only tried to bond with the web-slinger. This issue, however, marks the first time that such implications are made overt and in a way that directly connects the two characters.
Cat suggests that Peter lost control of the symbiote only because he has no grasp of bonding, either with the alien or with Felicia. This paints these older issues and arguably Peter’s entire relationship with the Venom symbiote in a new light. The symbiote is rejected by Peter in the same way that Felicia feels rejected. This may even explain Venom’s bond with Eddie Brock, as Eddie also found Venom when he himself was rejected. It’s a really cool way to present old material in a new light. In addition, as suggested by the ending, this should all come back around when Black Cat’s bond with the symbiote is hopefully revisited in the upcoming Death of Venomverse event. If Spider-Man was more willing to bond with those around him like Black Cat, perhaps he’d still be bonded to the Venom symbiote today.
Extreme Venomverse #2 is available now from Marvel Comics.
