Marvel's new Venom reveals the #1 rule when working with a symbiote in Venom #1 preview

Venom #1 excerpt
Venom #1 excerpt (Image credit: Bryan Hitch (Marvel Comics))

With a movie sequel in theaters now, Marvel Comics' Venom is returning to comics with not one but two versions of the so-called Lethal Protector in a new ongoing series by writers Al Ewing and Ram V with artist Bryan Hitch.

"This story is going to expand and push the symbiote narrative and lore in even more unexpected and fantastic directions," V said in the book's announcement. "It is also an utter thrill having the sort of call and response mechanic I've had with a writer like Al and an artist of Bryan’s caliber. Fans and new readers, strap in - you ain’t seen nothin' yet."

Marvel frames the Venom series as two related storylines, both drawn by Hitch; one based on Eddie Brock's son Dylan taking up the mantle of Venom on Earth (written by V), and the other following Eddie Brock as he ascends into the cosmic side of things as the newly-christened 'King in Black'.

Check out this unlettered preview of Venom #1:

"How me and Ram are working together—we're a band, essentially. Every issue is a new single, every trade is an album, and Eddie and Dylan are our instruments," Ewing said in the announcement of Venom #3. "They're similar, but they make different notes, produce different sounds, build different stories."

The primary cover to Venom #1 is drawn by Hitch himself. He's joined by a host of artists also drawing variant covers, including Chris Bachalo, Bill Sienkiewicz, Bjorn Barends (two versions), a black variant, David Yardin (A Things From Another World exclusive), Junggeon Yoon (two versions exclusive to Limited Edition), Inhyuk Lee, Jon Romita Jr., Kendrick Lim, Marco Mastrazzo, Marco Turini, Peach Momoko (two versions), Todd Nauck, Angel Medina, Phillip Tan, Tony Fleecs (two versions), Zu Orzu, Gabriel Dell'Otto, Tyler Kirkham, Clayton Crain (a Black Flag Comics exclusive), Stan Sakai (two versions), Jeehyung Lee (two versions), Raf Grassetti (Comics Ton 101 exclusive), Mike Mayhew (two versions), Francesco Manna (a Midtown Comics exclusive), and Skan Srisuwan (two versions). Check them out here:

Venom #1 goes on sale on November 10.

The new Venom series is about multiple hosts to the symbiote, so we ask 'who wore it best?' Here's our ranked list of the best Venom hosts of all time. 

Chris Arrant

Chris Arrant covered comic book news for Newsarama from 2003 to 2022 (and as editor/senior editor from 2015 to 2022) and has also written for USA Today, Life, Entertainment Weekly, Publisher's Weekly, Marvel Entertainment, TOKYOPOP, AdHouse Books, Cartoon Brew, Bleeding Cool, Comic Shop News, and CBR. He is the author of the book Modern: Masters Cliff Chiang, co-authored Art of Spider-Man Classic, and contributed to Dark Horse/Bedside Press' anthology Pros and (Comic) Cons. He has acted as a judge for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, the Harvey Awards, and the Stan Lee Awards. Chris is a member of the American Library Association's Graphic Novel & Comics Round Table. (He/him)