Venom was a massive deal when he appeared in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man #300 35 years ago. His design and immediate danger made him a winner instantly for readers and secured him in Spider-Man’s rich rogue’s gallery. Over the years, Venom has become more of an anti-hero, starring in hundreds of comics. The roster of symbiotes has also grown over the decades to include Carnage, Anti-Venom, Toxin, and others.
To celebrate 35 years of the first appearance of Venom, Marvel is putting on a Sumer of Symbiotes. Bringing the publisher’s symbiote-themed comics together, it promises big stories, new debuts, and plenty of Carnage.
Make sure you don’t miss out on the symbiote action. This guide has everything you need to know about Summer of Symbiotes, including details on the comics involved, how it is structured, and heaps more.
Table of contents
- What is Summer of Symbiotes and is it an event?
- How long will the Summer of Symbiotes run for?
- Do I need to read everything?
- Has Marvel released any teasers?
- What comics are part of Summer of Symbiotes?
- Where to buy Summer of Symbiotes comics
What is Summer of Symbiotes and is it an event?
Summer of Symbiotes is a banner for several of Marvel’s symbiote-themed comics as part of Venom’s 35th anniversary. Marvel will use this celebration to tell some big stories with existing characters, introduce many new ones through the multiverse (or is that Venomverse?), and build towards a big comic book event. As a result, it encompasses several different comics set in various parts of Marvel’s Multiverse.
Summer of Symbiotes is not an event but a banner to bring these various symbiote-themed stories together. However, some comic book events involved, such as Carnage Reigns and Death of the Venomverse.
How long will the Summer of Symbiotes run for?
Summer of Symbiotes begins in May. It will then run through the Northern Hemisphere summer season until the end of August.
Do I need read everything?
No. You’re not required to read every comic if you don’t want to. Summer of Symbiotes is made up of several different stories. Some of them will build off each other, and others will be unrelated, but they will have a self-contained element.
Not sure which Summer of Symbiotes comics you should read? I would approach reading this symbiote celebration by thinking about some of the following:
- Are you reading any of the symbiote-themed comics (eg Venom, Carnage, etc) at the moment?
- Which of the comic descriptions (see below) appeal to you?
- Do you enjoy any of the comic book writers and/or artists involved?
The answers of these questions should help inform your choices.
Has Marvel released any teasers?
Yes. Marvel has released the above teaser for the Summer of Symbiotes by artist Phillip Tan, inker Scott Williams, and colourist Brad Anderson. It highlights a number of the characters that will be featured in this publishing initiative, such as Eddie Brock, Carnage, Red Goblin, Misery, and others.
Some readers might notice something familiar with this teaser image. It’s also a homage to another summer-themed image of Marvel’s past – the iconic poolside pin-up from 1991’s X-Men #1 by Jim Lee, Scott Williams, and Joe Rosas. Take a look at the original image below to compare.
What comics are part of Summer of Symbiotes?
Take a look below at the comics that are part of Summer of Symbiotes. Along with a list of titles and issue are additional details, which include story details, creative teams, release dates, and more.
Cult of Carnage: Misery
Written by Sabir Pirzada. Art by Francesco Mortarino.
Liz Allen, the mother of Normie Osborne, doesn’t realise her son is the Red Goblin. However, after a string of symbiote violence, she will do whatever it takes to protect her family. That will mean taking things into her own hands as the head of Alchemax and becoming the latest symbiote, Misery.
Cult of Carnage: Misery #1 is on sale on 3rd May.
Extreme Venomverse
Written and art by Various.
The Venomverse returns! Extreme Venomverse is an anthology series travelling throughout the multiverse to introduce several different versions of Venom. Some will be venomized versions of characters you know and love, while others will be completely new twists on the concepts. There will be a total of five issues, with each one telling three stories.
Just like how the Spider-Verse comic event had the prelude series Edge of Spider-Verse, Extreme Venomverse will be a prelude to Death of the Venomverse (see below). These tales will introduce some of the new characters appearing in Death of the Venomverse.
Extreme Venomverse #1 is on sale on 10th May.
Edge of the Venomverse Infinity Comic
Written by Clay McLeod Chapman and J. Holtham. Art by Phillip Sevy, Gustavo Duarte, Dax Gordine, Nathan Stockman, and others.
For about a year now, Marvel’s all-you-can-read subscription service, Marvel Unlimited, has been creating original stories in a webtoon format. Summer of Symbiotes is getting in on the action with Edge of the Venomverse Infinity Comic. Just like Extreme Venomverse, it will tell stories about different versions of Venom throughout the multiverse with rotating creative teams. Expect new takes on Venom and interesting ideas that you might not see in the mainline Venom title.
Edge of the Venomverse Infinity Comic starts on 13th June with new chapters running weekly.
Carnage Reigns
Written by Alex Paknadel and Cody Ziglar. Art by Julius Otha, Federico Vicentini, and Francesco Manna.
In the King in Black event, Tony Stark trapped Cleatus Kasady’s (the original host of Carnage and deranged killer) soul in a special armour. However, he’s back with a vengeance and in the path of Miles Morales and others.
Miles Morales fans will want to check this series out to see his first encounter with Carnage. It might just be his toughest challenge yet.
Carnage Reigns bring the Carnage, Miles Morales: Spider-Man, and Red Goblin titles together for a crossover. Check out our reading order checklist to find out how to read it.
Carnage Reigns begins on 3rd May.
Red Goblin #6
Written by Alex Paknadel. Art by Jan Bazaldua.
After Carnage Reigns, Red Goblin #6 will kick off a new story called Nature vs Nurture. Normie Osborn and his symbiote will duke it out to see if the murderous urges will be controlled or unleashed.
Red Goblin #6 is on sale on 12th July.
Web of Carnage
Written by Ram V. Art by Francesco Manna.
Carnage gets a new title in the aftermath of Carnage Reigns. Ram V and Francesco Manna return to tell a huge tale, which sees the deadly symbiote head into outer space on a mission to become the new King in Black – essentially the god of the symbiotes. Along the way, he’ll face off against Morlun, the primary villain of the Spider-Verse saga.
The solicitation for Web of Carnage #1 hints that it’s set after Death of the Venomverse.
Web of Carnage #1 is on sale on 12th July.
Venom #22 and #23
Written by Al Ewing (Venom #22) and Torunn Grønbekk (Venom #23). Art by Ramon F. Bachs (Venom #22) and Ken Lashley (Venom #23).
Venom has two issues celebrating the Summer of Symbiotes!
In Venom #22, Eddie Brock’s conscience has been stuck in the far-flung future for months. With this issue, we’ll see what happens when he heads into the past. He’ll meet the mysterious Flexo and learn the shocking secret about the symbiotes in Marvel’s history.
Venom #23, the guest creative team of Torunn Grønbekk and Ken Lashley craft a new vision for Toxin. Dylan Brock and the Venom symbiote will cross paths with the deadly offspring of Carnage – will they survive the experience? Marvel has also promised that this issue will see the symbiote family grow a little larger and will change the continuing saga of the symbiotes forever.
Venom #22 is on sale on 5th July. Venom #23 is on sale on 19th July.
Death of the Venomverse
Written by Cullen Bunn and David Michelinie. Art by Gerardo Sandoval.
Carnage has been amassing several unique abilities from villains all over the Marvel Universe. With this newfound power, he has only one goal – to kill any and all Venoms. It’s a mission he’s serious about and willing to traverse the vast multiverse to do it.
Each issue will also include a tale by Venom co-creator Davis Michelinie, which Marvel has described as being in the same vein as the classic Venom: Lethal Protector series.
Death of the Venomverse will run for five issues and will be released weekly throughout August.
Death of the Venomverse #1 is on sale on 2nd August.
Where to buy Summer of Symbiotes comics
All of the Summer of Symbiotes comics will be available at all good comic book shops, online retailers, eBay, and digitally. The exception to this is Edge of the Venomverse Infinity Comic, which will be exclusively on Marvel Unlimited.
Will you be reading Summer of Symbiotes?
Which of these titles grabs your attention? Share your thoughts in the comments below or via Facebook, Twitter, or Mastodon.
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