Comics Reviews

Marvel’s Forgotten Neo-Symbiote and Why It’s Stronger Than Venom, Explained

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The Neo-Symbiote was one of the strangest symbiotes in the Marvel Universe, and it proved to be even more powerful than Venom.

Ever since the alien symbiotes were first introduced almost four decades ago, they have evolved from a single vaguely malicious force into one of the most diverse sets of beings in the Marvel Universe. The various symbiotes that have appeared over the years have come in all different shapes and colors, and all new versions of the creatures have emerged as well. The various Anti-Venom symbiotes are the most obvious shift in the paradigm, but the short-lived Neo-Symbiote proved to be not only the oddest but perhaps the most powerful as well.

Marvel’s first Civil War was one of the most tumultuous fights the superheroes of the world had ever faced. While many of their confrontations took place in the open, the government peace-keeping organization S.H.I.E.L.D. battled secretly behind the scenes. As seen in Fred van Lente and Leonard Kirk’s Spider-Man Family #3, the clandestine organization dispatched its operatives in the hopes that they would be recruited by the heroes, although Carmilla Black (aka the Scorpion) experienced something different in the field. Rather than being recruited by any anti-registration activists, Black was confronted by Mac Gargan, the original Scorpion who had recently become host to the Venom symbiote. In spite of his new identity, Gargan’s possessiveness over his old one drove him to nearly slaughter Carmilla after catching her in his web, only for a whole new kind of symbiote to rise up against him.


RELATED: Venom’s Worst ’90s Threat Is Back – But What Does That Mean for Marvel Symbiotes?

Carmilla Black, whose powers include absorbing and redirecting toxins, was unexpectedly transformed into the black and green Neo-Symbiote before Gargan could land a fatal blow, thanks to her body consuming the symbiote webs of her assailant. On top of being given the strength to tear herself free from Venom’s webs, Carmilla’s toxic sting was powerful enough to send the villain flying with a single blow, and in no time at all Mac Gargan and his symbiote were defeated.

Mac Gargan was never Venom’s most formidable host, but that hardly detracts from how much more powerful Carmilla’s Neo-Symbiote was. Unfortunately, her newfound abilities quickly faded, due to her body naturally resisting the upgrade, leaving the Neo-Symbiote to burn away at her fingertips without ever moving past its infancy.


RELATED: How Venom’s Deadliest Villain Carnage Just Got Stronger – Through Politics?

Considering the capabilities of symbiotes such as Anti-Venom, there is no telling just how powerful the Neo-Symbiote could have become if it had been able to survive beyond its first outing. Symbiotes like Silence have proven that the beings are capable of more than just shapeshifting and web-slinging thanks to the unique circumstances surrounding their origins, and the Neo-Symbiote’s toxicity could have made for some particularly interesting events.

The chances of the Neo-Symbiote showing up again in the future might be slim, but there always seems to be room for more symbiotes in the Marvel Universe.


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