The big question heading into All-New Venom #1 was who the new host of the symbiote would be. Four different suspects were named as likely candidates in the comics’ synopsis and early previews. However, the closing pages of the comic hint at a fifth possibility; one who already has a history with the symbiote.
Written by Al Ewing, with art by Carlos Gomez, All-New Venom #1 opened with the trial of Madame Masque. The trial was disrupted by an assassination attempt, during which Masque escaped custody and the new Venom appeared. This attack was witnessed by Mayor Luke Cage, newspaper editor Robbie Robertson, and superhero sidekick Rick Jones. However, the three men quickly realized that none of them had seen the other at the same time as the new Lethal Protector. This left the identity of the new host completely up in the air.
The comic closed out at the apartment shared by Mary Jane Watson and her new boyfriend, Paul Rabin. It was revealed that the two were now watching over Dylan Brock, son of Eddie Brock and former Venom host. It was also revealed that Dylan was obsessed over reuniting with the symbiote. To that end, Dylan had determined which four people were likely to be the new host. However, it’s possible the new host was far closer than he realized.
Is Mary Jane Watson the All-New Venom?
When Mary Jane returns home from patrolling as the hero Jackpot, she immediately gets into an argument with Paul. He reminds her the software he uses to track her in the field hasn’t worked properly since Venom War. Specifically, ever since she bonded with the symbiote Arachniote.
While Mary Jane says it will be too soon before she thinks about a symbiote, her denial seems curiously specific. It also seems apparent that she’s trying to hide her whereabouts from Paul. While this doesn’t confirm that she is the new Venom host, it should be noted that Mary Jane’s whereabouts when the new Venom first appeared cannot be confirmed either.
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Another possibility is that Mary Jane has been taken over by the symbiote without realizing it. This was the case for Peter Parker early on, when he thought his suit was just alien technology rather than a sentient being. In any case, given her antagonistic history with Venom, the idea of Mary Jane Watson as the All-New Venom is an interesting one.
All-New Venom #1 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
