Marvel Comics has announced What If?… Venom, a new five-issue limited series that sends the notorious symbiote on a “twisted trip through the Marvel Universe.”
Per Marvel, What If?… Venom launches late this coming February from writer Jeremy Holt and artist Jesús Hervás. The upcoming series will introduce readers to “new symbiote-bonded versions” of such fan-favorite characters as She-Hulk, Wolverine, Doctor Strange, Loki, and Moon Knight. These icons will be forced to “grapple with their newfound power and find out who the symbiote will ultimately seek control of!”
Check out Leinil Francis Yu’s cover art for What If?… Venom #1 below:
What to expect from What If?… Venom
What If?… Venom is the latest entry in Marvel‘s long line of What If…? comics, which aim to show what the Marvel Universe might have looked like had certain events played out differently. In this case, readers will experience a world where Eddie Brock rejected the Venom symbiote.
An official synopsis for issue #1 reads as follows: “Years ago, in a familiar church tower, the Venom symbiote was spurned by Peter Parker and found a willing host in the vengeful and wrathful Eddie Brock! Or, at least, that’s the story you know! Get an all-new look at what makes the Marvel Universe’s most sinister symbiote tick, starting with a journey that reimagines its earliest days bonded to a host with a rage and temper entirely different from those of Eddie Brock!”
“Having the opportunity to play within the Venom sandbox is cool. Having the opportunity to bond five iconic heroes to the alien parasite is cooler,” Holt said. “In doing so within the WHAT IF…? concept, I’ve had an absolute blast crafting a linear revisionist history that’s provided me the latitude to introduce distinct versions of the anti-hero that we’ve all come to love.”
In addition to Yu’s cover art, Marvel has revealed Hervás’ design sheets for the Venomized versions of Moon Knight and She-Hulk. Check those out below:
Interestingly, the idea of Venom bonding with Moon Knight in particular is not unheard of. Earlier this year, Marvel and Random House Worlds announced What If…Marc Spector Was a Host to Venom? A Moon Knight and Venom Story — the third in a trilogy of adult novels inspired by the What If…? comics. Written by Mike Chen, the book is due for release in October 2024.
What If?… Venom #1 goes on sale February 28, 2024 from Marvel Comics.
