Knowledge Waits is a feature where I just share some bit of comic book history that interests me.

Today, in honor of Venom's latest host from this week's "Venom" #1, I figured I'd show all of the Venom symbiote hosts over the years! We'll go in chronological order.

First up is Deadpool from "Deadpool's Secret Secret War" #3 by Cullen Bunn and Matteo Lolli...

That, of course, was followed quickly by Peter Parker in "Secret Wars" #8 by Jim Shooter, Mike Zeck, John Beatty, Jack Abel and Mike Esposito (I don't know who specifically inked these pages, although I sort of presume it was Beatty)...

The next host was the one who first got the name "Venom" for the symbiote, and that was Eddie Brock, as we saw in "Amazing Spider-Man" #300 by David Michelinie and Todd McFarlane...

During "Venom: Sinner Takes All" #3 (by Larry Hama, Greg Luzniak and Scott Hanna), Eddie Brock forced the symbiote to leave him to help save the life of his injured ex-wife, Ann Weying, by bonding with her...

There was a "Venom" series in 2003 by Daniel Way, Paco Medina and Juan Vlasco where this woman named Patricia Robertson bonded with a CLONE of Venom. I don't think that counts, but I figured I'd mention it...

Eventually, Eddie Brock becomes sick and decides to auction off the Venom symbiote to criminals and ends up getting paid 200 million dollars for it (he divides the money up between 50 charities). The winner was a mobster named Don Fortunato, who wanted it for his son, Angelo Fortunato. Fortunato debuted as Venom in "Marvel Knights: Spider-Man" #7 by Mark Miller, Terry Dodson and Rachel Dodson...

The symbiote abandoned Angelo the next issue, and kills him. In "Marvel Knights: Spider-Man" #9 (by Millar and the Dodsons), the symbiote then bonds with Mac Gargan, the villain formerly known as the Scorpion...

It remained connected to Mac for a while, although he lost it at the end of the crossover, "Siege". During the "Siege: Spider-Man" #1 one-shot by Brian Reed and Marco Santucci, the symbiote briefly bonded with Ms. Marvel...

The United States military now had control over the symbiote and they decided to militarize it. There were a few failed trials, so those people would totally count for this list, I just can't find them anywhere. Anyone? But whatever, Soldier 1 and Soldier 2, we'll call them, were tests at the idea of having a government agent using the symbiote.

Their first successful subject was Flash Thompson, as we first saw in "Amazing Spider-Man" #654.1 by Dan Slott, Humberto Ramos and Carlos Cuevas...

Early on, the symbiote was separated from Flash when he was back at base, which led to a weird issue of his own series, "Venom" #7 by Rick Remender and Tom Fowler, where the symbiote briefly bonded with a German Shepard (I know that doesn't count as a human host, but hey, it was funny, so I included it)...

Similarly, in "Carnage U.S.A." #5 by Zeb Wells and Clayton Crain, the symbiote also bonded with a gorilla temporarily...

In "Venom" #14 (by Rick Remender and Tony Moore), Venom gave up his symbiote to the Red Hulk, who also was given the Ghost Rider's enchantment, so he was Red Hulk/Ghost Rider/Venom. It was pretty awesome...

Towards the end of his ongoing series, in "Venom" #39 (by Cullen Bunn and Kim Jacinto), Flash (who was working as a gym teacher) let his symbiote split to help save a student...

After joining the Guardians of the Galaxy, Flash lost control of the symbiote. Again, these aren't technically HUMAN hosts, but whatever, it's interesting still. So in "Guardians of the Galaxy" #21 (by Brian Michael Bendis and Valerio Schitti), the symbiote bonded with Groot...

Then the next issue, it bonded with Rocket Raccoon...

and Drax, as well...

Recently, Flash let the symbiote intentionally bond with a space pirate in "Venom: Space Knight" #5 by Robbie Williams and Ariel Olivetti. Does that count?

Finally, in this week's "Venom" #1 by Mike Costa and Gerardo Sandoval, the symbiote has been separated from Flash somehow and it is searching for a new host. It temporarily bonds with a homeless guy...

before finally finding Lee Price, a mob enforcer (a former soldier who lost a couple of fingers overseas) who becomes a new, fully villainous Venom...

And that brings us up to the present day!

If anyone else has an idea for something that they'd like me to feature in a future Knowledge Waits, drop me a line at brianc@cbr.com!