Warning: The following contains spoilers for Venom 2099 #1 by Jody Houser, Francesco Mobili, Geraldo Borges and Rachelle Rosenberg.
Marvel's Absolute Carnage concluded last week with a warning that the symbiote god Knull is coming to Earth. Although it's obviously unclear what will happen when he arrives, we now know Knull is still around in 2099.
Out this week, Venom 2099 #1 smartly reintroduces the title character in the 2099 setting, and sets up interesting story beats that will hopefully be picked up in another related Marvel title (perhaps in Venom or in the upcoming Spider-Man 2099). However, the most harrowing realization of the issue is that Knull is still alive and on Earth.
The story follows a girl named Alea, who's left brutally scarred and without her mother following a devastating car crash. Because her father works at the megacorporation Alchemax, she's offered an opportunity to test a new form of "treatment." In 2099, Alchemax finds and splits apart the Venom symbiote, hoping to "heal" people with it, and turn them into super-soldiers (although nobody knows about that second part). It's a similar idea to the soldiers from early in writer Donny Cates' Venom. The treatment works for Alea, and her piece of the Venom symbiote heals her.
However, Alea's recovery has consequences, as even this sliver of the symbiote possesses enough power to cause some trouble. It tells Alea of its predicament, allowing her to feel its pain. Alea sets out to Alchemax after learning that Venom yearns to free his other pieces and become whole again. Once he is, Venom essentially reconnects with the hive mind linked to Knull, the sinister symbiote god. With that comes the horrifying realization that Knull isn't dead, like Venom thought -- and, yes, he's on Earth.
That poses some important questions regarding Venom and Absolute Carnage. There's still some time until Knull arrives on Earth in the Marvel Universe's present day, but what's going to happen when he gets there? Venom 2099 #1 implies that Venom is at least partially victorious in his coming battle with Knull, because the Venom of 2099 believes Knull is dead. But clearly, that isn't the case.
Something happens in the present day that leaves Knull dormant once again or else allows him to bide his time on Earth until 2099. It was already difficult to track what might happen when Venom and Knull eventually face off, but now there's one more puzzle piece that may leave readers scratching their heads.
Venom 2099 #1 is now on sale.