Sure, Venom had his big movie debut back in 2018 but the villainous Symbiote has been terrorizing the Marvel universe since the '80s. In fact, he first showed up as a sentient alien costume in The Amazing Spider-Man #252 before making his first full appearance as the alien entity known as Venom in a May 1988 issue of The Amazing Spider-Man (#300). Since then, the Symbiote has been slipping its way through the comic universe and wrapping itself around a variety of hosts. It even played as an arch-nemesis to Spider-Man for a while, after taking over Eddie Brock.
Because Venom is such a beloved and iconic character, many artists have taken to the Internet to display their love for the creature. This has resulted in some incredible art, both 2D and 3D that looks and feels as if it was crafted by professionals working on the comics themselves or production materials for another film.
Here are 10 Incredible Pieces of Venom Art That Should Be Canon.
10 Another Night Begins
Art by SchneeKatze09.
Venom is one of the most imposing villains to ever grace Marvel Comics. The Symbiote's mannerisms, goals, and ideals may have changed over the years (Marvel loves to mix things up), but one of the main constants for this alien entity is the way it transforms its host into a ravenous being capable of slipping through the shadows and feeding on unsuspecting prey.
This painted 3D artwork from SchneeKatze09 captures just how terrifying this Symbiote is, with its long lashing tongue and slender black tendrils, all cast against a night-time city skyline.
9 Just Like A Comic Book Cover
Art by TyrineCarver.
Anyone unfamiliar with Venom possibly just learned about the character from his "film debut" in 2018; however, the Symbiote has actually been around for quite a while thanks to ink and Marvel's beloved comics series, The Amazing Spider-Man.
This gorgeously crafted art by TyrineCarver looks so professional and detailed that it could easily be the cover art for a Venom comic book. We especially love the "homage" to Spider-Man by including an arachnid and webbed-background.
8 Saturday Morning Venom
Art by ENERGY29.
Superheroes have managed to insert themselves into a variety of mediums. Prior to the huge boom of Marvel movies and the creation of the MCU, you could find most heroes in comic books or on television (with the main medium being Cartoons).
Over the years, Spider-Man has starred in his fair share of cartoon shows, and Venom has slipped his way into many of those adventures. While those appearances are cool, we really dig this "new age" look for the scary Symbiote. This version of Venom (created by ENERGY29) could pop-up on any Saturday morning and look right at home among the cartoon characters of 2019.
7 Realistic & Terrifying
Art by DanLuVisiArt.
The recent iteration of Venom introduced in the 2018 film was rather unsettling in its own right, thanks to its gravelly voice and stunning CGI visuals. Those of us that live and breath comics have become super accustom to the way the Symbiote looks but it's easy to forget how alarming its appearance actually is.
By showcasing a strikingly realistic digital painting that adds some truly grotesque details, artist DanLuVisiArt reminds us just how terrifying this alien creature can be. Just look at that tongue.
6 A Host Is A Host
Art by ratthana2538.
Those familiar with the first Venom know that the Symbiote attached itself to Eddie Brock (after Peter Parker) but according to Marvel lore, that isn't the only host the Symbiote has had over the years. In fact, "Venom" has taken over a variety of people, including Anne Weying and Patricia Robertson.
Many people unfamiliar with the creature may believe that it carefully chooses its hosts based on a variety of factors but the truth is that Venom is capable of transforming anyone into a superpowerful bloodthirsty feeding machine. This awesome piece of artwork from ratthana2538 reminds us that it wasn't just Eddie Brock who was forced to do the Symbiote's bidding.
5 The Original Host
Art by totmoartsstudio2.
Eddie Brock is often considered the first "host" to ever deal with Venom but in truth, it was Peter Parker who first absorbed the Symbiote. The Amazing Spider-Man himself combined forces with the alien entity, furthering his powers and abilities, that is until Venom showed its true intentions.
After realizing that the creature he bonded with was way more nefarious than he first assumed, Peter was quick to shed the Symbiote. This stunning digital painting by totmoartsstudio2 was turned into the wallpaper above by ProfessorAdagio but the full version of the original showcases Spider-Man physically ripping the entity from his costumed form.
4 Metamorphosis
Art by murtazasaeed.
When Venom decides that it wants to "take someone over" as its host, it isn't some simple event or a quick-change of sorts. It's an elaborate dance in which the Symbiote physically wraps its entire form around the victim, transforming them in its image and lacing its liquid-like body like a glove around their own.
It imbues them with its power, and artist murtazasaeed manages to capture this metamorphosis perfectly with this beautiful digital painting that shows the liquid lifeform encapsulating its latest host. We especially like how the head is malformed, almost like Venom is still in the process of trying to mold the person in its image.
3 Just Like A Movie Poster
Art by Raprankster.
Earlier in the list, we showcased a piece of art that was so skillfully created and colorfully designed that it looked as if it could appear as the cover art for a Venom comic book. Here we have another stellar piece, but this digital painting was crafted with such realism and expert detail that it could easily pass for a legitimate movie poster.
The artist, Raprankster, even went as far as to create a "nest" for the creature to perch on, in a web-like design using the Symbiote's own black liquid-like tendrils.
2 The Wall Crawler
Art by Pertheseus.
One of the things that makes Venom so terrifying is that it imbues its host with incredible strength and superhuman abilities. If the host is someone that is easily manipulated, then Venom is essentially free to use their form to wreak havoc and cause destruction.
The Symbiote isn't easy to catch or keep out, either, since its massive "claw-like" hands can dig easily into the sides of buildings and through other materials, which artist Pertheseus showcases in this incredibly well-crafted digital art. The angle is superb and there is something so unsettling about seeing Venom quickly scale a wall in the pouring rain.
1 Change Is Painful
Art by Spike4072.
We discussed earlier how Venom doesn't just "easily slip onto its host." It takes it times to physically alter their form, creating a home for itself where it can feel comfortable. Artist Spike4072 did a fantastic job emulating what this process looks like mid-transformation.
We especially love how the Symbiote is changing the character's teeth and tongue, even before it has managed to wrap itself completely around her head.