Fans of Venom know that symbiotes are some of the strongest beings in the Marvel Universe. Even so, every symbiote has a weakness. But thanks to the ongoing Venom War, one superhero just proved that no matter what might change, there is one weakness no symbiote can resist. And nothing burns like fire.
The ultimate weakness of the symbiotes is confirmed in Venom War: Deadpool #2 by Cullen Bunn and Rob Di Salbo. With the release of the Venom War‘s ‘zombiotes,’ many familiar heroes have become infected and taken over, turning friends into fearsome threats. One of the most concerning was Man-Thing, a character gifted with the ability to physically burn anyone who feels fear (literally). Andi Benton, the host of the Silence symbiote, manages to use her powers to try and burn the symbiote off Man-Thing. But that requires her to touch him, facing his burning touch.
The previously-always-reliable ability of Anti-Venom to purge a symbiote from a host fails, proving even Andi will be engorged in flames upon touching the Man-Thing. Proving it once and for all: Anti-Venom strains of the symbiote may be effective against most opponents, but there is nothing like good old fashioned fire to drive a symbiote off its host.
Anti-Venom’s touch is so powerful, its purging abilities once nearly burned all the radiation out of Peter Parker’s blood, coming shockingly close to curing him of his Spider superpowers completely.
Fire Remains The Greatest Weakness To Marvel’s Symbiotes
Knull’s Creation of The First Symbiote Sword Forever Scarred All His Children
Symbiotes may be powerful, but are traditionally vulnerable to two things: intense heat, and sonic frequencies. Witnessing that weakness on full display drives home two different points, the first of which explaining just how impressive it is if any symbiote, ever, is even slightly capable of resisting the burn of a flame. The origin of these weaknesses was revealed to readers during the epic King in Black storyline, explaining the origins of symbiotes like never before.
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The story explained that the symbiotes were created as the servants of Knull, God of Symbiotes, to spread death and destruction across the universe. And when Knull set about forging the literal darkness of the abyss into a weapon, he did so to create the mighty All-Black, the Necrosword. It was from this weapon which all symbiotes would eventually be born, and the heat of the fire and the clang of Knull’s hammer are the source of these inherent weaknesses in the symbiote race. Its only when Marvel readers grasp this weakness, woven into the very birth of the symbiotes, that they can understand what Carnage has achieved over the past years in Marvel’s Universe.
Carnage is The Only Symbiote To Overcome Their One True Weakness
On his mission to find, defeat, absorb, and in all ways supercede Knull as the one true God of Symbiotes, Carnage evolved past the weaknesses of most symbiotes, acquiring the powers of other iconic Marvel characters to grant immunity like never before thought possible. Immune to sonics, fire, and even no longer requiring Cletus Kasady as a host, Carnage has attained an unparalleled level of strength among all of Marvel’s named symbiotes. Prior to this event, Carnage demonstrated that Anti-Venom was no longer a threat. At the time, it seemed that this was the final, most ‘unattainable’ immunity. But not so.
Thanks to Venom War‘s showdown between Man-Thing and Silence, it’s clear that fire remains higher than Anti-Venom on the overall heirarchy of ‘all known symbiote weaknesses.’ The significance of that distinction that shouldn’t be overlooked, either; Anti-Venom’s powers allow it to burn any negative chemicals or disease from a person’s bloodstream, which has proven extremely effective against symbiotes in the past, obliterating a symbiote from its host with as little as a momentary touch. This confirmed lore may be further challenged before Venom War is over, but fans had better start keeping detailed notes.
Venom War: Deadpool #3 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.
Venom
Venom is a symbiotic alien entity bonded with various human hosts, notably Eddie Brock and later Flash Thompson. It grants superhuman strength, agility, and a shape-shifting black costume. Initially a Spider-Man villain due to its origins, Venom evolved into an antihero, battling both villains and his own dark impulses. The character embodies themes of duality and redemption within the Marvel Universe.