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EC Comics and Oni Press will be making this upcoming "Summer of Fear" a time to dismember for horror fans with Blood Type #1 sinking its teeth into shelves on June 11th and Catacomb of Torment #1 slicing and dicing its way to a July 16th release, and you can get into the sinister summer spirit early with our exclusive reveals of Dustin Weaver's Catacomb of Torment #1 variant cover featuring horror host The Tormentor hard at work and Kyle Hotz's Blood Type #1 variant cover featuring horror host The Grave-Digger lurking behind Ada the vampire!

Below, you can check out our exclusive horror host variant cover reveals for Catacomb of Torment #1 and Blood Type #1, and we also have the official press release with additional details, as well as the other amazing cover art for both of these spine-chilling releases and perilous preview pages from Blood Type #1!

Press Release: Portland, Or – These Ghouls Rule!

You can tell how good a hero is by the obstacles they’ve overcome. For Miles Morales (Spider-Man), he’s had to see his mother die (Ultimate Comics Spider-Man: Venom War), his father left him for a bit (Cataclysm: Ultimate Spider-Man), and he had to help save the multiverse during the 2015 Secret Invasion. That was only the beginning of his career as an elite teenage superhero because writer Cody Ziglar has been putting Miles through more than ever.

When vigilantes were outlawed in New York, he was constantly being chased by Julia Gao and her team of villains, the Thunderbolts. During that time, Miles helped stop Carnage and a gang war that caused millions of dollars in damage to the city but prevented deaths. Even after the law preventing vigilantes was abolished, Goa kept her vendetta against Spider-Man. And we can’t forget the personal issues Rabble had with Miles...

Look at him now: Nick Cave’s transforming. He’s vibrating. He’s glowing. He’s flying. Look at him now.

At Thursday night’s Bad Seeds concert at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, Cave proved to a U.S. audience what Europe has known for decades: that he — rock’s gothic poet laureate, master of emotional intimacy, and, as a side hustle, introspective advice columnist — is indeed an arena rocker. He’s attempted that feat in the States before, staging a brilliant and occasionally heartrending concert at the same venue...

Sony’s 5 Spider-Man Universe Movies Box Office score (Photo Credit – Prime Video)

Sony’s Spider-Man Universe has been swinging from web to web, mostly into box office cobwebs. Since 2018, the studio has tried to spin a cinematic web without the main webslinger himself. Bold move. Starting with Venom, they banked on side characters like Eddie Brock, Morbius, and whoever El Muerto was supposed to be (Rip that idea). Unfortunately, apart from Tom Hardy’s symbiote-fueled growling, the rest of the gang hasn’t exactly set the world, or the box office, on fire.

Each new entry seems to perform worse than the last, like a reverse glow-up in slow motion. Sony keeps insisting Spider-Man is somewhere in this universe, probably lurking off-screen like an unpaid intern, but fans aren’t biting (unless you count Morbius memes as currency). With Kraven the Hunter and Venom: The Last Dance looming, Sony’s plans hang in the balance,...

Tom Hardy’s fans are having a ball with his latest releases, MobLand, and his upcoming Netflix action thriller, Havoc. New projects mean Hardy is out and about doing press interviews, where he also ended up talking about his iconic superhero run with Venom. During these interviews, he hinted that Venom and Tom Holland’s Spider-Man came really close to crossing over. Fans at the time felt that “studio politics” was at play (thanks to the way the question was phrased), but in a new interview, Hardy clarified that the crossover didn’t get “killed” but simply “didn’t happen.”

“I didn’t say that at all,” the Venom star said, further explaining his thought process. “That’s kind of moved on from a very simple quote that I said specifically about my children watching Venom.” He previously stressed that his desire to make the Venom and Spider-Man crossover happen...

Warning! Spoilers for Eddie Brock: Carnage #2Carnage may be one of the deadliest symbiotes in the Marvel Universe - even putting Venom to shame with his gruesome kills - but a shocking retcon has weakened him significantly. Despite achieving cosmic levels of power in the past, Carnage now only has two abilities remaining, forcing him to be more dependent on his host than ever before. However, Carnage's newfound powerlessness doesn't mean he's no longer a threat at all.

In Eddie Brock: Carnage #2 by Charles Soule, Jesús Saíz, Matt Hollingsworth, and Joe Sabino, Eddie meets with serial killer Bushwacker and reveals that he's become Carnage's new host, but only because the symbiote has been left powerless in the wake of the groundbreaking Venom War event.

According to Eddie, Carnage can no longer act independently. The Carnage symbiote only has two powers left: he can speak, and he can kill Eddie if...

Ahead of the release of Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts* movie this May, Marvel Comics has announced a new ongoing series from writer Sam Humphries and artist Ton Lima, and they've really called in some big guns to pad out this roster.

Though the comic title has kept the movie's mysterious (though maybe not quite some much after the last trailer) asterisk, Bucky Barnes is the only character who will appear on the MCU team. The rest of the squad consists of Black Widow, Carnage, The Hulk, Clea, Wolverine, and Namor.

Yeah... If we're a supervillain, we are not rushing to tangle with this team.

According to Marvel.com's synopsis, the new series "kicks off when Bucky Barnes and Black Widow discover a monumental threat to the Marvel Universe and recruit a group of individuals who will Hold Nothing Back! It’s a radical lineup—even by Thunderbolts standards—that ushers in...

It's hard to argue against the fact that Jon Bernthal is currently the definitive actor to take on the role of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's (MCU) most feared vigilante, The Punisher (aka Frank Castle). Bernthal perfectly captured the controversial anti-hero's bottomless rage and humanity. He was such a perfect fit for the role that he was frequently cited as one of the best parts of the McU's inconsistent Netflix era.

The same, unfortunately, can't be said for his villains. If fans loved Bernthal's performance so much that he's inseparable from the character, most (if not all) of his villains faded into obscurity. This wasn't because the actors were bad; in fact, they were all good. The problem was that Netflix's The Punisher wasted Frank's villains by repeating some of the oldest and most frustrating mistakes of the modern superhero genre.

The Punisher’s Netflix Series Had Forgettable Villains The Series...

Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man trilogy saw quite a few villains—both good and bad—played by some of the renowned actors in the industry. The greatest villain of all would be the psychotic Green Goblin, who made the first Spider-Man film memorable for generations of viewers. Willem Dafoe’s unhinged performance in the film played a huge role in the success of such a villain.

Willem Dafoe as Norman Osborn aka Green Goblin in Spider-Man: No Way Home | Credits: Marvel Studios

Dafoe was popularly known to audiences as the character actor who controversially played Jesus in Martin Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ. Interestingly, he was chosen for the role over three other famous actors, which will be surprising for fans. However, it is hard to imagine anyone other than Dafoe in the role now.

Before Willem Dafoe, these 3 actors were initially considered for Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man...

The final movie in the Tom Hardy-led Sony Spider-Man spin-off, Venom: The Last Dance, has now set its sights on Netflix. The streaming platform has now revealed that last year’s Venom outing, which finds Hardy’s Eddie Brock going on the run with his symbiote pal, will land later this month. Meaning audiences can finally watch this star-crossed bromance play out for the final time from the comfort of their own home.

Following the success of the first Venom back in 2018 and its sequel Venom: Let There Be Carnage in 2021, Venom: The Last Dancewraps up the Tom Hardy-fronted trilogy. Directed by Kelly Marcel, the comic book movie sequel stars Hardy alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, Rhys Ifans, Peggy Lu, Alanna Ubach and Stephen Graham, and finds Eddie and Venom on the run. Venom: The Last Dance is now all set to premiere on Netflix on February 25, and you...

January came and went in the blink of an eye, but not before leaving us with plenty of exciting Spider-Man stories. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man premiered to great levels of critical and fan acclaim, Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) saw the release of one of its best issues yet, and PC players finally had the chance to swing across the city of New York in the recently-released port of Marvel's Spider-Man 2. But the cherry on top? Things will only get better from here.

February will see the release of no shortage of exciting comic books featuring the wall-crawler and his ensemble of supporting characters. But while all eyes are currently set on All-New Venom (2024) to reveal who the mystery host behind the Venom symbiote is, we can't forget that Eddie Brock will undergo a major change this month as well. The former King in Black quickly shifted from ruling all symbiotes in...

“The Talent,” a glitzy party-set psychological thriller toplining Ester Expósito, one of the biggest breakouts of “Elite” stars, will be brought onto the market at Berlin by Spain’s Film Factory Entertainment.

Handling many of Spain’s biggest non-global streamer movies, Film Factory has acquired worldwide rights to “The Talent”outside Spain. It will present at next month’s European Film Market a first promo of the movie whose talent package is compounded by Fernando León de Aranoa, who co-writes and produces. Helmer of San Sebastian Film Festival Golden Shell winner “Mondays in the Sun,” one of the early big breakthroughs for Javier Bardem, León directed Bardem once more in the Oscar shortlisted “The Good Boss,” which also won six 2021 Goya Awards, Spain’s equivalent of the Oscars, including Best Film and Director, and the European Film Award for Best Comedy.

Produced by Leon’s Reposado PC and The Mediapro Studio,...

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 had so much ambition and an opportunity to be bigger than the first game ever could be. In many ways, the sequel succeeded, but over time, it was clear that what was given in the sequel seems to be all players got. There's a lingering feeling of missed opportunities, especially regarding Cletus Kasady, the twisted cult leader obsessed with fire. This felt like it was supposed to be so much more than what was given, and an obvious Dlc would be focused on him.

His chilling introduction in the side missions hinted at his future transformation into Carnage and suggested much more could have been explored. The story cleverly sets up links with Yuri Watanabe’s shift into the Wraith, and it seems like chaotic Carnage could have created a great conflict between the main heroes. The situation raises questions not just about what has been...

The legendary Spider-Man: The Animated Series left on a bittersweet note with its climactic season five, but there were several captivating narratives in store for season 6. Marvel’s Spider-Man: The Animated Series was abruptly canceled after five seasons, despite the creative team, led by John Semper Jr., having plans through to season 6. Over the years, Semper Jr. has shared tantalizing details about what could have been, including which characters would have appeared in Spider-Man: Tas season 6. The sixth season was poised to deliver thrilling new adventures, from long-awaited character reunions to bold new team-ups.

Season 5 of Spider-Man: Tas ended on a dramatic note with Madame Web whisking Spider-Man away to search for the real Mary Jane Watson, who had been missing since the end of season 3. This cliffhanger left burning questions about Peter Parker’s future and the fate of his beloved Mary Jane. Budget constraints and behind-the-scenes conflicts contributed to its untimely cancelation.

Sony's Spider-Man Universe has provided audiences with a mix of exciting action and moments of cringe-worthy dialogue. While the Marvel movie franchise had a lot of potential, certain lines from its characters have become infamous for their awkwardness, forced delivery, and lack of emotional resonance. Many of these became internet memes, lampooning the Ssu’s clunky exposition and unsuccessful attempts at humor. Now that the Ssu has concluded, the very worst lines have become a fascinating insight into the franchise’s downfall.

The Ssu aimed to expand on Spider-Man's universe with various antiheroes and villains, including Venom, Morbius, and Kraven the Hunter. While some of these films have garnered attention for their star power or flashy action, poor writing and bizarre lines that break immersion often hinder them. These moments, meant to be compelling, instead left audiences scratching their heads in confusion or bewilderment. It even led to a...

Sony’s Spider-Man Universe introduced some classic Marvel characters but completely squandered some iconic allies and adversaries. Sony’s Spider-Man Universe has offered its own take on the world of Spider-Man and its adjacent characters, aiming to build a cinematic universe populated by iconic villains, anti-heroes, and supporting characters. Despite some standout moments, the Ssu has been riddled with missed opportunities, especially in how it handles some of its most compelling characters.

Sony’s Spider-Man Universe has come to an end. Kraven the Hunter was the final installment in the Ssu, bringing the titular Spider-Man villain to life. He joins the ranks of Madame Web, Morbius, and Venom, who each led their own eponymous adventures in the franchise. However, numerous other beloved Spider-Man characters have appeared throughout the franchise, several of whom were completely wasted. Many of these were hotly anticipated, yet many were squandered through lackluster characterizations or unfulfilled narratives.

The Chitty Chitty Bang Bang remake has found its director. The 1968 musical fantasy movie starring Dick Van Dyke is among the iconic actor's most beloved movies. A remake was previously confirmed to be in development at Amazon MGM Studios, with James Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson's Eon Productions attached to the project. The original movie was produced by Broccoli's father, Albert R. Broccoli.

Variety has now confirmed that Matilda the Musical's Matthew Warchus will direct Amazon's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang remake. In addition to Matilda the Musical, Warchus directed the 2014 movie Pride starring Bill Nighy, and has directed numerous musicals and plays, including God of Carnage, for which he won a Tony Award. The Chitty Chitty Bang Bang remake script is being written by the screenwriter and Tony Award-winning playwright Enda Walsh.

What This Means For The Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Remake Development Is Moving Quickly...

Warning: Spoilers for Eddie Brock: Carnage #1Eddie Brock has been a hero, a villain, Venom, and now, he's taking on the role of Carnage. While Eddie is no stranger to using lethal force, he's tried his best to leave that part behind him. Now, bonded to a new murderous symbiote, Eddie will have to indulge his worst impulses to keep the Carnage symbiote in check, as he becomes a killer of killers.

Eddie has been the host to Venom for decades, but that will be changing soon as Eddie bonds with the Carnage symbiote in the upcoming Eddie Brock: Carnage by Charles Soule and Jesus Saiz. In a statement to Marvel.com, Soule comments that "in order for Eddie to be okay with [killing for Carnage], the people he feeds Carnage are serial killers. But Carnage is also an addict, and addicts need bigger and bigger highs…"

Readers get their first look at...

Let’s face it – Spider-Man has one of the most fascinating rogues galleries in comic book history, and Sony has been dead set on bringing these complex villains to the big screen in their own features. It’s a pretty bold strategy when you think about it – taking characters who traditionally serve as antagonists and trying to turn them into leading anti-heroes. Some might call it a desperate attempt to milk Sony’s Spider-Man rights for all they’re worth, while others see it as an interesting experiment in superhero storytelling.

Toby Maguire as Spider-Man in Spider-Man (2002) | Credits: Sony Pictures, Columbia Pictures

Whatever your take, these villain-centric films have definitely given us some unique interpretations of classic characters, ranging from the truly bizarre to the surprisingly entertaining. As Sony continues to expand its Spider-Man Universe (Ssu), let’s take a deep dive into these anti-hero tales and see how they stack up against each other.

When Sony Pictures determined they would make the best of the IP rights of the Spider-Man universe at the turn of the century, there was a plan to include historic characters like Venom. Much like with the more favored and dashing stepbrother over at Marvel Studios, the movies would be loosely connected and build on the infrastructure Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, Jack Kirby, John Romita Sr., Gil Kane, and other luminaries established in the comics.

Yet, when Venom was "co-created" by Todd MacFarlane in 1988, debuting in The Amazing Spider-Man No. 252, the thought about the symbiote was being fueled by revenge. Spider-Man was his first human host. They got separated. We'd all get perturbed if our landlord made us homeless. So, yes, Venom wanted revenge.

He was a creature of intense rage, which is why he targeted Eddie Brock. From Klyntar to San Francisco, Venom came to destroy anything -- or...

Marcia Gay Harden said that, years after starring in a New York production of “The Seagull” for Mike Nichols, the “Graduate” director apologized for being so hard on her because Philip Seymour Hoffman told him to.

Speaking with “Modern Family” star Jesse Tyler Ferguson in this week’s episode of his “Dinner’s On Me” podcast, Harden said that Nichols blamed her for everything that went wrong with the 2001 New York production.

Harden had just won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for “Pollock,” which meant she didn’t have to audition to join the cast, which included Christopher Walken, Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Natalie Portman, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Stephen Spinella, Larry Pine, Deborah Monk and John Goodman.

The cast was “bonkers,” so Harden said she didn’t hesitate to say yes. “I had in my mind, my vain little mind, that Mike would see me and realize I was the new Meryl Streep.

Even Philip Seymour Hoffman recognized how “hard” Mike Nichols was on Marcia Gay Harden during the famed “The Seagull” Broadway production in 2001.

More than 20 years later, Harden recalled during Sony Music Entertainment’s “Dinner’s On Me” podcast, hosted by Jesse Tyler Ferguson, how director Nichols treated her like the “guinea pig” during the star-studded play. Years later, Nichols apologized to Harden for how he treated her — but only after Hoffman’s urging.

“I had won an Oscar for ‘Pollock’ and I got an offer, not even an audition, to play [character] Masha in ‘The Seagull’ in Central Park,” Harden said. “The cast of names was bonkers: It was Chris[topher] Walken, Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Natalie Portman, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Stephen Spinella, Larry Pine, Deborah Monk, John Goodman. So of course I’m going to do it.”

Harden continued that she hoped Nichols would find her to be “the new Meryl Streep,...

Like Venom and Venom: Let There Be Carnage before it, Venom: The Last Dance doesn't exactly have the strongest of scripts.

Plot holes aren't hard to find; for example, why after doing his best to avoid transforming would Venom then do so just for a dance with Mrs. Chen? (resulting in the Xenophage nearly killing them and his and Eddie Brock's eventual capture).

Still, fans were quick to pick up on the fact the threequel made a point of establishing that Detective Pat Mulligan's Symbiote had abandoned him after his run-in with Venom and Carnage in the previous movie. Seeing as the cop was bonded with another of the aliens before being killed, this surely means Toxin is still out there, right?

Perhaps not.

A list of deleted scenes for the upcoming Digital and Blu-ray releases of Venom: The Last Dance has been revealed and among them is "Toxin's Warning.

Warning: Contains Spoilers for Venom War #5

The Venom War is over and with the symbiotic apocalypse finally coming to an end, so too does the original story of Carnage. The bloodthirsty spawn of Venom came into this world with murderous intent. Emboldened by Cletus Kasady’s psychopathic personality, Carnage had one goal that he set from the very beginning of his life’s journey, a goal that has finally been reached. Venom is dead.

Venom War #5 - by Al Ewing and Iban Coello - finally sees the end of a years-long conflict that officially began when Eddie Brock became the King in Black. While Eddie, Dylan, and Meridius were at war for control over Venom, Carnage has been lurking in the background, pushing his own motives.

Throughout the conflict, Carnage has been pursuing a path of power, a path of godhood. But with Venom dead and Eddie dying, Carnage, barely clinging to life himself,...

A highly talented cosplayer has just delivered one of the most epic Carnage cosplays to date, proving that Sony's decision to spotlight the villain in Venom: Let There Be Carnage was a stellar choice. What makes this cosplay even more noteworthy is its genderbending of Carnage’s typically male form into a female version, resulting in a portrayal that is nothing short of brutally epic.

McClung has truly stunned with both her Venom dress and Carnage cosplay.

Cosplayer and artist Grace McClung took to Instagram to showcase her jaw-dropping transformation into the Venom villain Carnage. With over 33 years of comic history, Carnage has been a key figure in Spider-Man and Venom lore for decades.

View this post on InstagramA post shared by Grace McClung (@graciethecosplaylass)

His prominence grew even more with his live-action debut in the 2021 film Venom: Let There Be Carnage, where CGI helped bring his chaotic symbiote...

Across his four Marvel movie appearances, Tom Hardy's Venom franchise has delivered memorable moments that balance thrilling action with laugh-out-loud comedy. Tom Hardy’s portrayal of Venom has left an indelible mark on Marvel’s cinematic universe. Among the standout sequences are action-packed battles, heartfelt character moments, and hilarious interactions. These moments encapsulate the complex, messy, and strangely endearing relationship between Eddie and Venom, keeping audiences coming back for more.

First introduced in Venom (2018), the bond between Eddie Brock and his alien Symbiote brought a blend of visceral action and offbeat humor to the superhero genre. Its sequel, Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021), elevated the dynamic with a chaotic clash against Carnage, while Venom: The Last Dance introduced thrilling new settings and higher stakes. Meanwhile, Hardy's brief but fun cameo in Spider-Man: No Way Home teased exciting possibilities for the multiverse and the MCU timeline. Across these films, Venom’s dark humor,...

Warning: Spoilers for Venom War #5!In the aftermath of Venom's big Marvel event, the scariest symbiote is creeping up again to totally ruin a hero’s life as Eddie Brock strikes a diabolical deal to become the new host of Carnage. Though it had previously been announced that Eddie would take up the murderous symbiote’s mantle, details on how or why were still scarce. As the Venomverse gets majorly shaken up, Carnage reaches new horrific heights.

After the brutal brawl wrapping up Venom War, both Carnage symbiote and Earth-616’s Eddie Brock are left beaten and near death. Carnage makes a sinister proposal to the former Venom host in the cliffhanger finale of Venom War #5 by Al Ewing, Iban Coello, Frank D’Armata, and Ariana Maher: "Can the two of us make a deal...?"

Back in a church setting reminiscent of Brock’s origin with the symbiote species, Carnage...

At New York Comic Con, it was revealed that Marvel is gearing up for a new Venomverse comic event. This will be a major crossover, bringing together two of the publisher's most popular universes. The symbiote-centric universe will be taking on the fan-favorite Spider-Verse, promising plenty of mayhem to come next Spring when the event kicks off.

The event promo art from Marvel Comics only has text with minuscule visual components. There is some webbing with some thicker strands that slightly resemble symbiote tendrils. It reads "Spider-Verse vs. VenomVerse" in black and red lettering. The only other information known thus far is that the event will begin May 2025. With so many recent additions to both universes, the potential for who could be included is very broad.

Marvel's Spider-Verse & VenomVerse Continuously Steal the Comic Spotlight A Slew of Arachnid & Symbiote Series Have Been Published Over the Last Ten Years

The Spider-Verse...

The all-horror streaming service Shudder has announced its full December 2024 lineup this week, with new originals, exclusives and catalogue titles headed our way next month.

Get ready to spend the ho-ho-horror days with new holiday special “Job Bob’s Christmas Carnage” and “The Haunted Season” from renowned author, producer, and filmmaker Kier-La Janisse. Read on for the full December 2024 lineup from Shudder…

Last Straw

Shudder Exclusive Film

Directed by Alan Scott Neal

Streaming On Shudder December 20

Available in US, CA

Synopsis

A rural roadside diner becomes the host of a maniacal killing spree – leaving a young waitress to clean up the mess. After hard-headed Nancy fires the staff at her dad’s diner, she decides to cover the last shift of the night by herself. Little does she know she is far from alone. The day is coming back to haunt her and when things begin to spiral out of control,...

Amazon MGM’s “Red One” has seen its numbers improve after an uptick in ticket sales on Saturday, but it still doesn’t look like it will leave much of a mark at the box office with a domestic opening weekend of $34 million from 4,032 theaters.

Let’s start with the good news: the Seven Bucks-produced Christmas action film starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans performed above Friday estimates with $13.2 million grossed on Saturday, and the film earned an A- on CinemaScore and an 89% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes after getting mostly negative reviews from critics. That could help the film as it tries to leg out into December as a seasonal offering.

But a $34 million start, which hits the top end of pre-release projections, would still be considered a huge bust for a $250 million action film starring A-listers like Johnson and Evans were it released by a legacy studio that...

In every Venom movie, there is a new symbiote who shows up to fight the odd anti-hero duo of Venom and Eddie Brock. However, as the final part of Sonys Venom trilogy, Venom: The Last Dance boasts several symbiote characters who appear throughout the film.

Many of these symbiotes have acted as background cameos in 2018s Venom as part of the Life Foundation, yet it appears they may now be the central threat. But who are these symbiotes, and where have they shown up before? While there isn't an official in-movie answer for the former, Marvel Comics has depicted most of these symbiotes in comics, giving fans the knowledge needed to identify the new symbiotes.

Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on November 13, 2024: With Venom: The Last Dance now in theaters, fans officially know all of the symbiotes in the movie. Although many die immediately, it is interesting to note precisely...

Quick Links The New Spider-Man Trilogy Could Bring Back Carnage Venom: Let There Be Carnage Failed Cletus Kasady How the MCU Can Fix Carnage

Spider-Man 4 is officially happening, with Tom Holland returning to play the iconic superhero after the landmark events of Spider-Man: No Way Home. The new film will be directed by Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' Destin Daniel Cretton and is currently slated to hit theaters in July 2026. While there are still plenty of moving parts involved in Spider-Man's future, the upcoming film is expected to kick off another trilogy set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The new set of films has plenty of opportunities to expand Spider-Man's mythos in the MCU, building up his character--and his Rogues Gallery.

There is no shortage of fan theories regarding Spider-Man 4. No Way Home reset the franchise, with Doctor Strange's final spell restoring Spider-Man's secret identity--and...

Venom: The Last Dance Box Office (North America): Inches Closer To Its First Major Milestone (Photo Credit – Facebook)

Tom Hardy’s star power and acting prowess keep Venom: The Last Dance minting money at the box office. The movie is finally set to reach its first major milestone at the box office in North America. Venom 3 is comparitively doing better in the international regions. The film’s collection on its 2nd Thursday is almost on par with its predecessor, Venom: Let There Be Carnage. Scroll below for the latest box office deets.

The movie is part of Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. Eddie and Venom are still on the run after their fight with Carnage from the previous 2021 movie. Patrick Mulligan’s murder makes international headlines, with Eddie named as the prime suspect. Hence, he is forced to stay low-key and head to New York City to try and clear his name.

Every Marvel fan knows that Carnage is ten times worse than Venom, especially when he's paired with his classic host, Cletus Kasady. He's a bloodthirsty, rage-filled maniac bent on the destruction of all life. That's only in American comics though - in a manga style, Carnage's personality can only be heightened into something so terrifying that it will disturb Marvel fans for years to come.

Out of all the symbiotes in Marvel's history, Carnage is still the deadliest, if not the most villainous too. Now, in a new preview, he's getting a manga-like redesign for Kid Venom #3 by Taigami, Hatano, Mattia Iacono, Joe Sabino, and Aki Yanagi. Gracing the cover of this new issue, a very different Carnage is coming to Marvel, looking just as bone-chilling as the original.

Never before has Carnage's host been so lacking in red, as he instead dons a white outfit with a white hairstyle,...

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Venom: The Last DanceDespite Venom's apparent death in Venom: The Last Dance, Tom Hardy's Eddie Brock can still return to fight Knull with the help of another Marvel symbiote. Venom: The Last Dance sees Eddie Brock part ways with Venom as Venom sacrifices himself to destroy Knull's Xenophages, which threaten to steal Venom's codex in order to break Knull out of Klyntar. Several symbiotes also die in Venom: The Last Dance's third act, leaving Agony as the only symbiote survivor. Although it marks the end of the Venom trilogy, Venom: The Last Dance also sets up future stories in Sony's Spider-Man Universe and possibly the MCU.

The biggest hint at new storylines taking place after Venom's apparent death is Venom: The Last Dance's two post-credits scenes. Venom: The Last Dance's mid-credits scene confirms that Knull is alive and...

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Venom: The Last Dance.

After Venom: The Last Dance, Sony could resurrect one dead character from its Marvel franchise who could prove capable of releasing Knull, allowing the multiversal villain to pose a threat to the Ssu and MCU alike. Tom Hardy's final movie as Eddie Brock premiered on October 25 and marked the last adventure for both Brock and Venom, with the latter sacrificing himself to save the universe from Knull. Knull was an exciting inclusion in Venom: The Last Dance, and the movie may have set him up for a bigger role in the Ssu's future.

Knull made his first full appearance in Marvel Comics in 2018's Venom (Vol. 4) #3, but despite being such a recent addition to the Marvel Universe, he has already made his mark. As the King in Black and the dark creator of the Symbiotes, Knull is an incredibly powerful villain in Marvel Comics,...

What are the symbiotes in Marvel’s Venom? (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Sony’s Venom: The Last Dance will soon flash on the big screen as the last chapter will take our breath away by introducing the biggest Marvel Cinematic Universe villain, Knull. Tom Hardy’s movie has introduced several symbiotes, including the creation of Knull. Beyond Venom, MCU has introduced several other symbiotes seeking human hosts to survive and bond with.

While the symbiote, bonded with Eddie Brock, is well-known, other symbiotes are darker and more dangerous. Originating from Klyntar, these symbiotes seek to devour worlds and bond with hosts. Let’s explore all the symbiotes that have appeared in the Venom franchise.

Venom Bonded With Eddie Brock

In Sony’s trilogy, the titular black and white symbiote crash-lands on Earth alongside three others captured by the Life Foundation. The two bond when journalist Eddie Brock discovers Venom as he...

Corporate interests will always get in the way of artists trying to tell a good story, and that’s partly why I think comic-books are so damn magical. Even in a medium that’s mostly controlled by a handful of giant companies with strict rules about their intellectual property, you can still see miraculous bursts of creativity even in the most unabashedly cynical products.

For example, there’s the fan-favorite Venom. Think of how many people were involved in the process of turning an alternate costume for Spider-Man (the result of a contest meant to make the character appeal to a broader audience) into a monstrous supervillain, only to then re-imagine the character as a reformed hero once the marketing folks realized that he was nearly as popular as Spidey himself. No single person planned for it to turn out this way, but each artist tried to nudge the idea in a fun direction,...

When Venom: The Last Dance shredded the box office competition on October 25, 2024, ardent and casual fans wondered why former franchise stalwart Michelle Williams was suddenly absent from the trilogy capper. After starring as Eddie Brock's (Tom Hardy) former fianc and defense lawyer Anne Weying, Williams departed the Sony superhero franchise before it ended, leading to Juno Temple's casting as Dr. Teddy Paine.

Although critics were unkind to The Last Dance, droves of fans flocked to see the final Venom movie, which puts an amusing exclamation mark on the deadly alien symbiote's time in the Sony Spider-Man Universe. As Peter Parker prepares for the next chapter in the Spider-Man Universe, discovering what happened to Anne Weying and understanding why Michelle Williams left the franchise will give fans a modicum of closure.

2.5/5 Venom: The Last Dance Not Yet Rated

Release Date October 25, 2024Director Kelly MarcelRuntime 110 MinsMain Genre AdventureCast Tom Hardy,...

If superhero movies are a family, then "Venom" is definitely the eccentric cousin. Sony's trilogy of films star Tom Hardy as investigative journalist Eddie Brock, and also as the voice of Venom, the alien symbiote that Eddie has "up [his] ass" (to use his own phrasing). It's definitely an unconventional domestic partnership, but there's a unique charm to it.

All three "Venom" movies have received mixed reviews, but some critics have been positively enchanted by the trilogy's messy-but-entertaining energy. On the audience side, "Venom" and "Venom: Let There Be Carnage" both received B+ CinemaScore grades, based on opening day audience polling (the same score as Marvel Cinematic Universe entry "Thor" and DC movies like "Suicide Squad" and "Justice League"). More recently, "Venom: The Last Dance" broke that trend by earning a B- CinemaScore.

That pattern is different in the Rotten Tomatoes scores for the three moves, which reflect the balance of positive vs.

The Clones of the Grand Army of the Republic, who were largely in the background in the Prequels, got to be front and center in Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series. Lauded as one of the best installments in the Star Wars franchise, the show delved into some pretty dark themes for a show that was primarily aimed at children.

Carnage of Krell || Star Wars: The Clone Wars

One of the more menacing characters in the story was Jedi Master Pong Krell, a character that the fandom has come to collectively hate as much as Harry Potter fans hate Dolores Umbridge. The character’s evil and duplicity come to fruition at the end of the 4-part story that he is introduced in, which sees Anakin relinquish the control of his army to another Jedi master, who has a lot more going on than he initially lets on.

Pong Krell...

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Venom: The Last Dance.

Knull may have arrived in live-action, but there are still moments from Marvel's King in Black story that probably can't be adapted to the big screen. As the main antagonist of Venom: The Last Dance, the powerful villain Knull has formally arrived in live-action. Though his role in the movie is relatively indirect, Knulls awareness of Earth and Eddie Brock leads towards a potential adaption of Marvel Comics King in Black storyline.

The problem is, the Venom movies place in the Marvel movie universe creates issues for an adaptation of the King in Black story. As it sees Knull invade the Earth with an army of symbiotes and fighting a wealth of Marvel heroes, questions over which universe a King in Black story would take place in naturally arise. Regardless of whether its adapted into Sonys Spider-Man Universe or the MCU,...

Venom: The Last Dance wrapped up the Venom trilogy, and although the series has had its ups and downs, it ultimately carved a unique path in Sony's Spider-Man Universe. Each installment offered something different, from introducing the wild, monstrous anti-hero of Venom to finally finding a satisfying balance in character and story in its third movie. Though the quality of each film has varied, the trilogy has left its mark, with Venom now an iconic Marvel anti-hero in superhero cinema.

The three Venom movies (Venom (2018), Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021), and Venom: The Last Dance (2024)) are a part of Sony's Spider-Man Universe, a franchise connected to Spider-Mans extensive world of allies and foes. Venom (2018) introduced Venom as an anti-hero dealing with villainous threats while navigating the odd dynamic with his human host, Tom Hardys Eddie Brock. Now that the trilogy has officially concluded with Venom: The Last Dance, the...

Sunday Am Writethru: After Saturday update, refresh for more analysis. The previous Venom: Let There Be Carnage drew 10 million people during opening weekend off a $90M opening, and the threequel here, Venom: The Last Dance, is pulling in close to half that in admissions. The numbers speak for themselves, at least at the domestic box office, and fewer moviegoers are making time for Sony/Marvel’s Venom: The Last Dance with $51M opening after a $22M Friday/previews and a $16.8M Saturday, -23% in a weekend that was rocked by the LA Dodgers mow-down of the New York Yankees during the first two dates of the World Series; a match-up 43 years in the waiting. That’s $13M less than the $65M projected opening, and it’s $38M less than the previous installment’s franchise domestic record opening. Venom movies were never made to speak to the top of anyone’s intelligence.

While we won't get final numbers until tomorrow, it appears Venom: The Last Dance is overperforming after making $50.8 million from 64 overseas locations through Friday.

The Sony Pictures threequel has underperformed in North America with a projected $52 million opening, a $13 million decline from its projected $65 million debut. However, thanks to those all-important international numbers, Venom: The Last Dance will still open to $180 million globally.

China has been a big help with a $22 million debut that should reach $45 million by close of business today. Chinese state media has reportedly given the movie a thumbs up, while Sony has boosted interest by tapping Chinese actor Jia Bing to voice Venom.

Ultimately, the studio being careful with its Venom: The Last Dance spend will help avoid this becoming another Joker: Folie à Deux. The production budget was only $120 million before marketing, so even if it ends its run well behind Venom and Venom: Let...

There was a time when it was hard to believe that Venom would ever become a movie headliner. The Marvel Comics villain was always one of Spider-Man's most popular villains, sure, but he was just that: A villain. But somehow, someway, the alien symbiote pulled it off, achieving similar levels of popularity as his more famous foe and headlining his own movie franchise.

Prior to the release of Venom, the character had played a supporting role in 2007's Spider-Man 3. The effects in that movie were very convincing, but audiences weren't sold as the film's complete overcrowding prevented any of its villains from shining. But that certainly wasn't the case in 2018's Venom, which gave Eddie Brock and the symbiote the spotlight in what can only be described as an absolutely bonkers movie.

Tom Hardy portrays the reluctant hero in the film series, who finds himself bonding with the alien symbiote living within him.

Trailblazing trans director Alice Maio Mackay (So Vam, T Blockers) is back this week with holiday horror indie Carnage for Christmas, now available on VOD outlets at home.

Dark Star Pictures previews, “At only 20 years old and now with five features under her belt, Maio Mackay further establishes herself as a shrewd filmmaker with a knack for fusing horror with a healthy dose of camp.” Watch the exclusive Red Band Trailer for the film below.

In the film, “When true-crime podcaster and sleuth transwoman Lola visits her hometown at Christmas for the first time since running away and transitioning, the vengeful ghost of a historical murderer and urban legend seemingly arises to kill again.”

Alice Maio Mackay enlisted fellow genre artist Vera Drew, director and star of The People’s Joker (also now available on VOD outlets), as the film’s editor and visual effects artist.

Michelle Swope wrote in her...

In Venom: The Last Dance, it's revealed that when Venom saved Eddie Brock's life in 2018's Venom, a Codex was created that solidified their bond. That's reawakened Knull on Klyntar and the King in Black sends his Xenophage to retrieve the key that can free him from his prison.

This is a big change from the comics but one that may have major implications for Venom on screen moving forward.

On the page, a Codex refers to the trace amounts of a Symbiote left in a former host's body. That connects to the Symbiote Hive-Mind which preserves the consciousnesses of hosts, creating an afterlife of sorts. It also doubles as an afterlife for deceased symbiotes, something we see in Venom: The Last Dance when Carnage and Riot are shown seemingly frozen in place.

This has led to Cletus Kasady's Codex, for example, being able to pilot the reborn Carnage Symbiote following his death.

Reviews for Venom: The Last Dance are in, and the third installment in Tom Hardy's anti-hero franchise seems to be impressing very few critics. Since the financial and critical failure that was Madame Web, the Sony cinematic Spider-Man universe is in desperate need of an unequivocal hit. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like Venom: The Last Dance is going to do the trick, continuing the second film's trend of worse reviews compared to its predecessor.

The strength of the Tom Hardy Venom trilogy has always been the dynamic between Eddie Brock and his titular symbiote. While their chemistry is allegedly as good as ever in the threequel, it's no longer enough to carry such a weighty, ambitious story. That's not even to mention the technical filmmaking issues several reviewers have taken issue with. If Venom: The Last Dance's box office numbers can't surpass its woeful reviews, sitting at 38% on Rottentomaties.

The Venom trilogy, which began in 2018 when it launched Sony’s Spider-Man universe, has come to a close. The series of films focused on Spider-Man villains and characters have largely been derided by fans (you can see our ranking of the Sony Spider-Man Universe here), but the Venom movies have been mostly well-regarded. Bringing the symbiotic villain to the big screen without Spider-Man, his archnemesis, was a strange choice, and one that hasn’t been entirely successful.

Still, the flawed trilogy has remained a bit of fun and the only highlight of the atrocious Sony Spider-Verse. The two previous entries utilized post-credit scenes to hint at upcoming events, including the introduction of Woody Harrelson’s Carnage and Venom’s brief, yet memorable, foray into the MCU. With this allegedly being the final installment in the trilogy, is there a post-credit scene? Yes. In fact, it has two.

Venom: The Last Dance...