Warning! Contains spoilers for Spider-Man: Black Suit & Blood #1!Every hero has something that drives them to be the character that they are and, forSpider-Man, it’s his unbelievable sense of responsibility. No matter what goes wrong, Spider-Man often feels like it’s his fault, because he has the power to fix it. But the shadow of theVenomsymbiote puts a dark twist on this sense of responsibility.
Venom’s tempting offer was shown in the story “Fade to Black” by J. Michael Straczynski, Sumit Kumar and Craig Yeung, appearing inSpider-Man: Black Suit & Blood#1. In this story, a shadow of the Venom symbiote approaches Peter Parker on Halloween night, trying to tempt him into bonding again. The symbiote makes a convincing argument and even plays on the most important thing to Spider-Man; his sense of responsibility.
The Venom symbiote points out that while they were bonded, Spider-Man was free to act on his worst impulses. Peter had always struggled with the responsibility of his powers,but the iconicblack suit gave Spider-Manan excuse to act on all his worse urges. He didn’t need to worry about how he used his power, since he could just blame the Venom symbiote for corrupting him.
Spider-Man Cosplay Takes New Black Suit from Sketch to Reality
Spider-Man’s symbiote suit is an iconic part of his comic history, with a sketch from decades ago resulting in a new cosplay design fans need to see.
When Peter first got his powers, he immediately tried to use them to benefit himself and his family. He tried to go into show business and entered wrestling tournaments just to make some cash, and when he was given the chance to stop a criminal, he didn’t. After all, he isn’t a police officer or a superhero.Why should he save someone else who got robbed?Whenthat very same criminal later killed his Uncle Ben, it taught Peter about responsibility and how he had a duty to use his powers to make sure that everyone was safe. But this belief has always been tested the most with the black suit.
If Peter acts out, if he beats someone a little harder than he should, he can justify it to others and himself.
While wearing the black suit, Peter became significantly more violent and was willing to go a lot further to beat his enemies. This wasn’t just because the symbiote was corrupting him, it was because it gave him an excuse. As the Venom symbiote points out, Peter’s regular suit is just that, a suit. It offers him no authority or ability to avoid responsibility. But the black suit is a living being. This means that if Peter acts out, if he beats someone a little harder than he should, he can justify it to others and himself.
Spider-Man Doesn’t Have To Be Responsible With The Venom Symbiote
Living a life spent taking responsibility for everything must be exhausting. Not only is Peter constantly feeling responsible for his own actions and his inability to save people, he often feels responsible for any disaster that happens near him, even if he has nothing to do with it. He can never use his powers for his own benefit or to do what he wants, because they’re not a gift, they’re a responsibility. But whenSpider-Mandons that iconic black costume, for just a moment, he’s able to let his true desires out, and he doesn’t have to take responsibility. After all, it’s justVenom’sfault.
Spider-Man: Black Suit & Blood#1is on sale now from Marvel Comics!
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is the name given to several individuals who have employed a spider-moniker throughout Marvel Comics. Typically gaining their powers through a bite from a radioactive spider, the different Spider-Man heroes employ super-strength, agility, and intellect while utilizing webbing to swing and tangle up their foes. The most notable of these Spider-Men is Peter Parker, who remains one of the most popular superheroes throughout the world.
