Venom’s latest host is unlike any the symbiote has bonded to before. Then again, it has never stepped into the shoes of the Sorcerer Supreme, either.

As Doctor Strange investigates a series of odd disturbances in the pages of What If… Venom #3, the eponymous symbiote is quick to show itself, though not to be contained. Instead of allowing itself to be captured by Doctor Strange, the symbiote finds a place on the Sorcerer Supreme’s person where it can return with him back to the Sanctum Sanctorum unnoticed for reasons that can only spell doom for anyone in its way.

Written by JEREMY HOLT Art by MANUEL GARCÍA Inker CAM SMITH Colorist CECI DE LA CRUZ Letterer ARIANA MAHER Cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YU and ROMULO FAJARDO JR. Variant Cover Artists ROD REIS, PEACH MOMOKO and JONAS SCHARF

In the Venom symbiote’s first comic book appearance in the pages of 1984’s Amazing Spider-Man #252 by writers Tom DeFalco and Roger Stern and artist Ron Frenz, it was little more than the titular hero’s then-latest costume. Soon enough, the suit revealed itself to be not just alien in origin, but unto itself as one of the now well-known Klyntar symbiotes. When the symbiote’s influence over Peter Parker drove him to discard it, Venom found a new host in Eddie Brock, with whom it bonded almost immediately over their shared hatred of Spider-man and his human alter-ego.

In the years since, Venom’s history and that of all symbiotes has been greatly expanded, particularly in regard to the unique space they inhabit in the wider Marvel Universe. Born of the ancient being known as Knull, the symbiotes eventually imprisoned their progenitor who sought to bend them to his malevolent will. When Knull was freed, he embarked upon a gruesome cosmic crusade that culminated in the symbiote invasion of Earth. It wasn’t until Eddie Brock was resurrected through the Symbiote Hive and imbued with the powers of Captain Universe that he was able to defeat and destroy Knull, becoming the new King in Black with the original’s demise.

What If… Venom offers an entirely new version of the titular symbiote’s story. This time, rather than bonding to Eddie Brock, Venom has gone from one iconic hero to another in its search for a proper host. So far, these have included Jessica Walters, aka She-Hulk, as well as Wolverine, who briefly acquired the symbiote during a mission to hunt down his longtime foe and rival Sabretooth, who himself was looking to cash in on the alien ooze.

What If… Venom #3 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.

Source: Marvel Comics