Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will feature Venom, and based on the positive reaction to the game’s reveal trailer, many are excited to see what Insomniac does with the character. All signs point to Harry Osborn filling the role as opposed to Eddie Brock, meaning that the story could be significantly different from the comics. However, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 fans should not worry about this, as Insomniac has several other adaptations to keep in mind when crafting its own take on the villain.
Not only is Venom’s voice actor perfect for the role, but Insomniac has taken risks with characters like Aunt May and The Tinkerer that have paid off very well. Alongside hundreds of comic book appearances, the good and bad portrayals of Venom on TV and the big screen can remind the developer what it should (and should not) do with the character. With fans waiting so long to see Venom in Insomniac’s universe, it is important that he ends up being everything fans hoped he would be in Marvel's Spider-Man 2.
What The Animated Series Get Right About Venom
Whether it was the Spider-Man cartoon from the 90s or the criminally underrated Spectacular Spider-Man series, the animated shows have always done a terrific job with Venom. Both shows nailed Venom’s imposing size and voice, with the character made out to be a terrifying threat unlike anything Peter had faced before. He was taken seriously, with humor left entirely to the wise-cracking webslinger.
In both the 1990s Spider-Man series and Spectacular Spider-Man, Eddie Brock and the Symbiote’s shared hatred of Peter Parker is brilliantly captured. The former felt he was wronged by his friend Peter, while the latter hates Spider-Man because he rejected the bond with the Symbiote. On the off-chance Venom is Eddie Brock in Insomniac’s universe, this hatred needs to be captured. However, in the Ultimate Spider-Man animated series, the Symbiote bonds with Harry. As such, Insomniac can look closely at this show if it plans on making the younger Osborn Venom, keeping arcs that did and did not work in mind.
What The Movies Have Gotten Wrong So About Venom
On the big screen, Venom has had an interesting run. It did not get off to a good start, though, as most would agree that Spider-Man 3’s take on Venom was an abomination. The voice was frustrating, the design made him small and not formidable whatsoever, and that film’s version of Eddie Brock was a truly odd character. Insomniac can use this movie as an example of what not to do, and based on Venom’s look and voice in the game’s reveal, it looks like the developer is doing just that.
Despite mediocre reviews for the Venom movies, they certainly have their fans, with many being able to look beyond the issues with the writing and editing. This is because the films do a fine job of making Venom into a proper monster, with the character’s design being spot-on. While they certainly go too far in terms of the humor for some Marvel fans, the dynamic between Eddie Brock and the Symbiote works much like it does in the comics. Whether it is Brock or Osborn that bonds with the parasite in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Insomniac needs to focus on how the Symbiote is different from the man it is attached to.
Still the biggest problem with the Venom films is undoubtedly the lack of a relationship between Spider-Man and Eddie Brock. A huge portion of the original story is tied to Spidey, as Peter wearing the Symbiote is a crucial part of Venom’s creation. Likewise, Eddie Brock (or whoever else becomes Venom) having a hatred for Peter is essential. The movies skip over this and make Venom an anti-hero from the start, something that is going to be a huge problem once Spider-Man and Venom face off in the next film. Explaining Venom’s odd hatred for Peter will surely be weird, and with Brock being indifferent to the hero, a lot of emotion will be missing from the fight. Insomniac needs to make sure there is a reason for the two to do battle, which is why Harry becoming Venom makes more sense in the game universe.
Based on the few seconds of Venom that has been shown in the Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 trailer, Insomniac seems to be getting the character right. He should be fully terrifying like in the animated shows as opposed to being played for laughs. Further, the person wearing the Symbiote should have a genuine reason to hate Spider-Man, something that the new Venom movies have made impossible by changing Brock’s origin story. If Insomniac gets these things right while also putting its own spin on the character, the Marvel’s Spider-Man version of Venom could become the best adaptation yet.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is scheduled to release in 2023 on PS5.
