With the Venom: Let There Be Carnage trailer out, everyone's eyes are back on the symbiotic side of Marvel Comics. The trailer hints at all sorts of Venom-affiliated characters. Among them is Venom's grandson, the ravenous Toxin. Toxin is another symbiote that rose to prominence in the Marvel Universe as something of an anti-hero, both fighting for and against the side of good.
That said, Toxin has never been as popular as Venom and Carnage, and less is known about him outside of the comic-aficionado sphere. That brings the discussion to today's topic: 10 things that only Marvel fans know about Toxin. Read below and learn about this savage symbiote.
10 His First Appearance
Toxin first appeared in the Venom VS. Carnage miniseries, where Carnage spawned Toxin in the second issue of the story. Both Venom and Carnage feared the potential power of Toxin, establishing him as a force to be reckoned with. The character was created by writer Peter Milligan and artist Clayton Crain.
9 He Is The 1000th Of His Line
The symbiotes, whose true name is the Klyntar, are an ancient race that potentially even predates the universe itself. It's known that the Klyntar were created as servants of the dark god Knull, who existed before even light existed in the universe.
Toxin, Carnage, and Venom come from a long line of Klyntar, and Toxin is the 1000th member of this genealogical line. Symbiotes tend to become more powerful with each generation, and that is why Venom and Carnage were both so fearful of Toxin's potential power.
8 Toxin Was A Cop
Toxin's first host was an NYPD officer by the name of Pat Mulligan. Carnage tried to kill Toxin upon its birth, but it escaped and attached itself to Mulligan. For a time, Mulligan and Toxin worked to enforce justice across New York. However, Mulligan was at constant risk of giving in to the more feral side of Toxin.
Toxin wanted to consume its enemies, coming close to killing the likes of King Cobra and Razorfist (seen in the Shang Chi trailer).
7 He Could Have Been A New Avenger
When Toxin first emerged, the Avengers were broken up after the events of Avengers Disassembled. However, Electro shut down the supervillain prison known as the Raft and stage a massive breakout. This led to the formation of the New Avengers team, finding Captain America and Iron Man joined by the likes of Spider-Man, Luke Cage, Wolverine, and Spider-Woman.
After the breakout, Toxin helped the Avengers track down the likes of King Cobra and the Wrecker. However, if Toxin had gone to the Raft during the initial breakout, there, which he almost did, he could have been a founding member of the New Avengers.
6 Stolen By Blackheart
Unfortunately for Pat Mulligan, he was not Toxin for very long. Ultimately, he ran into Blackheart, the son of Mephisto.
Blackheart killed Pat Mulligan and stole the Toxin symbiote from Mulligan. According to former Venom writer Rick Remender, Blackheart "beat him to death in a gutter."
5 Eddie Brock Was Toxin For A While
After this, the Toxin symbiote was given to Eddie Brock. At this point, Flash Thompson had the Venom symbiote, going by the name Agent Venom. He was working with the Avengers and had become a consistent and competent hero. Eddie had just lost the Anti-Venom symbiote, created by the villainous Purple Man.
Eddie Brock had gone on a killing spree, attempting to slay every symbiote on Earth. However, the villains Crime-Master and Jack O'Lantern gave the Toxin symbiote to Eddie. Like an addict, Eddie couldn't help but accept the Toxin mantle.
4 He Was On The Savage Six
Crime-Master had a grudge against Agent Venom, so he formed a team called the Savage Six to kill Agent Venom. The team consisted of Crime-Master, Jack O'Lantern, Toxin, Death Adder, Megatak, and the Human Fly.
This team assailed Agent Venom, but he was able to take them down one by one with extreme prejudice. He tore off the Human Fly's wings and snapped Death Adder's neck.
3 He Seemed To Die While Attached To Eddie
However, the fate of Toxin and Eddie Brock seemed a bit more brutal. Agent Venom tore Eddie from Toxin and threw one of Jack O'Lantern's pumpkin bombs at the Toxin symbiote, hoping to kill it in a fire blast. However, the symbiote pulled Eddie back into itself as the bomb exploded, seemingly killing both.
However, both Toxin and Eddie later popped up in Philadelphia and fought Agent Venom once again.
2 Toxin Fused With Another Symbiote
Later, Eddie Brock regained more control over himself and Toxin, and he encountered another symbiote host by the name of Jubulile van Scotter. Her symbiote was named Raze, and the two were locked in conflict with the Chaos God, Chthon--whom Carnage actually used to worship.
Eddie Brock gave the Toxin symbiote to Jubulile, which fused with Raze. The two, with Jubulile, were able to beat back Chthon.
1 He's A Kid Now
This seemed to be the end of Toxin, but the symbiote has actually popped up again since then in the Planet of the Symbiotes spin-off to Marvel's big King in Black crossover.
The Toxin symbiote is now attached to a teenager named Bren Waters. The two have already seemed to form a strong bond. Unfortunately, their biggest threat is a member of the Guardsmen--an armored private security faction that uses Stark-Tech armor. That member of the Guardsmen turns out to be Bren's own father.