io9: Venom

Sonogram reveals that woman is giving birth to the supervillain Venom

Cyriaque Lamar — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:25:00 PST

When Redditor OzLebowski saw his wife's sonogram, he realized that something was horribly amiss — namely, that she was giving birth to Venom the alien symbiote from The Amazing Spider-Man comic book. More »

In this week's comics, Venom recruits the new Fantastic Four! Also, Cthulhu Robots!

Cyriaque Lamar — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:00:00 PST

Tomorrow brings a ton of new releases to your local comic book store. Witness new stories from the early years of the Jedi order, Bucky Barnes striking out on his own, environmental apocalypse from the writer of DMZ, and scads of other groovy funnymags. More »

Spider-Man and Venom trade places with Calvin and Hobbes

Meredith Woerner — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:00:19 PST

Artist Timothy Lim swapped out Bill Watterson's mischievous boy and stuffed tiger with Peter Parker and his unruly symbiote. Aww, Venom is so cute when he's trying to munch Peter's skull! Lim's images are also available on t-shirts.

What if the Incredible Hulk starred in A Christmas Story?

Cyriaque Lamar — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 11:15:00 PST

A Christmas Story?" alt="Click here to read What if the Incredible Hulk starred in A Christmas Story?" src="http://cache.io9.com/assets/images/8/2011/12/small_943151435a706990524803d3a2783b5e.jpg"/>

For their latest art challenge, the illustrators at the website Draw2D2 (previously: 1, 2, 3) placed characters from the Marvel Universe in the cherished hellhole-Americana X-Mas flick A Christmas Story. Witness Ralphie's pajamas and Flick's telephone pole shenanigans reenacted with the Marvel Universe's stalwart gang. Top image by Alex Ryan.

Why snake venom causes such horrifying pain

Tim Barribeau — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:20:00 PST

What is it about the bite of the famous Texas coral snake that makes it so excruciatingly painful for so long? New research has pinpointed the cause, and it literally makes your nerves feel like they're being dipped in acid. More »

Watch Spider-Man and his amazing friends terrorize child's birthday party using the power of dance

Cyriaque Lamar — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 07:05:00 PST

You know, sometimes Spider-Man likes to hang out with his superhero pals, crash kids' birthday parties, and get his eagle on for an astounded audience. Also, I can't tell if Iron Man's dancing or if Ultron's infected his armor with a computer virus. More »

Marvel resurrects the New Fantastic Four with X-23, Red Hulk, Venom, and She-Ghost Rider

Cyriaque Lamar — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:30:00 PDT

Remember the New Fantastic Four, a short-lived 1990 incarnation of the team featuring Spider-Man, Wolverine, Hulk, and Ghost Rider? Next February, Marvel Comics will pay homage to that wacky roster with a story arc in Venom starring Red Hulk, Venom, X-23, and Ghost Rider. More »

Snakes evolved venom as part of their eternal war with opossums

Alasdair Wilkins — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:40:00 PDT

Venomous vipers like rattlesnakes evolved their deadly toxins incredibly quickly. Scientists had long assumed it was so that they could hunt their prey better, but it might have been to fight off their deadliest predator: the possum. More »

The toxins in spider venom could cure pain, disease

Alasdair Wilkins — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 13:49:24 PST

Sure, spider venom can kill humans. But, if you know what you're doing, it can offer revolutionary cures and treatments for some of humanity's worst ailments. It's already curing impotence...and now help with heart failure, high blood pressure, and epilepsy. More »

Deathstalker scorpion venom may aid anti-brain cancer gene therapy

Cyriaque Lamar — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:00:00 PDT

UWashington researchers have found that chlorotoxins in deathstalker scorpion venom may become a crucial component in gene therapies designed to combat glioma, the most prevalent brain cancer. The chlorotoxin facilitates the delivery of therapeutic genes into cancerous cells. [ACS Nano] More »

Lost Set Pics Include The Scene You've Been Dying To See For Ages

Charlie Jane Anders — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 06:00:00 PST

A ton of Lost spoilers include a glimpse of the scene you've waited forever to see. There's fascinating Supernatural and Chuck casting news, and a Doctor Who spoiler chart. Plus Thor, Venom, Twilight, Toy Story, True Blood and Smallville spoilers. More »

Venom's Secret Co-Creator Steps Out Of The Shadows

Sonia Zjawinski — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:30:00 PST

Ever wonder how Spider-man's most enduring nemesis came to be? Venom's similarities to our masked hero aren't just witty script writing. They're due, in part, to a letter sent from a fan to Marvel editor-in-chief James Shooter. More »

Velociraptor's Cousin Had a Venomous Bite

Lauren Davis — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:56:35 PST

Raptors get more fearsome all the time. Jurassic Park painted velociraptors as clever, fleet-footed predators, and they may have hunted from trees. Now researchers suspect their turkey-sized relative had a venomous bite — and other raptors might have it, too. More »

Michael Caine Reveals His Inception Role, And Lost's Emilie de Ravin Gets A Weird New Island Role

Charlie Jane Anders — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:00:00 PDT

Michael Caine drops a huge Inception spoiler! Sam Raimi talks Venom! 2012's ending revealed! A Lost character's surprising new side! Spoilers are life-altering, and Star Trek 2, Supernatural, The Road, Twilight, Stargate, FlashForward and Fringe are embracing the spoiler lifestyle. More »

Seabiscuit Director Turns Venom Into A Lovable Rogue

Meredith Woerner — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 06:30:00 PDT

Seabiscuit director and Spider-Man 4 scribe Gary Ross is going to direct the Venom screenplay. But here's the twist: Venom will now be portrayed as an anti-hero... with heart. More »

Stan Lee's Venom Cameo Already Written

Graeme McMillan — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 06:30:00 PDT

If there's a movie based on a Marvel comic, there'll be a cameo for Marvel mascot Stan Lee. As if to prove that, even though the Spider-Man spin-off Venom is still being written, Lee's role has already been locked down. More »

Studio Pushes Ahead With Venom Spin Off

Meredith Woerner — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:09:43 PDT

Two writers have been singled out to create a slobbery faced Venom spin off. My stance is pretty simple: no Topher, no thanks. More »

Batman and Superman Are Diamonds on the Soles of Your Shoes

Alex Carnevale — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:30:00 PDT

Express your superhero preferences with what you're wearing on your feet. Nike's new shoes from its skateboarding line are inspired by Batman, Superman and Venom, and they're a lot more subtle than last month's DC Comics line of superhero kicks. Who wins the war on the ground? More »

Flight Attendants and Jedi Apprentices Blow Your Mind In This Week's Comics

Graeme McMillan — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:00:00 PDT

It's a relatively light week at comic stores this week, but that's to everyone's benefit, as what is coming out may just blow your mind so much that you wouldn't be able to read anything else anyway. New (non-Clone Wars) Star Wars, new futuristic superheroes, the return of Spider-Man's favorite alien and something to deal with your David Tennant-longing while Doctor Who is off-air all await you under the jump. More »

Venom's Co-Creator Isn't Sure About Spider-Man Spin-Off Movie

Graeme McMillan — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 11:30:00 PDT

We've told you that Sony is looking at spinning out Spider-Man's evil twin Venom into his own movie. ButTodd McFarlane - co-creator of the Spider-villain - thinks they can improve on that dude from That 70s Show hamming it up for the camera. More »

Spider-Man Webs Up This Week's Comics

Graeme McMillan — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 09:00:00 PDT

If you're heading to the comic book store this week, I hope that you like Spider-Man. Otherwise, you may find yourself with a surprisingly light shopping bag on the way out. The post-San Diego slump hits now, with next-to-no new launches or trades allowing Marvel's webbed-wonder to try and steal all the money from your wallet. More »

Who Can Replace Topher As The Gooey Spawn Of Evil?

Meredith Woerner — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 07:30:00 PDT

A Venom spin off is in the works, because clearly everyone liked him more than Peter Parker in Spider-Man 3. This may be partly due to the fact that Topher Grace's acting completely eclipsed all three standard recurring characters thus far. Alas, the rumor is there will be no Topher in this Venom (not a big enough star). Although we still think Topher could carry a tentpole production (he was a lovely foil to Spidey), click through to see our suggestions for back-up Venoms. More »

Marvel Comics Are Anti-Everything

Graeme McMillan — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 07:30:00 PDT

Marvel Comics’ big summer Spider-Man storyline, “New Ways To Die”, promises to introduce a new villain into the webslinger’s life: a mysterious character connected to his enemy Venom, called Anti-Venom. The most recent issue of Marvel’s Fantastic Four series featured Mr. Fantastic stopping an invincible foe by wearing his new “Anti-Galactus suit”. Sensing a trend here? We've got the full back story on this new anti-zeitgeist. More »

More Jive-Dancing Action With Spider-Man's Funky Parasite

charliejane — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:40:23 PST

Venom, the alien creature that latched on to Peter Parker in Spider-Man 3, will get his own solo movie. No word yet whether Topher Grace will be back as Eddie Brock, the guy who replaced Peter as the monster's host. Not to mention whether there'll be more alien-induced dancing and piano playing. But Marvel, which made its own deal with striking writers, has already had meetings with A-list writers about a Venom movie. More »