By now people should be aware that the Venom symbiote suite has a new host. After spending some time with Mac Gargan, the suit has been ripped away and is in government custody. Deciding to use the suit as part of a new type of super-soldier program, Flash Thompson became the bearer of the suit. He's had training and has gone on some missions, all the while, doing his best to maintain control over the suit.

Because of the savage nature of the symbiote, Flash has experienced moments where his anger or excitement has increased the suit's longing for dominance. His time wearing the suit is to be closely monitored and limited but after an extended mission in the Savage Land and a tussle with Kraven the Hunter, Flash may have gone past the point of no return with the suit. To make matters worse, Flash's girlfriend, Betty Brant, has been kidnapped by an enemy that discovered his identity and while trying to save her from a giant bomb, he is forced into a confrontation with Spider-Man.

Because the symbiote hates Spider-Man so much and Flash is his biggest fan, what will happen when they all face each other?

Flash is going to have his hands full. Besides trying to convince Spider-Man he needs to save Betty, the suit is getting further and further out of his control. He is risking a complete bonding each time the suit loses control. There's also the fact that those overseeing his missions have the power to permanently neutralize both him and the symbiote.

When the suit tried bonding with Spider-Man and he rejected it, it felt complete rejection. In the moment when Spider-Man stood in a church bell tower so the loud noise would drive the suit away and passed out himself, the suit returned and risked its life in order to save Peter. Since then, the suit has shown extreme hatred towards Spider-Man. Joining with Eddie Brock, the two bonded and knowing Spider-Man's secrets, were a deadly combination. Mac Gargan found out who Spider-Man was courtesy of Norman Osborn but soon had the revelation wiped from his memory.

When Spider-Man and Venom clash now, how much of the past between the suit and Spidey will come out? It would make sense that the suit would lose some control in the proximity of Spider-Man. Will this cause Flash to become aware of his identity? How will Flash's feelings towards Spider-Man affect the suit's reactions? What we should have is a fight between Spider-Man and Venom as well as a fight between Flash and Venom.

Will there be a clear cut end to the battle? Probably not. But this is what I would expect to happen. The combination of Flash's adoration for Spider-Man combined with the suit's hatred should cause havoc as the two try to obtain control. Flash most likely will not discover Spider-Man's identity at this point and it would be unfortunate if Spider-Man discovered it was now Flash wearing the symbiote. Unless Flash's tenure as Venom really is as limited as Dan Slott and Rick Remender have lead us to believe (he can only go on twenty missions wearing the suit), it's too early for Spider-Man to discover the truth.

Either way, I expect an extremely chaotic and brutal battle between Venom and Spider-Man. Hopefully we will get that.

That bomb gimmick thing is either already done or Flash dies next issue. They pressed the button.

first, and the fight should be good 

Venom above seems to talk like the Hulk...
I wonder...  If the Hulk had the Venom symbiote, that'd take fun to a whole new level :D

flash will leave the symbiote

I'm just happy to have a serious Venom back. Mac always seemed to just be played for laughs.

OK, not much of a Venom fan but this is actually a great idea and something that would prompt me to actually check out Spider-Man after a very long absence from reading any Spidey titles. 

Looks interesting.  

I have never paid attention to mainstream Spider-Man. Except during that List stuff during Dark Reign. But this is actually making me interested enough to check it out.

first, and the fight should be good 

nice :)

They should fight at the highschool =)

Wait, why is Venom talking like that little naked guy from lord of the rings? 
Wait, if Flash has the symbiote, then why doesn't he know Peter is actually Spider-Man? 
Wait...  Betty is dating Flash?  That's just stupid... 
 
After ruining Spider-Man as a character, I guess Marvel has turned their sights on his classic support cast...  I hate you Marvel editorial staff.  I hate you so much.

1. It's an alien. Forgive it for not having english as its first language.
2. The OMIT mindwipe got rid of everyone's knowledge of Spidey's secret identity, with a few exceptions. The symbiote isn't one of them.

@MrSeaman70: +1, they need a "fear itself" arc where everyone gets a Venom suit!

It's gotta make you wonder how the Flash/Spidey relationship had gone without OMIT. What if Flash had found out from the symbiote who Spidey really was. Oh well still love Flash as Venom.

This is gonna be a very intense and conflicting battle. One side of him will want to kill him and the other will try to resist. If he figures out its his friend Peter what would happen? I'm very excited about this.

I quite like the idea of Flash/Venom, both prior Venoms had darker sides and neither liked Spider-Man. Flash actully liked Spider-Man, this will be interesting.

Looks like a step back towards a more Venom like Venom than I've seen in awhile which is a good thing.

what happened to that other look?

                I'm just happy to have a serious Venom back. Mac always seemed to just be played for laughs.
           

I'm loving Flash with Venom. Brilliant idea. Can't wait to see how Flash/Venom react to Spidey in future fights now. :D

Stupid stupid govt. Just have one of the space faring heroes return that thing to Bed Bath and Beyonder like they should have done long ago.

I hope Flash stays as Venom and gets it under control. 

@MrSeaman70: +1, they need a "fear itself" arc where everyone gets a Venom suit!

All I can say about this is that I sincerely hope they RAMP UP the Venom/Carnage healing factor, as to give Flash new legs, and to give Kletus a sleak, non-cyborg look. 
 
The bloodstone worked for the Punisher, and while I can see wheel-chair-bound Flash as an interesting character, I also realize that Marvel hasn't been doing jack squat with the character post-leglessness.  So either they want him legless or they don't. 
 
I sincerely think that after a "full bonding", the government might say "Fine... keep it, but if you turn we'll blow you up"... and at that point we might see new legs grow.  (Dealing with cyborg carnage during the upcoming mini seems like a bad idea too...).  How will Flash handle this with Betty/Peter - the having new legs?  Probably as well as he's handled being a super secret agent.  But it's the personal life that I think is what makes this Venom more like Spiderman and less like Eddie Brock/etc.

I like these 2 =)

sweet fight bully vs nerd  good times

Flash is going to have his hands full. Besides trying to convince Spider-Man he needs to save Betty, the suit is getting further and further out of his control. He is risking a complete bonding each time the suit loses control. There's also the fact that those overseeing his missions have the power to permanently neutralize both him and the symbiote.

at least the classic alien eddie eyes are back. now if we cud just tweak the venom symbol...

@dorsk188 said: 

Wait, if Flash has the symbiote, then why doesn't he know Peter is actually Spider-Man? 

The OMIT mindwipe got rid of everyone's knowledge of Spidey's secret identity, with a few exceptions. The symbiote isn't one of them.

Venom is  becoming like Lex Luthor now..i'm sorta tired of hearing about him

 @InnerVenom123 said:

@dorsk188 said: 

Wait, if Flash has the symbiote, then why doesn't he know Peter is actually Spider-Man? 

The OMIT mindwipe got rid of everyone's knowledge of Spidey's secret identity, with a few exceptions. The symbiote isn't one of them.

So the symbiote doesn't remember Spider-Man is Peter Parker, but he does remember bonding with him then being rejected which is what fostered its hatred.  I understand that the symbiote's not necessarily as methodical a thinker as a normal human, but I would find that to be odd.  "I hate this guy because he rejected me, but I can't remember who he is exactly..."  Does Venom still not set off his Spider-Sense?  It would be a little odd that the symbiote doesn't register as a threat to Peter because he's sort of part of his body, but also that the symbiote doesn't know him from Adam.

I remember in the first collected volume or Ultimate Spider-Man, a creator mentioned his kid thought Flash Thompson should be Ultimate Venom, and now here we are with 616 Venom as Flash.... Coincidence?  
I thought it would be a good idea in Ultimate, I however have and continue to think the idea of Flash as Venom is a bad idea with the intention of making him a villain.

nice..... its my firdt time here..... can any one show me how to change prfile picture?

Oh my goodness, what a completely unexpected and new series of events! I wonder if Spider man will die, unable to resist his arch-nemesis Venom? Will they be able to deactivate the bomb on time? Stay tuned true believers!

Always have liked Venom, but much more of an Eddie Brock fan myself...