Not So Venomous

Header image with venom's white eyes.

Image Credit: Pinterest

It’s Enter The Geekdom’s Monster Appreciation Week! Continue reading to learn about my favourite alien Venom!

Venom movie poster. Venom is giant and hovers over three people, Eddie Brock, Anne Weying, and  Dr. Drake

Image Credit: IMDb

Venom is a symbiote—an alien species from the planet Klyntar that forges a bond with a host for survival. With two stand-alone films, Venom (2018) and Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021), and appearances in Spider-Man 3 (2007) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), Venom is a popular villain with Marvel fans.

The symbiote’s personality can be described as aggressive, vengeful, and possessive, often influencing his host to act in violent and dark ways. However, as the character developed throughout Venom (2018), his personality became influenced by his host, Eddie Brock—a failed reporter and sweaty loser. Venom’s strong bond with Eddie eventually changed its personality. Although still feisty at times, Venom showed a sense of humour, cockiness, and—dare I say—compassion. His relationship with Eddie is similar to an old married couple, as they bicker about the most random things on a daily basis. And if Venom went to a nightclub after their first fight and called it “out of the Eddie closet,” well then that’s just between us.

Eddie Brock holds a chicken while cowering from Venom.

Image Credit: Looper

Other than enjoying human meat (especially heads), the symbiote likes tater tots and chocolate—an interesting combination. And although he is a predator, he will not eat his pet chickens, Sonny and Cher, because they are best friends. Isn’t that cute?

Apart from nagging Eddie any chance he gets, Venom has many abilities that make him fearful (and loveable): 

Image Credit: CNN

  • His mouth isn’t just tongue and teeth but also acidic saliva that breaks down substances on contact.

  • He can regrow and heal limbs, whether it's himself or his host.

  • Telepathic communication with his host.

  • Venom can reproduce asexually by leaving spores of his body mass behind. The spores then grow into symbiotes themselves.

But like every creature, Venom also has weaknesses. Sound at 4,000 to 6,000 hertz and fire is lethal to the symbiote. 

If you would like to see a full list of powers and weaknesses that includes comic-version Venom, click here!

Hungry Venom showing off his sharp teeth with his long tongue out.

Image Credit: Polygon

Now, speaking of comic-version Venom, the symbiote is presented as the main villain in certain Spider-Man universe comics. But in the two stand-alone films, Venom is more of an anti-hero. With the influence of Eddie Brock (no doubt), Venom is neither good nor bad. I mean he’s just as much of a loser as Eddie is. Of course, no offence to them, but Venom was kicked off his planet by his own race because he was considered insane after the other symbiotes discovered that he wanted to commit to his host rather than use it up. You could say Venom is the runt of his kind. Calling him a villain is not entirely correct. His intentions to kill are only aimed at the bad guys. His son, Carnage, even tried to kill him. His own offspring doesn’t even like him! Poor Venom. At least he has his chickens to keep him company.

One last thing: Unless your name is Eddie Brock, don’t call Venom a parasite. You’ll be dead before you can say “tater tot.”


Hi, I’m Ailsa! I love diving deep into cinematic worlds, falling in love with fictional characters, and writing stories I hope to publish someday. And if you’re Marvel-obsessed like me, stay for the blogs (I can talk about this all day)! I’m also big into sci-fi and fantasy genres, whether it’s for novels or films.

Remember, “If you’re nothing without [the] suit then you shouldn’t have it.” So, here’s to finding your inner hero!

If you would like to read more of my writing, you can find me on Instagram!

The Spider-Man Debate

Mirror, mirror, on the wall—who’s the better Spider-Man of them all?

The three Spider-Man posing in defence before a big fight in the movie, No Way Home.

Image Credit: Marvel

The Spider-Man debate has been a massive discussion for years within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) fandom. Arguments about who makes a better Spider-Man turns into a rapid speed-fire of “Tobey is the superior Spider-Man!” and “No, Andrew is better!” or even, “Tom portrays Peter Parker and Spider-Man like Stan Lee would have wanted!”

Blah, blah, blah. It never ends in agreement.

However, before I go into too much detail, let’s break down what makes each Spider-Man unique.

Tobey Maguire

Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man shooting a web from his wrist.

Image Credit: People

  • Lives in Queens, New York

  • Needs a chiropractor (he’s an 80’s kid)

  • His best friend (who died in his arms) tried to kill him

  • Naturally shoots webs from his wrists

  • Had an emo phase

  • Fought an alien

  • Iconic dance-moves

  • Has a complicated love life

Movies

  • Spider-Man (2002)

  • Spider-Man 2 (2004)

  • Spider-Man 3 (2007)

  • Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

Andrew Garfield

Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man crouching and pointing his hands in opposite directions, and staring at the camera, maskless.

Image Credit: NPR

  • A 90’s kid

  • Creates his own webs in a lab

  • His weakness is small knives

  • Fought a Russian guy in a rhinoceros machine

  • Wasn’t able to save his girlfriend

  • Thinks he’s cool by riding a skateboard

  • Your stereotypical nerd

  • Hates the “Itsy Bitsy Spider” song

  • Certified chiropractor for his fellow Spider-Mans

Movies

  • The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

  • The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

  • Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

Tom Holland

Tom Holland's Spider-Man crouched in defence during a fight.

Image Credit: PopSugar

  • Builds LEGO sets with his best friend

  • His homecoming date’s dad tried to kill him

  • Went to space and fought space aliens

  • Didn’t want to go to Germany because he had homework

  • Rocks Hello Kitty pjs

  • Fought beside the Avengers

  • Doesn’t listen to orders very well

  • Likes eating flat sandwiches

  • Can speak Italian

Movies

  • Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

  • Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

  • Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

Alright, now you’re probably wondering what the fuss is all about and the only way to find out is to ask around. So, I went onto Instagram and asked my followers who their favourite Spider-Man is. 20 accounts responded, and I found the results rather enjoyable. 45% said Andrew, 35% said Tobey, 10% said Tom, and another 10% couldn’t decide.

Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland dressed in their Spider-Man suits. They stand in a triangle, pointing at eachother.

Image Credit: THe Guardian

Those who chose Andrew had similar responses as to why. One anonymous wrote, “Andrew Garfield has the drama and funkiness,” while another said, “I thought he was the funniest….” One account familiar with Marvel’s comics mentioned, “[Andrew’s] storyline is most like the comics,” which could be a bonus for those who follow those stories. However, one anon went into full detail, explaining how despite “the writing for the movies was subpar…, [Andrew] looked the part, was comic-accurate, and was charismatic. His Spider-Man actually felt like some kid who was just thrown into being a superhero. It felt like he really was trying to figure things out…and make it work for his life.” They also mention the emotional turmoil they felt during Gwen’s death scene.

Those who chose Tobey also had great reasons, one of them being “because of the dance scene in Spider-Man 3.” I have to agree; it is truly iconic. Another states that Tobey is their favourite because “he is so OG.” Understandable. Sometimes the original is all you need.

The two accounts who chose Tom are fighting for their lives right now. The only response—however, detailed—was, “I am extremely charmed by Tom Holland, so I feel kinda obligated to say him.” I gotta say I respect that statement! The anon then writes, “[Tom] does his best with the material. I think he plays a real relatable teen…but the writing [doesn’t make] him a working-class hero like in the comics (until the end of [No Way Home]).”

A cartoon image of the Spider-Man mask.

Image Credit: Stick.PNG

Now, the final decision of who’s the best can’t be determined just from the 20 accounts that defended their choice, of course. But we can obviously see which Spider-Man is a fan favourite with his comic accuracy and charisma. However, I don’t believe there is an actual correct answer to this debate because three is the magic number.

And yes, if you haven’t already guessed it: Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man is my favourite. I will forever defend him with my life. It saddens me that it took seven years for people to realize that Garfield’s portrayal of Peter Parker and Spider-Man had so much potential. Part of me blames it on the writers, but another part believes fans dissed Garfield’s Spider-Man because they didn’t want to be put down by other fans, which is truly unfortunate. After all, “Anyone can wear the mask.”


Hi, I’m Ailsa! I love diving deep into cinematic worlds, falling in love with fictional characters, and writing stories I hope to publish someday. And if you’re Marvel-obsessed like me, stay for the blogs (I can talk about this all day)! I’m also big into sci-fi and fantasy genres, whether it’s for novels or films.

Remember, “If you’re nothing without [the] suit then you shouldn’t have it.” So, here’s to finding your inner hero!

If you would like to read more of my writing, you can find me on Instagram!

So, You Want To Become A Marvel Fan

Your Marvel Cinematic Universe Journey Starts Here!

Image Credit: Digital Spy

Stan Lee at an event for Hulk (2003)

Image credit: IMDb

Your love for Marvel starts with one man: Stan Lee, who was known for his work writing Marvel comics. Popularity sparked greatly for these comics, and hence, Marvel Entertainment was born. It changed—and still changes—lives for generations with the creation of heroes to come.

Next came Marvel Studios, where every character you see on the page comes to life, making the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) franchise a huge part of superhero media. If you’re familiar with characters like Iron Man (a.k.a Tony Stark), Captain America (a.k.a Steve Rogers), and Spider-Man (a.k.a Peter Parker), then you’re on a positive start to becoming a Marvel fan.

The first MCU film to be released was Iron Man in 2008. The franchise continues to create films set within the same universe, similar to Marvel’s comics. Many compelling stories are told with new and old characters in each new film released. Over the past few years, Marvel Studios has brought life, heartbreak, and intense action to the screens. With 32 films (and counting), their fans are always left satisfied and craving for more.

Image Credit: IMDb

So, you’re wondering where to start. Well, your saviour is here! Provided by space.com is a list of Marvel films in chronological order. Watching every Marvel movie in order is the easiest and best way to get to know—and experience—the MCU.

Image Credit: IMDb

  1. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

  2. Captain Marvel (2019)

  3. Iron Man (2008)

  4. Iron Man 2 (2010)

  5. The Incredible Hulk (2008)

  6. Thor (2011)

  7. The Avengers (2012)

  8. Thor: The Dark World (2013)

  9. Iron Man 3 (2013)

  10. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

  11. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

  12. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

  13. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

  14. Ant-Man (2015)

  15. Captain America: Civil War (2016)

  16. Black Widow (2021)

  17. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

  18. Black Panther (2017)

  19. Doctor Strange (2016)

  20. Thor: Ragnarök (2017)

  21. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)

  22. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

  23. Avengers: Endgame (2019)

  24. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

  25. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

  26. Eternals (2021)

  27. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

  28. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

  29. Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

  30. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

  31. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)

  32. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

(and counting…)

You’re probably looking at this list and regretting your curiosity, but don’t feel overwhelmed. Committing to a Marvel movie marathon—or as I like to call it, “The Triple M” —is not for the weak. Watching one or two movies a day is enough to begin your MCU journey. If you’re someone who really wants to get into the hype of Marvel, but has a busy life, take your time with it! Experiencing the excitement is not something that should be rushed.

Image Credit: IMDb

And if you’re too busy because you have homework, Mr. Stark will pretend you didn’t just say that. (You will understand that reference later in your journey).

After you complete the list (and I’m hoping you do), check out Marvel’s TV series. If you’re interested in learning about other characters or storylines within the MCU, the shows are a great way to start. Plus, most episodes are about 45 minutes. Many of the shows are part of the timeline as well, but because you’re new, I suggest focusing on the movies for now.

You will not regret your decision to join the Marvel fandom. I’ve been a fan since 2014, and I haven’t looked back. Once you’re in, you’re in for life. The characters become real and take over your personality—in a good way, of course!

The MCU is not just for entertainment. I have made friends and enemies since joining the fandom. We share our thoughts and theories and become immersed in the world of Marvel. Now, it’s your turn.

So, with that said, “I bid you farewell and good luck, morons!” - From your almighty God, Thor.


Hi, I’m Ailsa! I love diving deep into cinematic worlds, falling in love with fictional characters, and writing stories I hope to publish someday. And if you’re Marvel-obsessed like me, stay for the blogs (I can talk about this all day)! I’m also big into sci-fi and fantasy genres, whether it’s for novels or films.

Remember, “If you’re nothing without [the] suit then you shouldn’t have it.” So, here’s to finding your inner hero!

If you would like to read more of my writing, you can find me on Instagram!

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