While Venom’s nearly forty-year-long tenure in Marvel Comics began with villainy, he has gradually evolved past his initial parasitic nature into a genuine champion for life and love across the multiverse. Venom has bonded with over thirty hosts, each having taught him a lesson that helped develop the amorphous alien’s character. But there is one host that Venom its showed him what it truly meant to be a hero.

Nearing the climax of the Venom War, the fate of the multiverse is on the line. Meridius is making his last stand alongside his zombiote army. Carnage is nearing his destiny as the King in Crimson. Spider-Man is doing what he can to mitigate the chaos of it all. Venom is trying everything to hold the Brock family together.

But in Venom War #4 - by Al Ewing, Iban Coello, & Frank D-Armata - Venom’s most noble and inspiring host, who has sacrificed everything including body and form, to protect the multiverse: Flash Thompson.

Flash Thompson is Venom's Greatest Hero

Venom War #4 - Written by Al Ewing; Art by Iban Coello; Color by Frank D’Armata; Lettering by VC’s Ariana Maher

Splitting himself between Eddie and Dylan Brock, Venom has achieved a new state of peace and love, unified with those that he considers to be family. In synch, the three move as one, opening their thoughts and emotions without reservation. But as all three struggle to put down the amorphous form of Eddie Brock’s rage, the temporal symbiote called Bedlam, Flash Thompson arrives just in time to put down Bedlam for good. Having long lost his original body in the war, Flash is cast in an illuminated glow, reflecting off of his Anti-Venom symbiotic body.

Eddie and Dylan both feel Venom’s joy. Venom its that “Flash Thompson, more than any other, is the host who taught [Venom] to be a hero.” Years prior, after having been separated from Eddie Brock and bonded with the Scorpion, Venom had fallen to his most villainous inclinations. However, the symbiote was soon captured and bonded to Thompson, who had recently returned from the Iraqi war, mutilated by combat. Together, the duo spent years pulling off true heroics, even traveling the cosmos alongside the Guardians of the Galaxy. More than Eddie, Dylan, or Peter Parker, Flash Thompson is Venom’s hero.

Flash Thompson Succeeded Where Eddie Brock and Peter Parker Failed

Spider-Man Was the Reason Venom Originally Turned Evil

Flash Thompson represents redemption, self-sacrifice, and true altruistic heroism. The best parts of Venom, the parts that now stand strong to hold together his broken family, all started with Flash Thompson.

Flash Thompson was able to do something for Venom that no other host had been able to do before; Flash Thompson freed Venom. When traveling the stars, Flash, Venom, and the Guardians discovered the symbiote homeworld. Bringing back Venom to the place of his people’s birth, the symbiote was freed from its genetic corruption and given a new sense of self-awareness and moral purpose. Immediately upon returning to Earth, Venom was reminded of the cruelty of his previous host. It was Spider-Man who had first filled Venom with rage. It was Eddie who first instilled murderous intent into Venom.

Flash, however, was a savior who taught Venom how to save others. There’s no doubt as to why Venom idolizes Flash. Despite Thompson’s initial introduction as a high school bully, he had always idolized the best parts of Spider-Man. When Venom and Peter first bonded, the symbiote was happy to have a noble host but ultimately suffered because of Peter’s uncontrolled rage. Flash Thompson represents redemption, self-sacrifice, and true altruistic heroism. The best parts of Venom, the parts that now stand strong to hold together his broken family, all started with Flash Thompson.

Venom War #4 is now available from Marvel Comics.