Venom War #2 (2024)

In Alchemax HQ, Liz Allan skeptically asks Carlton Drake what's in the new K-Chemical that he and "Mr. Meridius" are unveiling. As Drake snidely responds that the recipie is proprietary to the Life Foundation, Meridius interrupts saying that the time for keeping secrets is past; revealing that he infused samples of the undead Mania symbiote extracted from Lee Price's reanimated corpse with the K-Chemical to create what he's calling the Zombiote. Disgusted, Liz Allan berates him for his lack of ethics and notes that his breed of insanity feels very familiar to her. Meridius mockingly asks if she doesn't think symbiotes can be managed, and she retorts that her close personal friend Flash Thompson is living--in a manner of speaking--proof that they can be. Glaring, Liz snaps that Meridius mixed undead symbiote matter reanimated by a space-vampire with toxic waste, but Meridius grins wickedly and assures her that he knows exactly what he's doing and that K-44 is how they will bring the symbiotes under control. Abruptly the door bursts open and a scientist exclaims that the symbiotes are out of control, Meridius smirking and muttering to himself that the timing of that was perfect. The scientist exclaims that the zombiotes have breached the secret underground lab and are spreading rapidly through the building, with even the horse having escaped containment. Carlton Drake is horrified that the zombiotes escaped, but Meridius simply remarks that things are proceeding a bit quicker than he planned. Breaking the top off the vial containing the K-44 sample, he pours it down Carlton's throat and smugly informs the Alchemax board members that they'll be next as the infected Carlton goes on a rampage, everyone he attacks--living and dead--being infected as well. Transforming into Misery, Liz prepares to unleash the cleansing touch of Anti-Venom on them. Smirking, Meridius pulls out a water pistol containing the original K-Chemical and douses her with it. Explaining that it was already the perfect anti-symbiote weapon before he came across it, Meridius enlarges his fist and punches her out the window and mockingly announces that the meeting is adjourned. A voice remarks that Liz obviously survived that, and Meridius turns to see Cletus Kasady entering the board room. Not recognizing Cletus at first, Meridius asks who he is and why he isn't infected by a zombiote, Cletus chidingly reminding him of his true identity. Grinning, Meridius quotes "Doctor Faustus" by Christopher Marlowe and notes that he no longer requires any assistance but that "Mister Red" is more than welcome to join him in watching the chaos unfold--for old times sake. Grinning, Cletus decides to do so, remarking that it's the best seat in the house. At the Grand Garden Arena, Doc Sawbones and Crusher Hogan continue to commentate as Spider-Man--bonded to the Venom symbiote--interrupts Team Eddie's showdown with Team Dylan. Calling for a time-out, Spider-Man asks Eddie if they can set a ground-rule of costume names only; to which Eddie irritably retorts that Spider-Man is currently wearing his, glaring as he demands to know why. Speaking in Peter's mind, the Venom symbiote asks to speak to Eddie but Peter tells it that it's too close and should let him handle it; the symbiote lamenting to itself that he's right that it's too close to both Eddie and Dylan to trust its instincts. Spider-Man explains that the Venom symbiote was dying without a host and he let it bond to him to save it, and then came to the Grand Garden Arena figuring that either Dylan or Eddie might need it. As Eddie tells Spider-Man to hand it over, Peter interrupts saying that he and the symbiote have come to an understanding, and from that place of understanding Eddie doesn't look like a safe pair of hands. As Eddie glares, Spider-Man says that he's not sure the Venom symbiote is good for Dylan... or at least that's what the symbiote thinks, and going by what he overheard Dylan saying the feeling is mutual. Spider-Man proposes a compromise: as Eddie is worried about what would happen if the Venom symbiote were to re-bond to Dylan and vice-versa, he'll hold onto it as a neutral third party until they can work things out non-violently; thinking out-loud that the chains the symbiote manifested are cool. Smiling nastily, Eddie says that if Spider-Man wants to be Venom... but in that case he's going to be Bedlam. As Wilde face-palms, Tyro remarks that that can't be good. Opening his jaws wide, Bedlam jubilantly announces the return of the dynamic duo and tells Eddie to come right on in. Bedlam engulfs Eddie so that his face is showing inside the symbiote's maw, Eddie saying that Spider-Man is right about something else--chains are cool. As Bedlam unleashes a flurry of chains, the Venom symbiote warns Peter that Bedlam is a corrupted incarnation of Eddie Brock's rage and bloodlust, and that the human Eddie wearing him like a suit makes them twice as dangerous. However, it notes that it knows Eddie's moves well enough to help Peter fight them. As Spider-Man stretches his arm to punch Eddie and Bedlam in the face, the Venom symbiote gushes that being bonded to Peter just feels right before insisting that it's not happy to be fighting Eddie... is it? Watching from the sidelines, Toxin asks whose side they're on as the Red Goblin advocates not getting involved at all. As Sleeper asks if they should pick sides at all, Toxin advocates siding with Spider-Man to prevent Eddie from rebonding to the Venom symbiote, adding that Spider-Man keeping it seems like the best outcome. Sleeper agrees that there's no downsides before glancing at Dylan and asking if wants the Venom symbiote back after all. Spider-Man hits Eddie in the face with chain-webbing, Bedlam grabbing onto it and slamming him to the floor near the announcers table. As Crusher Hogan casually greets him, Spider-Man groggily says it's not a good time; sprouting a fanged maw and snarling at him when he insists on an impromptu interview. Alarmed by this, Wilde tells Eddie and Bedlam to turn down the heat as Tyro hisses at him not to draw Bedlam's attention to them. Grinning wickedly, Bedlam devours them despite their protests, sneering that they were pathetic weaklings only fit to make him more powerful by assimilating them. Horrified and disgusted, Spider-Man calls Eddie twisted for murdering his alternate selves for a power-up, the Venom symbiote sensing his anger bubbling up through it before wondering if the rage belongs to itself. As Spider-Man launches into combat, the Venom symbiote notes that it's generally been content to go along with its hosts, taking direction from them rather than seizing control, but that now there is no direction, they are out control, and it doesn't know what to do. As Toxin urges Dylan to step in and do something, Dylan tells Sleeper and Flexo to bond to him and shouts at Spider-Man and Bedlam to stand down. Dubbing himself the Prince in Black, Dylan steps into the ring as Crusher and Doc Sawbones announce him as a new challenger. In Alchemax's board room, Meridius explains his plan to Cletus, gloating that he'll get everything he desires--the Venom symbiote and the Garden of Time--without having to leave his chair. Cletus remarks that the original Cletus Kasady would have found that teeth-grindingly boring; confusing Meridius, who asks if he isn't Cletus. Saying it's a long story, Cletus says that he finds this version of Eddie utterly fascinating. Scowling, Meridius retorts that the feeling isn't mutual after their last encounter, pointedly asking what he wants. Grinning, Cletus says that he wants what any good Devil figure wants; transforming into Carnage's God Butcher form and brandishing All-Blood as he declares that he wants Eddie Brock's soul on a platter.