Warning: Contains spoilers for All-New Venom #4!

As Marvel Comics built up the mystery of Venom's new host, many fans thought the answer was pretty obvious, but a bombshell reveal in the latest issue just totally debunked the primary suspect. At the beginning of the symbiote hero’s new series, Marvel teased four existing characters that could have been turned into the publisher’s latest Venom, and one of the most supposedly likely options is officially off the list.

In the final moments of All-New Venom #4 – written by Al Ewing, with art by Carlos Gómez – former Hulk sidekick Rick Jones officially proves that he’s not Venom’s new host, finally showing up in the same place at the same time. Instead, Jones is revealed to have taken on the identity of a different symbiote-powered hero.

As readers worked to sniff out the Venom host’s secret identity, those who thought it would be Rick Jones were technically on the right trail, since he had his own symbiote just waiting to be revealed. However, the real host is still a mystery.

Marvel Just Blew Up So Many Theories By Revealing That Rick Jones ISN'T the New Venom Host

All-New Venom #4 - Written By Al Ewing; Art By Carlos Gómez; Color By Frank D’Armata; Lettering By VC’s Clayton Cowles

When Marvel originally announced the four suspects that could be the new Venom host - Luke Cage, Madame Masque, Robbie Robertson, and Rick Jones - many fans suspected that the former sidekick’s past pointed to him being the most likely candidate. Rick Jones has had a rich Marvel Comics history, being linked to the Hulk, Captain Marvel, and Captain America over time, so a stint as Venom didn’t seem too outlandish. Ultimately, since Rick is officially revealed as the Sleeper Agent, with the real Venom watching in confusion, all the theories about his potential future as Venom are thrown out the window.

After months of speculation and all the other confirmed suspects debunked, it seems that journalist Robbie Robertson is the only remaining candidate from the original four who is still a viable option. Still, readers have other theories about who has taken the title of Venom’s latest host. MJ and her partner Paul remain on the fan-speculated suspect list, and there are growing theories that this was all a big misdirection, and there is somehow no new host at all. Regardless of these other options, Rick Jones had previously been seen as the safest bet, so everyone’s chances should be re-evaluated.

The “All-New Venom” Suspect List Shrinks While the Series’ Future Comes Into Focus

Venom’s Golden Era Should Continue To Shine Post-Whodunnit

Rick may not be Venom’s new host, but the reveal that he’s bonded with the Sleeper symbiote still sets him up as a major player in All-New Venom’s future. The latest issue establishes several different exciting developments that could be explored once the whodunnit aspect of the series comes to a close in All-New Venom #5, with Rick’s secret identity as the Sleeper Agent and the return of Flash Thompson’s Anti-Venom as an agent of an organization called the Symbiote Containment and Rendition Department. Rick could be an important symbiote-powered hero, but he’s still stuck on the sidelines for now.

Until the new host is officially revealed in the next issue, the mystery of the new Venom continues to surprise everyone with its twists and turns.

Rick Jones might be one of Marvel’s most iconic sidekicks of all time, and he’ll be keeping that sidekick or ing character status despite many fans theorizing that he’ll be taking the lead in All-New Venom. Even though Rick seemed like a sure bet, it seems that it’s down to Robbie Robertson or one of the other options that weren’t technically teased by Marvel that will be the new version of the Lethal Protector. Until the new host is officially revealed in the next issue, the mystery of the new Venom continues to surprise everyone with its twists and turns.

All-New Venom #4 is available now from Marvel Comics!