WARNING! Spoilers for All-New Venom #5

The identity of Marvel's latest Venom host is ready to be unveiled at long last, and new variant covers offer one last chance for readers to guess who has bonded with the iconic symbiote. A version of Venom unlike any Marvel readers have seen before has been running around these past few months, and the mystery of who this symbiote's new partner is will finally be solved soon.

All-New Venom by Al Ewing and Carlos Gómez has been teasing the identity of the new Venom host's identity throughout its run, as Dylan Brock has sought to uncover the secret. Now, the fifth issue has been confirmed to feature a reveal of who is truly behind the symbiote, and Marvel has released new variant covers for this groundbreaking installment that showcase the key suspects.

The suspects in question are Robbie Robertson, Madame Masque, Rick Jones, and Luke Cage. Clayton Crain's art depicts each of these four characters getting unmasked as the new golden Venom ahead of the issue's highly anticipated reveal.

Marvel Doubles Down On Its Four Main Suspects for Its All-New Venom

Madame Masque, Robbie Robertson, Luke Cage, and Rick Jones Are the Key Contenders

All-New Venom #1, All-New golden Venom appears in broken window

While Venom typically sticks with Eddie Brock or his son Dylan, he's switched gears after he split between the two of them during the events of gold redesign in All-New Venom. In the series' first issue, Marvel presents four major suspects who could be hiding beneath the symbiote's exterior. Some seem more obvious than others, but each of them could make for a compelling host to Marvel's most well-known symbiote, and seeing them all as Venom only further proves that they're all likely possibilities.

Venom shooting blast from wrist in All-New Venom art by Iban Coello
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With that being said, one option has potentially been ruled out. In All-New Venom #2, Venom has to contort his body to evade a bullet. Rick Jones has stood out as an obvious choice due to his history of teaming up with monsters like the Hulk, though Madame Masque and Robbie Robertson could easily be hosts as well.

Venom's Mysterious Host Might Not Be One of Marvel's Proposed Candidates

One Wild Fan Theory Suggests That Paul Is The All-New Venom

All-New Venom #3 cover art by Adam Kubert with Dylan Brock reflected in eyes + Paul and MJ hug in art by John Romita Jr.

Even though Marvel is pushing these candidates, they aren't the only options for Venom's partner. In addition to the four variant covers by Clayton Crain, a fifth variant by Martín Cóccolo has been announced, but it's labeled as a "Spoiler Variant". The character on this cover may be the actual host instead of the others. Moreover, a viral theory has hinted that Paul - Mary Jane Watson's love interest and a controversial character among Spider-Man fans - could be this secret suspect due to his prominent role in the story thus far. In any case, every question will be answered soon enough when Marvel Comics finally unmasks Venom.

All-New Venom #5 will be available on April 2nd, 2025 from Marvel Comics!

Source: Marvel