Venom and Carnage might be two of Marvel's most famous symbiotes, but the roster of characters from the alien species is ever-expanding. The lore of the Klyntar continues to change, as new writers find innovative uses for the monstrous entities. Compared to where those symbiotes began in Amazing Spider-Man books, their small part of the Marvel cosmos has gotten a lot more complicated.
Whether it's the power of the symbiotes, the characters related to them, their leadership structure, or even the use of the Hive Mind, the lore has introduced plenty of compelling features. Ultimately, symbiotes are now more useful storytelling assets because of these worthwhile additions, and readers will learn even more about the species during the Summer of Symbiotes event.
10 The Alien Species Was Introduced
The concept of the symbiotes were originally introduced to audiences in an unexpected way. Spider-Man gained a black suit while on his travels in Secret Wars. What was seemingly an innocent upgrade proved to be nefarious, immediately changing the lore of what audiences knew about this unusual costume.
The suit began to mentally impact Peter, leading to further aggression. The surprising Spidey twist was that the suit was an alien, that had bonded with the web-head and actually taken some of his powers. The Alien was Venom, who would go on to bond with another host. This thus innovated the idea that the symbiotes could move from person to person, emotionally impacting them violently gripping on.
9 Symbiotes Were Given A Name
For a significant period of the symbiote race was referred to as just that. Considering the creatures bonded with their host, thus creating a symbiotic relationship, it stood to reason that this would be their name. However, throughout the Venom comic run, it was newly established that their true moniker was the Klyntar.
This didn't change the popular Marvel villain, nor did it redefine the rest of Venom's brethren. Not until the reason behind the name was revealed. Translated, Klyntar means cage. The name refers to the prison that the alien species ultimately kept their creator within which was only established in lore after his introduction.
8 The Symbiote God
No full belief system or godly pantheon had previously been established for the Klyntar. But the reveal of the King in Black, Knull, significantly changed the lore of the symbiotes. The creator of the alien species was considered their god, but was imprisoned after the Symbitoes developed a sense of honor.
Knull was an eldritch god of darkness and was only awakened by the light forces of the Celestials. The character's power is almost unmatched among the symbiotes, and he has the incredible ability to control his creations, via the Hive Mind he had forged.
7 Symbiote Weaknesses
The lore surrounding the symbiote's weaknesses has continued to change. It was initially established that the Kylntar could be damaged by fire and sound. Spider-Man learned this in his many encounters with Venom, using the weakness to his advantage. With a large enough sonic attack, a symbiote could be ripped from its host.
However, the symbiotes continued to evolve and so too did their lore. In recent years there are symbiotes like Carnage, who have demonstrated resiliency to their natural weaknesses. How effective fire and sound can be is now dependent on the symbiote. It's no longer a species-wide weakness, once again shifting continuity.
6 Using The Hive Mind
In the early days, it seemed as if Venom was a single villain, unbonded to its brethren. However, the concept of the Hive Mind was established, which the new lore suggested was built by the god Knull as a method of control. The abilities of the Hive Mind have continued to be upgraded.
It was once a way to communicate among the symbiotes, but it has since grown into a tool designed for sharing knowledge. The Hive Mind can be hypnotic in nature and be used to mind control even the most powerful symbiotes. But it has since been established to work as a warning system too, indicating when another Klyntar is near.
5 Time Traveling Through The Hive
With Eddie Brock's transformation into the King in Black, the lore of the Hive Mind was changed to allow for time travel. Eddie is able to use the Hive Mind of the Kylntar to jump into any symbiote throughout time. Since each one is connected throughout history, there are seemingly no limits on where he can go.
This concept had never been established before the evolution of the King in Black. What's more, the very idea that Eddie can inhabit any host-less symbiote is another major change in the lore, which only aids in the time travel mechanics being established. It's unclear how many other hosts and indeed symbiotes can move their consciousness in this way.
4 Creating Symbiote Offspring
Venom and the symbiotes were firmly established as a race of largely destructive capabilities. It seemed out of the blue to also introduce them as creators, therefore. But, it is true that symbiotes can create their own offspring, and Carnage is an excellent example of that.
The origins of Carnage indicate a change in lore, that sees a very different type of symbiote produced in complex conditions. symbiotes will evolve differently based on their environment; Carnage is stronger because of his birth on Earth for example. In the years since Venom has been responsible for the creation of a handful of other symbiotes.
3 Anti-Venom
Symbiote creation is one concept that was added to the lore, but symbiote mutation is another complicated edition. Outside factors can change the properties of an existing Klyntar, thus creating something new. The origins of Anti-Venom are a good case study for this.
Eddie Brock already had remnants of Venom in his body, after bonding with the symbiote. This was mutated by the Lightforce of Mister Negative, with the two coming together to form Anti-Venom. The creature had new abilities such as an increased defense against heat and sound, and the power to create healing antibodies.
2 The Creation Of The Symbiotes
While the relationship between Venom and symbiotes like Carnage will remain violent, it's important to note that the species is bonded by their unique creation. It has been noted that the King in Black, Knull, had crafted the Klyntar himself. The very first symbiote was actually a sword.
Know as All-Black, the Necrosword was used to kill other gods, beheading Celestials in a huge change in lore. Knull then expanded his forces with symbiote dragons, after discovering he could utilize his darkness to bond parasitic creatures with other life. This origin story was never known until the emergence of Knull decades after Venom's introduction.
1 The King In Black
Until Eddie Brock there had only been one King in Black. The idea that there was a leader of the symbiotes was already a change in lore, but the premise that this could be passed between people was even more shocking. After the defeat of the Klyntar god, Eddie Brock stepped into Knull's place.
Brock then gained complete control over the Hive Mind and was respected and feared by symbiotes across the cosmos. This role hadn't even been mentioned before Knull's return but is now a major part of the Klyntar hierarchy that has a significant impact on the future of the species.