As a long-time comic book enthusiast who’s spent countless hours poring over the pages of Spider-Man and Venom, I must say that this movie has left me utterly spellbound! The Easter eggs hidden within its frames are like a treasure hunt for fans like us, and they’ve done an exceptional job weaving them into the narrative.
Stop the music because Eddie Brock and his symbiotic sidekick Venom have had their last Dance.
Indeed, it’s unfortunate news for fans of Tom Hardy’s Spider-Man spin-off trilogy as it appears to be wrapping up with a less than satisfactory ending. As I write this, the most recent Venom film has received a rather low rating of 38% on Rotten Tomatoes, and our critic Jessica Cullen has given it only two stars in her scathing review.
Regardless of whether critics are finding Venom’s finale enjoyable or not, there’s no denying that we can still have a great time with it! One thing I always look forward to when watching superhero films is searching for all the clever references and Easter eggs subtly embedded within the movie. These little details are often designed to delight dedicated fans like myself.
Here’s a breakdown of the hidden references, easter eggs, and witty hints that I noticed during my viewing experience. Be warned, potential spoilers lie ahead!
The King in Black
Ever since the release of the initial Venom 3 trailer, it’s been clear that Knull would serve as the main antagonist. However, the portrayal of this character in the movie seems remarkably true to its comic book origins.
Apart from bearing an unusual resemblance to a blend of the Joker and Slender Man during their emo periods, this character also calls himself “The King in Black” towards the film’s conclusion. This isn’t just a catchy nickname he dreamed up to seem tough; it holds significant meaning.
In the Marvel comics, “King in Black” is a term that signifies not just the narrative where Knull and his symbiotic dragons attacked Earth, but also a title bestowed upon an influential character who acts as the cosmic antithesis to the Beyonders when managing the Multiverse.
At least, that’s how it was supposed to be. Regrettably, Knull didn’t take kindly to his duties and instead of upholding them, he decided to wield his power destructively. In an attempt to wage war against creation, he created the symbiotes to serve as his troops.
The Necrosword
While enjoying Venom 3, did you find yourself thinking, ‘Wow, that sword looks familiar. I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere before.’ If so, then you’re right! That’s none other than the Necrosword, and it has made an appearance in a superhero film before.
In the comics, it’s revealed that the Necrosword is the first symbiote ever made, crafted from the Living Abyss, and incredibly potent – powerful enough to behead Celestials and split planets apart. This sword has been wielded by various characters, including Galactus, but its most notorious host might ring a bell if you’ve seen Thor: Love and Thunder – that’s Gorr the God Butcher. Some speculate whether the Earth-616 sword used by Gorr had any connection to Knull, but we’ll find out soon enough.
The Light and Beyonders
In a lengthy speech, Knull speaks of an occurrence called “The Light” that intruded into his realm and contributed to his confinement. This wasn’t just a benign entity; it was actually a mention of the Beyonders. If you haven’t heard about them yet, there’s no need for concern (although they might show up in Secret Wars). Essentially, think of them as extremely powerful deities who keep the Multiverse stable, with Knull aiding them in this role.
Klyntar
At the beginning, Knull reveals he’s confined on the symbiote’s homeworld, Klyntar. However, there’s a deeper truth hidden beneath its surface – quite literally. In symbiotic terminology, “Klyntar” translates to “cage.” This is significant because the planet isn’t like other planets we know, orbiting the sun. Instead, it’s artificial and crafted by the symbiotes as a prison for Knull, designed to hold him captive forever.
Codex
In “The Last Dance”, the Codex serves as the crucial artifact that initiates the entire storyline, acting like a catalyst. Knull covets this artifact, known as the Codex, to free himself from the Klyntar. The film suggests that Eddie’s Codex is unusual or perhaps one-of-a-kind, but it functions slightly differently in the comics.
In the course of the Absolute Carnage incident, Cletus Kassady, a character on Earth, was resurrected by followers of Knull with the objective of tracking down any individual who had ever donned a symbiote, to ultimately extract their Codex from them.
As a symbiote enthusiast, I’ve come across the fascinating concept that anyone who has donned a symbiote possesses a Codex, acting as a bridge to the symbiotic collective consciousness. Typically, the connection through the Codex is too feeble for tapping into the hive mind, but amassing enough of them empowers you to do so. This is why Knull sought after Carnage – to gather these Codexes and regain control over the hive mind. By doing so, he aimed to break free from his imprisonment, asserting dominance once more over this symbiotic realm.
Xenophages
In a manner reminiscent of Orcus, an Orcus-like figure bound to his throne, Knull often relies on alien minions to carry out tasks. Among these minions are the Xenophages, powerful and swift beings capable of teleporting across great expanses.
In “Last Dance,” Knull is depicted as creating the Xenophage, yet in the comics, the Xenophage has no connection with the King in Black. Instead, these symbiotes are innate predators of the Symbiote species, viewing them as a delectable treat. Among these predators, one named Phage had a special fondness for Venom and his gelatinous associates. However, in an unexpected turn of events, Eddie and his companions outsmarted this creature by deceiving it into consuming a grenade.
Oh snap, is that Thanos?
Initially, when we encounter Eddie Brock, he’s situated on Earth-616, expressing frustration to an uninterested bartender about a towering purple extraterrestrial who destroyed half the universe. Given that Eddie doesn’t usually go off on tangents about country music novelties like Sheb Wooley’s “Purple People Eater,” it seems this conversation is alluding to none other than Thanos and his deeds during the Infinity War.
Done with the Multiverse
After my return from Earth-616, I couldn’t help but crack a witty remark about being “Multiverse-ed out,” a subtle nod to the supposed hero fatigue stemming from the genre’s escalating fascination with parallel realities. However, it seems like Sony might be gearing up for a multidimensional adventure of their own.
Sin Eater
As Eddie and Venom strive to exonerate themselves following accusations of murdering Patrick Mulligan, they opt to journey to New York City. This choice arises because Eddie used to reside in the city but was seemingly expelled a few years ago, yet he has contacts with a judge who could potentially assist them. The specifics of why Eddie was forced out of NYC remain unspoken, though it’s hinted at being illicit activities, possibly referencing the Sin Eater storyline from Spider-Man comics.
In a somber narrative, Spider-Man confronted the Sin Eater, a menacing serial killer. However, it was Eddie who unmasked the Sin Eater, but it turned out that he had mistakenly identified the culprit – the true killer was caught by Spidey later on. This unfortunate incident tarnished Eddie’s journalistic standing, and he held Spider-Man responsible for his fall from grace. As a result, Eddie found himself walking down a sinister path, eventually transforming into Venom.
Spider-Man moves
At last, after three movies filled with anticipation, it’s about time Venom started showing some moves reminiscent of everyone’s favorite web-slinger. In a heated battle against the lowlifes operating a dog fighting ring, I (Venom) swung down from above on a strand of symbiotic goo, mirroring one of Spider-Man’s most iconic postures. Sadly for the gangster, I wasn’t there to share a smooch… I was there to devour his brain instead.
Rex Strickland
In the storyline, Chiwetel Ejiofor portrays Rex Strickland, a character who embodies the typical soldier figure for Area 55. However, Rex is anything but ordinary in the comics; he was part of an elite military unit selected by Nick Fury himself. During the Vietnam War, this unit bonded with an ancient symbiote, a connection that sets him apart from his peers.
Rex gave his symbiote the name “T-Rex”, and together they undertook numerous missions for SHIELD. Regrettably, Rex met his end while on duty, causing T-Rex to take up Rex’s persona out of remorse. Later, Rex/T-Rex collaborated with Eddie to quell the chaos caused by Carnage, but in the end, he paid the ultimate price for it.
Dr. Payne
In the film, Juno Temple’s character, Dr. Teddy Payne, is an original portrayal that draws inspiration from a comic book character with the same name, yet shares no other similarities. The original Dr. Thedore Payne in the comics is a forgotten villain, but the character in the book is a deranged individual who torments Eddie when he’s apart from his symbiote. However, once reunited with the black suit, Venom exacts a brutal revenge on this antagonist.
Toxin symbiote
Among the more peculiar choices in the Venom films was the introduction of the Toxin symbiote – a descendant of Carnage – and its host, Patrick Mulligan (played by Stephen Graham. However, they failed to utilize this character effectively, as Toxin and Patrick never really contributed significantly to the storyline.
It’s possible that Toxin left Mulligan out of the film’s action, and we didn’t see the powerful alien character in the movie. This might have been done to preserve Toxin for future uses by Sony, or because Toxin, who is said to be the strongest symbiote, could have overpowered the Xenophages too quickly. However, it feels unusual not to show Mulligan’s symbiotic partner given that they provide him with a different symbiote… Now let’s discuss the other symbiote character!
Lasher
In this interpretation, Patrick Mulligan strongly resembles the character Lasher from Marvel comics, leading one to speculate that he might embody Lasher in this reality. I use “might be” because no one addresses him as Lasher, but his appearance aligns closely with the character. Lasher is not a top-tier symbiote in comic books, yet his distinct feature – creating symbiotic whips for combat – has garnered him a dedicated fanbase. Regrettably, if you anticipated more appearances of Lasher, he perishes while fighting against the Xenophage.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
In crafting an alien film, it’s almost inevitable to acknowledge some of the genre’s masterpieces. The movie “Last Dance” subtly does this by incorporating a brief homage to ET, as when Strickland and Dr. Payne walk together, there’s a hint at the alien trying to communicate home, reminiscent of the iconic phrase “E.T., phone home.
Knull’s Spiral Sigil
There’s a recurring symbol in the movie of a strange-looking swirl or spiral. It can be seen on Venom’s Codex, Knull’s sword, and a few other places. This isn’t some random pattern; this swirl is, in fact, Knull’s Sigil. In the comics, it manifests on symbiotes who Knull is controlling (or trying to control), but thankfully, we never see Knull use it for that purpose in Last Dance.
Venom Horse
In the trailer for The Last Dance, the mysterious “Venom Horse” caused quite a stir online and caught the eye of Marvel comic illustrators. Artist Clayton Crain even created two different covers featuring symbiote horse variants for Venom War #1.
We’re probably reaching a little here, but when life gives you the opportunity to write about a pegasus, you should take it. Oh, and if you’re wondering about the Venom frog and fish? We couldn’t find anything about them in the comics. Sorry!
Venom loves chocolate
In the Venom films, there’s a frequent joke about how the symbiote enjoys eating chocolate. This may appear absurd, but it’s actually a clever nod to the comics where Eddie uses chocolate to appease the symbiote’s desire for brains. Interestingly, this works because chocolate contains phenethylamine, a chemical that triggers your brain to release serotonin, and Venom apparently finds the taste delightful!
Thelma & Louise
In Las Vegas, Eddie and Venom playfully call themselves Thelma and Louise as a nod to their evading the authorities. This playful reference is also a subtle hint of things to come, as fans of Thelma and Louise will recall their tragic ending – driving off a cliff to elude capture by the law. Similarly, in Last Dance, Venom’s selfless act of sacrificing himself in acid instead of falling into Xenophage hands mirrors the fates of Thelma and Louise.
Sexiest Man
Following a daring ‘tuxedo heist’ in Las Vegas by Eddie and Venom, the symbiote remarks that Eddie looks sharp in formal attire. During their disagreement, Brock boasts about his numerous sexiest man accolades, hinting at Tom Hardy’s multiple “Sexiest Man of the Year” titles. The last time he received such an award appears to have been in 2021 when he was recognized as the UK’s sexiest man (it seems his second-place prize might have gone astray in the mail).
Symbiotes galore
During the invasion of Area 55 by the Xenophages, numerous symbiotes attach themselves to scientists, soldiers, and even a security guard who were all taken aback. While many of these extraterrestrial beings seem unique for the film, I’m convinced that among the chaos, I saw a green and black one that bore a striking resemblance to Sleeper (Venom’s second offspring), and there was also a white one that looked strikingly like Anti-Venom. However, given the intricate background of the Anti-Venom suit, it seems unlikely that the character was intended in this depiction.
Flash Thompson
If you’re an ardent Spider-Man enthusiast, you’ve probably been eagerly awaiting a top-notch portrayal of Flash Thompson. I’m pleased to share some exciting news: we’ve made a significant stride forward following the events of Last Dance (though ‘step’ might not be the most accurate term given the circumstances). In one of Xenophage’s attacks, a soldier is sucked into their mouth and ends up losing his legs.
As he’s in peril, Strickland shouts, “Thompson’s fallen!” Fortunately, Strickland manages to rescue him before he’s consumed entirely. In the comics, Flash, who once served as a soldier and lost his legs in Amazing Spider-Man #622, later bonds with the Venom symbiote at the behest of the US army, assuming the role of Agent Venom. It remains unclear whether Thompson is this particular Flash or if we’ve witnessed Agent Venom’s origin story; only time will reveal the answer, I suppose.
Is that Agony?
Near the movie’s conclusion, Dr. Payne forms a connection with her own symbiote, transforming into a creature similar to the character Agony – a violet symbiote adorned with tentacle-like hair. It’s peculiar because she seems to possess super speed, causing us to ponder if this is meant to be Agony or an original character copying her distinctive appearance. However, if it’s indeed Agony, that could spell trouble since she has a significant part in Knull’s invasion of Earth. Therefore, we can only speculate about the chaos she might cause in the future.
Venom cockroach
After the end credits roll, there’s a scene showing the bartender who crossed paths with Eddie Brock making a hasty exit from Area 51. As the camera moves, it reveals a smashed symbiote holding cell, and a curious cockroach is just about to scurry into it.
It might appear strange to those not familiar with the subject, but it’s not unheard of for a symbiote to bond with an insect. For instance, in the ‘Run’ comic series, a Venom clone bonds with a swarm of cockroaches to endure a nuclear explosion. Considering the drop of Venom that Rex collected earlier in the movie, there’s a possibility that rumors of Venom’s demise have been overstated.
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2024-10-25 12:19