Hello True Believer!
If you are new, I’m writing a three-part detailed guide of Donny Cates’ work at Marvel leading to the April mega-event Thor vs. Hulk: Banner of War and (maybe) other unannounced Donny Cates book(s) later in the year. I’ll leave a link for Part One.
With that said, I present Part Two of the Guide.
Venom is the reason we speak of Donny so highly. It is the place where we see him at his peak. He wrote what he wanted to see on the shelves, and, turns out, many people wanted the same thing. He was a fan of this character since he was a kid, therefore he took 30 years of history as input and gave us something greater. A legacy that shook the Marvel Universe by surprise and will continue for years to come.
Donny and Venom have a symbiotic relationship: the book catapulted his career, matched him with the artist that would become his best friend and partner at their Substack imprint, and (I’m pretty sure) had a positive impact on his economic situation. In return, Donny put Venom into the bestseller list and, along with the movie, made him an anti-hero that everyone knows and loves. Six volumes and two events later, this is the longest run for any writer of Venom. And it is one for the ages.
Donny describes his Venom run as follows:
[It is about] Getting to the bottom of who Eddie Brock is. Everyone else who has ever gotten a symbiote has been freaked out by it. Peter Parker, Flash Thompson, Andi [Benton], etc. But Eddie, if you look back in the comics, was the one dude who was like: Cool, let's roll. That is so attractive to me about Eddie, it was like: wait, WTF is wrong with you? That you are so cool with that. Why are you […] So it has informed so much of my run. Eddie is so scared of being alone.
Let's get into it and the relationship of these stories to the Donnyverse.
Venom Vol.1 & 2 and more
Venom 1-12 (2018-2019) and Web of Venom: Ve’Nam (2018).
Creative Team (Volume 1, Volume 2 Issues 9-12): Writer: Donny Cates, Penciller: Ryan Stegman & Joshua Cassara (Issue 11,12), Inker: JP Mayer & Joshua Cassara (Issue 11,12), Colorist: Frank Martin, Rain Beredo (Issue 12) Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles.
Creative Team (Volume 2 - Issues 7-8): Writer: Donny Cates, Artist: Iban Coello, Colorist: Andres Mossa, Frank Martin (Issue 8), Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles.
Creative Team (Web of Venom): Writer: Donny Cates, Artist: Juanan Ramírez, Colorist: Felipe Sobreiro, Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles.
Something bad is happening with Eddie Brock’s symbiote. It is acting out, speaking in foreign languages, and blood-thirsty. In the meantime, Eddie gets the visit of a stranger: Rex Strickland, who claims to have borne a Symbiote a long time ago1. He knows a lot about their kind and has worked for the United States government. Rex also knows about Eddie’s symbiote acting weird. But is he trustworthy? What does he want? These events will turn Eddie and Venom’s life upside down. And it is just the tip of the iceberg.
Donny doesn’t beat around the bush. In Volume One, he introduces Knull, God of the Symbiotes - one of the biggest Marvel characters of the last three years. With him, he redefines the origin of the Marvel Universe and the place of the symbiotes in it. It is a perfect volume one, setting the stage for bigger and better things.
Volume Two is a personal favorite because it starts with The Maker, an evil Reed Richards from the Ultimate Universe. I love this character, and I’m so glad Donny saw the potential in him. As I keep mentioning: he takes what’s there and elevates it greatly with fresh stories and new motivations. The Maker’s endgame is unclear, but he introduces a new concept: the Codex, a cellular imprint of a symbiote. Turns out, the symbiotes never fully leave their hosts. They leave a mark used to share information about all hosts with the Hive, the collective mind of the symbiotes. Powerful stuff.
Speaking of, this volume also sees Eddie reuniting with his father. Spoiler alert, their relationship is not good, and he is not a good man. There is an emphasis on Eddie’s development, and his human side makes him easy to relate to. We also learn that Eddie has a son, which will play a crucial role in the series.
Type of Marvel book: Street Level and Cosmic. Yup, you read that right.
What is it connected to? This book is the start of the Knull Saga, so it is a must-read if you are interested in all things King in Black. Donny also connects the Symbiotes with the Norse people living on Earth hundreds of years ago, and we know what other Marvel character has a strong connection with these people…
Volume 2 references Donny’s GoG and other Marvel events, such as Spider-Verse.
Absolute Carnage (Main Event, Venom Tie-In, and more)
Absolute Carnage 1-5 (2019), Venom 17-20 (2019)2 and Web of Venom: Carnage Born (2018).
Creative Team (Main Event): Writer: Donny Cates, Penciller: Ryan Stegman, Inker: JP Mayer, Jay Leisten (Issue 4, 5) & Ryan Stegman (Issue 4) Colorist: Frank Martin, Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles.
Creative Team (Venom Tie-In): Writer: Donny Cates, Artist: Juan Gedeon (Issue 16), Iban Coello & Zé Carlos (Issue 20), Colorist: Rain Beredo, Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles.
Creative Team (Web of Venom): Writer: Donny Cates, Artist: Danilo S. Beyruth, Colorist: Cris Peter, Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles.
Carnage is back! Resurrected by a cult that worships Knull3 with an objective: Free their God from his prison. They plan to gather all the Codices to send a signal through the hive and wake Knull. And if you have not been paying attention, the Codex are pieces of symbiotes that remain inside the hosts. Therefore, every hero that has worn a symbiote is a target! Eddie Brock will need to fix his problems with his symbiote to face this threat. And he will seek the help of a friendly neighborhood hero and an evil genius to defeat Cletus Kasady.
Venom vs. Carnage. A rivalry for the ages in a brand new event with higher stakes than ever, with appearances from many characters, heroes, and villains, that have stories with the symbiotes. This book has everything: sick action, superhero moments, gruesome horror, and an epic conclusion. A decision that will define Eddie Brock. The first big event of Donny’s Venom run and a spiritual sequel to the legendary 90’s event Maximum Carnage. Expectations were high, and the creative team delivered.
The main event focuses on Eddie/Venom and Carnage, while the tie-ins focus on Dylan and The Maker, an excellent opportunity to get to know these characters. Also, it features the return of one of Venom’s sons, Sleeper. His relationship with Dylan will be further explored later in the series. The last issue of the tie-in introduces three key concepts regarding the symbiotes and The Maker:
Symbiote spawning is triggered by a sense of danger that would require adding numbers. Like a natural way to protect the hive. Donny defied the idea that symbiote reproduction was random.
The Maker is working with the Council of Reeds, a group of Reed Richards from different universes.
His goal is to return to his universe, the Ultimate Universe, and restore it. He believes he can use the symbiotes, as their species can potentially survive interdimensional travel.
These open a whole world of possibilities for a story yet to be told.
Type of Marvel book: From here onward, I believe Donny brought back a type of Marvel book: the Symbiote books.
What is it connected to? This event is the second act of the Knull Saga, a sequel to Venom Vol. 1 and 2, and a prequel to King in Black. Issue 20 is key to understanding future events featuring the Maker and the whole Marvel Universe. There are also references to Maximum Carnage by J. M. DeMatteis, Tom Defalco, David Michelinie, Terry Kavanagh and Sal Buscema, Tom Lyle, Alex Saviuk, Ron Lim, Mark Bagley (1993).
Venom Vol. 4: Venom Island
Venom 21-25 (2019-2020).
Creative Team: Writer: Donny Cates, Penciler: Mark Bagley, Inker: Andy Owens, Colorist: Frank Martin & Erick Arciniega (Issue 21, 22), Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles.
After Absolute Carnage, Eddie Brock still feels a piece of the Carnage symbiote inside him, clouding his judgment. Acknowledging it is a ticking time bomb, he returns to Isla de Huesos, an island where he once took Spider-Man to kill him.
Here, far from his loved ones and innocent people, he will hunt Carnage down for good. During the journey, he will also reflect on his past choices and his future with his son. It is the last fight to forget about Carnage, once and for all.
This volume serves as an epilogue to Absolute Carnage, where we can see Eddie and Dylan’s relationship grow as father and son. We also see Eddie come clean with the Avengers, confessing his sins and warning them that God is Coming. The preparations for the King in Black are on.
Type of Marvel book: Symbiote.
What is it connected to? A direct sequel to Absolute Carnage. Also, Issue 25 recaps the whole Venom run right until this point and presents a sneak peek of what’s next in the Donnyverse.
In addition, there are references to Amazing Spider-Man #347, the first time Isla de Huesos appeared.
Venom Vol. 5: Venom Beyond
Venom 26-30 (2020).
Creative Team: Writer: Donny Cates, Artist: Iban Coello (Issue 26) & Juan Gedeon (Issue 26, 27, 28), Luke Ross (Issue 29, 30), Colorist: Jesus Aburtov, Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles.
After learning his son has powers that connect him to the symbiote hive and Knull, Eddie searches for answers from The Maker. After all, he seems to know more than he has told. Nevertheless, a new foe called Virus ambushed them in the Maker’s lab. During the fight, they accidentally activated a dimension traveling machine. It transported Eddie and Dylan into an unknown location and the Maker to another one: Earth-1610, the Ultimate Universe! But we will deal with that later.
As it turns out, the unknown location was a dimension dominated by Codex, King of Symbiotes, and his hive has reached everyone, including the Avengers. Fortunately, there is a resistance, the last of humanity, that comes in contact with Eddie. Together they need to find a way to overthrow Codex and get Eddie and Dylan back home. Unfortunately, they have to deal with Virus, who followed them through the portal and is still trying to kill them.
This book reminds me of Thanos Wins: a dystopian future, different versions of known characters, cool fights, high stakes. But it also takes Eddie and Dylan in contact with alternate versions of themselves and some people they know. The possibility of seeing what could happen if they made one different choice puts things in perspective. Ultimately, this experience served them as mental preparation for what has come. Knull has arrived on Earth.
Type of Marvel book: Symbiote and Cosmic.
What is it connected to? A continuation of the Venom run, leading up to King in Black. It has references to events that happened in Absolute Carnage.
King in Black (Main Event, Venom Tie-In, and more)
King in Black 1-5 (2021), Venom 31-34 (2020-2021) and Web of Venom: Wraith (2020).
Creative Team (Main Event): Writer: Donny Cates, Penciller: Ryan Stegman, Inker: JP Mayer & Ryan Stegman (Issue 5), Colorist: Frank Martin & Jason Keith (Issue 5), Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles.
Creative Team (Venom Tie-In): Writer: Donny Cates, Artist: Iban Coello, Colorist: Jesus Aburtov, Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles.
Creative Team (Web of Venom): Writer: Donny Cates, Artist: Guiu Villanova, Colorist: Dean White, Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles.
Knull is finally here, and his objective is to destroy everything, plunging the world into darkness and expanding his reign. But Eddie has been preparing for him for a while. With the help of EVERYONE, including his young son, he will make a final stand against the Lord of the Abyss. But how do you defeat a being of pure darkness, an enormous army of symbiotes, and endless power?
Round two of the epic tale of Light/Creation (Eddie Brock) vs. Darkness/Destruction (Knull, God of the Symbiotes) that started in Silver Surfer: Black, but on a much larger scale. It is pure awesomeness, epic fights, metal moments, and mind-blowing art. Superhero comic books at their peak.
King in Black is Donny’s biggest event. Bigger than Absolute Carnage. The event had the whole Marvel Universe participating. Avengers, X-Men, FF, Wakanda, Atlantis. Every superhero on Earth was fighting the forces of Knull. It was awesome seeing Eddie working together with so many heroes as one of them. How he rose to the challenge. This character grew so much over the whole Venom run.
While the main event focuses on the battle against Knull, the tie-ins focus on Eddie's perspective and how he experiences the biggest fight of his life. Because of the circumstances, it is an introspective journey to discover who Eddie Brock is and what fuels him. Donny nails it because the perfect compliment for an epic event is insightful characterization.
Type of Marvel book: Symbiote, Cosmic, Epic.
What is it connected to? King in Black is the culmination of all Donny has done up to this point. We see connections to Guardians of the Galaxy, Silver Surfer Black, Dr. Strange, and his whole Venom run.
Also, Issue #1 contains an illustrative timeline that recaps all past events regarding the Symbiotes.
Venom #200
Venom 35 (2021).
Creative Team: Writer: Donny Cates with Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Penciller: Ryan Stegman, Kev Walker, Danilo S. Beyruth, Ron Lim, Guiu Vilanova, Gerardo Sandoval and Mark Bagley, Inker: JP Mayer, Jay Leisten, Kev Walker, Danilo S. Beyruth, Scott Hanna, Guiu Vilanova, Gerardo Sandoval, Victor Nava and John Dell, Colorist: Frank Martin Chris O’Halloran, Jim Campbell, Matt Milla, Alex Sinclair, Chris Sotomayor and Richard Isanove, Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles.
Eddie Brock is the new King in Black. What does this mean for him, the Marvel Universe, and his son? As the new King of Symbiotes, his first task is to clean the mess of his predecessor, which will take a toll on his body. But he will gladly accept it, as he is helping civilizations all across the galaxy.
The change in the status quo is huge because Eddie is a street-level hero, and now he has cosmical powers. His responsibilities are much higher, but his evolution during the whole run assures us he is up to new challenges. But, if he is busy running a hive of symbiotes, who will wear the Venom symbiote and protect the innocent on Earth?
The epilogue to King in Black, the conclusion of Donny’s Venom run, and a celebration of the character, this book is a must-read for any fan of Venom. It closes many doors but opens many more, leading to Al Ewing, Ram V, and Bryan Hitch’s run.
Oh, but wait, there’s someone else we need to mention. Eddie has gained new powers: he can see through the eyes of every symbiote and navigate space and time through them. Yet, Eddie has lost someone: The Maker.
Venom #200 also concludes the story of the Maker, one happening in the shadows. The first chapter of what feels could be a new saga. His crusade to get back to his Earth and rebuild his Universe, working with the Council of Reeds. What is next for him now that he is in the Ultimate Universe? And how will this affect our heroes? This story will pay off later in the year in a yet-to-be-announced event from Marvel Comics. I remember Donny saying he didn’t use ten pages of his last Venom issue for this story not to mean something.
Type of Marvel book: Symbiote.
What is it connected to? A direct sequel of King in Black, this book sets the stage for the next chapter of the Donnyverse! The Maker will return!
Conclusion
This run is the backbone of the Donnyverse, holding it together. During Venom, Donny transformed the character on the page and outside it. Eddie started alone, deep in the darkness, and ended as a King, with a son and many heroes calling him friend and savior. We accompanied Eddie in the journey of life that anyone can relate to. Some days are good, others are bad, you have to enjoy the good days and fight to overcome the bad ones. That’s how it is, and that’s exactly what Eddie transmits. Eddie, the comeback king, is what all of us should aspire to be. Because it doesn’t matter how many times you fall, but how many times you get up.
I wanted to give a big shoutout to the artists involved in these books. As I mentioned last time, they are the ones that make Donny’s words look so good. This is a guide about Donny’s work, so I’ve referred to this run as “Donny’s” run, but it is Donny’s and Ryan’s with the collaboration of magnificent talent, including Marvel’s Stormbreaker Iban Coello and legendary Spider-Man artist Mark Bagley. They have refreshed who Venom is and have placed the character as one of the pillars of the Marvel Universe.
Not only Venom, but they redefined the whole Marvel Universe and the symbiotes’ place in it. The existence of Knull as the first entity of Darkness - The God of the Abyss - a being that fought the Celestials at the dawn of existence, adds a lot to the Marvel mythos and will be explored further in the future. In addition, The Maker story promises to be a door to re-explore the Ultimate Universe, and this could have BIG consequences for all heroes. But for now, the Donnyverse is expanding in another direction. Hope with me into this Starship, as we will visit Asgard!
Timeline of the books mentioned in the post:
Venom (November 2018 - June 2021)
Absolute Carnage (August 2019 - November 2019)
King in Black (December 2020 - April 2021)
Up Next:
Thor (January 2020 - Present)
Hulk (November 2021 - Present)
Coming Up Later:
Donny’s indie books!
Hey guys! Thanks for reading! I am having a blast re-reading some of my favorite Marvel comics to write this guide. I hope you are enjoying it too. If you want to learn more about Venom, Donny, and Ryan, I suggest listening to the podcast Stegman and his Amazing Friends. I recently re-listened the episode On Leaving Venom w/Donny Cates (January 2021), and it has a lot of behind-the-scenes details from the creators themselves. It is great hearing it from the future because you understand it better, so even if you listened to it back then, I recommend a revisit!
I’ll start preparing for Part Three (and last) of this beautiful guide. In the meantime, stay awesome and go read something!
For more information about this event, read Web of Venom: Ve’Nam. An awesome one-shot where you will learn more about Rex Strickland and the origin of symbiotes on Earth.
You may have noticed we skipped Venom 13-15 (2019). Those issues were a tie-in to the event War of the Realms. Donny didn't write them, but I recommend reading them, as well as the Main Event. Both are super cool.
For more information on how this happened, read Web of Venom: Carnage Born. An awesome one-shot where you will learn the tragic story of Cletus Kasady.
What about the Knull one shot and the first Venom annual written by Donny?