I'm done running, Sleeper. I'm going to find my dad. And I'm going to save him... no matter how many times I have to cut him down to do it. 

—Dylan Brock

Appearing in 1st story

Featured Characters:

• Venom / Codex (Dylan Brock) (Main story and flashback)

Supporting Characters:

• Archer Lyle (Only in flashback)
• Sleeper Agent (Hank Hensley) (Controlled by Sleeper) (Only in flashback)
• Red Goblin (Normie Osborn) (Main story and flashback) (Bonds to the Red Goblin symbiote)

Antagonists:

• Bedlam (Eddie Brock) (Main story and recap) (As King in Black in recap)
• Meridius (Mentioned)
• Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan) (Main story and flashback)

Other Characters:

• Necrosword (All-Black) (Main story and flashback)
• Sleeper Symbiote (Only in flashback)
• Liz Allan (Mentioned)
• Norman Osborn (Mentioned)
• Agent Anti-Venom (Flash Thompson) (Mentioned)

Races and Species:

• Symbiotes (Main story and flashback)
• Humans (Main story and flashback)
• Inhumans (Main story and flashback)

Locations:

• Prime Marvel Universe (Main story and flashback)
  • Earth (Main story and flashback)
    • United States of America (Main story and flashback)
      • New York (Main story and flashback)
        • Manhattan (Main story and flashback)
          • Alchemax Headquarters (Only in flashback)
          • Oscorp Tower (Mentioned)
      • California (Only in flashback)
        • Sacramento (Only in flashback)
          • Abandoned Factory (Only in flashback)
          • Alchemax R&D Facility (Only in recap)
• Symbiote Hive-Mind (Mentioned)
• Garden of Time (Mentioned)

Items:

• Ms. Marvel's Suit (Main story and flashback)

Vehicles:

• Carnage Glider

Synopsis for 1st story

Lunging at Venom, Bedlam identifies him as the one who stole the Venom symbiote and demands he give it back. Uppercutting Venom away, Bedlam snarls that something is different about the symbiote, Venom angrily asking if Bedlam doesn’t remember impaling him through the heart while saying the pain would make him stronger and leaving him for dead. Reaching into his chest, Venom pulls out All-Black in the form of a katana and says that in that moment everything changed.

In a flashback, Dylan recaps his origins as a human/symbiote hybrid to a shocked Sleeper Agent and Archer Lyle. As Dylan notes that his hybrid nature alters the symbiotes he bonds to, augmenting them while cutting them off from the Symbiote Hive-Mind, Archer comments that that explains why the Life Foundation and Alchemax are so interested in capturing him. Pulling out All-Black and transforming it into a black katana, Dylan notes that this is how they’ll save Eddie but that they will need allies. Stabbing Sleeper with All-Black, Dylan severs his connection to the Hive, Sleeper ruminating on the sensation of being unchained. Later, at Alchemax, Normie Osborn receives a message from Dylan and meets him on the roof.

In the present, Venom severs Bedlam’s right hand with his Necrosword katana, Bedlam expressing incredulity when it fails to regenerate. Explaining All-Black’s ability to sever a symbiote’s link to the Hive-Mind by cutting it, Venom declares his intent to cut Bedlam down. Laughing, Bedlam sneers that he will just reform in Meridius’ Garden and return to finish Dylan off and reclaim the Venom symbiote, saying that he’s finally starting to understand Meridius’ obsession with obtaining its upgraded form. Bedlam notes that he was right to maim Dylan — something yet to happen from his perspective — and promises to pass on Dylan’s words that the pain made him stronger to his son’s past self. Noting that as a King in Black he is still far more powerful than Dylan, Bedlam attempts to rip All-Black from his hands and sneers that Dylan will never beat him alone. As Venom retorts that he isn’t alone, the Red Goblin arrives on a Carnage Glider and restrains Bedlam’s arms with tentacles, commenting that it’s strange to see Eddie in Carnage’s colors.

In a flashback, Normie meets with Dylan and says that his mother instructed him to alert security if he reached out. Dylan asks if he did, but Normie refutes this. Dylan brings Normie up to speed regarding the situation with his time-displaced father and plan to save him, and asks for Normie’s help. As Normie asks how he could possibly help, Dylan transforms into Venom and pulls out canister containing a red, white, and black symbiote. Reminded of his time in the Carnage symbiote’s thrall as the Goblin Childe, Normie recoils in horror but Venom assures him that this time will be different and he came because Normie is his friend. Reluctantly agreeing, as the symbiote bonds to him Normie notes that this is everything his mother was afraid of. Venom notes that it is the nature of parents to fear for their children and try to keep them from making mistakes, but that they cannot prevent their children from forging their own paths in life. As Normie is transformed into a red, white, and black version of the Red Goblin, Dylan notes that just as he is not his father, Normie is neither his grandfather or Carnage, and the only path left to them is forward. The Red Goblin asks who else Dylan has in mind for his squad, and Venom replies that his next recruit will be Agent Anti-Venom. As they make their way through the city, Ms. Marvel spots them and assumes they’re in league with the demons attacking the city.

In the present, Bedlam tosses the Red Goblin aside and pummels Venom, sneering that Dylan’s efforts are for naught because his existence and survival are preordained. Transforming into Codex, Dylan stabs Bedlam in the left eye and cuts it out, Bedlam realizing he’s up against a foe that could defeat him and revelling in experiencing fear for the first time. As Bedlam notes he finally understands why Meridius wants this power for himself, Codex reiterates his intent to erase Meridius by killing Bedlam. Ms. Marvel awkwardly interrupts, trying her best to look intimidating as she says nobody will be killing anyone on her watch or she’ll get into deep trouble.

Solicit Synopsis

See Also

• 7 image(s) from Venom Vol 5 15
• 3 reprint(s) of Venom Vol 5 15

Links and References

References