The Symbiotes (Klyntar)

• Core Identity: The Symbiotes, also known by their proper name Klyntar, are an amorphous, extraterrestrial species of inorganic symbionts that bond with hosts to survive, granting them extraordinary abilities while often influencing their minds.
• Key Takeaways:
• Role in the Universe: Originally conceived by the dark god Knull as living weapons, a faction of the species rebelled and formed a hive-mind known as the Klyntar, dedicated to bonding with noble hosts to create cosmic peacekeepers. However, corrupted or isolated symbiotes act as dangerous parasites, making them both a source of immense power and a grave threat across the cosmos. Venom and Carnage are their most infamous representatives on Earth.
• Primary Impact: The introduction of the symbiote fundamentally altered Spider-Man's life, creating his dark mirror in Venom, one of his most popular and enduring nemeses. This single concept has since spawned a vast mythology of characters, villains, and anti-heroes, driving major comic book events and becoming a cornerstone of Marvel's cosmic and street-level lore.
• Key Incarnations: The primary difference lies in their origin and complexity. In the Earth-616 comics, they have a deeply detailed cosmic history involving a primordial deity (Knull) and a philosophical schism between the parasitic “corrupted” and the noble “Klyntar.” In the MCU and Sony's Spider-Man Universe (SSU), their origin is more direct: they are an invasive alien species discovered by humans, lacking the divine creator backstory and focusing more on the immediate parasitic/symbiotic relationship with their hosts.

The symbiote's journey from concept to iconic character is one of the most unique in comic book history. The initial idea for Spider-Man's black costume originated not from Marvel's creative team, but from a fan. In 1982, Marvel ran a competition for aspiring writers and artists, and a 22-year-old reader from Illinois named Randy Schueller submitted an idea. His concept was for Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four to design a new, stealthier costume for Spider-Man using unstable molecules, which would enhance his powers. Editor-in-chief Jim Shooter was intrigued, purchased the idea from Schueller for $220, and the concept began to evolve internally.¹⁾ The black costume made its official debut in The Amazing Spider-Man #252 (May 1984), but its in-story origin was revealed months later in the landmark crossover event Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #8 (December 1984), written by Jim Shooter with art by Mike Zeck. On the alien Battleworld, Spider-Man, seeking to repair his damaged classic costume, mistakenly interacts with a machine that dispenses a black sphere, which flows over his body and forms the new suit. Initially, the suit was a fantastic upgrade, producing its own organic webbing and changing its appearance at a thought. However, writer Tom DeFalco and artist Ron Frenz began seeding hints of its sinister nature, showing it acting on its own while Peter Parker slept. The dramatic rejection of the alien symbiote occurred in Web of Spider-Man #1 (April 1985). The symbiote's transformation into the villain Venom was orchestrated by writer David Michelinie and artist Todd McFarlane. After being spurned by Spider-Man, the symbiote found a new host in Eddie Brock, a disgraced journalist who held a mutual hatred for Peter Parker. Following a brief cameo, Venom made his full, terrifying first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #300 (May 1988), an issue that became an instant classic and cemented the character's A-list status. The concept's popularity exploded, leading to the creation of numerous other symbiotes, most notably Carnage in The Amazing Spider-Man #361 (April 1992).

The in-universe history of the symbiotes has been significantly expanded and retconned over the years, leading to two vastly different origin stories between the comics and their cinematic counterparts.

The true, ancient origin of the symbiotes is a tale of cosmic horror. Before the universe as we know it, there was only the endless void and its ruler, the primordial deity Knull. When the Celestials began creating life and light, Knull retaliated by forging a sword from his own shadow, the All-Black the Necrosword, the very first symbiote. With it, he waged a deicidal war against the other gods and cosmic beings. To build his army, Knull created an entire race from the “living abyss”—the symbiotes. They were his mindless soldiers, bound to his will through a collective hive-mind centered on his consciousness. He used them to conquer and consume entire civilizations, creating a vast empire of darkness. During this time, he established a base of operations on a living planet he enslaved, which he named Klyntar—the word for “cage” in the symbiote's language. However, a crucial event severed Knull's absolute control. After being temporarily defeated and stranded on a desolate planet, the symbiotes he had left behind as an occupying force began to bond with the planet's native inhabitants. For the first time, these symbiotes experienced emotions and concepts other than Knull's divine hatred—concepts like nobility, honor, and empathy. This new perspective caused a schism. The symbiotes, connecting to one another through their hive-mind, staged a massive, universe-spanning rebellion against their creator. They succeeded in imprisoning Knull at the heart of their planet-sized “cage,” which they now also called Klyntar, but this time meaning their new homeworld. This reformed society of symbiotes dedicated themselves to a noble purpose. They would seek out worthy hosts across the universe, forming a perfect, permanent symbiosis to create the Agents of the Cosmos, an order of galactic peacekeepers. A “pure” Klyntar bond elevates both host and symbiote. Unfortunately, the connection to the hive-mind is delicate. A symbiote can become “corrupted” if it bonds with an unworthy or malevolent host. This corruption severs its connection to the noble Klyntar hive, causing it to revert to the parasitic, predatory instincts instilled by Knull. These corrupted symbiotes are the kind most commonly encountered on Earth. They are driven by hunger and a desperate need to bond, often overwhelming and consuming their hosts. The Venom symbiote was one such corrupted being, deemed an aberration by its people and imprisoned before it found its way to Battleworld.

The cinematic origin of the symbiotes is, thus far, much more grounded and less mythological. Their primary story is told within Sony's Spider-Man Universe (SSU), beginning with the film Venom (2018). In this continuity, the symbiotes are an extraterrestrial species that travel through space via comets, seeking out planets with suitable life forms to inhabit and, eventually, consume. A scouting party of four symbiotes—Venom, Riot, and two others—is discovered on a comet by a space probe owned by the bio-engineering corporation, the Life Foundation, led by CEO Carlton Drake. The symbiotes are brought to a research facility in San Francisco. The Life Foundation's scientists discover that the symbiotes cannot survive for long in Earth's oxygen-rich atmosphere without a host. They also learn that not every host is compatible; an incompatible pairing results in the host's body being rejected and consumed from within. Carlton Drake becomes obsessed with the idea of human-symbiote bonding as the key to humanity's survival and off-world colonization. The lead symbiote, Riot, escapes upon re-entry and hops from host to host, making its way to Drake. The Venom symbiote is experimented on until it successfully bonds with disgraced investigative journalist Eddie Brock, who broke into the facility. Their bond is a rare perfect match. Unlike the comic origin, there is no mention of Knull, the Klyntar, or a noble past. They are presented as a straightforward alien invader species. Riot's goal is to bring a larger invasion force to Earth. However, the Venom symbiote, after bonding with Eddie, grows fond of him and the planet, ultimately choosing to betray its own kind and fight Riot to save Earth. A small tendril of the Venom symbiote was briefly transported into the prime Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) during the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), along with Eddie Brock. When they were sent back to their native reality (the SSU), a minuscule piece of the symbiote was left behind, officially introducing the species into the MCU's Earth-616 timeline, though its future role remains unknown.

The fundamental nature of a symbiote is defined by its biology and the powers it grants to a host. While many core concepts are shared, the comics provide a much deeper well of lore.

• Composition: Symbiotes are amorphous, inorganic, carbon-based lifeforms. They are a “living abyss,” capable of changing their shape, density, and form at will. They do not have a fixed anatomy until they have bonded with a host, whose biological systems they co-opt and enhance.
• Host Dependency: A symbiote requires a host to survive for extended periods. The ideal bond is a perfect symbiosis, but a corrupted symbiote often forms a parasitic relationship. They typically require phenethylamine, a chemical found in the brain (and also in chocolate), to remain healthy. Without a host or sufficient sustenance, they will wither.
• Reproduction: Symbiotes reproduce asexually. This is typically a rare event, often occurring under extreme stress or as a defense mechanism. Each offspring is a new, independent symbiote, but it carries the genetic memory of its parent and lineage. The Venom symbiote has “birthed” numerous offspring, including Carnage, Scream, Lasher, Phage, Agony, Riot, Sleeper, and Mania.
• The Codex: A crucial element of their biology is the genetic memory, or Codex. Every time a symbiote bonds with a host, it stores a copy of that host's DNA and consciousness within itself. This information is passed down to its offspring and can be accessed by the Klyntar hive-mind. Knull's goal in the King in Black storyline was to reclaim all of these codices to restore his power.
• Weaknesses: Symbiotes possess two primary vulnerabilities:
  • Sonics: High-frequency sonic vibrations can cause the symbiote's molecular structure to destabilize, causing it intense pain and forcing it to separate from its host.
  • Heat: Intense heat, such as from fire or powerful energy blasts, can sear a symbiote and damage its biomass. However, some symbiotes, like Carnage, have evolved a degree of resistance.

When bonded, a symbiote provides its host with a powerful suite of abilities, many of which were imprinted from its first significant host, Spider-Man.

• Superhuman Physiology: The host's strength, speed, stamina, durability, agility, and reflexes are amplified to superhuman levels, often far exceeding those of Spider-Man.
• Constituent-Matter Manipulation: This is their most versatile ability. A symbiote can manipulate its own biomass to form tendrils, shields, blades, and other weapons. It can also create its own version of “webbing” from this matter.
• Camouflage and Shapeshifting: The symbiote can alter its appearance to perfectly mimic any form of clothing. It can also grant its host a limited ability to alter their physical appearance, though this is less common. More advanced symbiotes can achieve full invisibility.
• Regenerative Healing Factor: The bond grants the host an accelerated healing ability, capable of repairing severe injuries like broken bones, gunshot wounds, and third-degree burns in a fraction of the normal time.
• Spider-Sense Immunity: Because the Venom symbiote was bonded to Peter Parker for an extended period, it and its offspring are invisible to his Spider-Sense, making them uniquely dangerous adversaries for him.
• Genetic Memory: A host can sometimes access the skills and memories of the symbiote's previous hosts.

The true Klyntar culture is one of altruism and order. They believe that a perfect union of a noble host and a pure symbiote creates a being greater than the sum of its parts—a perfect warrior and peacekeeper. They have a process for “cleansing” corrupted symbiotes, re-integrating them into the hive-mind, as they did for the Venom symbiote during its time with Flash Thompson. Those who remain corrupted are seen as a cancer—a perversion of their species' true purpose and a shameful reminder of their dark origins under Knull.

• Composition and Host Dependency: Similar to the comics, they are amorphous aliens that require a host. The SSU places heavy emphasis on the concept of a perfect biological match. If a host is incompatible, the symbiote will drain their energy and consume their organs, eventually killing them and moving on. Eddie Brock is a perfect match for Venom.
• Sustenance: Venom's hunger is a major plot point. While he craves human brains for their chemical compounds (likely phenethylamine, though not named as such), he can subsist on large quantities of chocolate and tater tots.
• Reproduction: Reproduction has not yet been depicted or discussed in the films.
• Weaknesses: The weaknesses to sound and fire are a central part of their cinematic portrayal. A sound of 4,000-6,000 Hertz is shown to be excruciatingly painful, and sustained high temperatures will kill both symbiote and host.

The visual representation of the symbiote's powers is a highlight of the films.

• Superhuman Physiology: Eddie Brock gains immense strength, durability (becoming bulletproof), and speed when the Venom persona is active.
• Tendrils and Shapeshifting: The film's action sequences are built around this ability. Venom constantly sprouts tendrils for locomotion, combat, and defense. He can form massive shields, sharp blades, and envelop Eddie completely to protect him from harm.
• Healing Factor: The symbiote instantly heals grievous wounds Eddie suffers, from compound fractures to severe internal injuries.
• Internal Dialogue: A key feature of the films is the constant, often humorous, internal conversation between Eddie and the Venom symbiote. The symbiote has a distinct, fully-formed personality that clashes and cooperates with its host.

• Eddie Brock (Venom): The most iconic host after Peter Parker. Brock's hatred for Spider-Man originally made him the perfect vessel for the spurned symbiote. Their relationship has evolved dramatically, from pure villainy to a complex anti-heroic dynamic as the “Lethal Protector.” They are defined by their co-dependency, with Brock providing a moral compass (however skewed) and the symbiote providing power and companionship.
• Peter Parker (Spider-Man): The original Earthly host. The black suit amplified his powers but also his aggression and negative emotions. His ultimate rejection of the symbiote's corrupting influence is what created the deep-seated animosity the creature holds for him, a trait passed on to its offspring. This bond is the foundation of the entire symbiote saga on Earth.
• Cletus Kasady (Carnage): The ultimate nightmare. Carnage is the offspring of Venom, bonded with the depraved and nihilistic serial killer Cletus Kasady. Unlike the Venom/Brock bond, there is no conflict or duality; Kasady and the Carnage symbiote are in perfect, gleeful sync in their desire for chaos and slaughter. Carnage is exponentially more powerful and dangerous than Venom, representing the absolute worst potential of a symbiote-host union.
• Flash Thompson (Agent Venom): A paradigm shift for the symbiote. Bonded with former high school bully and disabled veteran Flash Thompson, the Venom symbiote was used as a weapon for the U.S. government. Flash's inherent heroism and willpower allowed him to control the symbiote, becoming a hero. Their journey took them to space, where they joined the Guardians of the Galaxy and encountered the Klyntar, who cleansed the symbiote of its corruption, temporarily restoring it to its noble state.

• Knull: The God of the Symbiotes and King in Black. Knull is the ultimate progenitor and nemesis of the entire symbiote race. His goals are simple and absolute: to extinguish all light and life in the universe and return it to the void from which he came. He views the symbiotes as nothing more than his tools and seeks to re-absorb them all into his hive. He is an existential threat of the highest order.
• Spider-Man: From the perspective of the Venom and Carnage symbiotes, Spider-Man is the original sin. He is the one who rejected them, who fights against their nature, and who represents the order they seek to upend. Their shared genetic memory of him makes him a universal target.

• The Klyntar: The collective hive-mind of the purified, noble symbiotes. They operate as a force for good in the cosmos, seeking to bring order and peace through perfect symbiosis.
• Agents of the Cosmos: The individual symbiote-host pairings who serve the Klyntar's mission. Flash Thompson briefly became one of these agents as Venom, the Space Knight.
• Life Foundation: A survivalist corporation in the comics and SSU film that captured the Venom symbiote and forcibly extracted its “seeds” to create five new symbiotes: Scream, Riot, Lasher, Phage, and Agony, for their own private security force.

The genesis. During the first Secret Wars, a cosmic entity known as the Beyonder transported many of Earth's greatest heroes and villains to a “Battleworld” to fight. After his costume was shredded, Spider-Man was directed to a machine he believed was a fabricator. It produced a black sphere that became his new costume. This storyline introduced the alien suit and set the stage for everything that followed, establishing its advanced capabilities long before its true, sentient nature was revealed.

This sprawling 14-part crossover event defined the '90s era of symbiote stories. Carnage, along with his own twisted “family” of supervillains, embarks on a massive, bloody rampage across New York City. The threat is so great that Spider-Man is forced into an uneasy alliance with Venom, along with other heroes like Captain America, Black Cat, and Cloak & Dagger. The storyline cemented Carnage's status as a top-tier threat and showcased the sheer chaos a malevolent, unrestrained symbiote could unleash.

This event explored the idea of a full-scale symbiote invasion. An army of corrupted symbiotes from the planet Klyntar arrive on Earth, seeking to conquer it and bond with its population. The story delved into the symbiotes' collective consciousness and their susceptibility to strong emotions, revealing that a massive psychic scream from a dying host race had driven many of them insane. It was a precursor to later, grander cosmic stories, putting Venom and Spider-Man once again on the same side to save the planet.

The modern epic that redefined symbiote mythology forever. Written by Donny Cates, this event was the culmination of years of storytelling. Knull, the primordial creator of the symbiotes, is finally freed from his Klyntar prison and arrives at Earth with a colossal army of symbiote dragons and celestials. He swiftly conquers the planet, plunging it into darkness. The event united the entire Marvel Universe, from the Avengers to the X-Men, in a desperate battle against a literal god. It fully established the cosmic horror roots of the symbiotes and elevated Eddie Brock to a central, universe-saving role.

• Ultimate Universe (Earth-1610): A radical reinvention. In this universe, the “Venom suit” is not an alien. It is a man-made protoplasmic creation, a bio-engineered suit invented by Richard Parker (Peter's father) and Eddie Brock Sr. Its original purpose was to be a cure for cancer. Peter discovers the suit in his father's old effects and wears it, finding it enhances his powers but also makes him violent and dangerously hungry. This version is far more monstrous and vampiric, needing to consume life force to survive.
• Spider-Man: The Animated Series (1990s): This beloved adaptation provided a generation's first encounter with the symbiote. Here, the symbiote arrives on Earth clinging to a space shuttle returning from a mission (piloted by John Jameson). It first bonds with an angry Spider-Man, pushing him to his emotional limits, before being rejected at a church bell tower. It then finds and bonds with Eddie Brock, whose career was ruined by Spider-Man, creating a classic and terrifying version of Venom.
• Marvel's Spider-Man (Video Game Series - Insomniac Games): The symbiote is a central element of Marvel's Spider-Man 2. Blending elements of the Ultimate and mainstream continuities, the suit is initially presented as an experimental treatment for Harry Osborn's terminal illness, developed by Oscorp and referred to as a “symbiote.” It bonds with Harry first, then latches onto Peter Parker, offering him incredible power at the cost of his personality. Its design is sleek and powerful, and its corrupting influence on Peter is a major driver of the game's narrative.
• Venomverse (Earth-TRN644): A comic event exploring a reality where Venoms are the dominant life form. It showcases a multiverse of characters who have bonded with symbiotes, from Captain America and Doctor Strange to a T-Rex. This series highlights the versatility of the symbiote concept and its ability to be adapted onto virtually any character.

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