Warning: Spoilers for Extreme Carnage: Toxin #1!
It’s a new age for Marvel’s King in Black, as Venom has laid claim to the symbiote throne, and in the aftermath, it’s revealed that every symbiote now has the ability to sprout wings and fly! Venom might have been surprised when he first realized he could reach for the skies, but it seems the idea of getting freaky wings seemingly out of nowhere has already lost its allure on a trio of symbiote heroes that are relying on their new ability quite heavily at the moment.
Given to Flash Thompson aka Agent Anti-Venom, Andi Benton aka Silence, and Bren Waters aka Toxin at the very end of Extreme Carnage: Toxin #1, by Steve Orlando and Gerardo Sandoval & Danilo S. Beyruth, these new upgrades are a welcome addition to the fight against the ultimate symbiote threat, Carnage. Resisting his influence through the telepathic symbiote collective known as The Hive, Agent Anti-Venom, Silence, and Toxin are saved by the bond they hold with their human hosts as their shared personal connections have helped them resist Carnage’s insidious pull.
Able to take out the telepathic version of Carnage in The Hive, Toxin is met by Agent Anti-Venom and Silence, and are quick to realize that their goals line up in Washington D.C. where Carnage is planning a “real-world bloodbath.” Teaming up to stop Carnage from corrupting their younger symbiote siblings as well as thwart whatever evil plan Carnage has yet to fully reveal, the symbiotic three set out, revealing one huge addition to their power repertoire that wasn’t there before: giant freaky symbiote wings!
Sprouting from the trio’s backs with ease as Toxin defiantly declares, “Okay, Carnage — here we come!” these new traversal techniques are unique to each symbiote in their design and size, immediately giving all three a cool Venom-inspired look to show off. Feathery and massive as they spring from Toxin’s body while Agent Anti-Venom and Silence’s wings share similar-looking dragon-like features, these two are only separated by slight red accents on Silence’s versions, more hook-like talons at the top of her extremities, and a bigger size compared to Anti-Venom’s.
Given that Venom only acquired this new ability a couple of years back in Venom #5, by Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman, it comes as a welcome surprise that wings are commonplace for all symbiotes now that they know it’s possible. And while it’s true that Agent Anti-Venom has already exhibited the ability to fly during the King in Black event when he was an actual symbiote dragon for a time, Toxin — and especially the brand new symbiote character of Silence — are two Klyntars that haven’t shown this ability before, making this reveal an exciting one for these characters moving forward.
So while the reason as to why these three have been able to utilize a new ability Venom pioneered can most likely be chalked up to the fact that Venom is now the God of Symbiotes and whatever he’s capable of doing is shared with all, the idea that every symbiote can now fly is still a wild one for fans to see. Venom becoming the new King in Black has clearly benefitted the symbiotes to some degree, so now all that’s left is to wonder what else he might be able to pass on should he get the chance.
