Venom's Host Switch: Thor Steps Into the Symbiote Spotlight
By Published May 13, 2026, 3:39 PM EDT Shaun Corley is a Staff Writer for ScreenRant, a position he has held for five years. While he enjoys many types of comics and graphic novels, he has a particular interest in the licensed Star Trek titles. Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap
lore is about to change forever, as the symbiote picks a brand-new host. For over 35 years, Venom has terrorized the Marvel Universe, first as a deadly Spider-Man foe before moving to anti-hero status. Not content to stop there, Venom’s mythos was redefined further, revealing the deep connections the symbiote had to Marvel history.
Another fascinating aspect of Venom’s lore is seeing other characters bond with a symbiote, stretching back to its first appearance in Secret Wars #8, where it attached itself to Spider-Man on the distant Battleworld. Once Spider-Man discerned that it was alive, and not necessarily benevolent, he separated himself from it, setting off a chain of events . Marvel has usually shown these Venom mashups in variant covers and toys, and they have proven to be popular with readers.
Another method for getting a symbiote into the hands of another character is through Marvel’s What If? This franchise, launched 50 years ago, shows fans the “roads not taken” through Marvel history, such as what Spider-Man’s life might have been like had Uncle Ben never died. The concept has had staying power, and on the occasion of its golden anniversary, What If is giving one of Marvel’s most powerful characters the chance to shape a symbiote, and ScreenRant is pleased to bring fans an exclusive first look.
The Venom Symbiote is Choosing a New Host: Thor
Marvel has announced What If? Thor #1, which will be written by Torunn Grønbekk and drawn by Sergio Davila. The book, part of a larger line celebrating the 50th anniversary of What If, asks: what if Thor found the Venom symbiote? Marvel’s solicitation for the issue reads as follows:
WHAT IF... THOR GOT SPIDER-MAN'S SYMBIOTE SUIT? Amid the chaos, there comes a costume — but not to the hero you know! Legend has it that bonding with the symbiote suit made Thor mightier still. But what shadows lurking in the Ten Realms would take interest in such a powerful pairing?
The book picks up the thread from Secret Wars #8, but instead of Spider-Man finding the symbiote, it is Thor.
This action will have monumental consequences for not only Odinson, but the symbiotes and the Marvel Universe as a whole. Without Spider-Man’s influence, the symbiote goes in a completely different direction. What If? Thor writer Grønbekk, speaking with ScreenRant, had this to say about this bold creative decision:
It’s been incredibly fun. What If? gives the creative team so much freedom, and getting the chance to reimagine Asgard and its princes--while still staying true to the Thor fans know and love--has been a real joy.
Likewise, Grønbekk praised artist Sergio Davila, stating:
But the best part of comics is always when the art starts coming in. Sergio Dávila was my first choice for this story. He has such a deep personal love and appreciation for Thor and the Asgardians, and that passion shines through on every single page. Since the story branches out of Secret Wars, we also get to revisit a lot of the classic costumes, all brought to life by an artist who genuinely knows and loves these characters. It has been a damn delight to see it all come together.
Marvel has also provided ScreenRant with exclusive interior pages from What If? Thor, showcasing Davila’s stunning art.
How Will Thor Influence Venom's Development?
Although Thor and Venom Have Beef, Readers Will Not Need to Know Any of It
While seeing any Marvel hero bond with the Venom symbiote makes for a fun time, there is an extra level to Thor receiving one. Thor and the symbiotes have a long history in the lore, stretching back to medieval times. Writer Donny Cates revealed an entire feud between Thor and Knull, the dark god of the symbiotes. It might be tempting to draw on this extensive history, but Grønbekk is making it completely accessible. She told ScreenRant:
Our story branches out of the original Secret Wars, so there aren’t really any previous encounters between Thor and the symbiotes in this continuity. That is honestly part of what made it so fun. A lot of my initial work on this focused on how the symbiotes, as readers traditionally know them, were shaped by bonding with Spider-Man, which obviously never happens in our story. So, figuring out how it would affect the symbiote was at least as interesting as how it would affect Thor.
The pages shared here show the enthusiasm both Grønbekk and Davila are bringing to the project.
Groøbekk’s comment about how Thor might influence the symbiote’s development is an interesting one as well. Since, in this timeline, the symbiote never meets Spider-Man, its entire life is different. It will not be driven by anger and rejection, but by other, perhaps more benevolent emotions. Thor shares none of Spider-Man’s doubts, and this will have a huge impact on Venom. A noble, more heroic Venom would be a major asset to Earth’s heroes.
Venom's Lore is About to Get a Massive Shake Up
Venom is one of the few comic book characters that debuted in the last 40 years to stick around, and have a shelf life. Part of Venom’s longevity can be traced to his menacing but still cool visual design. Venom’s appeal also lies in the internal struggles he faces. When they bonded with Eddie Brock, the pair were driven by their hatred for Spider-Man. It became their whole existence for many years.
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The symbiote lore surrounding Marvel's Venom just underwent a major revamp, with new color-coded 'Symbiote Legions' who are about to be a big deal.
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Yet with Thor’s hand guiding it, the Venom symbiote will be getting a massive makeover, one of its biggest in 38 years. Venom has long been associated with Spider-Man’s corner of the Marvel Universe, but now he is heading to the Ten Realms. Asgard is anything but calm, and seeing how the Norse warriors change and mold Venom’s lore will make for one of the character’s most compelling stories.
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What If? Thor #1 is on sale June 17 from Marvel Comics! Final Order Cutoff is May 18!
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