While there are no immediate plans for aVenomandRoguemash-up, one creator says it is not impossible. “Venom-izing” Marvel’s biggest icons has become all the rage, spawning a seemingly endless stream of variant covers, and even a line of Funko Pop toys.Some truly awesome Venom mashups have come out of this trend, and now one Marvel editor weighs in on the possibility of him meeting Rogue.
Tom Brevoort has just took over editing duties on theX-Menfamily of titles, after 26 years on TheAvengers.
Marvel Executive Editor Tom Brevoort, in his weekly Substack columnMan With a Hat,fielded questions from fans. One fan, identified only as “Joe,” asked Brevoort what might happen if Rogue andVenom attempted to bond.Joe was curious “whose powers would affect them in what way.”Brevoort had this to say in response:
Until somebody does this in a comic book story, Joe, it’s all simply conjecture. But I expect that a symbiote trying to bond with Rogue would probably be able to. Then again, she also might be able to suck the life out of it before that process completed itself, though what that might do to her in the process is also a question.
It is worth noting that Brevoort does not give a definitive answer to Joe’s question, reflecting just how tough a call it is.
Venom and Rogue Actually Have a Lot in Common
Fans Want to Know Whose Power Would Kick in Faster–Rogue’s? Or Venom’s?
Venom and Rogue both debuted in the 1980s, and both would go on to leave a huge mark on their respective corners of the Marvel Universe. Rogue and Venom also have similar story arcs as well, as they were both villains once. When Rogue debuted inAvengers Annual#10, she hated the X-Men and other heroes, but she began to develop a conscience after an encounter with Rom. Venom, debuting later in the decade, came onto the scene with a white-hot hatred of Spider-Man. Venom’s anger was misplaced, and in time he became allies with the Wall Crawler.
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These similarities make a meeting between Venom and Rogue charged with story possibilities, but it is their powers that would make such an encounter interesting. Rogue’s ability to steal the powers of anyone she touches makes her dangerous, and some of her most compelling stories have been centered around this idea, but her powers may work differently on the Venom symbiote. As the symbiote tries to bond with Rogue, her mutant powers will kick in and attempt to absorb the creature’s abilities before the joining is completed, a fact Brevoort acknowledges.
The Venom-ized Rogue would be able to suck the powers and lifeforce out of anyone, adding even more abilities and memories to her skill-set.
In their question to Tom Brevoort, Joe hit on another intriguing story idea for Rogue and Venom’s first meeting. Joe speculated that if Venom and Rogue were able to complete the bonding process, then the end product could be a “life-draining symbiote horror show.” Joe is dead on: a melding of Rogue and Venom’s powers would be bad news for the Marvel Universe. The Venom-ized Rogue would be able to suck the powers and lifeforce out of anyone, adding even more abilities and memories to her skill-set.
Rogue and Venom Need to Throw Down in the Comics, and Soon
Marvel Needs to Give the Fans the Gift of Rogue versus Venom
Joe’s question, and Brevoort’s response, makes a strong case for Venom and Rogue meeting one day. There is no easy answer to the question of who would defeat who, and indeed, the writers and artists behind this hypothetical matchup will be able to let their imaginations run wild, and create a symbiote mashup for the ages.VenomandRoguehave a lot in common, and this mash-up brings those similarities to the surface. The two have yet to meet in the comics, but bringing them together is too good an idea to ignore.
