TheMarvel Cinematic Universehas perfected the art of “leaving us hanging.” The MCU experience is incomplete without a good mid/post-credits scene to get us excited for what can come next for our favorite heroes. Even with direct to streaming releases and TV shows, Marvel is the one franchise that will make all their fans sit through the credits just to verify that there isn’t something more to look out for. WithSpider-Manbeing one of the most popular heroes in the franchise,Spider-Man: No Way Homegave us some fuel for speculation.
Revisiting iconic Spider-Man villains is not something the MCU is a stranger to. In the most recent installment of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, a mid-credit scene teased the presence ofTom Hardy’s Eddie Brockhaving landed himself in Holland’s Spider-Man universe, right before getting sent “home” after Strange’s spell. However, not all is lost and a piece of the symbiote is left on the bar top. This posed the debate overVenom’s actual presence in the MCU. Come with us to explore all the signs that Venom is in fact in Tom Holland’s Marvel Universe.
Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock / Venom
Tom Hardy made his debut as Eddie Brock in 2018’s sci-fi action filmVenom. The first movie in the trilogy introduces the Eddie as a journalist that gets caught up his investigation of Life Foundation founder Carlton Drake’s mysterious experiments. His natural curiosity lands him in dangerous situation, where he is now merged with the symbiote we know as Venom. In 2021,Venom: Let There Be Carnagecontinues Eddie’s antihero story. When Cletus Kasady, a serial killer, also inherits a bond with the symbiote, all hell breaks loose and Eddie is forced to hone his relationship with Venom in order to stop Cletus / Carnage. ThethirdVenomfilmis set up for a 2024 release.
Now, these events have all seemingly existed in their own universe, separate from the MCU’s Spider-Man, despite Venom being a notoriousSpider-Manvillain. However, at the end ofLet There Be Carnage, Eddie (and Venom) are shot into the MCU. This was obviously shown on purpose because of the Venom symbiote’s nature. After learning about what has gone on in this universe from Spider-Man to Thanos, the creature takes a keen interest in this new Spider-Man that has had his true identity revealed to the world, the MCU’s Peter Parker. With so much now up in the air and endless possibilities of where this may go,Spider-Man: No Way Homegave us a very interesting mid-credits scene.
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Spider-Man: No Way Home Recap & Pivotal Mid-Credits Scene
Spider-Man: No Way Homewas easily one of the MCU’s most anticipated releases since Phase 3 ended, and it did not disappoint. In the film, Holland’s Peter Parker is revealed to be the true identity of Spider-Man, antagonized by a dead Mysterio. Peter goes to Doctor Strange to perform a simple spell to make people forget that he was Spider-Man. When the spell implodes, the Multiverse is shot wide open and other Spider-Men and their villains come crashing into the MCU. With the adrenaline rush of seeingAndrew Garfield, Tobey Maguire, and Hollandshare the screen, theVenomcrossover just took it over the top.
After seeing so manySpider-Man villains in one film, Venom’s absence was glaring. In themovie’s mid-credits scene, however, we get a shot of Eddie Brock confirming his newfound knowledge about Iron Man, Hulk, and the stone-loving purple alien, Thanos. When Eddie gets sent back to his own universe thanks to Doctor Strange, he is just gone. However, a small piece of the symbiote is left in his wake. This is one of the biggest indications of Venom in Holland’sSpider-Manuniverse and the MCU at large. Whether Hardy’s Venom/Eddie will make another appearance, the symbiote is sure to shake the foundation of Holland’s Spider-Man.
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Tom Holland’s Future in the MCU
After three incredible films as Spider-Man in the current MCU, Holland’s Peter Parker is left to find his own way after agreeing to let everyone forget whohe is. Adrift in a small New York apartment, the MCU Spider-Man is starting a new phase of his character arc that we are beyond excited to watch. Up until this point, Peter Parker has been portrayed as a young, energetic kid that has needed the support of a mentor to get by.
Out of all theSpider-Manvillains, Venom is the one that has all the makings of testing Peter’s strength, his goodness. With a villain like Venom, you become the thing you are trying to fight. Holland’s future as Peter Parker needs to experience some serious character growth to move forward. If any villain is going to challenge him and test his limits,Venom’s introduction into Holland’sSpider-ManUniverse is bound to do one hell of a job.
