All good things, right? I’ve been enjoying Al Ewing’s Mary Jane-as-Venom stories, but it looks like they’ll come to an end after Queen in Black concludes.
Marvel has announced what comes next after that event series in San Diego today. Charles Soule and Tommaso Bianchi will helm a relaunched Venom ongoing series beginning in October, while Ashley Allen and Phil Noto bring us a five-issue Friendly Neighborhood Mary Jane series in November.
In Venom #1, Eddie Brock and Venom are reunited after their long separation, with Eddie determined to be the ultimate host for the symbiote and reclaim his role as the Lethal Protector.
“I am so thrilled to be relaunching Venom with an all-new #1 this October with art by Tommaso Bianchi, who is doing astonishing work,” said Soule. “Every panel leaps off the page into your eyeballs, it takes up room, it nests in your mind, which is a good thing in this case. We are doing new things with the character that have not been done before. It is thrilling, it is fast-paced, and perhaps a bit provocative. Venom is the best. Venom rules. Venom. Venom. Venom.”
Meanwhile, Mary Jane Watson emerges from Queen in Black separated from the symbiote and ready to launch her own venture: Watson Productions. Friendly Neighborhood Mary Jane follows MJ stepping into a producer role with a supporting cast that includes Black Cat and Iron Man, while Chameleon sets out to sabotage her new business. She’ll need every tool at her disposal, including a top-secret gift from Venom, to come out on top.
As for why Venom returns to Eddie, leaving MJ symbiote-less, you’ll have to check out Queen in Black, which starts July 29. But in the meantime, here’s a look at Nick Bradshaw and Martin Coccolo’s variants for Venom #1:
And here are Peach Momoko and Russell Dauterman’s variants for Friendly Neighborhood Mary Jane #1:
Venom #1 arrives Oct. 14; Friendly Neighborhood Mary Jane arrives Nov. 4.