Warning! Spoilers for Venom #28 below!
The classic Marvel villain Scorpion just got quite the upgrade. The longtime Spider-Man bad guy made a surprise appearance in this week's Venom and after revealing his true self in a universe ruled by symbiotes, and he was given his symbiotic upgrade courtesy of the ruler of that world.
Mac Gargan is one of Spider-Man's oldest villains, appearing in the early adventures of the web-slinger and staying a mainstay in his stories ever since. The scorpion/human hybrid was made paraplegic following his encounter with the symbiotes Venom and Carnage in Absolute Carnage. In the current Venom arc, Eddie and Dylan Brock (along with the mysterious Virus) are sucked into a portal that puts them in a universe controlled by symbiotes. It's there, Virus's true identity is revealed.
In this week's Venom #28 by Donny Cates, Juan Gedeon, Jesus Aburtov, and Clayton Cowles, Codex, the leader of The Hive, has captured Virus. He dismantles his makeshift armor and throws his body into his symbiote testing pods. Virus begs to be released and says he knows information on Eddie Brock - which catches the attention of Codex. After getting info on Brock, Codex releases Virus. Once freed, Virus reveals that Brock "paralyzed me. Took my legs. He ain't taking my name," as he returns to his old moniker, Scorpion.
Codex (who's later revealed to be Eddie Brock's son, Dylan) tells Scorpion to "get back on your knees. Swear your allegiance to me, and bring me Eddie Brock."
Scorpion's transformation is absolutely terrifying. He's become even more in tune with his arachnid side, with giant claws, a massive poison stinger, and sharp teeth. The old Scorpion design wasn't very menacing, but the symbiote version of the character appears to be a powerhouse. With Scorpion being forced out of his Virus costume and being turned into a literal symbiote scorpion, Eddie Brock is in a world of trouble. Scorpion holds him responsible for the loss of his legs. Paired alongside Codex and who knows what other symbiote-versions of heroes and villains, Eddie and Dylan (the original one) will have to get creative to defeat them and return to their reality... if that's even possible.
Scorpion was a formidable villain before his transformation, now with his own symbiote upgrade, he's a full-blown monster. Seeing how he uses his new body and powers will be fascinating. Scorpion wants Eddie Brock dead and with Codex leading the charge, it seems he's got the upper hand. Thankfully, Eddie has his own reinforcements.