Spoilers ahead for Spider-Man: Spider's Shadow #5!
Wilson Fisk, AKA the Kingpin, is being set up as the next host of the Venom symbiote in Marvel comics. In the final issue of Spider-Man: Spider’s Shadow, on sale now in print and digital, Spider-Man is freed from the symbiote’s destructive influence and its reign of terror has seemingly ended, but readers learn Kingpin has other plans in mind for Venom.
Spider-Man: Spider’s Shadow is part of Marvel’s new “What If” line. These books honor the spirit of the original What If titles, showing readers new visions of classic characters and stories. In Spider’s Shadow, writer Chip Zdarsky, artist Pasqual Ferry, and colorist Matt Hollingsworth have shown readers a world where Spider-Man never relinquished control of the symbiote. Instead, he kept it, and it became more of a destructive influence. Spider-Man attacked J. Jonah Jameson in the Daily Bugle offices, which led the newsman to an alliance with the Sinister Six to bring down the Wall Crawler once and for all. They were successful in separating the two, ending the symbiote’s influence over Spider-Man. It was then taken to Reed Richards for study, but it quickly took over both Reed and the Baxter Building. The symbiote used Reed’s intellect to enhance itself and then proceeded to take over other Earth heroes as well.
Spider-Man, Mary Jane and the Human Torch infiltrate the Baxter Building, and are successful in freeing the enslaved heroes; unfortunately, Reed is killed, and in an epilogue, readers learn that Kingpin now has the symbiote. Kingpin is gravely ill and seeking revenge against Peter Parker. Wesley, Fisk's right-hand man, tells him the scientists in their labs have studied the symbiote and Wesley tells Kingpin that with the symbiote, he can kill two birds with one stone by both destroying Peter Parker and finding a cure for his sickness.
The issue ends there, and since Marvel has not yet announced a sequel or follow-up, readers may never find out what Kingpin will do with the symbiote. If his past is any indication, Kingpin could be the most brutal symbiote host yet. Kingpin is ruthless and manipulative, a crime boss who has no issues going after heroes like Spider-Man and Daredevil. But for all his power, Kingpin is still just a human with human weaknesses, and the symbiote would definitely level the playing field for Kingpin. With the symbiote at his disposal, he could inflict far more pain and suffering on Daredevil and Spider-Man and could possibly give even more powerful heroes a run for their money.
The Kingpin is one of Marvel’s most heinous villains, and now he has control of the Venom symbiote, which could make him one of the most dangerous criminals in the Marvel Universe.