The Hunger Part 3

Suspecting that Eddie Brock is responsible for the “vampire” attacks on people being treated for cancer, Spider-Man compares notes with Neil Garrett the lead detective on the case. Learning that the victims were all completely drained of adrenaline, Spider-Man realizes that it’s not Eddie Brock that is attacking people, but the alien symbiote, apparently searching for a new host. After Spider-Man explains the relationship between Eddie Brock and the Venom symbiote, Garrett gets up and walks away. Spider-Man doesn’t understand, but Neil explains that despite this tip, he is still a cop that does things by the book. Spider-Man gets Garrett to listen to reason and the detective agrees to give the web-slinger a few days to try and get Brock himself before he gets the resources necessary for a manhunt.

Later, a warrant for the arrest of Eddie Brock is filed and the story hits the news. Watching this on television, Eddie Brock gets upset enough to smash his television.[1] This is the last straw for Brock, who is growing sicker with each day. He opens the window and cries out for his symbiote, asking why it doesn’t want him anymore.

The following morning, Peter Parker is in Queens helping his Aunt May repaint a room. As he helps, he tells her about his recent encounter with the Venom symbiote until May decides to change the subject.[2] May understands that Peter is going through a lot and needs to get things off his chest, particularly after the Green Goblin put Flash Thompson in a catatonic state.[3] She understands that both Peter and Liz Osborn are upset over it and that his recovery has suddenly become everyone’s responsibility. That’s when Peter starts putting together why she brought up Flash. While at that same moment, the Venom symbiote returns home to Eddie Brock who is curled up in a ball on the floor of his bathroom. He asks why it left him as he needs the symbiote to live, but the symbiote assures Eddie that it’s back.

Later, Peter Parker and his neighbors are helping move Flash Thompson’s belongings into the apartment under Peter’s. Liz Osborn soon arrives with Flash and is happy that Peter and the other tenants in the building have all agreed to help keep an eye on Flash. Peter is then introduced to Helga, Flash’s live-in nurse who will be looking after his medical needs. After all of Flash’s things are moved in, Peter spends some time alone with his long time friend and is sad to see that Thompson is been reduced to a shell of his former self. Later, Peter goes out looking for Venom again as Spider-Man. This time, Venom is out looking for the wall-crawler and ambushes him. As the two battle it out, Venom appears to be clumsier than usual. The fight abruptly stops when Venom ends up crashing through a skylight. When Spider-Man goes down to check on him, he discovers that the symbiote has retreated away leaving only Eddie Brock. When Eddie wakes up, he tells Spider-Man to get away because he’s no longer in charge anymore and this is all a trap set by the symbiote.

Suddenly, the symbiote starts trying to wrap itself around Spider-Man, Eddie explains that the symbiote is after the only thing it has ever wanted: Spider-Man.[4]

Recurring Characters

Spider-Man, Venom, Neil Garrett, Aunt May, Liz Osborn, Randy Robertson, Glory Grant, John Anderson, Caryn Earle, Flash Thompson

Continuity Notes

1. The newscaster mentions how Eddie Brock was a reporter for the Daily Globe until he was discredited for interviewing a man claiming to be the spree-shooter known as the Sin-Eater. The Sin-Eater was on the loose from Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #107-110 until he was caught by Spider-Man. As explained in Amazing Spider-Man #300, Brock interviewed the wrong man and when Spider-Man caught the real Sin-Eater, Brock was fired from his job. This fueled his desire for revenge after he became Venom.

2. Peter is openly talking to May about his activities as Spider-Man as this story takes place shortly after May learned Peter’s secret identity in Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 2) #35.

3. The Green Goblin orchestrated a drunk driving accident with Flash at the wheel in Peter Parker: Spider-Man #44-47. He will remain in a catatonic state until Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #3.

4. For a time, Spider-Man and the Venom symbiote were bonded starting in Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #8 until he discovered it was alive and rejected in Amazing Spider-Man #258.

Topical References

• Detective Garret likens the Venom symbiote to the SARS virus. SARS, aka Severe acute respiratory syndrome, is a flue like illness. This reference is topical as its reference here was made due to the fact that this comic was published during a SARS outbreak that November 2002 until May 2004.

• Eddie Brock is depicted as having a CRT television in his room. This should be considered a topical reference as these televisions are now obsolete.