We are never fucking escaping the damage Donny Cates did with his Venom run, are we? š«
Long post because i need to vent + explain why is this triggering me so much.
CW: fictional su1cide attempt mentioned (but thatās Eddie Brock for you)
Before Donnyās dumb and offensive retcons, Eddie was such unique character with interesting and unique backstory. A motherless kid from rich family who grew up with neglectful father. Suffering from guilt and loneliness. Seemingly healthy and successful man with something severely broken inside. Something that made him do immoral things (whole Sin Eater situation), abandoned by everyone even his wife (Iām not blaming her tho). Coming to church to pray before ending his life. Coming to church so he wonāt die COMPLETELY alone.
Thatās when Eddie met his Other. The symbiote. A kindered spirit, a broken soul who was also ready to die.
They bonded. Because they both were lonely and scared and abandoned and desperate. And both believed it was others who did them wrong, without realising their own misdeeds.
Worst case scerario. Absolute enabling of worst manic ideas any of them could have, settled on revenge to Spider Man.
But at the same time Eddie got what he wanted. What he shouldāve gotten long ago from his father - unconditional love.
And more that this he got romantic love from a creature who was inside every cell of his body, constantly. Focused only on Eddie.
Such unhealthy relationships, without any healthy boundaries. Itās twisted and toxic, but for them it was salvation. It what kept them from su1cide. What made them fit together so perfectly.
Thereās been good days and bad days. And terrible days. Even before Cates retcon. They broke up and reunited in 2016 but this time with a goal to build a healthier romantic partnership. Because even though both of them realised errors of their ways and had a chance to be a heroes, met better people, they still wanted to be together. They choose each other.
And most importantly when Eddie was with his Other no matter if it was back in the day or in 2016 run HE NEVER FELT ALONE. The symbiote gave Eddie that feeing of belonging, that constant company and support, that Eddie always craved.
Donny ruined everything. Added dumbass retcon where Carl Brock was severely abusive to Eddie and saying āsee? Thatās why Eddie was a bad guy!ā.
And also Donny looooved to emphasise that Eddie had this āDARKNESSā¢ļøā and that all his life was DARK and LONELY. And only when he met his son Dylan Brock, Eddie finally got something to live for. His only āLIGHTā. (Not a direct quote but the idea was repeated multiple times trough Cates run).
The symbyiote? Thatās just some accessory. A pet. A talking tool to have cool powers š. It couldnāt possibly qualify as an equal. As a partner. It could never have filled the void in Eddieās soul. Could only make it worse.
Thatās Donny vision. And only when fans started shitting on his run he begrudgingly changed his ways and made the symbiote somewhat~ redeemable. Without ever giving it real spotlight or allowing the alien to reflect on its own feelings and motivations.
And now a lot of people enter Venom fandom, using Cates run as entry point. A lot of authors use his work as guidelines Iām sure of it. Because it sold well.
(No wonder it appeal to wider audiences by making Eddie Brock the most neurotypical straight dude possible)
And we have and will have bullshit like this. Eddie Brock was lonely with symbiote. He felt āsingularā? Venom?? Singular? Two beings in one body constantly exchanging mental images with each other??? That Venom?? The one who always uses āweā in dialogue?
Yeah. Iām sure Eddie was very lonely when he was Venom. Good thing heās not ALONE anymore. Wow. Iām so glad.
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