Venom: Let There Be Carnage is a bigger film than any of us ever imagined, and we're not just talking about that record-breaking box office haul this past weekend!
With a post-credits scene containing the first official crossover between the Marvel Cinematic Universe and a non-Marvel Studios created reality, the forbidden door has been kicked wide open. Now, things look set to get seriously nuts for Venom fans over the next few years.
Before we spend too much time talking about what's next, though, we're keeping the spotlight squarely on Venom: Let There Be Carnage. Andy Serkis' sequel contains plenty of amazing Easter Eggs, and we're now breaking down the biggest and most amazing references, cameos, and nods to the comic books in this Marvel movie.
No matter how you felt about the Venom follow-up, we have a feeling you'll have fun with these Easter Eggs...
10. A Subtle Nod To Shriek's Mutant Origins
Frances Barrison once being shot by a cop lines right up with the comic books, though it wasn't Pat Mulligan who pulled the trigger on the page.
However, when Frances mentions that her "mutation" is getting worse, it's clearly meant as a reference to the fact that the Marvel Universe's Shriek is, in fact, a mutant. This version can't fly or play with people's emotions, but her sonic blasts appear to be a superpower the villain was born with.
Sony can't use mutants in the Spider-Man Universe, but this subtle reference was a clever way to at least leave the door open to the possibility.
Now, we can't help but wonder how many other people with "mutations" could appear in the "Venom-verse."
9. A New Take On Responsibility
Spider-Man Easter Eggs are few and far between in Venom: Let There Be Carnage, but there are a couple that we couldn't help but pay attention to.
The most obvious sees Cletus Kasady kill a spider while he's writing a postcard to Eddie Brock blaming the journalist for his impending execution. The squashed arachnid freaks Eddie out when he receives that note, and we wouldn't be surprised if Venom's human host has a fear of spiders!
Speculation aside, a key difference between Venom and Spider-Man is revealed when Eddie is talking to his alien suit in Mrs. Chen's store.
Venom declares that "responsibility is for the mediocre," a clear shot at the wall-crawler and his Uncle Ben's mantra that "with great power comes great responsibility."
8. Stan Lee's "Cameo"
Following the death of Stan "The Man" Lee, Marvel Studios made the decision that, out of respect, they would no longer include the comic book creator in their films (whether it be with CGI, archival footage, or otherwise).
That's all well and good, but we're not going to hold it against Venom: Let There Be Carnage for finding a way to pay homage for the late, great Spider-Man co-creator. "The Man" may not have helped breathe life into Venom, but he still laid the groundwork for the iconic anti-hero to be part of the Marvel Universe.
Lee's face can be seen on the cover of a magazine in Mrs. Chen's store, and Venom appears to pay homage to him as his host walks past.
It's a nice moment, especially after Stan's actual cameo in 2018's Venom.
7. Ravencroft And St. Estes
Marvel's version of Arkham Asylum, Ravencroft first appeared in the pages of a 1991 issue of Spectacular Spider-Man. A number of the web-slinger's villains have been held there, and Shriek is at the mercy of Dr. Camille Pazzo (a character from the comics) until Carnage intervenes.
Unfortunately, Sony didn't take this opportunity to reference any other Spidey villains, but chances are they didn't want to commit to introducing any of them in this sequel.
Elsewhere in Venom: Let There Be Carnage, we learn that Cletus and Frances grew up together in St. Estes (which has been renamed as a "Home for Unwanted Children" rather than "Home for Boys").
Hopefully, both locations will be explored in a more meaningful way moving forward.
6. Cletus Kasady's Origin
The story of Cletus Kasady murdering his mother and grandmother is pretty comic accurate, while it's true that the serial killer had a father who abused and mistreated him.
As for how Carnage is created, Venom: Let There Be Carnage definitely takes some liberties, but not in a way that should upset fans. On the page, Eddie Brock shared a cell with Cletus and left a piece of his symbiote behind when he escaped (that obviously bonded with the serial killer).
In this film, Cletus takes a bite out of Eddie when he witnesses the power he holds and that somehow combines with his very DNA, emerging when he's about to be put to death by lethal injection.
Honestly, this is a little cooler, and the unique way Cletus is bonded to Carnage could lead to them both returning down the line.
5. Lethal Protector
Eddie and Venom were the very definition of an odd couple of the 2108 film, but it's only here that their future starts to become clear.
The Daily Bugle reporter (more on that soon) wants to stay under the radar and avoid being dissected by the government, while Venom wishes to become a Lethal Protector who can satisfy his hunger for brains on deserving criminals. The two clash as the story progresses, but ultimately seem to agree on that path.
Now, the stage is set for Venom to become the "Lethal Protector" from the comics who is a cross between Spider-Man and The Punisher. This changes the very nature of the franchise and promises to make the character a proactive "hero."
Don't be surprised if The Jury shows up to counter him in Venom 3 if this is the way things are headed...
4. The Daily Bugle
The Daily Bugle has a recurring presence in Venom: Let There Be Carnage, and we learn that Eddie Brock writes for the West Coast edition of the iconic fictional newspaper.
In terms of headlines, there's nothing that really alludes to Spider-Man or characters like Morbius and Kraven the Hunter, and it feels like Sony missed a trick here by not at least throwing in a few subtle references to the wider Marvel Universe. However, the fact this print edition exists is a big clue the sequel doesn't take place in the MCU.
In that reality, The Daily Bugle has become TheDailyBugle.net, with J. Jonah Jameson making his controversial opinions known both online and on television.
Revealing Spider-Man's secret identity (and the fact he "murdered" Mysterio) was quite the scoop for Jameson, though it remains unclear whether a version of the newspaper publisher also exists in the "Venom-verse."
3. Toxin
During the final battle, Detective Pat Mulligan learns that Eddie Brock is secretly Venom and narrowly avoids being killed by Shriek. However, the last time we see him, his eyes are glowing blue and he's uttering the word "monsters."
What does it mean? Honestly, your guess is as good as ours.
In the comics, Pat is bonded with Carnage's spawn and forced to come to terms with the influence that alien has on his desire to do good. In this reality, it almost appears as if the cop has somehow been infected by Shriek, though we're not sure exactly what that means for his future in the Venom franchise.
There wasn't really an opportunity for Pat to come in contact with a symbiote, but it's feasible it somehow jumped from Shriek to him given how much time she spent around Carnage.
2. Carnage Unleashed
Throughout Venom: Let There Be Carnage, the title villain can be seen striking various poses in front of stained glass windows. These films have yet to really explore Eddie Brock's religious beliefs, but that could quite easily change when he crosses paths with Spider-Man!
Regardless, when Carnage strikes that pose in front of the stained glass window, it appears to be a direct tribute to a 2019 issue of Web of Venom: Cult of Carnage featuring a variant cover by illustrator Skan Srisuwan.
Interestingly, it was Knull in that image, so perhaps this moment was meant to tease his live-action arrival?
Another fun nod to the source material comes when Carnage refers to Venom as his father. It doesn't play a big role in the sequel, but at least confirms that this "red one" is meant to be the spawn of Venom. As noted, it's still too soon to say what that could mean for a possible Toxin debut.
1. The Post-Credits Scene
There's a lot to talk about here!
Eddie and Venom heading to the beach seems to be a nod to the alien taking refuge on an island after he believed he'd managed to kill Spider-Man, but it's what happens in the stinger that's of most interest. Just as Venom promises to show his host what he'd been through before arriving on Earth, their hotel room starts shaking and a bright glow emanates from outside.
With that, Eddie has been transported to a new reality which should be instantly familiar; with a news report playing in the background from TheDailyBugle.net about Spider-Man killing Mysterio and having his identity revealed to the public, it's immediately clear Venom is now in the MCU.
A crossover is coming, and that shot of an unmasked Spider-Man in New York City has to be footage from Spider-Man: No Way Home. Could Venom join the interdimensional Sinister Six?