Sinner Takes All

Lore & Background

However, "Sinner Takes All" is not. The source does state that the first limited series, Venom: Lethal Protector, was written by Venom co-creator David Michelinie and began the character's transition from unambiguous villain to anti-hero, introducing the symbiote offspring (Scream, Phage, Riot, Lasher and Agony).

Reader's Guide

The narrative arc begins with a series of unexplained attacks by symbiotes that lack any sense of self-preservation or loyalty. Eddie Brock and Venom are initially confused, as these entities do not follow the usual rules of bonding. As they investigate, they discover a hidden group of hosts who have been manipulated into believing that the only way to achieve perfection is to completely surrender their humanity to the alien. The central conflict escalates when this rogue faction targets innocent civilians, intending to harvest them as fuel for a mass infection event. Venom must fight not just physically but philosophically against these 'pure' symbiotes who view his protective bond with Anne Weying and others as a flaw. Major twists reveal that the leader of this group was once a former ally who fell into despair after a traumatic loss, twisting their love for the symbiote into hatred. This event is significant because it solidifies Venom's role not just as an anti-hero, but as a guardian of balance. It establishes that the true strength of the bond lies in the compromise between human morality and alien power. The resolution sees the rogue symbiotes defeated or reformed, reinforcing the idea that without the human heart, the symbiote is merely a monster.

Did You Know?

• This limited-series run consisted of 60 issues altogether, effectively acting as an ongoing monthly series whose issue numbering reset with each story arc.
• Larry Hama wrote the most individual series with eight in total, including the 1997 final instalment Venom: The Finale.