Marvel has many iconic characters, and Venom is by far one of the most popular. Having appeared in dozens of comics, video games, and a film trilogy, what began as a simple Spider-Man villain has exploded in popularity. Which is why it's no surprise Marvel has explored dozens of variants of the symbiote antihero.

Marvel's Multiverse has allowed for dozens of different versions of the same character, putting new spins on some of its biggest stars (Spider-Man and Wolverine chief among them). Because of the Venom symbiote's ability to bond with pretty much anyone, the alien can be put into any situation, and always provide the opportunity for a compelling, new creation. Across the multiverse, these are the most powerful versions of Venom ever created.

15 'Black Suit Spider-Man' Was The First To Use The Venom Symbiote

Multiversal Designation: Earth-616

The first host of the Venom Symbiote, Peter Parker inititally assumed it to be an advanced suit that had futuristic features. Eventually, Spider-Man realized his awesome black suit wasn't just advanced, but an actual alien symbiote. This was a major moment in Peter's history, and it set the stage for everything that came after.

Peter would eventually push the symbiote away, rejecting it, and leading the symbiote to crave revenge (bonding with Eddie Brock and creating Venom, one of Spider-Man's most dangerous villains ever). While Peter used the symbiote, he didn't gain any of the abilities that Venom is known for now. But he was still plenty powerful thanks to the symbiote enhancing his classic powers, such as super strength and webbing.

14 Dylan Brock's Venom Is A Worthy Successor To His Father

Multiversal Designation: Earth-616

Dylan hasn't been Venom for long, but he's proven to be quite adept at the role. While he's not nearly as experienced as his father Eddie, he has an edge thanks to the powers granted by his symbiote-created physiology. These powers allow Dylan to affect symbiotes in a variety of ways, such as physically repelling them if they attempt to bond with him, or forcing them to evolve and learn new abilities.

These powers vastly make up for Dylan's lack of experience as Venom, and the Venom War Event will decide once and for all whether Dylan or his father, Eddie, deserve the role. While Eddie has been Venom for a lot longer and has a greater mastery over the Venom symbiote, Dylan's powers allo him to literally control and command any symbiote he wants, which makes Dylan far more dangerous than his father.

13 Mac Gargan Was A Savage Venom

Multiversal Designation: Earth-616

Recruited by Norman Osborn to capture Mary Jane, Mac Gargan ended up meeting and bonding with the Venom symbiote. This resulted in one of the most savage and brutal versions of Venom. While Venom has eaten people in the past, this new version engaged in cannibalism much, much more. Even more dangerous was the fact Mac was made fully aware of exactly who Spider-Man was. This version of Venom was an absolute monster, and one of the darkest periods in the history of the Venom symbiote. While there have been other villainous hosts in the past, Mac Gargan truly brought out the worst in the Venom symbiote.

12 Eddie Brock Is Venom's Most Famous Host

Multiversal Designation: Earth-616

By far the most famous symbiote host of all time, Eddie Brock has been Venom for the majority of the character's history. Eddie Brock started out as a villain to Spider-Man, evolved into an anti-hero, and eventually became a full-blown hero. Eddie is one of the greatest hosts the symbiote has ever had, and nearly all hosts later were compared to him. While bonded to the symbiote, Eddie has incredible strength, agility, and has access to all of Peter's powers, except for spider-sense.

With the Venom War, it's possible that Eddie's time as Venom will finally come to an end and the mantle will be permanently be ed onto his son. It's hard to imagine a time when Eddie won't be Venom due to how long he's spent in the mantle. Eddie has since moved on to the role of the King in Black, which has made him far more powerful than he ever was as Venom.

11 Agent Venom is Venom's Greatest Host of All Time

Multiverse Designation: Earth-616

While Eddie Brock is the most famous host of all time, he isn't the best one. That title seems to go to Flash Thompson. There has never been a host more perfectly suited to the Venom symbiote than Flash, and even Eddie notes this. While visiting Flash's grave, the Venom symbiote still pulls towards it, trying to leave Eddie for the corpse. While bonded to Flash, they were known as Agent Venom and Flash was able to help save the world several times.

Where Eddie tended to rely on pure brute strength as Venom, Agent Venom used weaponry, mostly guns and other gadgets amplified by the symbiote. This gave him far more versatility in combat, and Eddie seems to think that it proved he had a greater mastery over the symbiote.

10 Wolverine is One Of The Deadliest Symbiote Hosts Imaginable

Multiversal Designation: Earth-1984

Wolverine has been bonded to a few different symbiotes over the years, but he's formed a true bond with the Venom symbiote on the main 616 Earth. The same can't be said for Earth-1984. It was here that Sabretooth managed to trick Wolverine into bonding with the Venom symbiote. What happened next was an absolute nightmare scenario, as the Venom symbiote quickly sealed Wolverine's mind away, taking full control of his body.

With Venom in full control, it went on a rampage across New York and slaughtered several people, before Wolverine could regain control. When he did, he promised he would break the Venom symbiote and make it work for him. This version of Venom didn't last for long, but it had incredible powers, with the symbiote even calling Wolverine's body "indestructible."

9 Poison, The Venom Who Claimed Control of Peter Parker

Multiversal Designation: Earth-70134

One of the darkest forms of Peter Parker was in What If? Spider-Man The Other, when after nearly being killed, Spider-Man enters a cocoon to heal and be reborn. On Earth-616 this resulted in Peter coming back stronger than ever, but on Earth-70134, he remained in stasis. Sensing this, the Venom symbiote abandons Eddie Brock and goes after Spider-Man, who succumbs.

Peter emerges from the cocoon as the monster known as Poison, with the symbiote in total control of Peter's mind and body. This is one of the strongest versions of Peter to have worn the Venom symbiote, as not only does it have all of Peter's powers completely unrestrained from his morality, but additional hybrid abilities never seen anywhere else.

8 The Venomsaurus is Marvel's Most Fearsome Symbiote Beast

Multiversal Designation: Earth-66

There are few things cooler than dinosaurs, but a dinosaur with the Venom symbiote is likely the coolest version of Venom shown so far. This version of Venom became a major threat to the other dinosaur heroes on Earth-66. Despite these villainous origins, the Venomsaurus would eventually give its life in the battle against Carnage during the Death of the Venomverse storyline.

This Venom lacked the agility of other forms, but with its tendrils and the brutality of its dinosaur nature, it was able to put up a good fight against multiple foes at once. What this version of Venom lacks in power, it absolutely makes up for in pure cool factor.

7 Venompool Was Ridiculously Powerful

Multiversal Designation: Earth-90211

Most fanbs may not know Deadpool was actually one of the very first hosts of the Venom symbiote, even before Peter Parker. This retcon is what partly explains the Venom symbiote's initial insanity, as it was explained that Deadpool's terrible mental state left a lasting impression on the Venom symbiote. But writers have also explored the possibility of Deadpool retaining the symbiote, becoming horrifying Venompool. Deadpool is already unstable, so having another insane voice inside his head wouldn't do anyone any good. With Venom's powers and Deadpool's healing factor, he would be almost impossible to stop.

6 Miles Morales Wore Both The Venom And Carnage Symbiote

Multiversal Designation: Earth-80763

The Dark Ages universe had a lot of twisted aspects. After the death of Dr. Strange, a portal was left open that continually released an EMP blast, disabling all electronics on Earth. While society collapsed, certain villains saw their chance to seize power. One of which is Apocalypse. At some point during this, Miles bonds with the Venom symbiote, and is then forcefully bonded to the Carnage symbiote, which corrupts the Venom symbiote. The two symbiotes then take over Miles' body together, forcing him to serve Apocalypse. With Miles's powers combined with both symbiotes, he's a major force to be reckoned with.