Venom is a surprisingly fun, tight action flick that doesn't quite reach the heights of the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, but managed to satisfy this nervous longtime fan. It also has two post-credits scenes to unpack.
Venom is in theatres worldwide now. We're in major spoiler town here, so hold off if you still haven't seen the movie. Otherwise, let's dive in…
The scene in the middle of the credits hints at Carnage, Venom's spawn and enemy (as depicted here by artist Mark Bagley).
Marvel Comics
Scene 1: The archnemesis
The first scene, which occurs midway through the closing credits, introduces Woody Harrelson in a ridiculous, cheap-looking wig. Apparently, crusading reporter Eddie Brock — secretly still host to the Venom symbiote — is the only person this imprisoned psycho will agree to be interviewed by.
"When I get outta here, and I will, there's gonna be … carnage," he tells Eddie, in a bit of foreshadowing that's about as subtle as biting someone's head off.
What it means
Although the film doesn't explain this at all, Harrelson is playing serial killer Cletus Kasady. In the comic, Kasady was Eddie's cellmate when he was in prison. When the Venom symbiote broke Eddie out, it left its spawn behind and the newborn bonded with Kasady to become Carnage, a murderous monster who believed only in chaos.
A copy of Eddie's notebook from his investigative journalism work was on display at New York Comic Con, as previously reported by ComicBook.com, and reveals the depths of Kasady's depravity. (This is pretty much the same as his comic book backstory from Amazing Spider-Man No. 379.)
The Brooklyn-born orphan grew up in St. Estes Home for Boys, which was destroyed by a fire that killed the disciplinarian administrator — a suspected revenge attack by Kasady.
Eddie Brock's notebook was on show at New York Comic Con and shed some light on serial killer Cletus Kasady.
Comicbook.com
He also pushed his grandmother to her death down a flight of stairs before going on a "huge massacre" in New York and dug up his mother's grave before being thrown into Ryker's maximum security penitentiary (the Marvel Comics version of Rikers Island), where he managed to kill another 11 people.
As if those things weren't enough, Eddie notes that Kasady killed his mother's dog with a drill and pushed a girl who rejected him in front of a bus, killing her. Kasady believes that "unpatterned bloodshed" is "the ultimate freedom."
However, there's no evidence Venom spawned in the movie and no indication any of the other symbiotes survived, so this post-credit scene feels tacked on as it sets up a forced plot thread for a sequel.
Scene 2: 'Meanwhile in another universe'
The second post-credits scene gives a comic book-style transition into a fun preview for Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (which got a big showcase at NYCC).
We see Miles Morales, that alternate universe's teen Spider-Man, in a kinetic chase with the Prowler. Then he visits the grave of original Spider-Man Peter Parker.
We get a preview of Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse.
Sony Pictures Animation
Miles is surprised by an older Peter and knocks him unconscious with his Venom Blast — one of Miles' unique powers. He finds that Peter webbed him before getting knocked out, so they're stuck together as cops happen upon the scene and chase them through the city.
What it means
The preview highlights the animated movie's humor and comic book style, in addition to revealing Sony's approach to its slate of Spider-Man Universe movies (which will be completely separate to the Marvel Cinematic Universe). Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse hits theaters on Dec. 14.
First published on Oct. 3 at 5 a.m. PT.
Updated on Oct. 15 at 9:20 a.m. PT: Adds details from Eddie's notebook.
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