AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR opens this week. The embargo on reviews lifts this evening. However, we all know what the real news is this week. VENOM!!!!

That’s right! The symbiote powered sometimes good but mostly bad guy (or at least HE SHOULD BE!). The film stars Tom Hardy, one of the most likable men around—behind Miles Teller of course—as the titular villain or anti-hero (ugh!). While some details are known about the film, a lot of remains in the dark. So let’s speculate about how could fight Venom, shall we?

Seven Characters who Could Be the Opponent/Antagonist for Venom in VENOM

Carnage's greatest moment is when Spider-Man said, "Your reign of terror ends here," and Carnage replied, "Rain? We're talking hail, baby!"

1.) Carnage- This is a dumb idea, but no one asks me anything. Plus Carnage is hella COOL and RAD because he like totally murders but doesn’t care and looks like blood and YEAH!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, Carnage is actually Cletus Kasady, a serial killer who was Eddie Brock’s (Venom’s human host) cellmate. When the symbiote broke Eddie out, it left behind some material that bonded with Kasady to create another symbiote sitch! But Kasady was a sociopath so this symbiote was like totally way more wicked!

The Scarlet Spiders refuse to get along (tmsmash.com)

2.) Scarlet Spider- We already know that Spider-Man won’t be in VENOM. But what about Ben Reilly, Spider-Man’s clone. Or Kaine, Spider-Man’s other clone. They both fought/fight crime under the identity of Scarlet Spider. Can you say loophole?!

It is pretty much a way to beat the rules and still have the classic Spidey-Venom face-off. It is an infinitely better choice than Carnage although far less likely.

3.) Steel Spider- Almost no one remembers this Spider-Man obsessive turned Spider-Boy turned gritty hero Steel Spider. But I do! We get to beat the system with a Spider fight here and we don’t even have to mess with Parker’s DNA. I think he has a pretty neat look too.

"Party on, Shriek!" "Party on Doppleganger!" (pinterest.com)

4.) Shriek- While I never found Shriek a particular compelling villain in the comics, I think she could be an interesting antagonist for Venom. For one, she has the same basic color scheme and given that Venom is a villain or anti-hero (ugh) it is a nice use of color to make the “we are not so different, you and I” point.
For another, Shriek has two powers, fear and sonics. The symbiote is weak to sonics. Imagine a villain who can strip the alien suit off of Brock and then subject him to hallucinations of his worst fears. Cool idea, right? Plus another legit woman villain in super hero movies is never a bad thing.

I confess the entirely yellow version of the costume might not work great on-screen. (youtube.com)

5.) Firestar- She has a connection to Spider-Man (via the old Amazing Friends cartoon) and she has the ability to start fires via her microwave powers and Venom is, I don’t know, allergic to fire. I mean, even more so than the rest of us.

Also, again, a woman. More women in comic book movies dammit! Also Firestar is a “pure” hero as opposed to a villain or anti-hero (ugh). Therefore you can get the juxtaposition between Venom’s version of justice and a more common form.

Strictly speaking, that's not the role of a jury. Just saying. (comicvine.com)

6.) The Jury- This is hard to pull off in the first movie, but honestly, the one I’d most want to see. The Jury is a collection of people who suffered because of the actions of Venom, usually via the death of family members.
They have donned battle suits (think Iron Man but with more spikes and cool stuff) and are seeking to take their vengeance on the villain or anti-hero (ugh). It could introduce some complex questions about the nature of heroism, of seeking justice for personal reasons, and of the possibility of redemption and/or rehabilitation.

Jeez, Ven, you're dripping ketcup on everything! (heroichollywood.com)

7.) Himself- As we all know, there is not greater antagonist then the self-critical voice that dwells within us all.