Venom's Son Reveals Powerful New Design and Codename

Warning! Spoilers for Venom #259 ahead!

Eddie Brock's son Dylan is still a central player in Marvel's Venom lore, and ahead of a big storyline for the character, he just got a new design and a familiar nickname. Dylan is now the latest host of Toxin, one of the many symbiotes crawling around the Marvel Universe. It's a major upgrade for the character, but will it stick?

Dylan Brock previously spent time with the Venom symbiote, just like his father. And he's expressed his desire to reunite with the alien and return to fighting crime. But currently, Venom is bonded with Mary Jane Watson, and it seems like they're clicking as a unit. Complicating matters is the fact that MJ has been acting as a surrogate parental figure for Dylan.

Now, in Venom #259, Dylan finds himself empowered once more. This time, as Toxin, pairing with a symbiote with a Marvel history nearly as complicated as its progenitors, Carnage and Venom. Whether Dylan and Toxin have a long-term future ahead, that's TBD.

First, Dylan will have to reckon with his father Eddie's complicated place in Marvel lore once more. And whether he'll come out of the other side of this ordeal still bonded to Toxin is an open question.

Eddie Brock's Son Dylan Is Now Marvel's New "Toxin"

One Of Many Big Moments In Venom #259; Written By Al Ewing, Art By Carlos Gómez

Marvel's symbiote shuffle strikes again. Venom #259 is a big issue. It continues to solidify the Venom/Mary Jane combo, for one thing. And then it caps things off by having Toxin eagerly bond with Dylan Brock. Whether that's a good thing or not, time will tell, but Dylan does look thoroughly heroic at the end of the issue, in his new gear.

As Toxin, Dylan's look is a riff on the classic Spider-hero colors of blue, red, and black. The spider-logo is in black on his chest, while Toxin takes on an armored look to cover the rest of its host, mainly red with blue accents. Including a blue face shield. "Cool," Dylan says, and the cat-like symbiote Sleeper, another "child" of Venom, agrees: "Very cool."

Dylan Brock has had a turbulent couple years, and it doesn't seem like that rollercoaster is going to stop anytime soon. At least he will be better equipped, in a literal sense, to fight his upcoming battles. But he still also has to face the traumatic toll of recent events, including the death of Mary Jane Watson's ex-boyfriend, Paul Rabin, which Dylan blames himself for. And following his transformation into Toxin in Venom #259, Dylan is poised to get the spotlight in the next issue.

Dylan Brock Reckons With His Future; How Does Toxin Factor In?

Venom #260, Coming In August 2026

Here's the synopsis for Venom #260:

Months ago, Dylan Brock was killed by Carnage — and granted an audience with the Eventuality, the ultimate iteration of his father. He asked five questions and he was given five answers — hints at a dark future waiting for him. Now that future is here...

That's a callback to a Venom storyline from a few years ago. (Months in continuity.) Longtime fans will be glad that some of the teasers Marvel threw out there for Dylan's future are being returned too and addressed, but how his new role as Toxin fits into that is unclear. Still, author Al Ewing is known for spinning a lot of plates, and it's safe to assume there's a plan at play.

The cover for Venom #260 does show Dylan as Venom from his time with the symbiote; the issue itself is likely to contain flashbacks to that era. Perhaps the goal of the issue is to tie up loose ends for the character, so that he can start his next chapter as Toxin.

Venom #260 and the next several issues are also part of the larger "Queen in Black" storyline, which could dramatically upend Marvel's symbiote paradigm once more. And while readers are rooting for Mary Jane and Venom to stay together, remember, Eddie Brock is still out there, and it seems inevitable he'll come calling for the symbiote again at some point. And where will Dylan, and whatever symbiote he's bonded to at the time, stand then?

Venom #259 is available now from Marvel Comics!

Sound off, Marvel readers. Dylan Brock as Toxin, yay or nay?