Photo Credit: Marvel
Venom is leaving behind its most famous host to bond with one of Marvel’s mightiest gods. The upcoming What If? issue reimagines the symbiote’s origin story with a powerful new partner who could reshape its entire legacy.
Venom picks Thor as his new host
Marvel’s upcoming What If? Thor #1 will explore what happens when Thor bonds with the Venom symbiote instead of Spider-Man, as ScreenRant exclusively revealed.
The book branches from Secret Wars #8, reimagining the symbiote’s origin with the God of Thunder as its host. Torunn Grønbekk writes the issue, with Sergio Davila providing interior art.
One of #Marvel’s most powerful characters has been given the chance to shape a symbiote in What If? Thor #1, and ScreenRant is pleased to bring fans an exclusive first look. ?Read More: https://t.co/jkqcSKTHov pic.twitter.com/ts2enOtjcW— ScreenRant (@screenrant) May 13, 2026
Grønbekk told ScreenRant the project offered exciting creative freedom. “What If? gives the creative team so much freedom, and getting the chance to reimagine Asgard and its princes while still staying true to the Thor fans know and love has been a real joy,” she said.
She also praised her artistic collaborator on the project. “Sergio Dávila was my first choice for this story. He has such a deep personal love and appreciation for Thor and the Asgardians, and that passion shines through on every single page,” Grønbekk added.
The issue is part of Marvel’s larger celebration of What If?’s 50th anniversary. In this alternate timeline, the symbiote never encounters Spider-Man at all. That means it avoids the anger and rejection that traditionally shaped its personality.
Grønbekk explained how this changes the symbiote’s trajectory entirely. “A lot of my initial work on this focused on how the symbiotes, as readers traditionally know them, were shaped by bonding with Spider-Man, which obviously never happens in our story,” she said. “So, figuring out how it would affect the symbiote was at least as interesting as how it would affect Thor.”
Thor and the symbiotes share a deep history in Marvel lore. Writer Donny Cates previously revealed a feud between Thor and Knull, the symbiotes’ dark god. However, Grønbekk confirmed readers will not need prior knowledge of that history.
What If? Thor #1 arrives June 17 from Marvel Comics.
