A darkness has awakened in Eddie Brock's alien symbiote, in recent weeks, it has been difficult to control and has even disobeyed its human host. During an inadvertent conflict wit the villainous Jack O'Latern, the symbiote became exceptionally violent and spoke aloud in a language Eddie has never heard before. Only after being ambushed by a man names REX STRICKLAND did Venom learn that truth - that his symbiote was not the first to land on Earth.REX, a former soldier, revealed that S.H.I.E.L.D. had discovered an ancient symbiote creature years ago, along with the other men in his platoon, he volunteered to receive a small sample of it. But when Venom staged a daring rescue to save REX'S squad-mates from S.H.I.E.L.D. custody, he found that the men REX once knew were all dead - completely consumed be their symbiotes and guarding something much, much worse.