Spider-Man: Brand New Day's Scorpion Isn't His Final Form! In Comics, He Later Becomes 'Venom'—True Powers Revealed

Since the release of 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' (Spider-Man: Brand New Day), the long-absent villain 'Scorpion,' Mac Gargan, has sparked renewed discussion. Michael Mando, who portrays him, recently revealed that the film's version may only represent the 'first stage' of the character's potential, with even his so-called 'Venom ultimate form' possible in the future.

This claim is actually supported by Marvel comics. In the original storyline, Mac Gargan truly abandoned his Scorpion identity, bonded with an alien symbiote to become 'Venom,' and even impersonated Spider-Man for a time.

Who is the Scorpion in 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day'? He First Appeared in 'Spider-Man: Homecoming'

Mac Gargan isn't a brand-new character introduced solely in 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day.'

Michael Mando previously portrayed this criminal in the 2017 film 'Spider-Man: Homecoming,' where he attempted a weapons deal with the Vulture's crew, only to be stopped by Spider-Man. At the film's end, he was seen in prison meeting the Vulture, trying to uncover Spider-Man's true identity—laying the groundwork for their ongoing feud.

Now, years later, this long-dormant storyline has finally resumed.

Meanwhile, the comic version of Mac Gargan has an even longer history. Marvel officially lists Scorpion's first appearance in 'The Amazing Spider-Man' #20 (1965). At the time, he was a private investigator hired by Daily Bugle publisher J. Jonah Jameson to tail Peter Parker and uncover how this high school student always obtained exclusive Spider-Man photos.

But Jameson soon took more extreme measures.

How Was Scorpion Created? Jameson Funds the Creation of a 'Stronger-Than-Spider-Man' Warrior

To combat his intensely disliked Spider-Man, Jameson enlisted scientist Farley Stillwell, funding experiments on Mac Gargan to create a super-powered being capable of overpowering Spider-Man.

The experiment aimed to transplant scorpion-like abilities into Gargan, granting him superhuman strength, paired with a scorpion-themed battle suit and a massive mechanical tail—thus, 'Scorpion' was born.

However, the experiment also affected Gargan's mental state. He quickly lost control, failing to obediently eliminate Spider-Man for Jameson, and instead became one of Spider-Man's long-standing dangerous adversaries.

Ironically, Jameson intended to create a warrior strong enough to suppress Spider-Man, and Gargan did briefly achieve that strength.

How Strong Is Scorpion's True Power? He Once Outmatched Spider-Man in Strength

Scorpion is not merely a 'normal human in mechanical armor.'

Marvel's official data indicates that post-experiment Mac Gargan gained astonishing physical abilities—his speed nearly matching Spider-Man's, and his strength even surpassing it at times. From his debut, he was designed as an enemy specifically to overpower Spider-Man.

Coupled with his signature mechanical scorpion tail, he became even more formidable in close combat. The tail could strike at high speed and launch surprise attacks from behind or Spider-Man's blind spots. Different comic eras even equipped it with various enhanced functions.

Yet, this still isn't Mac Gargan's most terrifying form.

Because years later, he acquired a weapon far more dangerous than the Scorpion armor—the Venom symbiote.

Scorpion Later Becomes 'Venom'! Takes Over Eddie Brock's Symbiote

When fans think of 'Venom,' many immediately picture Eddie Brock as the host. However, in the comics, the Venom symbiote has had multiple hosts—and one of them was Mac Gargan.

In 'Marvel Knights Spider-Man' #9, the Venom symbiote actively sought out Mac Gargan, eventually bonding with him, transforming the original Scorpion into the new Venom. Marvel officially lists Gargan as one of Venom's key hosts.

What makes this combination particularly dangerous is that Gargan's body was already enhanced by the Scorpion experiment before bonding with the symbiote.

Now,叠加 the symbiote's strength, durability, and shapeshifting abilities, it effectively merges the traits of two of Spider-Man's iconic enemies—'Scorpion' and 'Venom'—into a single character.

How Terrifying Is Mac Gargan's Venom? He Can Even 'Recreate' the Scorpion Tail

After bonding with the symbiote, Gargan isn't just wearing a black suit.

The symbiote greatly enhances the host's physical abilities and can alter its own shape. Marvel's official character profile notes that after becoming Venom, Gargan can use the symbiote to form massive teeth, claws, and even generate a flexible spiked tail—allowing him to retain the Scorpion's most iconic attack method even without his original armor.

As a result, Gargan's Venom form sometimes appears even more monstrous than Eddie Brock's.

While Eddie Brock gradually developed a moral code and even became an anti-hero multiple times, Mac Gargan was already a dangerous criminal, and the symbiote amplified his violent tendencies—making his Venom form often appear brutal and uncontrollable.

His Peak Isn't Venom! He Later Even 'Became Spider-Man'

Mac Gargan's comic journey doesn't end here.

Even more shockingly, he later operated under the identity of 'Spider-Man' himself.

During the 'Dark Reign' era, Norman Osborn (the Green Goblin) seized power and formed his own 'Dark Avengers,' recruiting a team of villains to replace the public's beloved superheroes.

At the time, Mac Gargan—still a Venom host—was chemically controlled by Osborn, suppressing his massive, monstrous symbiote appearance to resemble a standard Spider-Man.

Ultimately, he joined the Dark Avengers as 'Spider-Man.'

Marvel's official retrospectives clearly state that the 'Spider-Man' in Osborn's newly announced Avengers lineup was, in fact, the former Scorpion, Mac Gargan.

In other words, this single character underwent an incredibly dramatic identity transformation:

First becoming Spider-Man's archenemy 'Scorpion,' then gaining the symbiote to become 'Venom,' and finally impersonating 'Spider-Man' himself.

Will 'Venom-Scorpion' Appear After 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day'? Michael Mando Hints

More intriguingly, this storyline—once known only to comic fans—is now gaining renewed speculation for cinematic adaptation thanks to 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day.'

In August 2026, Michael Mando told 'The Hollywood Reporter' about Scorpion's future, describing the version in 'Brand New Day' as only the 'first stage' of the character's potential, with two or three more layers ahead—including what he calls the 'Venom ultimate form.'

This statement drew attention precisely because it closely aligns with Mac Gargan's comic arc of 'becoming Venom.'

However, it cannot yet be concluded that the MCU has officially decided to follow this path. Mando was discussing potential character developments, not confirming official sequel plots.

Still, from a comic perspective, the Scorpion returning in 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' is far more than just an ordinary villain wielding a mechanical tail.

If the films ever follow the original storyline, the 'Scorpion' audiences see today might only be the starting point of Mac Gargan's evolutionary journey.