NYCC ‘25: “Spider-Man and his Venomous Friends” panel unveils some symbiote announcements

At the Spider-Man and His Venomous Friends panel in New York Comic Con 2025, a lot of cheers were had when all the new Spidey and Venomy announcements took place.

Joining in on the host mic, while donning some multi-layered spider-threads, was Marvel Comics VP and executive editor Nick Lowe, along with senior editor Jordan D. White, editor-in-chief C.B. Cebulski, and writers Al Ewing, Joe Kelly, Stephanie Phillips, and Charles Soule.

The team behind the web slinger’s line of books revealed what’s next for Spidey and his extended cast of allies, with first looks at the new Amazing Spider-Man comics line, All-New Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider, and the numerous Venom/symbiote tales. The biggest reveals? 

Amazing Spider-Man

Writer Joe Kelly unveiled stories up to Amazing Spider-Man #20 and pretty much nailed the tone for the line’s upcoming issues:

“Last year we talked about crazy stuff coming to the pipeline. We have a Spider-Man in space and a Spider-Man on Earth”.

The current run sees Spider-Man in space, as Peter is now lost in the cosmos after losing a battle to Hellgate. There were promises in the panel of a new character, along with a Rocket Raccoon appearance, while Peter tries to find a way home.

Elsewhere, Spider-Man on Earth (Norman Osborne) is learning to deal with the ramifications of taking on the mantle. We see repurposed Spider-slayers and more as the line’s going on back-and-forth against odd-numbered Peter stories versus Norman’s even numbers.

The one factor both never took in: how all of this affects/infuriates a third Spider-Man, Ben Riley, in what’s a bit of a teaser of what’s to come. There’ll also be a new Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 in January.

All-New Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider

The very much beloved All-New Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider run written by Stephanie Phillips highlights Gwen’s love of punk and her longing to start a new punk band in 616. 

Panel attendees were able to vote for the name of her new band by cheering, with the loudest cheers taking the win. Per the vote, Gwen’s new band will be called Threadbare, with Silk joining in as bassist and a new lead singer arriving in issues #5–6. As to how Silk learns bass? YouTube videos.

Part of the appeal of the story has been Gwen’s suits, and it was revealed that she’ll not just be adapting a new costume, but will now be facing her old symbiote suit, now named Tantrum. Self-proclaimed as her greatest foe. The villain, who was once a part of her, will be an enemy who feeds on Gwen’s internal anger—conflict made manifest.

All the Venomy News

Madame Masque is promised to bring on the full might of A.I.M. against Venom in the upcoming issue #23.

Meanwhile, Charles Soule shared what’s going to happen with Eddie Brock: Carnage. He reflected on Eddie’s addiction to needing a symbiote, plus blatant martyr syndrome in feeling like only he can quell Carnage’s bloodlust, and how all of this is a metaphor for real-life addiction. Eddie and Carnage have compromised by only promising to only kill serial murderers in what’s become one of the more interesting Venom stories of late.

All of this is leading to the biggest event: a nine-part crossover in Amazing Spider-Man/Venom: Death Spiral, starting with a one-shot by Joe Kelly and Al Ewing. The arc is meant to tie together the stories of Peter, MJ, Eddie, and the Venom/Carnage lines in yet another symbiote crossover. 

Meanwhile, Al Ewing announced the Queen in Black for summer 2026. Featuring Hela and Knull, he gave us a hint at the panel of what to expect:

“When you get to cosmic forces on the level of Knull and Hela, there’s going to be stuff caught in the crossover — for instance, the entire planet Earth.”

Stay tuned to The Beat for more coverage from NYCC ’25.