by Austin Temple

Created on: July 03, 2009

The moral choice here is Spiderman. People say Spiderman would win because he's the hero, simply put, we are psychologically trained to always believe that heroes, even fictional, can overcome villains. But instead of making this a 'good vs. evil' showdown, let's remove the overtones the comic book series has programmed us to believe, and think about it logically.

Spiderman has many abilities. Spider-sense, super strength, he can shoot webbing (artificially, according to original publications, he makes his own), and the ability to walk up walls and cling to surfaces. His reflexes are superior.

Though no matter how cool or effective Spiderman's powers are- Venom's are moreso. Venom, remember, is not a person, but a symbiote. It has been reincarnated in many forms, changing appearance (however slightly) with each new host. Since the symbiote once used Spiderman as a host, he has, and knows, all of Spiderman's powers. He also cancells out Spiderman's 'spider sense,' and therefore his ability to sense danger when Venom is in the area. The symbiote is faster and stronger than Spiderman, and with the addition of having all of Spiderman's powers, he also has a lesser-known ability.

The symbiote is telepathic. It telepathically communicates with it's hosts, but even more amazing, in the comic series the symbiote has been known to telepathically control humans even without a host. In "Planet of the Symbiotes" Venom telepathically causes humans to go into depression, and has also been shown causing mass suicides. Since Venom is telepathic, we must assume that he has direct access into hosts', and others', minds. Since he at one point used Spiderman as a host, their minds were connected. Venom understands everything about Peter Parker/Spiderman, and would realistically know how to combat his abilities.

Not convinced? Still believe that the morally righteous Spiderman would be victorious? Well, it is that last bit that would give Venom his overall victory. Venom, as a symbiote and not a human like Spiderman, is devoid of moral consciousness. Venom has the ability to do whatever damage, no matter how extensive, without any moral repercussions such as guilt. Coupled with his aforementioned ability to causes depression and suicide, Spiderman would have no choice but to surrender to Venom with a threat that could, and would, be carried out to the fullest extent.

Even assuming that it would come down to a fair fight, and that Venom would not use his telepathic powers to cause Spiderman himself to suicide (maybe he can not, we'll say) we must look at the abilities. ALL of Spiderman's powers and abilities belong to Venom, in a stronger reincarnated form. Venom understands how Spiderman battles, and would combat them effectively. Venom is more powerful than Spiderman in every way, which means in a realistic setting, Venom would be victorious.

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