In Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Detective Patrick Mulligan, played by Stephen Graham, experiences a significant change. During the movie’s final act, he gets infected by the leftover symbiote from Carnage, portrayed by Woody Harrelson.
This detail is crucial for longtime Marvel fans who may recognize the connection to Toxin, another character in the comic books.
With Venom: The Last Dance set to release soon, and trailers hinting at Mulligan’s future, this is the perfect time to look closely at Toxin’s comic book history. Toxin first appeared in the early 2000s, and it seems likely he will be around for a long time after Venom’s third movie.
Toxin’s Birth in Marvel Comics
The character of Toxin was introduced to Marvel readers in 2004. This introduction happened when Carnage, a well-known villain in the Marvel universe, realized something shocking: he was pregnant.
In the symbiote world, which are sometimes called Klyntar (the name of their home planet), the creatures reproduce asexually. Just as Carnage is the child of Venom, Toxin is the child of Carnage. This makes Toxin the 1,000th symbiote in their unique “bloodline.”
In the Venom vs. Carnage limited series, Venom explains to readers that Carnage is terrified of Toxin. He fears that Toxin may be more powerful than he is.
Because of this fear, Carnage wants to kill Toxin. However, Venom has different plans. He wishes to “raise” Toxin as his new sidekick.
Unfortunately, things do not go smoothly. Patrick Mulligan, a New York police officer, gets in the way of Carnage’s plan. To keep Toxin away from Venom, Carnage forces the symbiote onto Mulligan.
Over time, Spider-Man helps Mulligan learn to control the Toxin symbiote. Mulligan has to make significant changes in his life because of this new reality. He leaves his job and family behind to figure out how to live with the symbiote inside him.
Toxin and Mulligan’s Struggles
In the 2005 Toxin miniseries, we follow Mulligan as he learns to work with Toxin. They begin to understand each other and team up to fight evil. Mulligan allows the symbiote to have two hours of “playtime” each night.
Still from Venom The Last Dance (Credit: Sony)
However, during this time, Toxin is not allowed to hurt anyone or commit any crimes. Mulligan struggles with his new life. There is a point when he even tries to commit suicide to escape the burden of having Toxin inside him.
Despite these challenges, Mulligan eventually accepts his role as Toxin’s host. This acceptance comes when he captures a man who killed his father.
After this moment, Mulligan tells Spider-Man that if he ever crosses the line and kills someone, Spider-Man should throw him in prison and forget about him. This statement shows Mulligan’s understanding of the danger he faces with the Toxin symbiote.
Later on, Mulligan returns home to his family. He reveals the truth about Toxin to them, hoping to heal the pain caused by his earlier decisions.
Mulligan’s family learns to accept him and Toxin. Things seem to be getting better for Mulligan and his family until tragedy strikes in 2011. At this point, Mulligan meets a terrible fate.
Tragedy Strikes: Mulligan’s Death
In Venom (Vol. 2), readers discover that Mulligan has been murdered. The Toxin symbiote is taken from him by a villain named Blackheart, who is known for being a foe of the Ghost Rider. Blackheart takes the symbiote to create his army of Symbiote Warriors, which also includes clones of X-23. Even though these creatures are eventually defeated, it comes at the cost of Mulligan’s life.
After Mulligan’s death, the Toxin symbiote bonds with Eddie Brock, who was the original host of the Venom symbiote. At this point, Brock has been rejected by Venom, who has found a new partner in Flash Thompson, a U.S. military agent known as Agent Venom. Brock and Toxin then plot to kill Venom. They work together on this plan until Thompson manages to convince Brock to abandon his violent thoughts.
In the Carnage (Vol. 2) series, Brock, as Toxin, begins to adopt the role of a hero. He becomes what is known as a “Lethal Protector.”
However, this heroic journey does not last long. Toxin sacrifices himself during a battle against a powerful demon named Chthon in issue #16 of the series. This sacrifice marks a significant moment in Toxin’s story, showcasing his growth from a confused character to a selfless hero.
Toxin’s Return to the Marvel Universe
The next major chapter for Toxin comes a few years later during the King in Black storyline. This arc features Knull, a major figure in the symbiote lore. At this time, many people, including Brock and the readers, thought Toxin had been destroyed. However, it turns out that the Toxin symbiote was left weak but alive.
After a long period of trying to regain its strength, Toxin bonds with a teenage boy named Bren Waters. This bonding occurs in King in Black: Planet of the Symbiotes #3.
When Bren transforms into Toxin, he takes on an adult appearance similar to how Toxin looked when bonded with Mulligan and Brock. Together, Bren and Toxin work to battle evil during the Extreme Carnage storyline.
They also team up with other symbiote heroes, such as Flash Thompson, who now goes by Agent Anti-Venom, Andi Benton, known as Silence, and Eddie Brock, who has since rejoined with Venom.
Throughout these adventures, Toxin appears to feel most comfortable with Bren compared to his previous hosts, Mulligan or Brock. Each of his hosts has found a way to accept the symbiote, but Bren and Toxin seem to have a special bond. Toxin becomes a part of Bren’s life, and they face the challenges of being a symbiote hero together.
Toxin’s Last Known Appearance
Toxin’s last appearance to date is in Venom (Vol. 5) #28. In this issue, Toxin saves Bren’s life. However, after this act of heroism, Toxin becomes dormant and unresponsive within him. This condition leaves readers wondering about the future of Toxin in the Marvel universe.
Toxin’s journey from being the child of Carnage to a potential hero alongside Bren Waters shows the growth and evolution of symbiotes in the Marvel comics. His story touches on themes of acceptance, struggle, and redemption.
Mulligan’s character faced immense challenges as he tried to manage life with the Toxin symbiote. He had to learn to balance his responsibilities as a father and a police officer while dealing with the dangers that came from having a powerful creature inside him.
As Marvel fans await the release of Venom: The Last Dance, there is excitement surrounding Toxin’s future in the cinematic universe. Will Mulligan return? What role will Bren play in the upcoming story? The trailers hint at more action and drama for these characters, leading to many questions about how Toxin will fit into this narrative.
Fans of the comics will remember Toxin as a character with deep ties to Carnage and Venom. His history shows a complicated web of relationships and conflicts that make his story rich and engaging. Whether he is a hero or a tragic figure, Toxin represents the complexity of symbiotes in the Marvel world.
As we look forward to more stories featuring Toxin, it’s clear that this character has made a significant impact in the comic book universe. His journey reflects the themes of identity and transformation, making him a compelling figure for both readers and viewers alike.
Toxin’s Legacy in Comics
Toxin’s legacy in the Marvel universe continues to grow. His character has shown resilience, strength, and the ability to adapt in the face of adversity.
With the possibility of new stories and developments on the horizon, fans can be sure that Toxin will play an important role in the future of the Marvel cinematic universe.
Still from Venom The Last Dance (Credit: Sony)
As the story unfolds, audiences will be eager to see how Toxin’s character evolves and how he fits into the larger narrative of the Venom franchise.
As we watch the latest films and read the comic books, Toxin stands as a reminder of the ever-changing nature of heroes and villains in the Marvel universe.
His journey from the offspring of Carnage to a character with his own story is a testament to the depth and creativity present in comic book storytelling.
Just when it seemed like Agatha All Along couldn’t surprise us anymore, the latest episode did just that. Episode 7, titled “Death’s Hand in Mine,” brought many fans’ long-time guesses to life and hit us hard emotionally.
The episode revealed that Aubrey Plaza’s character is the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) version of Death, and this adds a huge level of excitement as we head into the last two episodes.
While the shocking revelation about Aubrey Plaza’s character is a major part of this episode, what really makes it unique is how it tells its story. The episode mainly focuses on Lilia (played by Patti LuPone) and tells her story in a non-linear fashion, meaning things don’t happen in order.
This way of storytelling gives us a deeper understanding of Lilia’s mind and why her thoughts have seemed so messy and chaotic throughout the show.
Lilia’s Vision and Unique Relationship with Time Unfold
Lilia has been one of the more difficult characters to understand in Agatha All Along. Unlike her villainous comic book counterpart, who was more straightforwardly evil, Lilia in the series shows more empathy. She is not as chaotic as Aubrey Plaza’s Rio character and seems more reasonable than some of the other witches in Agatha’s makeshift coven.
Still, Lilia struggles with being fully present, and her mind often seems to wander. Since her introduction in Episode 2, viewers have noticed this, especially when she suddenly starts screaming during a conversation with Agatha and Teen (played by Joe Locke). From then on, we see Lilia facing increasingly disruptive visions, especially as the coven journeys down the Witches’ Road.
Her visions, though jarring, seem fitting for someone with the ability to see the future. But in Episode 7, we finally learn that these visions are not just about seeing the future; they come from the way Lilia experiences time itself. Lilia explains her unusual relationship with time during one of the most intense moments of the episode.
While she is fleeing from the Salem Seven, Lilia tries to piece together past conversations she had with Jennifer Kale (played by Sasheer Zamata) that she can’t seem to remember clearly.
She finally admits that she doesn’t experience time in a straightforward way like most people do. Instead, her mind jumps between moments of her life, moving out of order. She describes these moments as “gaps” where she experiences flashes from her past or even the future.
Still from Agatha All Along (Credit: Disney)
This isn’t something new for Lilia. She reveals that, as a child, she started having these gaps but decided to suppress them because they were too painful and confusing.
However, throughout Episode 7, these gaps return more frequently, and by the end of the episode, it’s clear that they have a deeper significance. Lilia’s increasingly frequent gaps are a sign of something much more tragic—her own eventual sacrifice.
Lilia’s Journey Through Time: A Deeper Look
As Episode 7 unfolds, we are taken through different key moments in Lilia’s life. The storytelling jumps between several important events: Lilia’s trial with the coven’s Tarot cards, her time spent with Jennifer Kale under the Witches’ Road, and lessons from her Italian upbringing, which were first hinted at in Episode 3.
This back-and-forth between moments paints a picture of who Lilia truly is and helps us better understand why her mind works the way it does. Lilia’s struggle to stay present is linked to her ability to experience time differently from others. Her mind doesn’t stay fixed in the current moment, which is why she often seems distant or confused.
One of the most emotional parts of the episode comes when Lilia talks about these gaps in her life. She explains that she started suppressing these gaps after a traumatic series of events in her childhood. The visions were too much for her to handle as a young girl, so she forced herself to stop experiencing them.
But now, these gaps are happening more frequently, and it becomes clear that Lilia is not just someone who is controlled by these experiences—she actually has control over them, making her one of the most powerful members of Agatha’s coven.
In earlier episodes, we saw hints that Lilia had untapped potential. For instance, in Episode 6, it was revealed that Lilia was the one who put a sigil on Billy Maximoff (Joe Locke), protecting him. This gave viewers a clue that Lilia’s abilities went beyond the visions she was having.
But it isn’t until Episode 7 that we truly understand the depth of her powers. Lilia’s gaps in time aren’t just random events happening to her. They are a reflection of her command over time itself. This control makes her much stronger than anyone, including her fellow witches, ever thought she was.
Lilia’s Power and the Emotional Weight of Episode 7
Lilia’s ability to control time adds an emotional depth to her character that was not fully seen until this episode. Her unique power comes with a heavy price, as it makes her more aware of the tragedies that are coming. At the same time, her power gives her the ability to glimpse future events that other witches cannot see.
One of the most heartbreaking moments in the episode is Lilia’s final Tarot reading. During this reading, she sees a vision of Agatha standing over Billy Maximoff in the future.
This is a clear sign that something tragic is about to happen. Lilia’s ability to see this painful future adds a sense of urgency and sadness to the episode because she knows what’s coming and has no way to prevent it.
At the same time, the episode shows how Lilia’s power has caused her even more personal pain. Her flashbacks to her time in Italy remind her of people she lost to a plague, a memory that still haunts her. In another heartbreaking moment, Lilia tries to use her powers to save Alice Wu-Gulliver (played by Ali Ahn), who died earlier in the series during Episode 5.
But despite her efforts, Lilia is not able to change the past. These moments show the limits of her power and how much it hurts her to see the people she loves suffer without being able to help them.
The Beauty in Lilia’s Gift and Her Final Sacrifice
Although Lilia’s power causes her a lot of pain, there is also beauty in it. Episode 7 shows that time is not just a source of tragedy for Lilia. It is also a gift. The episode ends by showing us the beginning of Lilia’s lessons in the past, hinting that time is something fluid, something that continues.
Still from Agatha All Along (Credit: Disney)
In a way, this brings hope, as it suggests that Lilia’s experiences, both good and bad, are part of a larger journey that continues beyond the present moment.
In her final moments, Lilia makes a significant sacrifice. She decides to use her newfound command over time to help Agatha. Before Lilia sacrifices herself to stop the Salem Seven, she warns Agatha, saying, “When she calls you a coward, hit the deck.” This cryptic message will likely make more sense in future episodes, but it shows that Lilia is using her powers for good, even in her final moments.
Lilia’s decision to sacrifice herself adds another layer of emotion to the episode. Her character’s personal growth, combined with the non-linear storytelling, makes Episode 7 one of the most powerful and innovative episodes in the series so far. Lilia’s journey through time, her ability to see both the good and the bad, and her willingness to make a sacrifice all contribute to making this episode stand out.
What’s Next for Agatha All Along?
With only two episodes left, it’s clear that the stakes are higher than ever. Lilia’s death and Aubrey Plaza’s character being revealed as Death suggest that the series is heading toward an intense and emotional conclusion. Fans are eager to see how Agatha will deal with the challenges ahead, especially after Lilia’s warning and sacrifice.
Lilia’s sacrifice is bound to play a key role in how the story moves forward. There are still many questions left unanswered, such as what will happen to Billy Maximoff and how Agatha’s journey will unfold.
Will Agatha find a way to honor Lilia’s sacrifice and use her powers to defeat the Salem Seven? Or will Lilia’s death have a more lasting impact on the coven and the story as a whole?
Whatever happens next, one thing is clear: Agatha All Along has proven itself to be a series that isn’t afraid to take risks. From its innovative storytelling to its deep emotional moments, the show continues to surprise and engage viewers with every episode.
Lilia’s story, in particular, has added a rich layer of complexity to the series, showing us that even the most mysterious and misunderstood characters can become some of the most powerful and important players in the story.
As the series approaches its finale, fans can expect more shocking moments and emotional twists. Lilia’s story may have come to an end, but her impact on the coven and the series will be felt for episodes to come. Agatha All Along is available to stream on Disney+ in the U.S.
