Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Venom War #3!TheFantastic Fourare Marvel’s First Family, meaning they have ties to practically every character in the Marvel Universe, no matter how seemingly insignificant. One particularly noteworthy is someone the Fantastic Four have known since the start of their superheroing careers, and while he was a powerless ally for more than 60 years, he finally gets his own superpowers.
In a preview forVenom War#3 by Al Ewing and Iban Coello, the zombiotes are attacking New York City, and no one is safe, not even the Fantastic Four’s oldest ally: Willie Lumpkin aka the Fantastic Four’s mailman.
Willie Lumpkin is standing in the streets of New York in full uniform, making his rounds as he’s done dutifully for decades, when he’s suddenly attacked by a zombiote. These ‘zombie-symbiotes’ (that infect anyone they bite) have been unleashed byMeridius, a corrupted future version of Eddie Brock. Meridius plans to conquer the world, and this is how he’s doing it inthe ongoingVenom War. Now, Willie Lumpkin is the latest victim in this hellish war, and while he’s become a mindless symbiote monster, he does get some pretty sweet ‘Venom’ powers as a result.
The Fantastic Four’s Mailman, Willie Lumpkin, Becomes a Venom-Powered Zombiote
Willie Lumpkin Finally has Superpowers of His Own (but Maybe Not for Long)
In the final panel of this preview, the ‘Venomized’ Willie Lumpkin is attacking an innocent civilian, threatening to turn her into a zombiote. But, before he gets the chance to attack, he hears a voice call out from behind him, “Hey, mailman!”, and as he turns to look at who shouted at him, the preview ends. Was it Spider-Man, Daredevil, or the Fantastic Four who was coming to take down this newly-powered Willie Lumpkin? At this point, it’s anyone’s guess, but whoever it is may end Willie’s reign as Marvel’s newest superhuman right as it starts.
However, even if Willie Lumpkin is defeated by whoever this superhero is, he still won’t die - nor will he be permanently killed by the zombiote infection, either. InBlack Panther vs Deadpool#5, Willie is given something of a healing factor cocktail -the combined Star Cells and the cells taken from Deadpool’s body. Once introduced to his body, Willie became immortal. T’Challa promised he’d find a way to reverse his immortality, but hasn’t gotten around to it yet. So, Willie’s all good, and can flex his newfound superpowers without fear of getting killed in the process.
This Isn’t the First Time Willie Lumpkin has Been Wrapped Up in Spider-Man Lore
Willie Lumpkin Once Dated May Parker
While Willie Lumpkin might be most famous as the Fantastic Four’s mailman, he’s certainly been wrapped up inSpider-Manlore a few times. Back inThe Amazing Spider-Man#342, Willie asks out May Parker, and the two carry on a relationship for a fairly long time. The two eventually grew apart (probably just because the Marvel writers didn’t want to keep that side-story going), but it was a major part of Willie’s character arc. And now, Willie finds himself right in the middle ofSpider-Manlore all over again, only this time, the more horrific side of it.
Marvel’s Wild New Symbiote Team Give Venom Lore Its Own Avengers
Marvel hasn’t been great at creating symbiote teams - the individual characters tend to blend together - but now Venom lore has its very own Avengers!
Willie Lumpkin may not be the most notable Marvel Comics character, but he’s still a mainstay nonetheless. That’s why he’s been a consistent presence in the lives of Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four, why he was made immortal, and why he’s now the latest member of the zombiote horde. And with that horrific upgrade, theFantastic Four’s oldest ally finally gets his own superpowers.
Venom War #3by Marvel Comics is available June 03, 2025.
Fantastic Four (2022)
“WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE FANTASTIC FOUR?” It’s the start of a new era for the Fantastic Four…and they’re already in a ton of trouble. Something has gone terribly wrong in New York, and the Thing and Alicia are traveling across America to escape it! But when they stop in a small town for the night and wake up the morning before they arrived, they find themselves caught in a time loop that’s been going on since before they were born… That’s been going on since before they were born…
