Xenophage
Encyclopedia
For the videogame of the same name, see: Xenophage: Alien Bloodsport
.
The Xenophage (also known as the Phage) is a giant, sentient
intelligent alien
monster
, a comic book
supervillain
of the Marvel Universe
, and an enemy of Venom
. Its first appearance was in issue #1 of Venom the Hunted but didn't appear fully until issue #2.
The Xenophage as a species have metamorphic abilities; like the symbiotes, they can change their shape, size, and texture. The Xenophage that stalked Venom was able to convincingly disguise itself as a China cabinet, complete with dishes and glass. Moreover, it was able to hide the entire mass of an incapacitated Scream
within its bulk. Besides their huge size and superior strength, Xenophages also have the ability to breathe a certain kind of fiery chemical which causes symbiotes to become paralyzed
, as well as "enhancing the flavor".
Xenophage's main diet consists of alien symbiotes
, though it will eat other things (such as human children) when on the brink of starvation. The first Xenophage to appear, ate several unnamed symbiotes and their hosts left over from the "Planet of the Symbiotes" storyline. Because it would typically eat the brain
s of its victims, the authorities attributed this spree of killings to Venom, and thus concentrated their efforts in bringing him to justice. In the final confrontation of the Venom: The Hunted miniseries, the Xenophage severely injured Scream
and attempted to eat a group of skateboarders, before being slain by Venom when he tricked it into eating a white phosphorus grenade
. More of the same species
would appear on Earth
attempting to locate their specialized foodstuffs.
This highly specialized diet has led some to speculate that these monsters were actually engineered
by some other alien species (such as the Spider-robots of Bob and The Suit's species from the 2003 Venom series) to keep the symbiote population under control. Venom and Scream have fought Xenophages on numerous occasions. Wolverine
has fought a Xenophage as well, after one ate Scream and Jubilee
; Venom and Wolverine had to literally rip the Xenophage open in order to save their allies.
Xenophage: Alien Bloodsport
Xenophage: Alien Bloodsport is a fighting game written for DOS, by Apogee Software . It was originally released as shareware....
.
Sentience
Sentience is the ability to feel, perceive or be conscious, or to have subjective experiences. Eighteenth century philosophers used the concept to distinguish the ability to think from the ability to feel . In modern western philosophy, sentience is the ability to have sensations or experiences...
intelligent alien
Extraterrestrial life in popular culture
In popular cultures, "extraterrestrials" are life forms — especially intelligent life forms— that are of extraterrestrial origin .-Historical ideas:-Pre-modern:...
monster
Monster
A monster is any fictional creature, usually found in legends or horror fiction, that is somewhat hideous and may produce physical harm or mental fear by either its appearance or its actions...
, a comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
supervillain
Supervillain
A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the villain character type, commonly found in comic books, action movies and science fiction in various media.They are sometimes used as foils to superheroes and other fictional heroes...
of the Marvel Universe
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
, and an enemy of Venom
Venom (comics)
Eddie Brock is a fictional character created by David Michelinie and Todd McFarlane. A comic book supervillain, Brock's earliest appearance is a cameo in Web of Spider-Man #18 before making his first full appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #299 as Venom...
. Its first appearance was in issue #1 of Venom the Hunted but didn't appear fully until issue #2.
The Xenophage as a species have metamorphic abilities; like the symbiotes, they can change their shape, size, and texture. The Xenophage that stalked Venom was able to convincingly disguise itself as a China cabinet, complete with dishes and glass. Moreover, it was able to hide the entire mass of an incapacitated Scream
Scream (comics)
Scream is a fictional supervillainess from the Spider-Man comic book series. She is one of six symbiote spawns of Venom.-Fictional character biography:...
within its bulk. Besides their huge size and superior strength, Xenophages also have the ability to breathe a certain kind of fiery chemical which causes symbiotes to become paralyzed
Paralysis
Paralysis is loss of muscle function for one or more muscles. Paralysis can be accompanied by a loss of feeling in the affected area if there is sensory damage as well as motor. A study conducted by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, suggests that about 1 in 50 people have been diagnosed...
, as well as "enhancing the flavor".
Xenophage's main diet consists of alien symbiotes
Symbiote (comics)
In the Marvel Comics universe, The Symbiote is a specific parasitic species of extraterrestrial organism...
, though it will eat other things (such as human children) when on the brink of starvation. The first Xenophage to appear, ate several unnamed symbiotes and their hosts left over from the "Planet of the Symbiotes" storyline. Because it would typically eat the brain
Brain
The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals—only a few primitive invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, sea squirts and starfishes do not have one. It is located in the head, usually close to primary sensory apparatus such as vision, hearing,...
s of its victims, the authorities attributed this spree of killings to Venom, and thus concentrated their efforts in bringing him to justice. In the final confrontation of the Venom: The Hunted miniseries, the Xenophage severely injured Scream
Scream (comics)
Scream is a fictional supervillainess from the Spider-Man comic book series. She is one of six symbiote spawns of Venom.-Fictional character biography:...
and attempted to eat a group of skateboarders, before being slain by Venom when he tricked it into eating a white phosphorus grenade
Grenade
A grenade is a small explosive device that is projected a safe distance away by its user. Soldiers called grenadiers specialize in the use of grenades. The term hand grenade refers any grenade designed to be hand thrown. Grenade Launchers are firearms designed to fire explosive projectile grenades...
. More of the same species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
would appear on Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
attempting to locate their specialized foodstuffs.
This highly specialized diet has led some to speculate that these monsters were actually engineered
Genetic engineering
Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification, is the direct human manipulation of an organism's genome using modern DNA technology. It involves the introduction of foreign DNA or synthetic genes into the organism of interest...
by some other alien species (such as the Spider-robots of Bob and The Suit's species from the 2003 Venom series) to keep the symbiote population under control. Venom and Scream have fought Xenophages on numerous occasions. Wolverine
Wolverine (comics)
Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...
has fought a Xenophage as well, after one ate Scream and Jubilee
Jubilee (comics)
Jubilation "Jubilee" Lee is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superheroine associated with the X-Men.A mutant, Jubilee had the superhuman power to generate "fireworks" of explosive plasma. A teenage "mall rat," she was the X-Men's youngest member in the early 1990s, often playing sidekick to...
; Venom and Wolverine had to literally rip the Xenophage open in order to save their allies.