'Marvel's Spider-Man 2' Explained: What Is the Black Suit (Harry Osborn)?

Peter Parker and Miles Morales aren’t alone in their mission to keep Marvel’s New York safe in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, with the symbiote-empowered Harry Osborn joining them both as a newly-minted hero. Harry Osborn, Peter’s best friend, was bonded to a mysterious symbiote in a desperate bid by his father Norman Osborn to save him from a terminal medical condition. However, while the symbiote might allow Harry to save the day alongside Peter, it holds a dark secret that will plunge the city into chaos and test Peter and Miles like never before.

Here is everything you need to know about Black Suit Harry Osborn, including how his debut was teased before Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, his impact in the acclaimed PlayStation 5 game, and how it compares to his history in the comics.

Black Suit Harry Osborn Before Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

At the start of Marvel’s Spider-Man, Peter and Mary Jane Watson were led to believe that Harry was busy working for Oscorp in Europe, having not seen their friend in some time. It was revealed that Norman was secretly keeping his son in a medically induced stasis, hidden away in Oscorp Tower, with the symbiote bonded to Harry and keeping his terminal condition in remission.

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales provided only a brief update on Harry and the symbiote. At the end of the game, Harry and the symbiote began to emerge from their stasis as Norman and Harry’s attending physician Curt Connors watched. Despite Connors’ warnings, Norman ordered that his son be revived, setting the stage for both to play a major role in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.

The Black Suit (Harry Osborn)’s Role in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

The truth behind Harry’s bond to the Venom symbiote emerges when Kraven’s hunters attacked Coney Island to capture the reformed villain Tombstone and bring him back as a challenge for their boss. The ensuing battle endangers countless civilians on the scene, and Peter quickly finds himself overwhelmed by both the attacking enemies and innocent bystanders to rescue. Just when it appears Peter can’t save people trapped on a plummeting rollercoaster, Harry appears in the nick of time and uses the symbiote to create powerful tentacles that give Peter the crucial help he needs to save everyone from immediate harm, learning Peter is Spider-Man in the process.

Harry admits that it is the symbiote, manifesting as a black exosuit, that stabilized his condition and gives him superhuman abilities, including strength. Inspired by his friend’s example, Harry helps Peter fight Kraven’s hunters, with the exosuit taking on an armored appearance whenever Harry finds himself in dangerous situations. However, when Peter is mortally wounded in a fight with Kraven, the symbiote leaves Harry and bonds with Peter to save his life, causing a resurgence in Harry’s terminal condition, with his health rapidly deteriorating from the separation.

When the symbiote bonds to Peter, it begins to malevolently alter his personality, making him more prone to violent mood swings. After Peter eventually separates himself from the symbiote, he advises Harry to destroy it, only for Harry to re-bond with it instead. However, instead of the controlled return of Black Suit Harry Osborn, Harry endures a monstrous transformation into the out-of-control Venom, setting out to launch a whole symbiote invasion of the city.

Agent Venom in the Comics

Just as Venom is normally associated with Eddie Brock instead of Harry Osborn in the comics, this Black Suit appearance is more readily linked with Peter’s high school classmate Flash Thompson. Flash does get a passing mention in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 as an athlete attending the same high school as Peter and Harry, bullying the two of them and going as far as to break Harry’s laptop. In the comics, Flash’s history and association with the Venom symbiote is far more extensive and turbulent.

Flash served in the U.S. Army, leaving to serve his country in a war overseas and returning with his legs amputated below the knee from the grievous wounds he endured from fighting in Iraq. As part of an experimental military program, Flash was temporarily bonded with the Venom symbiote to go on secret missions around the world, with the bonding lasting less than 48 hours to prevent the symbiote’s influence from becoming permanent. Flash made his debut as Agent Venom in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1999) #654, with the symbiote not only restoring Flash’s legs but giving him an armored and masked appearance.

Throughout his time as Agent Venom, Flash embarked on many team-ups, including joining, at different times, the Secret Avengers, Thunderbolts, and the Guardians of the Galaxy. The Venom symbiote is eventually separated from Flash by the FBI when they deemed that he went rogue, with the symbiote returning to Eddie Brock. In the meantime, Flash bonded with the Anti-Venom symbiote to become the color inverted Agent Anti-Venom.

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