Going by the issue itself, and everything covered here I'm going with that he's not deceased (does this matter in comics?) and just in character limbo until it's stated in full (likely in a Handbook update). It seems the direction, and logical one, that the writer is going is to fully secure Flash Thompson in the mantle of Venom in every necessary way, being for one by having Brock challenge him of course, and establishing that Brock has what it takes to do so, whereas Flash will win and prove himself worthy of the title, as opposed to where many readers have seen him for a longtime as being second fiddle to Brock, and incapable of taking Brock (on a side note, I noticed this notion and thought to myself that despite the claim that Flash stood no chance against Brock lately, that the symbiote itself compensates for this by having the same wealth of experience, as well as inside knowledge of Brocks thoughts? I think it's just nostalgic fanboyism despite the claim it isn't, and the inability to move foreward from the 80's, dually noting that the news article here focused on the Venom series as if it were Eddie's book and story and Flash was the guest antagonist? Just putting that out here). Likewise I agree with the idea that Brock will become the new Toxin, or at the least remain just Brock to remove him from the mantle either way and secure it for Flash, as his standing as even Anti-Venom still denoted the Flash/Venom character as the second rate version in most peoples eyes. Pat/Toxin unfortunately is in a league of many, many "new" Marvel characters, as well as symbiotes that did receive his own character development and TLC, but that effort was dropped in favor of making him into a plot device used for nostalgic revival support. At least the Flash/Venom and his books cast represent some sort of active change (in a way) as opposed to stasis, it's refreshing to see.
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