- "You know what secrets want, Eddie? They want out. That's why they're so hard to keep."
- ―Patrick Mulligan to Eddie Brock[src]
Patrick Mulligan is a detective who was deafened in one of his ears after an attack by Frances Barrison when they were taking her out of the St. Estes Home for Unwanted Children. Years later, he was in charge of the case of Cletus Kasady and waited on news from a reporter as he went to interrogate the serial killer.[1] After Cletus escaped prison, Mulligan went on looking for clues on his whereabouts as there were also reports of him having a Monster with him.
During a confrontation at a Cathedral between the serial killer and Eddie Brock/Venom, Mulligan was apparently killed by Shriek, but he actually survived with his eyes mysteriously glowing.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Deafened by Shriek[]
- "Any last words?"
- ―Frances Barrison to Patrick Mulligan[src]
During his early days as an officer, Patrick was responsible for taking Frances Barrison out of St. Estes Home for Unwanted Children and transporting her to Ravencroft. While inside the police van, Mulligan was attacked by Barrison's sonic scream which deafened him on one of his ears, in his desperation and struggle Patrick also shot on her right eye, knocking her out which allowed them to successfully take her to Ravencroft, though the cop didn't know that and believed he killed her.[2]
The Case of Cletus Kasady[]
Contacting Eddie Brock[]
- "So, you're gonna have to do the right thing for a change."
- ―Mulligan to Eddie Brock[src]
Mulligan talks to Eddie Brock at the police department
Years later, Mulligan was in charge of the case of Cletus Kasady and contacted Eddie Brock so that he would interview the serial killer despite his apparent dislike for the reporter. Despite Brock being adamant on not wanting to interview him again, Mulligan assured him that he was the only one Kasady wanted to see him despite him no getting anything during his last interview. Patrick then saw Eddie get in a bathroom door and discuss with something until he finally agreed to do the interview.
When Eddie finished his interview with the serial killer, Patrick asked him if Cletus said anything important but Brock said there was nothing, this proved to be false as later Brock mysteriously figured out where some of the bodies of Kasady's victims were thanks to the interview, Eddie became famous and left the police in ridicule, which angered Mulligan greatly.[2]
Following Cletus Kasady[]
After Cletus Kasady escaped from the San Quentin State Prison under extraordinary circumstances, Mulligan went to visit Eddie Brock at his apartment as he believed that he would be Kasady's next target. Patrick asked Eddie if Cletus told him anything about an escape plan but Brock said he didn't say anything important, after questioning Eddie's luck regarding his position on the case, he left and recommended Brock to lay low.
Mulligan later received a call from Eddie who figured out that someone under initials of F.B. would know where Kasady is headed, Patrick recognized the initials as Frances Barrison but told Eddie that he couldn't get any information out of her as he thought she was dead.[2]
Eddie's Involvement[]
- "Bad things happen around you. Multiple dead bodies at your building last year, the bizarre outburst at the lobster restaurant and only you at the Life Foundation when that rocket exploded."
- ―Patrick Mulligan to Eddie Brock[src]
Mulligan interrogates Eddie
He later went to investigate the damage left behind at Ravencroft by Carnage when he rescued Frances Barrison, in the process finding out that he didn't kill Barrison. Realizing that he didn't know about Ravencroft and that Eddie Brock was involved in a lot of weird events including a rocket exploding close to the Life Foundation, he asked Eddie to be arrested and interrogated him about the events that occurred.[2]
Kidnapped by Carnage[]
- "Shit, my God! Kasady, put your hands on your head!"
- ―Mulligan to Cletus Kasady/Carnage[src]
Mulligan tries to arrest Carnage
Eddie Brock refused to answer any more questions until he got a phone call, Mulligan allowed Eddie to call Anne Weying, who had the Venom symbiote, but Brock later mysteriously escaped from the police station, to which Mulligan responded by angrily throwing the chair Eddie was previously sitting on.
While on his way to Brock's apartment, Mulligan faced Kasady. He got out of his car and pointed his gun at him, telling him to put his hands on his head. Kasady responded by molding into Carnage. Mulligan shot Carnage multiple times but he kidnapped him as a guest for his twisted wedding, mentioning that Shriek will be pleased.[2]
Shriek's Failed Revenge[]
- "Monsters..!"
- ―Patrick Mulligan[src]
Mulligan survives his assassination attempt
Mulligan was taken to the Grace Cathedral along with Anne Weying as a gift of the twisted wedding between Cletus Kasady and Frances Barrison until Eddie Brock and Venom came their rescue, with Mulligan being surprised to see Frances alive. During the battle between Venom and Carnage, Mulligan tried to escape and call for backup but was caught by Shriek, who stabbed him and his left eye as revenge for what he did to her years ago. Shriek then hung Mulligan with a chain and presumably killed him.
Against all odds, Mulligan turned out to have mysteriously survived his assassination attempt, with his eyes glowing blue while he whispered the word "monsters".[2]
Personality[]
Patrick Mulligan is a full-fledged police officer: committed to his job, to protecting the innocent, and to bringing peace to the families of murder victims.
He hired the services of Eddie Brock to try to show Cletus Kasady where the bodies of the people he had killed were, although he was not amused that Brock took all the credit for discovering them. Mulligan does not get along with Brock and has the intuition that Brock is hiding something, since he always finds himself in the middle of great massacres without apparently knowing anything. When he orders to stop Eddie he tries to get him to tell him what he knows to prevent Kasady from continuing to kill, and when he meets Brock's lawyer, Anne Weying, he tries to appeal to his humanity so that Brock can speak.
When he sees Kasady and he transforms into Carnage, he attacks him without fear, although because of this, he ends up captured. Mulligan feels remorse that he nearly killed Frances Barrison.
Abilities[]
- Expert Marksman: Mulligan shot Frances Barrison in the eye with his pistol.
Equipment[]
- Glock 17: Mulligan carries a pistol as his sidearm.
Relationships[]
Allies[] |
Enemies[]
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Trivia[]
- In the comics, Patrick Mulligan was a former New York City Police Department police officer who became bonded to a symbiote known as Toxin. This symbiote, who was the offspring of Carnage, was the first symbiote who was an ally of Spider-Man.
Behind the Scenes[]
- In 2018, it was announced that Reid Scott would portray Patrick Mulligan in Venom, but his character was revealed to be Dr. Lewis.
- Tom Hardy posted on his Instagram a photo with the surname of Mulligan, confirming his appearance in Venom: Let There Be Carnage. The post was then quickly deleted.
- Vinny O'Brien and Sam Durrani were stunt doubles for Stephen Graham in the role of Patrick Mulligan.
