Venom (we're talking Eddie Brock here, none of that edgy Flash Thompson garbage) directly references tragic character tropes of the classic and ancient world, giving him a level of depth that I feel many comic book villains and anti-heroes lack. Eddie's rise and "fall" into the hands of the symbiote directly parallels the parable of Nebuchadnezzar written in Daniel 4 of the Old Testament, and call attention to the idea that "pride cometh before the fall".
Eddie Brock investigates the Sin-Eater as a journalist, and is praised by those surrounding him for excelling in all that he does. His pride in his own accomplishments ultimately leads to him being "cast out", losing everything and even becoming animalistic in nature, to the point of running on all fours, much like our aforementioned king of Babylon.
It isn't until that he humbles himself enough to accept Spiderman as a true force of justice that he is able to garner some respect and become a tenuous ally (almost exactly seven years later, much like the journey of Nebuchadnezzar). Carnage, as his successor, fails to learn this message and becomes a true agent of evil, just like Belshazzar succeeding the throne of Babylon.
You don't see writing like that these days. Layered metaphor and ancient traditions are lost to mindless self-indulgence and excessive violence (see Flash Thompson above).
EDIT:
TL;DR - Venom's old-school cool.