# Connecting Balls to Bells: Is the "Mystery Pinball Company" Stern's Amazing Spider-Man (AKA Venom)?
by [Colin Alsheimer](/author/colin) · May 26, 2023 · [Pinball](/news/category/pinball)

> Purely speculation. But if the spider-web sticks...

Roughly a week ago, [Knapp Arcade had quite an interesting update](https://www.knapparcade.org/post/new-mystery-pinball-company-reaches-out-to-us-with-a-clues) regarding a potential new "Mystery Pinball Company". It was a bit lost in all the [Harry Potter rumor drama](https://twip.kineticist.com/p/this-week-in-pinball-5-22-23), understandably, but it stood out because it's not the first time we've seen images like these.

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In it, Knapp references some photos of some rogue marketing materials from the recent Allentown show and an anonymous mystery e-mail sent to his inbox.

![Vintage poster with large exclamation mark and text about an amazing machine](https://media.kineticist.com/posts/connecting-bells-to-balls/inline/4be1a1c066d6.webp)

![Stylized exclamation mark with lightning bolts and "See you at the Ball!" text](https://media.kineticist.com/posts/connecting-bells-to-balls/inline/c0915832a90f.webp)

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Similar visuals have been referenced at other times by other pinball media folks. Frankly, it's been quite triggering for my own personal marketing spidey-sense! As a long-time marketer, I've certainly [learned to appreciate a good marketing stunt](https://www.dallasnews.com/business/autos/2010/08/17/automakers-turn-to-social-media-to-market-new-cars/).

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It's been [rumored for quite some time](/post/upcoming-pinball-machines) that Stern has a [Venom machine](/pinball-themes/venom-pinball) in the queue, with Brian Eddy supposedly at the helm. In fact, a lot of people were expecting an imminent Venom announcement around when [Todd McFarlane and Ozzy Osbourne appeared together in Stern's booth at Comic-Con](https://cosmicbook.news/ozzy-osbourne-todd-mcfarlane-comic-on-stern-pinball). But it wound up being [James Bond](/pinball-machines/james-bond-007-2022) instead.

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No doubt someone on some social media site has also already connected these dots. And we have zero insider knowledge, but the aforementioned marketing spidey-sense says this is more likely to be a clever guerrilla marketing campaign from Stern for what we think could be an Amazing Spider-Man pinball machine (not Venom), rather than something from an entirely new pinball company. More specifically, a game based around the story of [Amazing Spider-Man #300](https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/6706/the_amazing_spider-man_1963_300) where Venom makes his debut, and which Todd McFarlane famously had a hand in creating.

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The dots feel there to be connected already. Todd & Ozzy with Stern at Comic-Con. Existing rumors of a Venom machine. Now these *AMAZING* spider-man-esque visuals popping up at various [pinball shows](/post/pinball-shows-roundup).

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Plus, in Amazing Spider-Man #300, there's a bell that figures pretty heavily into the plot, with its own ball-like visual design that looks an awful lot like the makings of a potential pinball mech. There are also other visuals or plot devices that could strengthen the connection. Like the fact that Venom doesn't trigger Spider-man's spidey-sense and the Venom v. Spider-Man black on red motif.

![Comic panel with large bells, webs, and dramatic action sequence](https://media.kineticist.com/posts/connecting-bells-to-balls/inline/6839c1a24aeef5da4b0ee44c_646ffb1185072710b145125f_venom_20pinball.webp)

As with most rumors and speculation, we could be wildly off-target. But it's fun to play pinball detective sometimes! If it does end up being Amazing Spider-Man, could that mean we also get an appearance from the Fantastic Four, a la some of the X-Men in [Deadpool](/pinball-machines/deadpool-2018)? Until the next clue, we suppose!

## Related
- Game: [Jim Henson's Labyrinth](/games/pinball/jim-hensons-labyrinth-2023)

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