This colour image for Spider-Man 3 shows the webslinger in a black costume for the sequel, due out in May 2007.

Spider-Man has spun himself new threads.

The first official image of the web-slinger in next summer’s Spider-Man 3 was released by Sony Pictures yesterday, revealing the characteristically red-and-blue-clad superhero perched atop a church in a black costume.

For fans of the comic book, that means one thing — the arrival of hugely-popular adversary Venom. For non-comics fans, Venom’s origins go something like this: Spider-Man switched costumes in the 1980s, swapping his traditional tights for a snazzy black-and-white outfit that was later revealed to be an evil alien parasite.

The creature then tried to possess Spider Man’s alter-ego, Peter Parker.

After Parker ditched it, the parasite slithered its way to another host — Eddie Brock, a rival of Parker’s at the Daily Bugle newspaper. The two merged to become Venom.

Playing Brock, presumably, will be Topher Grace of That ’70s Show, who has been announced as one of the film’s two new villains. Thomas Haden Church (Sideways) has been confirmed as playing Sandman. That leaves Grace as the dark-suited doppelganger. Spider-Man 3 is due out May 4, 2007.

Other newcomers to the franchise joining Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst and James Franco (who’s rumoured to transform into the new Green Goblin in the film) include Bryce Dallas Howard as Gwen Stacy, a new love interest for Parker, and veteran actor James Cromwell as Gwen’s police captain father.