This episode features the first full appearance of Venom.
This episode is loosely based on "The Amazing Spider-Man" (Vol. 1) #300, the first full appearance of Venom in the comics.
The probe launch was named after Colonel John Jameson, which is fitting since the whole alien costume saga started in space on the space shuttle John Jameson piloted.
According to Venom, the symbiote is a life-force that has existed since the dawn of time that has seen thousands of worlds, millions of civilizations, and learned many secrets, but always had one goal above all else... to survive.
Since the symbiote tried to bond with Spider-Man and failed, it allows Venom to block his spider sense. It also gives Venom stronger webbing than Spider-Man's webbing.