The grave Solid Snake visits in the beginning and end of Metal Gear Solid 4 carries a powerful message: “A hero forever loyal to the flames of war rests in Outer Heaven.” This headcanon, shared by many fans including Roler42, speaks volumes about Venom Snake’s character and his ultimate fate. While it is widely believed that the true hero of the story is Big Boss, Venom’s journey and legacy are often overlooked or misunderstood, despite the sacrifices he made.
Throughout Metal Gear Solid V, Venom Snake is portrayed as a man deeply loyal to his comrades, particularly to The Boss’ vision of a world without nuclear war. In many ways, Venom embodies the true will of The Boss, even more so than Big Boss, especially when Diamond Dogs works tirelessly to rid the world of nuclear weapons. His understanding of Outer Heaven differs significantly from Big Boss’ vision, as he fights not to fan the flames of war, but to extinguish them. Venom, through his leadership, aims to create a world that honors The Boss’ ideals of peace — a world free of the looming shadow of nuclear weapons.
However, Metal Gear Solid V suggests that Venom’s efforts are ultimately in vain. Despite his true intentions, the history of Outer Heaven, as remembered by the world, is not one of peace and sacrifice. Instead, it is seen as a place that merely perpetuates the cycle of conflict. As much as Venom works to break the cycle, the world’s memory of his actions, and those of Diamond Dogs, becomes blurred and distorted by the continuing flames of war. In this sense, Venom’s ultimate sacrifice lies in his acceptance of the role of Big Boss — the symbol of Outer Heaven — even though it means being remembered as a figurehead of war, rather than a true hero.
What makes this poignant is that Venom’s grave lies next to that of The Boss, as though his journey and actions were a continuation of her legacy. This tragic yet fitting placement speaks to the complex nature of Venom’s character and the profound sacrifices he made. He was a man who lived and died in the shadow of war, striving for peace but ultimately becoming another casualty of the very cycle he sought to end.
For Solid Snake, visiting the graves of Venom and The Boss holds deep, unknowable significance. He is unknowingly paying respects to two individuals who sacrificed their lives for the greater good, both of whom believed they were fighting for a better world. In the end, their graves, while marked by sacrifice and loyalty, serve as a reminder of how history can distort the true meaning of their actions. Venom, despite being a better man in many ways, becomes yet another unsung hero whose contributions to peace were lost in the flames of war.
