Venom #150
Writer: Mike
Costa, Robbie Thompson
Art Team: Tradd
Moore, Gerardo Sandoval, Dono Sanchez-Almara
Marvel
Comics
Release Date:
May 24, 2017
Cover Price:
$5.99
Venom Variety Showcase
Eddie Brock
is back in the symbiote suit and all is right in the world again. Last issue was all about Eddie’s quest to get
his old friend back, which happened towards the end of the issue, so this
#150 extravaganza will showcase the renewed relationship, while filling us in
on a few gaps in continuity. Let’s find out what happens and more inside.
The extra
sized issue begins by showcasing some past history between the symbiote and
Eddie in a nice splash page serving as a way to catch up people jumping back on
the Venom bandwagon. From there we see
Eddie spring up from bed in a panic being summoned by the symbiote to go out, essentially
resuming what the two used to do together, which is anti-hero the shit out of
situations.
Venom,
looking just like 'their old self', stumbles upon a B & E in progress quickly
dropping in to monitor the situation. Things turn very violent, very quickly,
and when Venom realizes what the criminals were after, (seemingly a tomato?) he
retreats from the scene in panic, as the police arrive.
Atop a NYC rooftop Eddie and Venom debate about the means of their actions, with Eddie
having issue with how the men were “butchered”, and the symbiote seemingly fine regressing
into old habits again. Eddie seeks
refuge in the church he originally took possession of the symbiote, scaring
some criminals out of the area in the process, which results in the Priest
responsible offering Eddie some advice regarding his situation ... advice Eddie's partner in crime doesnt take much a liking to.
As Eddie and
the symbiote debate about how to coexist they are attacked from behind by the Scorpion,
on behalf of Alchemax and some unfinished business, resulting in a battle where Scorpion quickly gains the
upper hand due to previous experiences with Venom. Although supremely damaged in battle, from
sonic blasts, Venom and Eddie are able to dispatch of the Scorpion retreating to the church in
the process to hide and recover. When Eddie awakes, he finds devastation has
struck the church, as the symbiote seems out of control, possibly having killed the
Priest Eddie previously talked with, as the first part of the giant issue
concludes.
As far as
this first story goes, I like Eddie being back in control of the suit, but
it feels like the Venom 'symbiote', as a character, has regressed to get
back to this point. There are some
moments in the books art that are good but it looks too computer
generated for my tastes, almost video game like with little background detail in some instances taking any semblance of location out of the book entirely. I liked the
previous arcs art more and hope it returns in more than just a backup type
format.
The second
story of the issue fills in some gaps, between the Venom: Space Knight Series and
the Venom #1 Marvel Now latest relaunch, when Flash lost and Lee took
possession of the symbiote. To sum this story up quickly the answers are sketchy
to be sure. It feels like what happened was Venom was blasted with some sort of 'special
sonic', that has made the symbiote act very erratically lately. This possibly
forced it to run from Flash Thompson, seeking a new host, and sending it towards
this downward spiral it’s found itself in. Although that is me assuming a lot I
didn’t really get the story itself telling me.
There is also a third backup flashback
story some people will enjoy for its classic style alone but doesn’t add much to
the narrative other than showcase how the old Venom used to act.
Bits and Pieces
An oversized
Venom #150 Issue Spectacular for $5.99 is filled with a throwback feel to how
the character used to operate which seems to be the way this series is progressing. This may be a development to upset long time followers of Venom
the last few years after some interesting forward progress for the symbiote
itself as a character. The art from the middle story featuring Sandoval remains
my favorite way Venom has been rendered plus you gotta love that classic cover style!
6.5/10
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