Stillanerd Reviews: Venom #152 review

It’s Venom versus Stegron and his underground army of dinosaur hybrids. So what if this sounds like a cheesy movie on the Syfy Channel?

Venom #152

“The Land Before Crime, Part Two”

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Writer: Mike Costa

Artist: Gerardo Sandoval

Color Artist: Dono Sánchez-Almara

Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles

Covers: Francisco Herrera and Fernanda Rizo, and Jim Lee, Michael Kelleher and Israel Silva

Spider-Man has had his share of goofy villains over the years. This includes a teleporter decked out with black polka dots, a disco guitarist with hypnotic powers, and an undead Nazi scientist covered in bees. Compared to them, a half-man, half-dinosaur seems rather tame. Even so, Stegron the Dinosaur Man has had a bad rap since his first appearance in Marvel Team-Up #19. Credit to Mike Costa for at least trying to improve this villain’s profile with Venom #152.

Thus, when part two of “The Land Before Crime” begins, Venom learns Stegron, along with turning the homeless and lost pets into half-dinosaurs, has become the leader of his own religious cult. As mad scientists with god-complexes are wont to do, Stegron plans to lead his army of devoted followers to conquer the world. Only Venom (since this is his comic, after all) can stop this dino-army. Just your fun, average, everyday comic book plot … with dinosaurs!

Credit: Gerardo Sandoval and Dono Sánchez-Almara (Marvel Comics); from Venom #152

If you think the standard “take over the world” plot sounds ridiculous (or ridiculously awesome!), wait until you get a load of Stegron himself.

If you think the standard “take over the world” plot sounds ridiculous (or ridiculously awesome!), wait until you get a load of Stegron himself. The image of him looking like a barbarian king, complete with two dinosaur serving women, comes off as a parody of a Frank Frazetta paining. The real drawback with Stegron, of course, is he’s a knock-off of the Lizard and always has been. After all, you can pretty much put Dr. Curt Connors in the place of Dr. Vincent Stegron and almost wind up with the same story.

Perhaps this is why Costa also has Venom meet Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur in this issue, aside from obvious cross-promotional purposes. After all, if you’re going to have a dinosaur man as your antagonist, might as well have a super precocious little girl with her own pet dinosaur. Too bad she doesn’t do much except explain what she and Devil Dinosaur are doing in the sewers, and for Venom to scold her because it’s “too dangerous.”

The inclusion of Stegron and dinosaurs also (and rather bizarrely) gives Costa an excuse to delve into Eddie’s childhood. It seems Eddie is another product of bullying, though it’s unclear if the kid calling him “Eddie Spaghetti” is his older brother or just some neighborhood punk. I suppose another reason Costa included this was to give a possible explanation for why Eddie drove himself to become physically stronger. Whatever the reasoning, it still feels unnecessarily tacked on.

Credit: Gerardo Sandoval and Dono Sánchez-Almara (Marvel Comics); from Venom #152

Even if you find main plot not as captivating, then the supposed explanation for the symbiote’s erratic behavior definitely is.

None of this is to say the story is awful. A formulaic story doesn’t always mean it’s a bad story, especially if it has a solid enough plot. Venom #152 has this, and more importantly, it’s never boring. Moreover, what it lacks in originality and depth, Costa compensates by keeping things fast-paced and simple. Likewise, the dialogue, while not the best-written, is still distinctive enough for each character.

Even if you find the main plot not as captivating, the supposed explanation for the symbiote’s erratic behavior definitely is. Eddie learns from Liz Allan’s Alchemax scientists that, because of the symbiote dampeners the FBI injected him with while he was Toxin, his own body is poisoning the Venom symbiote. This means if Eddie wishes to continue being Venom, he must return to Alchemax for periodic treatments every 48 hours.

Considering the symbiote acted more simple-minded and psychotic while bonded with Lee Price, this explanation doesn’t quite wash. It does, however, further solidify Liz, Dr. Steven, and potentially other Alchemax employees as a recurring cast for Venom. It also provides Venom with a vulnerability aside from fire and high-frequency sounds. Giving a character a countdown, especially a super-strong, near invincible one like Venom, is an easy way to generate suspense.

Credit: Gerardo Sandoval and Dono Sánchez-Almara (Marvel Comics); from Venom #152

If you do decide to venture into Venom #152, don’t go into it expecting complex, deep storytelling. After all, how much depth can you get from a story involving dinosaur men?

Another advantage comes from the always dynamic art by Gerardo Sandoval. The opening pages, in particular a fantastic double-page spread, are especially riveting. Venom, Stegron’s minion, and especially Devil Dinosaur look appropriately monstrous — enough that you can almost feel their brute strength.

Even more impressive is when Venom, forced to swim after causing a flood, turns himself invisible while under attack by dinosaur fish. It’s a rare look at one of Venom’s lesser known abilities, and an opportunity for Dono Sánchez-Almara to flex his colorist muscles.

If you do decide to venture into Venom #152, don’t go into it expecting complex, deep storytelling. After all, how much depth can you get from a story involving dinosaur men? Just imagine this comic as a Roger Corman movie starring Reb Brown with better production values, and you’ll be just fine. Now only if it threw in the Spot, Hypno-Hustler, and Swarm in for good measure.

Stillanerd’s Score: 3.5 out of 5

Next: Stillanerd Reviews: Venom #151 review

Stillanerd’s Nerdy Nitpicks (possible spoilers)

Credit: Gerardo Sandoval and Dono Sánchez-Almara (Marvel Comics); from Venom #152

“Spinosaurus was way bigger and stronger.” Something tells me Eddie’s bully was a huge Jurassic Park 3 fan.

“My foolish, indecisive children … ” But you asked your followers to vote “meat” or “change,” oh mighty, Stegron. The majority voted “meat.” How is that being indecisive?

Oh, and you also decide to “change” Venom against the will of the majority? So much for your democracy, oh mighty Stegron.

“It’s out of control! Kill it!” Now who’s the indecisive one, oh mighty Stegron?

You know what’s really gross, Moon Girl. You traipsing around in a sewer.

Liz, how is Eddie being bonded with an alien dumber than a dinosaur man telepathically controlling other dinosaur men? Also, the symbiote doesn’t live in Eddie’s stomach.

Oh, come on! We don’t get to see what the dinosaur cat looks like?