Stillanerd Reviews: Venom #159 review

Spider-Man and Anti-Venom fighting the main villain for an entire issue also makes for a dull chapter in the already dull “Venom Inc.”

Venom #158

“Venom Inc. Part 3”

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Story: Dan Slott and Mike Costa

Writer: Mike Costa

Artist: Gerardo Sandoval

Color Artist: David Curiel

Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles

Covers: Gerardo Sandoval and David Curiel; Mike Hawthrone and Morry Hollowell; and Tyler Crook (Phenoix variant)

I’ve said before the biggest problem with “Venom Inc.,” even before I started reading it, was its premise. It’s another “everybody gets a symbiote” story which seems like the only thing Marvel can tell with Venom anymore. Worse, this latest batch of “Venomized” characters didn’t have creative designs. They’re lead by a villain who not only lacks any depth, he never had any depth to begin with.

Thus, after the first two parts spent much of its time setting the stage for the first round between the good guys and bad guys, what else can we expect but an uninspired, empty conflict? No matter how much action Dan Slott and Mike Costa pump into in Venom #159, none of it feels like it really matters. It’s one of the reasons why I find this comic not only a chore to read but difficult to review.

Credit: Gerardo Sandoval and David Curiel (Marvel Comics); from Venom #159

No matter how much action Dan Slott and Mike Costa pump into in Venom #159, none of it feels like it really matters.

It shouldn’t be this way. Here you have Peter Parker as Spider-Man, and Flash Thompson as the new Anti-Venom, former high school rivals turned friends fighting side-by-side against dozens of Lee Price/Maniac’s symbiote-possessed underlings…and yet it all rings hollow. After all, why not just attack Price since he’s the one controlling them, something Spidey even point out? But of course, we can’t have that because such an obvious solution would shorten the story considerably. Thus Spidey must add how they still have to still “beat up everybody else first.”

Moreover, Flash’s new powers allow him to damage and even remove symbiotes from their host, which also eliminates what little tension remains. As if the tension could feel any more false, Cue the convenient method of literally collapsing the roof on top of them–caused by Spidey himself, no less–to give the villains an easy victory.

Even the internal conflict between Peter and Flash from previous parts has evaporated. Whereas Spider-Man made the point to Flash during Amazing Spider-Man #792 that he was already a hero without the symbiote, in this issue, Spider-Man actually tells him, “It’s good to see you back in a suit.” Granted, this more accepting attitude of Spidey’s is preferable than it was before. But it also shows how, despite Slott and Costa listed as co-authors of the story, it seems neither of them are effectively communicating to each about their own story’s development.

Credit: Gerardo Sandoval and David Curiel (Marvel Comics); from Venom #159

This inconsistency is also reflective during Eddie Brock’s scenes. ASM #792 showed how Eddie could no longer sense the Venom symbiote because Flash purged it completely from Eddie’s body. Except in this comic, he somehow not only feel the Venom symbiote but also Maniac’s from clear across the city by what amounts to putting himself into self-hypnosis and relying on pure intuition and luck. What was even the point of stating Eddie could no longer sense symbiotes anymore if he could still do it anyway?

The only thing remotely interesting in terms of plot was Flash curing Black Cat with a literal kiss. As ASM #792 and this comic reminds us, Flash Thompson and Felicia Hardy once had a romantic relationship, so it’s nice seeing that element from Spider-Man history used as an integral storytelling point. It also, of course, establishes how Price’s mind-controlling symbiotes don’t completely sap one’s free will. After all, given what upcoming covers are suggesting, Price’s still inexplicable abilities can’t be absolute.

I’d also contend that Costa writes marginally better dialogue that at least sounds true to how actual people speak. It also manages to individualize each character, too. It’s just not particularly outstanding dialogue, however. The result is that everyone comes off being very one-note. Eddie is obsessive, Flash makes football analogies, Spidey jokes, Felicia’s flirty, Price gives orders, and so forth.

Credit: Gerardo Sandoval and David Curiel (Marvel Comics); from Venom #159

What Venom #159 inadvertently does is expose what an utter waste of time, effort, and imagination “Venom Inc.” is at its core…If there was any hope for this crossover at all, then this comic just butchered it.

Gerardo Sandoval’s output in this comic didn’t impress me, either. Although he, like Ryan Stegman, relies on exaggeration and caricature to accentuate emotions and body language, his style is far more inconsistent. Perspective angles look unnatural, with enlarged, balloon-like limbs moving towards the frame. The lack of any backgrounds in many panels eliminates any sense of spatial reasoning. Many panel show figures over-rendered and over-inked; others have them look so small to have no detail at all.

One panel in particular, I believe, encapsulates everything artistically wrong with this comic. It shows Lee Price ordering his symbiote “made men” to concentrate their attacks on Flash, pointing at him as he says it. At least, that’s what we presume from the dialogue. Only Sandoval depicts all the action of Spidey and Flash’s fight taking place behind Price, not in front of him. Who, then, is Price even pointing at and giving orders to in this panel? Certainly not his minions from the looks of it.

What Venom #159 inadvertently does is expose what an utter waste of time, effort, and imagination “Venom Inc.” is at its core. That’s it’s a step even further down the ladder of mediocrity, too, makes it all the more unbearable. If there was any hope for this crossover at all, then this comic just butchered it.

Stillanerd’s Score: 1.5 out of 5

Next: Stillanerd Reviews: Amazing Spider-Man #792 review

Stillanerd’s Nerdy Nitpicks (possible spoilers)

Credit: Gerardo Sandoval and David Curiel (Marvel Comics); from Venom #159

• Gee, do you think the runaway dog could be any more symbolic of Eddie’s loss of the symbiote? And I guess Eddie must be a cat person.
• Guess Lee Price was busy hiding somewhere at the end of Amazing Spider-Man #792, because how else is he here all of a sudden?
• Also, did Lee Price just decide his “Made Men” should stop talking now?
• “My…spider-sense…doesn’t work on symbiotes.” Then how come your spider-sense went off the moment Scorpion grabbed you, Pete?
• Oh no, Spidey symbiote tracker broke! How will they ever track down Mania’s symbi…oh, wait they already did. Why make a big deal about losing the tracker again?
• So does the bathroom window in Bobbi Morse’s apartment not open? Also, if Spidey and Flash plugged the drain to the bathtub, why not the sink?
• Gee, so much for the tough Black Cat of days gone by. The Felicia Hardy of old would’ve stayed and fought, no matter how “outnumbered” or “outclassed” she was.
• “…before the massacre is over.” Lee, massacre implies people getting killed, which is not what’s happening. Especially since you wind up capturing Spider-Man and Anti-Venom instead of killing them outright anyway.
• Wait…the Fact Channel is Marvel’s Fox News analogue. The scene with the line workers is poking fun at the average Fox News viewer, and yet the report about dinosaurs in the sewers is actually true (see earlier issues of Venom). So is this comic metaphorically saying Fox News is trusted news source or not?
• “We’re being chased by brainwashed symbiote goons.” No, Felicia, you’re actually not.
• What is it with Spider-Man tied-up and hanging upside down this year. First Spider-Men II, and now this?

Next: 100 greatest superhero stories

Now that “Venom Inc.” is half-way done, what do you think of it so far? Do you think it’s been a worthwhile read thus far, or not worth your time? And what do you think are some of it’s good and bad points?