Review: Venom Annual #1 has some stories to tell

Venom Annual #1 puts together a few tales about the character that show just how terrifying he can be.

Donny Cates, David Michelinie, Jeff Loveness and James Stokoe all take on the writing duties in Venom Annual #1. Each writer tells a new tale about Venom and it’s all combined into one story. Each story comes from a different person and the whole issue is set in a bar full of villains.

The first story by Donny Cates features Black Cat going up against Venom and her story is told from personal experience. She’s in the bar with the guys and it gives a good look at the lengths Venom will go to. Plus, it’s nice to see Black Cat and Venom interacting as she flashes back to the day it all went down.

The other compelling story involved Wolverine taking a shot at Venom in the bar. He tells Venom that he needs to be something more than what he is and this is his chance to do so. It left me wanting to see more of Wolverine and Venom going at each other because they’re two characters who have always felt like antiheroes in a way that others didn’t.

The art isn’t quite as consistent as the story-telling angle since we have just as many artists as we do writers (Stokoe pulls double duty on his story). The first two stories have the best art in the issue. The way Wolverine looks as he fights Venom and vice versa is great.

Watch your favorite shows on fuboTV: Watch over 67 live sports and entertainment channels with a 7-day FREE trial!

Overall, Venom Annual #1 isn’t a crucial read, but it is a fun one. It doesn’t take itself too seriously and that works in its favor. However, if you aren’t reading the main series right now, I highly recommend checking that out. It is well worth reading, especially if you want to dive into the history of the symbiote.