The old Venom doesn't like the new Venom.
Marvel's latest Venom comic has some elements working in its favor, but nothing so far has allowed it to overcome the hurdle poses by its bland protagonist. And with all of Marvel's teases regarding a drastically different status quo in May's Venom #150 (and the possible return of Eddie Brock), what incentive do readers have to invest themselves in the series right now? Not much, if Venom #4 has anything to say about the matter.
Perhaps it was a mistake to make former Venom host Mac Gargan such a prominent fixture in the series. This issue features the first big clash between the old Venom and the new, and Mac has a bad habit of stealing Lee Price's thunder during their scenes together. Mac is a fun villain, regardless of whether he calls himself Venom or Scorpion. Lee is just the the dull, emotionless soldier.
And it's a shame, because the Venom symbiote itself makes for a fascinating protagonist. Rarely has a comic devoted so much effort to portraying it as a true character or offered such an in-depth look at its thoughts, feelings and motivations. Its struggle to maintain its newfound sanity in the face of a cold, remorseless host gives the series most of its emotional heft. But said host needs to carry his weight, and after four issues, Lee still isn't doing that.
The series' makes some strides this month when it comes to art quality. For one thing, the heavy focus on the brawl between Scorpion and Venom plays more to Gerardo Sandoval's storytelling strengths. You don't need to worry about flat, lifeless facial work when the focus is on hulking villains beating the stuffing out of each other. For another, fill-in artist Juanan Ramirez tackles a decent chunk of the quieter scenes. His style is a bit more understated and better-suited to exploring the crime noir side of the Marvel U.
The problem is that the shifts between Ramirez and Sandoval are incredibly jarring. Their two styles don't mesh well, and their individual depictions of Lee are so wildly different that he might as well be two completely different characters.
The Verdict
Perhaps it's just as well that Venom seems due for a major status quo upheaval so soon after its debut. The series simply isn't working in its present state, as the compelling portrayal of the symbiote itself is undercut by an aggressively boring main character. This issue also compounds the book's visual troubles by featuring two artists with wildly incompatible art styles.
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