The new Venom finally meets Spider-Man.
Marvel has taken a very head-scratching approach with this new Venom comic. The series began by introducing a brand-new host for the Venom symbiote, but now Marvel has given every indication that the new status quo will be completely changing again in Venom #150. On one hand, Lee price has been such a dud of a character that a shake-up is pretty welcome at this point. But on the other, these looming changes serve only to make this opening story arc feel that much more pointless.
The first four issues did little to establish Lee as a worthy heir to the Venom mantle, and this chapter is no better. It's all the more frustrating because Mike Costa script touches on some of the more tragic aspects of Lee's childhood, but the story promptly jumps back into the action rather than attempt to flesh out the character any further. As before, the symbiote itself is really the only compelling character in the book.
In general, this issue suffers from a rushed sense of pacing as the conflict pivots towards the arrival of another major player. It feels as though Costa is rushing through a lot of material in order to set up that return, whether it's Lee's rivalry with Mac Gargan, the short-lived battle with Spider-Man or Lee's attempts to keep his true nature hidden from the FBI. Regardless of whether this new status quo change was actually planned from the beginning, it certainly reads like an abrupt about-face.
This issue does give Gerardo Sandoval some decent material to work with, at least. Sandoval's exaggerated figures and heavy line-work aren't very well-suited to the quieter scenes, but there's no denying the power and energy he brings to the page during the various fight sequences. It's a shame this issue doesn't spend more time on the Venom vs. Spider-Man clash. Guest artist Iban Coello does a serviceable job of approximating Sandoval's style later in the issue. That said, the thick lines and gritty texture works against the more graceful qualities Coello's art usually shows.
The Verdict
It's probably just as well that Venom is gearing up for a major status quo change, because this series clearly isn't working in its present state. However, those impending changes are doing nothing to help the current storyline, especially with the way this issue abruptly pivots to make room for what's coming.
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