Not the rematch you're looking for.
"Lethal Protector" has been easily the strongest arc of Mike Costa's Venom run to date, which is why it's disappointing that issue #158 fails to stick the landing. The fourth and final chapter misses some big opportunities, both in terms of Venom's own personal growth and his rivalry with Kraven. It's an underwhelming end to what could have been a defining story for the character.
Issue #157 ended with Venom being buried under a massive pile of rubble. When it comes to Spider-Man comics, that can mean only one thing - another riff on Amazing Spider-Man #33 and that iconic moment where Peter Parker willed his way out of certain doom. Except that's not really what happens here. We see Eddie wrestling with his predicament and reflecting on his troubled relationship with the symbiote, but there's never that big, epic moment where he saves himself through sheer willpower. Maybe there's something to the idea that he's rescued instead by the very creatures he's been fighting to protect, but the script never really swells on that notion one way or the other.
The book also disappoints when it comes to the big rematch between Venom and Kraven. That battle is over in disappointingly quick fashion, offering Venom little chance to prove he can out-think his crafty foe. Kraven has quickly emerged as a terrific foil to Eddie and his symbiote, and it's disappointing this issue doesn't try harder to cement that new rivalry. Instead, it spends far too much time reconnecting with previous host Lee Price and setting the stage for the upcoming Venom/ASM crossover. I'd like to be optimistic given how much this book has improved lately, but the prospect of more Lee is unappealing, to say the least.
The one thing the series does still have working in its favor here is Mark Bagley. Bagley has brought the steadying influence this series has needed, toning down the extreme qualities of previous story arcs in favor of clean, confident storytelling. Bagley's Venom is powerful and carries just enough of a sadistic, dangerous quality to suit the character's fragile mental state. Brief though the Venom/Kraven rematch is, at least it flows well. Bagley is even able to give visual punch to the unnecessary courtroom sequence, framing the talking heads in dramatic, close-up shots. Let's hope this doesn't mark the end of his time on the series.
The Verdict
After such a strong showing these past couple months, it's frustrating that "Lethal Protector" ends on such a bland note. This issue delivers neither a fitting homage to Amazing Spider-Man #33 nor a satisfying rematch between venom and Kraven. Instead, it wastes time setting the stage for the return of Lee Price. Mark Bagley's clean, confident art helps smooth over these problems to some extent, but not enough to save what could have been a memorable finale.
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