Venom #250: Foreshadowed and Overshadowed

Sound the alarms! For the dark lord Knull’s name is whispered throughout the cosmos, heralding his return from the grave. And although he bested 80% of Marvel’s heroes and nearly conquered the Earth in his last rampage, this time, dear readers, THIS time he shall prove a true threat. Such is the big takeaway from Venom #250, a double-sized special featuring the talents of current Venom/Eddie Brock writers Al Ewing and Charles Soule, as well as superstar artists Todd Nauck, Terry Dodson and Carlos Gomez.

In a bold subversion of expectations, this landmark issue is a 40/60 split in focus between its titular character and a new one. While Venom and Mary Jane web-swing across the NYC skyline, a lone Skrull infiltrator takes on a death-defying mission. Sent by the Skrull-Kree Alliance to investigate a separatist who has seized control of the Chitauri hiveworld, the Skrull agent discovers something more sinister than a rebellion. Symbiotes have infested the hive, using the Chitauri to farm a new army of Klyntar warriors, all bearing Knull’s mark. He barely escapes with his life, but finds that the conspiracy runs deeper, several Kree members of the Alliance having succumbed to Knull’s influence, believing him to be their destined ruler. Knowing Venom is the only being who stands a chance against him, the Skrull agent delivers a foreboding warning to Earth before valiantly sacrificing himself.

Intended to foreshadow Venom’s next big conflict, this “b-plot” incidentally overshadows him. It has action, adventure and danger stemming from its expendable protagonist, who’s lack of plot armor makes death a real possibility. In comparison, MJ and Venom’s tussle with Madame Masque feels unpresuming and, frankly, a retread of their battle from All-New‘s opening arc. The sole development is that Masque now knows MJ’s secret identity and can use it as blackmail, which feeds into the comic’s larger issue of too much setup, not enough payoff. While Ewing’s choice to weave the intergalactic politics of Imperial War into this story is applaudable world-building, it’s also T.M.I. for what leads to a simple hero vs villain event. The clunky exposition catching readers up to speed is also a bit much, though it is a necessary evil. And Ewing, clever as always, goes metatextual to poke fun at how confusing Venom lore has been these past few years.

Messiness aside, Venom #250 lands a genuinely unexpected twist. Knull is back, yes, but not in control of his forces. Goddess of death Hela has snatched his soul from the afterlife, trapping him and stealing his power to crown herself the Queen in Black. If this rings a bell for any avid gamers, it’s because this is a nearly identical  plot to season 3 of Marvel Rivals. The comic division must be catching on to the video game phenomenon’s runaway success, adapting some of its lucrative ideas. And who can blame them when, rest assured, Hela donning her in-game cosmetic would sell covers galore.