Venom #26: The Virus Has Arrived!

Donny Cates continues to spoil us with his remarkable run on Venom. His take on the cult hero of the Marvel Universe has carved its spot in the “Mount Rushmore” of Venom storylines. Notable storylines such as “New Ways to Die,” “Agent Venom,” and “The Last Temptation of Eddie Brock” are just a few of the great stories that will get brought up when talking about were does Cates’ run belong in the Venom lore, and he belongs at the top in any discussion.

Leading out of Venom #25 and coming into issue #26 I was on edge as I’m sure we’re all Venomaniacs to start digging into Dylan and his powers, continuing to the see Eddie pour his heart and soul into everything he does. This is what sets Cates apart from other writers that have penned Venom is that he has made Eddie human and has breathed new life into a Marvel icon and has done so in a way that you become possessed into demanding a certain way of writing Eddie and his story.

Issue 26 feels like the powers that be have infiltrated Donny’s Kingdom and have inserted their own sprinkle of storytelling. I say this not in a mean-spirited or negative way. My intentions are 100% loyal to Cates’ writing and will always be. Venom #26 does not feel like a Cates book. The Maker creating a synthetic symbiote suit that operates differently and can’t be sensed because it originated on his home universe seems like Donny left his laptop opened and someone came along and decided to write a few lines. The Maker himself is starting to feel like the cousin who just won’t leave and is starting to overstay his welcome. Virus as well, I’m not too sure how to take Virus at this moment. His overall build is obvious in who has set up his or her suit but Virus just seems like an odd placement in the storyline. The Maker, the coming of Null, and now we have Virus to contend with. Have I mentioned Earth-1610 yet?

In Cates We Trust. Absolutely we all do, everyone should he’s earned it. Maybe this issue is the calm before the storm. If you have ever been in a hurricane you know the eye is the calmest part of the storm. This is what I’m chalking issue 26 up to being. It’s the eye of the storm. I’m gearing up for Virus to crossdeck over to Spider-Man, and I’m boarding up my windows and making preparations for the coming of Knull.