VENOM #32
Mike Eakins
Recap
HOLY SH*T! That’s it, that’s the recap, however, my editors are most likely going to make me write something. Eddie finds a portal that will completely change the course of his plans and on top of his monumental discovery, the team of Dylan, Thor, Spider-Man, and company continue to handle their own and possibly see a change in the tide.
Review
Flash is back, Eddie is dead, and Dylan is pissed, just another day in the life of Eddie Brock. As we inch closer to wrapping the Donny Cates’ era of Venom it is issues like these that have the reader looking deep into every panel for that one Easter egg that could lead to the next big reveal. Issue #32 is filled with magnificently frightening visuals courtesy of Iban Coello and Jesus Aburtov who are two of the best artists on the shelves currently. Panel after crazy panel this issue is chock-full of maddening reveals that Venomaniacs have been craving for. Dylan, Flash, and Eddie, and then you have the last couple of pages that will have you celebrating like the Frog brothers killing vampires.
Aside from battling Knull and navigating the hive mind, there are two moments in the book that capture the essence of Cates’ ability to enhance the reader’s experience but tap into the character’s psyche with such passion and grace. While this review will remain spoiler-free, I will mention the two instances involving Spider-Man, Dylan, Eddie, and Flash that take the main stage of great human emotion that is so well done. If this issue were a movie, it would be a shoo-in for an Emmy.
Even as the Venom show winds down, the magic on the pages continues. I’ve said this before in my other reviews of this series that there is something inherently special about this team and what they have done and what they continue to do. Two issues until we get to #200 get your codex ready because these next two issues are going to be so jammed packed with action and reveal that you can’t help but think this creative team is all in for the final hand. All the proof you need is in the final pages of this issue and then the teaser for issue #33. There is a swan song on these pages, the question is whose swan song is it? Is it Cates? Is it Eddie? Only the next two issues will tell.
Final Thoughts
I think for this section I want to focus on Dylan Brock. My final thoughts are going to spend on Dylan and how he has been forced to grow up by leaps and bounds with little time to think about any consequences other than he needs to save and be with Eddie. I want to talk more about the first section of this book so much because it tells so much, then when you flip through the next couple of panels and there he is, Dylan Brock. Just like that, he is shown in all his gloriousness, much like this series.
VENOM #32: Harlots of Hell, Spread Your Wings
- Writing - 9/109/10
- Storyline - 9/109/10
- Art - 9/109/10
- Color - 9/109/10
- Cover Art - 10/1010/10
