Venom: First Host #2
Matthew David Clarke
Recap
We rejoin Eddie Brock in an alleyway, his connection to his symbiote disrupted. The Kree, Tel-Kar, is fighting a Skrull. Eddie recovers and assists Tel-Kar, his symbiote feeling some kind of affinity for the Kree. They eventually defeat the Skrull, but Tel-Kar is injured.
Liz goes down to the lab to discover Steve and Venom performing surgery on the Kree (comics.)
Tel-Kar interrupts Liz castigating Eddie. He describes his part in the war with the Skrull. Venom remembers but the symbiote chooses Eddie over Tel-Kar. Tel-Kar throws Liz through the window to distract Venom. While he saves Liz, Tel-Kar goes down to the lab and fetches the symbiote spawn. He trades one symbiote for another and leaves.
Review
I’m afraid this book goes from bad to worse. Straight away the cover annoyed me. What is that frame doing there? I know it’s a little thing, but the way the characters are coming out of it doesn’t make any sense.
I like the opening page, Eddie’s monologue is well executed but the long fight sequence that follows is pretty awkwardly done.
Page four in particular. I’m sorry but the more you look at this page the less sense it makes. This is the nonsensical Michael Bay approach to action, with characters clashing in the air at a slightly vertiginous slant. Some of the art is good though, as in the previous issue the symbiote is the highlight.
The action is soon followed by a great big stinking sci-fi info-dump. Fothermuckers need to show not tell.
This book just kept pissing me off and then they top it all with a weeping symbiote – seriously. I’ve no issue with men showing emotions, but murderous men/alien hybrids? Really?
So basically it’s rubbish, I’m sorry but it is, which is a shame because I enjoyed the previous issue.
Final Thoughts
Nonsense followed by more nonsense.
Venom: First Host #2: Number Two is Right
- Writing - 6/106/10
- Storyline - 5/105/10
- Art - 7/107/10
- Color - 6/106/10
- Cover Art - 7.5/107.5/10