Venom: First Host #4
Matthew David Clarke
Recap
Enroute to the Skrull bio-weapons facility Captain Exposition demonstrates his new symbiote’s abilities, by sending M’Lanz to sleep. This time using pheromones rather than middling dialogue.
Realizing that Tel-Kar has released the plague, Eddie proceeds into the facility alone and barricades the ship door. Tel-Kar triggers the site’s incinerator units.
Eddie is eventually beaten down but manages to lay hands on Tel-Kar’s ankle, giving the symbiotes a chance to communicate.
Tel-Kar loses control of “his” symbiote and M’Lanz takes the opportunity to join the fray. During the fight her suit is pierced, the infant symbiote leaps to her aid and Venom is reunited #contrivedmusicalchairs.
Now outnumbered four to one (sort of) Tel-Kar is cornered he has called in reinforcements…
Review
To paraphrase Good Ol’ JR, business is picking up and it’s about time. After two issues which can be charitably described as mediocre, this is a definite improvement.
Sure there’s still exposition in the dialogue and the writing generally is nothing to write home about. There’s also not much plot or ideas to speak of and the characters remain unchanged. Tel-Kar and Eddie clearly have different approaches to “their” symbiote and this might have been interesting, but it’s only briefly touched on in passing.
So why do I feel better about this issue? Well for one we’re reaching the climax (or possibly anti-climax) so there’s finally a sense that we’re getting somewhere. But perhaps, more importantly, the artists have actually been given something to do this time. There are some really good physical action sequences and some stand-out panels that paper over the cracks left by the book’s other deficiencies.
Final Thoughts
An improvement over the last two issues, but it’s still hard to recommend dropping cash on it.
Venom: First Host #4 – Guess Who’s Back, Back Again
- Writing - 6/106/10
- Storyline - 5/105/10
- Art - 7.5/107.5/10
- Color - 7/107/10
- Cover Art - 5/105/10