Venom is a series that takes big swings, seems to update readers on how Symbiotes can work regularly, and has even introduced time travel. It makes each issue all the more interesting as we have no idea what we’re in for. That is especially exciting for a hero like Venom, who has historically been cool looking but not much more. This week, Venom #11 has Ram V return to writing with a new focus on Dylan Brock. Can Eddie’s son survive his clutches as Bedlam?
As with previous issues, Venom #11 crisscrosses between moments we’ve already seen. That helps inform readers what is happening while shedding light on a much more complex story at work. This issue opens with Dylan realizing his dad is Bedlam, which was revealed earlier in the series as he can jump into specific Symbiotes. This issue includes two big ideas: Sleeper takes on a new form we can see on the cover, and the second involves Dylan.
The second one will make sci-fi fans very happy. It continues to evolve what we know about Symbiotes and how they work while revealing new abilities. We’ve learned over the years Dylan is unique, and this issue expands on his abilities a bit more. While the series has revealed Eddie can travel through time, it appears Dylan has a whole set of mindscape powers to protect himself and maybe even fight others.
Sleeper gets a bigger role this issue.
Credit: Marvel
Bryan Hitch continues to draw in high detail with dynamic splash pages, which is impressive given he hasn’t had a fill-in artist, and we’re already onto issue #11. Sleeper’s new costume looks super cool and suits his powerset giving him a science-lab feel. The mindscape Dylan is in is epic and impressive on a scale you’d expect from something like Hellraiser. Speaking of which, the use of chains adds to that feel and the scale. Dylan looks upon some epic, weird shapes floating about that are awe-inspiring.
In general, color choices by Alex Sinclair create a darker tone that allows the glowing eyes of maniac Symbiotes attacking Dylan, for instance, to look extra special.
This is likely less obvious in the collected format, but in a 20-page single issue, all the recounting scenes or replaying moments hurts the narrative. Plot progression sometimes feels a bit limited, with this issue ending at a place where you might say to yourself, “that’s all?”
At its core, Venom has always been a nondescript alien with ties to a larger hive, but not much more than that until Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman added new mythology to the Symbiote culture and history. Now it seems Ram V, Al Ewing, and Bryan Hitch are delving into Symbiote abilities when that Symbiote is either the one (or, in this case, the King in Black) or something new formed from something special. That’s interesting, as it allows the creators to bleed their ideas into different sci-fi concepts that are trippy, mind-bending, or both.
Venom #11 continues to alter what we know about Symbiotes, especially modern characters like Sleeper and Dylan Brock. Venom is one of the best mind-bending sci-fi horror stories on the stands today.
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