Fans of Venom have a lot to love about the character these days, with a Lethal Protector prequel series, exciting new developments with time travel, and his inclusion in Marvel’s winter event Dark Web. Now collected in trade paperback, Venom by Al Ewing & Ram V Vol. 3 continues the writers’ exciting new take on the character. Although Venom is reduced to his brain-eating self in Dark Web, does it hold up in the collected format?
More or less, the answer is yes. That’s largely because the first four issues collected here (Venom #11-16) continue Eddie and Dylan’s self-discovery journey. As with previous issues, the start of this collection criss-crosses 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.
As 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.
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 sci-fi concepts that are trippy, mind-bending, or both.
What in the ‘tarnation!?
Credit: Marvel
Bryan Hitch continues to draw in great detail with dynamic splash pages, which is impressive, given he hasn’t had a fill-in artist the entire run. Sleeper’s new costume looks super cool at the start of this story and suits his power set, giving him a science-lab feel. Dylan’s mindscape 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.
Things take a turn with issue #13. Like out of Jack and the Beanstock, Eddie pops into a new time thanks to his newfound abilities, and he’s super tiny. This gives Bryan Hitch a fun action scene to draw. Expect gore, good details about the surroundings, and heightened scale captured well. Hitch gets to stretch his legs with fantasy characters Eddie must vanquish, and the entire art team, including Andrew Currie and Alex Sinclair, captures the genre well. It was a masterful touch to add a tear to the goat-man, who Venom explodes out of. There’s also a great sequence involving the Symbiote goo covering an enemy that looks scary and cool at the same time.
Hitch gets to bring the big blockbuster fight scenes later in the collection, similar to the ones that put him on the map. Multiple splash pages go larger than life with the muscles on these characters and the 3D look and feel. Backed up by inkers Andrew Currie and Scott Hanna, the character design really pops. Normie’s Symbiote has an interesting look you’ve never seen before, and Dylan’s new look — which also graces the cover — looks great. Also, props to Hitch for making it clear Bedlam is huge compared to Venom. Colors by Alex Sinclair use a lot of warm yellows of the street lights to make the characters pop.
Unfortunately, the last two issues in this collection are devoid of the great character building in previous issues. They also aren’t much of a tie-in for the Dark Web event. It’s cool to imagine Dylan and Normie fighting their own battle while New York City is under attack, but it would have been helpful to see a few demons running about or where this fight takes place with other heroes fighting in the city. It seems like a missed opportunity. While this next gripe is more on the reader, this issue isn’t very new-reader-friendly. Where Dylan is emotionally and physically, let alone his abilities, will be lost on you if you haven’t been reading.
The first four issues collected here continue to develop Dyland and Eddie interestingly. Customary of collections like this one, though, when events occur, you lose much of the context of what is happening. A brief written description is plastered on the cover of issue #14, but the story loses momentum. Thankfully it’s back on track in single issues, so expect Volume 4 to pick up speed.
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