After the milestone #250 issue, the reveals and space drama are dialed way down in Venom #251, which takes things back to a street-level for both MJ and Venom. Still trying to figure out how this permanent bond can work, the issue delves into MJ’s work life, reveals Doc Ock’s promotion, and explores what a Venom hero can look like. It’s a mix of fun storytelling with great character work.
Venom #251 opens with Luke Cage taking a meeting in his mayoral office with Doc Ock taking the role of operations director at S.C.A.R. It’s a shock to Luke, and it’s a reminder that symbiotes are not safe in New York.
The pace keeps itself at a fast clip in this issue, then bouncing to MJ’s latest acting gig, only for her to sneak out when trouble is brewing. One can see Spider-Man influences in the series, as she struggles to balance acting work with superhero work.
The best part of this issue is a series of costume changes as MJ doesn’t want to be spotted as Venom. This leads to new heroes like “Iron Venom” coming onto the scene. Once again, writer Al Ewing is playing around with what a symbiote can do, like impersonating Iron Man and using skates on his feet to avoid swinging. It all builds to a hilarious scene you won’t want to miss.
Hell yeah, let’s go!
Credit: Marvel
The issue also feels packed with characters, in a good way. Rick Jones makes a big splashy appearance in his new symbiote costume, for instance, and the cliffhanger page will have folks talking. While the reveal of a new Venom isn’t a surprise if you’ve been following the news, it’s an exciting sight as the series aims to get even more Spider-Man in its visual identity. Dylan and Paul might be absent, but every inch of this book feels stuffed.
Artist Paco Medina takes over for series regular Carlos Gomez and does a fantastic job. The detail is high, and colorist Frank D’Armata brings a great sense of lighting to everything he does. In fact, the lighting on the Iron Venom costume is a reminder of the great work he did on Iron Man. Character acting is key in this issue, with Luke throwing some expert facial expressions from reacting to Doc Ock, to Venom goofing off in the street.
Venom #251 is a gleefully creative cooldown issue that proves the series doesn’t need galactic stakes to entertain. Al Ewing, Paco Medina, and Frank D’Armata deliver sharp humor, kinetic action, and vibrant visuals, with MJ’s inventive approach to superheroing stealing the show. It’s smart, stylish, and irresistibly fun—proof that even after 250 issues, Venom still has plenty of tricks (and transformations) left.
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