If one thing is true about Al Ewing’s Venom, it’s that this series is more than happy to take big swings. Take, for instance, the cliffhanger in Venom #251, which features MJ and Venom changing their looks to be carbon copies of Spider-Man! It got fans talking, yet fit within the story as MJ doesn’t want people to know Venom is swinging around. They chose a bad time to look like Spidey; however, as we see in Venom #252, Doc Ock is not pleased to see his arch-nemesis’s look being used willy-nilly.
As far as new story arcs go, the second years of a book go, it’s quite clear with Venom #252, Ewing and company are having a ton of fun playing around with street-level symbiotes. This issue features Venom trying out a Spider-Man look, but also Anti-Venom showing up, as well as Rick Jones/Toxin sporting a new heroic look.
The issue opens with the two fighting Doc Ock, who sports his classic white suit look, and he’s not pleased with someone pretending to be Spider-Man. Paco Medina is the guest artist and has a little fun with Venom, forgetting that Spider-Man doesn’t have an open mouth built into his mask. While Doc Ock blows his top, Venom gaslights him a bit, and it’s fun to see a more light-hearted vibe to Venom continue from the All-New Venom era.
Classic Doc Ock!
Credit: Marvel
Much of this issue takes place over a few minutes, with Doc Ock insisting he’s in charge, and Luke Cage showing up, none too pleased that Doc Ock seems to think he has any authority in his city. It’s clear by the end of the issue that Doc Ock’s little organization needs to rethink its counter-symbiote police work, with Venom and Toxin winning over the public and beating Ock fairly easily. The general plotting has an old-school comics feel, with a conflict, plenty of fighting, and events unfolding over a single hour.
Venom #252 is a breezy, brawl-heavy romp that embraces the fun of symbiotes on the street level, using sharp character beats, a playful tone, and classic pacing to deliver an entertaining showdown, even if it’s more snack-size than substantial.
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