“Death Spiral” has passed its halfway point, and there are more bodies to drop in Venom #256, even with the blood not yet dry on Eddie Brock’s father. After part 5, Torment is rushing to kill Dylan, Eddie’s son, and at the same time, the synergy between Spider-Man, Carnage, and Venom is still shaky at best. The murder mystery continues in one of the sharpest drawn issues in the series yet.
Venom #256 has the most shocking death yet in the event, so if you haven’t been spoiled yet, pick this issue up quickly. Not only is it a moment that should surprise, but it could alter MJ and Dylan for some time. The issue opens with Torment literally at Dylan’s door, and the fact that Dylan doesn’t die instantly seems to suggest Torment is mostly human, due to his speed. Soon, Paul is helping Dylan slam the door on Torment’s arm, and things devolve from there. It’s an intense opening that doesn’t calm down for a second.
If you’re looking for clues, Al Ewing sprinkles some interesting tidbits in the dialogue. It’s still hard to gather who Torment is, but it’s clear they have some kind of power to sense the family of MJ, Eddie, and Peter. Plot progression is made by the end, along with a major de-powering of Torment that should matter later.
Striking opening page.
Credit: Marvel
Fans of Dylan will be pleased to see some real tears and maybe some bonding taking place in this one, along with some reminders that Spider-Man won’t let anyone kill. Plus, the Jackpot power gauntlet is also used, adding a nice callback to Paul’s invention for MJ.
Carlos Gomez’s art is incredibly detailed, and he continues to get better with every passing issue. This time, he gets to show off Spider-Man, and he pops into the book with a cool full-page splash. His rendering of Carnage is also good, with a slightly bulkier look than we’ve come to expect. Throw in an epic full-page death and a full-page redesign of a character, and this is a standout issue by him. Also, not for nothing, but Gomez clearly likes to draw brick walls being busted through.
Venom #256 hits like a hammer, pushing Death Spiral into darker territory with a major death that will ripple across the cast. The issue balances relentless action with just enough emotional grounding to keep you invested, especially through Dylan’s perspective. While the mystery around Torment continues to tease without fully revealing its hand, the forward momentum and striking artwork make this one of the event’s strongest chapters yet.
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