Venom: Black, White & Blood has taken a unique approach to the Lethal Protector, focusing on different points in Venom’s history. It’s not the first Black, White & Blood anthology to take this approach, as Spider-Man: Black Suit & Blood explored lost moments when Peter Parker wore the Symbiote suit. But it shows that Eddie Brock isn’t the only person who’s encountered the Venom symbiote, and Venom: Black, White & Blood #4 reminds us that not everyone who uses the symbiote is on the side of the angels.
Take the first story, aptly titled “Black, White…and Blood.” It flashes back to when Lee Price, an amoral mercenary who briefly wore the Venom symbiote, is being targeted by a mystery assailant. Said assailant has a genuine bone to pick with Lee, resulting in a bloody showdown. Al Ewing doesn’t waste any time, diving into Price’s mindset and showing that he sees the Symbiote as a tool, not a partner. He also sees the world in shades of black and white, a literalism that becomes evident in Kei Zama and Rachelle Rosenberg’s artwork.
Zama will remind readers of just how terrifying Price was as Venom, as he towers over his victims, with his teeth elongating into massive fangs and his eyes becoming jagged slits of white. Compared to Brock’s Venom, who at least had a human visage, there’s a little less protection and a lot more lethal going on with this guy. If that wasn’t frightening enough, Rosenberg punctuates the action with bursts of red resembling blood, whether it’s a watermelon bursting open or the constant sight of a red laser sight trailing Price. Things do actually get bloody at the end, so make sure you have a strong stomach before diving in.
Marvel
Things get even bloodier in the next story, “Stuck on You” by Rich Douek and Robert Gill. This time, the focus shifts to Mac Gargan, aka the Scorpion, who wore the Venom symbiote for a time…and apparently wanted it back at one point in time, as he engages Eddie Brock in a brutal duel. Gill has a gift for drawing Venom in action, as he makes the Lethal Protector muscular yet nimble, with a long red tongue that trails behind him like a trail of blood. Douek also takes a deep dive into Gargan’s head, showing how the symbiote enables him to embrace his darkest desires.
The final story, “Shiny”, sees Chris Bachalo returning to the interiors of a Marvel book to illustrate and write a Christmas story featuring Venom. Bachalo’s artwork remains as cartoony and expressive as ever; Venom is mostly a moving mass of shadows and teeth. The story itself is a bit scatter shot, as it attempts to reveal more about Venom’s past yet feels like it could have used a few more pages to build on the ideas being presented fully. That being said, I wouldn’t mind seeing more of Bachalo’s work on a long form comic project.
Venom: Black, White & Blood #4 closes out the latest installment of the Marvel anthology by touching on different parts of the Lethal Protector’s legacy, and featuring plenty of blood in the process. Venom fans, this is a comic you need to add to your collection – especially if you like your symbiote action big, bold and bloody.
You must be logged in to post a comment.