Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Donny Cates
Artists: Iban Coello and Juan Gedeon
Colors: Jesus Aburtov
The Synopsis:
“VENOM BEYOND” BEGINS HERE!
If you thought VENOM ISLAND was insane comic book action of the highest order, then shut your yapper and face front, True Believer, because we’re about to outdo ourselves!
For months, the Maker has been fascinated with symbiotes. IN THIS ISSUE we find out why – and what he intends to do with any he can get his hands on…
The Review:
For long time readers of Venom they have seen a lot of changes come and go. Anyone remember Venom Space Knight? UGH! Eddie Brock has been torment by the Venom Symbiote, the two are like the worst Hollywood couple with their on again, off again relationship. But this issue feels different. Eddie seems different. The character has emerged from the fallout of “Absolute Carnage” a more well rounded character.
Part of the change in Eddie is due to his son Dylan. Watching Brock dote over his boy brings a new dimension to a character that has been sorely lacking any depth. Mixed with the fact that Eddie and Venom now seem to be on the same page gives us a glimpse at a man who may have finally found some peace in his life.
But this is comics… so you know any peace found isn’t going to last.
Eddie and Dylan are thrust headlong into a fight involving Virus and the Maker. Virus is a question mark, Eddie doesn’t know the ID of the villain and we get a ham-fisted interruption when Virus is about to reveal his name. It’s all pointless action that leads to the real payoff, the last page.
Marvel and Cates have been teasing the Maker plans for some time now and it looks like over the next few issues that story line is going to payoff. The Maker, Eddie, Dylan and even Virus have been transported to Earth 1610. Home of the Ultimate Marvel Universe!
Cates keep the story tight, although the action seems forced and the character of Virus is thrown in as almost an afterthought. I’m not sure if the character will have a purpose later in this story line, but right now Virus seems pointless.
The art is superb from the team of Coello and Gedeon. It’s has a cartoony edge to it that makes the fantastical elements of this issue all that more immersive, yet the action sequence that Cates forced in is saved by brilliant art and panel work by the art team.
All in all this issue is the start of something very interesting and who knows what impact it could have as the Ultimate Universe has once again entered into the picture. Could we be seeing a return? I guess we all will have to keep reading to find out!
Final Score: 8 out of 10.