Review: Venom #7

Venom #7 contains incredibly dynamic, action packed scenes with art that flies off the page. Unfortunately it is enveloped in an uneven story. The story focuses on Eddie Brock’s son Dylan travelling the country as he tries to evade The Life Foundation. Eddie has been elevated to King in Black status so Dylan is bonded to Venom and living small town life.

Much of this issue is a battle on two fronts. A rival gang attacks Dylan’s friend Jake at a bar while Dylan faces off with the symbiote Bedlam. The book is content to give us great action with these two major threats but doesn’t bother to give us much characterization beyond this.

After massive battles on both fronts the book leads to shocking ends. First Jake is shot and killed when Venom fails to reach him. Along with this Bedlam and Venom’s battle ends with Venom pinned down and Bedlam revealed to be Eddie Brock. The tragic death and the surprise revelation make up to some degree for the very sparse plot.

Bryan Hitch is a proven superstar as an artist and he uses this book as an opportunity to display action packed, visceral art with all the destruction you could hope for. The two page spreads, the motorcycles flying, the cars being smashed all give this the feel of a Hulk book. The still feels a bit washed out in spite of having a dedicated inker. A stronger inker could lift this book immensely.

This book feels a bit like the Malibu Comics old Prime book with the young hero in over his head. But this book lacks that hero’s heart, insecurities, deep character interactions and real life conflicts. The book’s greatest drawback is failing to make us truly care about Dylan. He feels very much like a placeholder until Eddie’s return. But it gets enough right that it may improve now that Eddie is back, albeit as a villain.

Writing: 3 of 5 stars
Art 4.5 of 5 stars
Inks: 3 of 5 stars

Overall: 3.5

Writer: Ram V
Penciler: Bryan Hitch
Inker: Andrew Currie
Colors: Alex Sinclair
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Author Profile

M.R. Jafri

M.R. Jafri was born and raised in Niagara Falls New York and now lives with his family in Detroit Michigan. He's a talkative introvert and argumentative geek. His loves include Star Wars, Star Trek, Superheroes, Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, Transformers, GI Joe, Films, Comics, TV Shows, Action Figures and Twizzlers.