Pick of the Week
What did the
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Pulls
Art by Tony Moore, Tom Fowler & Danny Miki
Colors by John Rauch
Cover by Tony Moore
Size: pages
Price: 2.99
If 14 year old Ron knew that 34 year old Ron was reading and enjoying Venom this much, he would double over laughing. You see, 14 year old Ron lived a very limited comic book life, a steady diet of all things X-Men. He hadn’t yet realized there were other great comics at Marvel, DC, and other publishers (he’d find out in a year or so with Image Comics). He would have laughed at me for raving about this new Venom series, purely because of every lame cliche about the character and his irrational non-reading of Spider-Man related books and characters. But 14 year old Ron was also kinda dumb, naive and angry for no reason that he could put into words. I’ve lived a lot in these past 20 years and I’ve seen and experienced things that would blow 14 year old Ron’s mind, and in that time I’ve gained the insight into life that’s needed to really be able to absorb and appreciate just exactly what Rick Remender, Tony Moore, and Tom Fowler have done with Venom #5.
To anyone who’s curious, Venom #5 is a perfect jumping on point. If you missed the first four issues, it’s okay. Grab this one and you’ll get all you need and I’ll explain why later on.
But first, before I praise the story, I want to touch on the artwork of Tony Moore and Tom Fowler. Some people may complain about lateness or having artists trade off on a title, but if anyone complains for a moment about what we get issue in and issue out on Venom, then they’re nuts. Especially here with issue #5, we get both Tony Moore and Tom Fowler’s greatness in the same issue. I would never have thought that Moore and Fowler would compliment each other so well, but their shared basis in cartooning and genre comics leads to a wonderful mix of styles and seeing them together on this issue, side by side became a real treat. Neither is trying to ape the other, they’re just doing their unique thing and somehow the end result is a wonderful complimentary mix of style and storytelling that makes Venom one of the best books art-wise on the market today. We’re only five issues in and I hope that everyone realizes the gift that Marvel is giving us with each issue by having these guys work on the book.
Story-wise, we’ve spoken to writer Rick Remender about this book, both prior to and after its launch, and the one thing Remender has pushed was that his Venom lies solely within the character of Flash Thompson. He said this book would be more about Flash and his life’s struggles than it would be about Venom eating brains. After these first five issues, and especially this one, I see with absolutely clarity what Remender is doing. Flash Thompson has forever been a secondary character to the world of Spider-Man, but Remender is adding those layers of personality and dimension, taking the little bits of his life that have been exposed in Spider-Man storylines and tying them together establish a well rounded character that is not only a proud man and patriot, but also a hero. But like most human heroes, he has flaws and Remender isn’t hiding or avoiding those flaws, rather he’s capitalizing on them, pushing Flash Thompson to the brink and we get to watch how he deals with each challenge that comes with both being Venom as well as being Flash Thompson.
To get a bit more specific about Venom #5 and why it’s a perfect jumping on point, we get an opening action sequence that not only shows off Tony Moore’s art muscles, but basically gives the reader everything we need to know about Venom and who he is and what his life is like as Venom. After this 6 page opening sequence, we slide over to art by Tom Fowler as we see more of Flash Thompson’s life. The remaining 13 pages don’t even feature Flash as Venom at all. Not one single Venom action sequence. Instead we get a glimpse into Flash’s past and present as he deals with his own demons and the demons put up on him by his abusive and alcoholic father. Remender takes us through the current crisis of his father falling off the wagon and Flash promising his mother that he’ll find him, which allows us to see what Flash’s upbringing was like and how it’s driven him throughout his life, from his past decisions to his motivations for joining the Army and ultimately becoming Venom.
In the span of 13 pages, Remender has written one of the most realistic and believable sequences I’ve ever read in a superhero comic book. Through the years we’ve gotten our fair share of “message” comics. Comics that deal with social issues such as drug abuse, homosexuality, disease, you name it, we’ve had comics cover it. But with this issue, there is no judgment or condemnation of alcoholism, or a lesson, per se. Rather it’s a tragically realistic and touching story of someone who has had to deal with a family member’s bullshit for his entire life, and what the affect that has been on his life. Sure, you can walk away from Venom #5 with your own conclusions and judgments. Hopefully we all can learn from this story and know it’s best not to drink and abuse, both physically and mentally, your family and loved ones, but that’s a conclusion for you to come to on your own. That’s what’s so damn elegant about what Remender and Fowler and Moore have done. They’ve told a modern story that is one that is relatable and true to the social climate of our times, while propelling the character and story of Venom forward.
Venom was already a special comic book in my opinion, but with Venom #5, Remender, Fowler and Moore just took it up a notch. This issue has the makings of becoming one of those examples to people who don’t read comics about what the potential of a good comic book story can be. How it can be filled with kicking and punching and costumes one moment, and then filled with laughter or tears and emotions.
Yes, 14 year old Ron. Venom.
Ron Richards
Out of step with the world.
ron@ifanboy.com
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I was unaware of this book’s existence. I need to go read this now.
The spider man books are so good right now
damn Ron, this whole issue was a gut punch. awesome
wow, I got blind-sided with that POTW! Nice one!
@Ron…how dare you pick something you personally enjoy. Don’t you know the iFanBase wants to feel justified. ~
Amazing book. Just amazing. I still haven’t decided whether this is my POW or not, but it is definitely a 5 star. Really hits home.
I may give it a look. I’ve tried this series but haven’t found near the interest as you guys have.
Also my POTW. A completely fantastic issue, especially for a long-time Spidey fan. Between this and ASM I had a great time reading comics this week!
@cprevite ‘vindicated’ is the word…and dude sent in a retraction according to the recent podcast.
Nice review ron.
I’ll wait for the trade though with this, I’m just not a huge Remender fan. Although if I was 15 again I’d totally buy it because Venom is one of my favorite villains. Plus the art looks pretty sweet with the previews.
My POTW was Detective Comics. Snyder writes a fucking terrifying Joker and the art in this was outstanding. That shower page is gonna haunt me forever.
I would say Venom is better than Amazing Spider-man right now, I never thought that would happen.
I think they’re just effing with us now. It got a smile out of me, though.
Now that I dropped it it gets POTW. But Ron liked the previews issues to, right?
:/ I read the PotW description on front of iFanboy… now I expect something :(.
Ron’s 34? Man… I would have guessed maybe 28!
I’ll have to pick this up. I’ve been skeptical of the series because I’ve always though Venom was kind of a lame character but this take on it seems a lot more interesting.
Great Review Man, felt the same way when I finish this too, Also my potw
Well said. I read the review right after reading the book and got the same feeling.
@Ron makes writing reviews look easy!
It bothers me that I can’t read this until Tuesday at the earliest. (no comic shops within an hour drive, have to order online)
I’ve been tempted to give this book a try, and this may be the issue that does it.
Can’t agree with you more, Ron. This was a great comic. I’m noticing lately how important colourists are in the impact of a comic. I’d say that this week had a lot of comics that could have been PotW (Chris Samnee’s art on Cap & Bucky to just name one). But really good call!
The only thing that could have made this review better was if I got to the end and it said Conor Kilpatrick.
Ron says anyone that does care for the art in this book is “nuts”. Call me insane then.
Got to the comic shop today and thumbed through this issue. I just can’t get past the rough, blotchy look of the book. I didn’t find it impressive at all.
Guess I’m nuts.
Solid review….i can see why you and others liked it and had that emotional gut punch. Definitely wasn’t expecting this tone but i just couldn’t connect with or enjoy this. I disagree about the judgmental thing, cause i felt it was a bit preachy and the characterization of the circle of abuse and approval seeking son were a bit too cliche for me. i just could not buy into any of it.
If this title is going to morph into a relationship, daddy issues thing then thats an unfortunate bait and switch cause thats really not the superhero comic for me.
Thought the art was awesome though.
I’m drawing a blank. Has Snyder’s current incredible Detecive Comics arc gotten a POTW pick from the guys? I don’t recall it being chosen which surprises me. I continues to personify great storytelling.
@keith7198 Yes.
@conor Cool. Thanks for the clarity. Really feel like this book has gotten even better since that issue.
I’ve been meaning to jump onto this series for a while, I can’t decide if I’m going to get this issue or just pick it up in trade.
Nice Minor Threat reference at the end (it’s the little things that get my attention sometimes).
About time this book got the recognition it deserves! Rightly so.
This book was good, but better than Brubaker and Samnee on Cap and Bucky? Meh. I thought Remender’s other book this month, Uncanny X-Force was more entertaining than this book. That’s just me.
Good review.
I too have been sruprised at how enjoyable this book is.
However I dont see how anyone who doesn’t read comics and already knows the history and extensive back story behind Venom- Flash and Spidey could possibly enjoy it to it’s fullest extent.
No way would I hand this to a non comic book reader as a gateway drug.
It is good story telling but would be very confusing to a non initiated reader, or in the very least not as fun.
Spidey books are awesome right now, Venom and Amazing both have greaat art and writing to boot.
Just read this issue and it was, indeed, wonderful. In fact, the first four issues of this series were pretty darn good too. The last 13 pages of issue five is one heck of a sequence. Really glad that i went back and read this. Nice review, 2011 Ron.