At the shocking finale of ‘Venom’ #17, Eddie Brock became host to the Toxin symbiote and completed the Crime Master’s new villain team, the Savage Six! Now fully formed, the first mission of the Savage Six… destroy Venom and all that he holds dear!

When this issue opens, Flash/Venom is calling his girlfriend, Betty Brant. Not getting an answer, Flash imagines the worst and worries that the Six may have already gotten to her. Flash quickly discovers from a note on the fridge that Betty is alive and well. She’s just not at answering her calls after Flash’s recent erratic behavior (and his dumping her several issues back). She’s at a local coffee house with Peter Parker.

When Flash finally catches up to Betty, Peter’s gone and Betty’s still in the coffee shop grabbing an Americana. As she get’s her drink, she’s approached by Flash’s “old pal” Jack O’Lantern. When Flash crashes Jack’s party as Venom, things turn into utter chaos.

Flash’s efforts to save Betty’s life from the Savage Six aren’t made any better by her fear of Venom himself. When the story winds down to a shocking scene in a garbage-filled alley, readers of this title will have their jaws on the floor as the final panel changes everything!

Rick Remender shares writing duties with Cullen Bunn on this issue and, while I’m not sure who wrote what, it’s a great issue. That’s a good thing since Bunn will take over solo duties after the ‘Savage Six’ story arc wraps this coming fall.

The art is handled this issue by Lan Medina who does a wonderful job. His lines are very crisp, yet thick. So much so that they remind me a wee bit of Simon Bisley’s work in ‘Lobo’ and ‘2000AD’. Medina’s stuff isn’t nearly as grungy as Bisley’s work but something in the musculature and costumes give it the same vibe.

I’m really enjoying the ‘Savage Six’ arc quite a bit and can’t wait to see how many more bombshells they’re going to drop on into the Flash/Venom mythos before this one is over.

Verdict: Buy

VENOM #18
Written by RICK REMENDER and CULLEN BUNN
Art by LAN MEDINA and NELSON DECASTRO
Cover by TONY MOORE and JOHN RAUCH