Spider-Island is in full effect. Scientists are attemptint to cure the Spider-King and turn him back into Steve Rogers (Captain America). Meanwhile, Flash Thompson has stashed his Agent Venom threads while he tends to the personal matter. His father has just died and he’s comforting his girlfriend Betty. In the midst of their conversation, Flash gets a mission assignment that he is to track down and kill the Queen. The rest of the issue details Agent Venom’s showdown with the Queen leading up to the events in ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ #672 and the finale of Spider-Island.
Remender continues to impress with his characterization of Flash Thompson’s military take on Venom. This Venom isn’t just an evil anti-Spider-Man. Instead, Remender writes Flash as a conflicted hero who, like Peter Parker, is trying strenuously to balance his hero persona with his increasingly shaky personal life. In that respect, this new Venom truly is a darker version of Spider-Man, even moreso than any of his past incarnations. It is truly a brilliant take on a character that has long since grown stale.
The art from Tom Fowler, like many of the books in DC’s New 52, harkens back to some of the war or horror comics of the late seventies. It’s a great fit for the military feel of Flash as Agent Venom.
Now that the amazing ride that is Spider-Island is coming to a close, I can’t wait to see where Remender takes Venom as he stops being Spidey’s supporting character and returns to his own stories. That said, this issue like ‘Venom’ #7, is a direct tie-in to Spider-Island that shows a bit of the story that isn’t really key to what’s happening over in ‘Amazing’. So, if you’re not a fan of Venom, it isn’t necessary to grab this issue to keep up with Spider-Island.
Final verdict: Borrow
VENOM #8
Written by RICK REMENDER
Art by TOM FOWLER
Cover by TONY MOORE and JOHN RAUCH
