Writer: Ram V
Art: Bryan Hitch, Alex Sinclair, Andrew Currie, and VC’s Clayton Cowles
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price:$3.99
Release Date: December 22nd, 2021
As Dylan Brock’s world completely unravels around him, he finally embarks on a shocking reality: the VENOM symbiote is not some harmless toy or plaything. No matter how much it impersonates pets and other lighthearted things, it’s a formidable, vicious, and often lethal alien. And, whatever special “bond” the symbiote had with Eddie Brock appears to be gone forever. Let’s dive into VENOM #3 by Ram V and Bryan Hitch to see how Dylan comes across this realization as well as what other plot threads are revealed while this creative team’s story begins to take shape.
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THE DISPATCH
Ram V really helps bring this story back down to Earth and ground the framework from where Donny Cates took the series. After reading VENOM #3, this story fits the premise much more of what I view a VENOM title is supposed to be. Readers will discover a technical/ industrial side of the series that logically makes sense after the events from KING IN BLACK while also watching Ram V’s VENOM searching for its footing without Eddie Brock.
I’m not going to lie, I was a bit nervous after I found out the VENOM symbiote was going to be attached to Dylan throughout the series. However, this issue just proved how that doesn’t necessarily need to be the case at all. Ram V finds a way to give fans VENOM minus Eddie Brock but also without Dylan necessarily being the replacement which is very intriguing to this reviewer.
Moreover, there is an analogy that Ram V uses in this issue of VENOM that compares what the new antagonist is planning on doing to VENOM and the symbiotes. The metaphor involves an umbrella and a rhetorical question that’s very fitting to what this new villain is up to… and I absolutely loved it.
This analogy was the perfect explanation and painted the picture as to what this new adversary is up to. Plus, Ram V focuses on the VENOM symbiote itself providing it with more of its own personality than ever before. What’s crazy is that its separation from a host is actually giving it more of an identity than when it’s with Eddie or Dylan… and I absolutely love that too.
ART
Bryan Hitch continues to supply fans with clean, crisp, detailed renderings and designs. Plus, he uses this issue to show his range and creativity with the VENOM symbiote. Hitch manages to draw the symbiote in a variety of expressive ways, which works in this week’s VENOM #3 since he’s not bonded with anyone in particular. Furthermore, his panel sequences and progression flow nicely providing this sense of thematic movement and action amongst the characters. Moreover, I’m excited to see what the Spearhead can do. Yet, my anticipation solely comes from the illustrations and the look of the battle suit drawn by Hitch because Ram V uses very little page count to describe anything at all about the weapon.
FINAL THOUGHTS
VENOM #3 re-grounds the character and returns the premise of VENOM back to its roots. Ram V sets up a new villain with a sharp story that builds the identity of the symbiote itself and lays a strong foundation for the future of this run. Truthfully, I was initially uninterested in a VENOM story incorporating Dylan Brock as the focal point of the VENOM series. However, he’s come across as more of a prominent side role player AND he’s really grown on me as a character. Readers, following an epic like KING IN BLACK, is incredibly hard to do. Nevertheless, Ram V has developed a solid start to his run and I’d highly recommend comic fans give it a look. Let me know what you think, Merry Christmas, and God Bless!