MARCO SPEAKS SPIDEY- Venom: Lethal Protector (2022) #2 REVIEW

It always makes for a good story when the hunter becomes the hunted. And that is exactly the case in this Venom series. Instead of an almighty, powerful, and threatening Venom… we get somebody very vulnerable and probably at the lowest point of his life. The woman that he loves is going to marry another man. And, villains all around the city are grouping together and ganging up to take his life. It is not easy being in the crosshairs of villains of the same mind and intent. And Venom is learning about this life lesson the hard way. He already had to face three villains united in a handicap match, then almost got his symbiote robbed from him by Humbug… and now he has to go one-on-one with Hydro-Man himself. If you are a fan of these gauntlet-match type comic book series, then you are definitely in for a treat. This is surely one of the faster-paced and more action-packed Venom series in a long time, plus the setting and plot are all very gritty and down-to-earth. This is how a classic Venom tale should look and feel like, at the very core.

OFFICIAL MARVEL COMICS DESCRIPTION:

Published:

May 18, 2022

Writer:

David Michelinie

Penciler:

Ivan Fiorelli

Cover Artist:

Paulo Siqueira, Ken Lashley

VENOM VS HYDRO-MAN…FOR THE FIRST TIME! ‘NUFF SAID!

PROS:

• Even if it was just shown in a few panels, the dependency and addiction between symbiote and host was made very evident, as our protagonist did not know how to live on without his alien friend. He looked very fragile, afraid, and generally troubled when he thought that he lost the symbiote after the attack of Humbug. But alas, Venom came back strong, and they could use the pronoun “we” once again… and in the next round with Humbug, Venom came prepared.
• It was a very gentle, relatable, and soft side of Venom that we got to see, as readers, when Humbug opened up to him, and showed our protagonist why he is simply willing to die and be killed. Venom could relate to being a very human victim of the evil in the world, and thus, he spared Humbug. It is moments like this where an anti-hero bordering on villain shines brightly… when he becomes somebody anybody can feel for or connect to, no matter how different we may all be on the surface.
• Venom was really killing it this issue, making use of his combat experience and strategy against the likes of Hydro-Man and the group of villains that assaulted him after, including the “leader” Humbug. It must always be remembered that Venom is not only merely about brute strength and savagery. The combined minds of symbiote and host mean that it is double the thinking-power in the heat of battle. The numbers game is not as simple anymore as just having more people on your team trying to take down the infamous Venom.
• It really pains a reader to see how tragic the personal life of Venom has become, whether it is about his career, his relationship with friends, or his failed love-life with the woman of his dreams. And perhaps this makes our connection with the leading man stronger than ever in this comic book series.

CONS:

• Venom is supposed to be very smart, and it was kind of sad seeing him realize that he is being hunted so late in the game, as if it were not obvious already from the very start. The idea of being hunted came as such a shock to Venom, when in reality, he should have been able to deduce that right off the bat. Journalists, huh?

FINAL SCORE: B++

The appeal for this comic book comes from its simplicity. It is Venom, down on his luck, being hunted by the city’s most dangerous criminals, just trying to get by. This is a good read for hardcore fans of the character, but also a nice gateway story for those just getting to know the friendly neighborhood symbiote. Regardless, the action packed into each and every single panel and page, plus the quick and snappy pacing make for an entertaining experience, as we all try to uncover the larger, diabolical plot behind Venom being given the bullseye.