


There is little to no character work being done, and the plot is not exciting to see Venom in. Sable, espionage, and writing characters into consulted story genres that don’t concern them is admittedly Micheline’s forte and normally it goes over well, but the quality of writing here is see-through at best. If Eddie’s place in this plot centers around Pablo, then their relationship needs to be better characterized as it comes off as cold and forced. He just shows up randomly because the plot needs him too, he does some punching, and leaves with Pablo in tow and Sable doing whatever dreadfully monotonous spy work she needs to do in order to complete her mission at the Behest of Nick Fury. This main plot doesn’t work for Venom in a couple ways.Įddie has no reason to be a part of it. As the two groups battle it out over an ancient macguffin, Eddie winds up caught in the middle as he tries to protect a member of the Vanguardians who just so happened to be Pablo, a character from Eddie’s past with a noted appearance in Web of Spider-Man Annual #8. However, this issue commendably saves Doom, building him up in the shadows as Silver Sable and an armed militia group called the Vanguardians take the book’s center stage. Michelinie’s return to the character is most definitely bombastic, following up on his previous Venom throwback series by throwing the kitchen sink of Marvel villains directly at Venom’s head in the form of Doctor Doom. In that regard, it conceptually hits some of the most important notes needed to make a great Venom story, however, this issue misses more than it hits. The plot takes Eddie down into the dirtiest corner of the sewers and into the most dystopian of scientific facilities. New York is bathed in snow during a seemingly never-ending cycle of nights. This debut issue’s largest strength lies with its dedication to the tone and atmosphere of early Venom stories. VENOM: LETHAL PROTECTOR II #1 is the next book in line for the Marvel throwback treatment, serving up a fresh dose of old school Venom from his co-creator David Micheline and artist Farid Karami.
