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Preview: Venom #6

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Venom #6

(W) Ram V. (A/CA) Bryan Hitch (VCA) Mark Bagley
(I) Andrew Currie, Wade Von Grawbadger (C) Alex Sinclair, Peter Pantazis (L) Clayton Cowles
RATED T+
In Shops: Mar 09, 2022
SRP: $3.99

“DESTRUCTION” BEGINS HERE!

Dylan Brock is in the fight of his life – and he may be in it alone! As he and the VENOM symbiote continue to learn to live together without Eddie Brock, the LIFE FOUNDATION has activated a deadly new operative named the SPEARHEAD! Dylan and Venom aren’t the only ones dead in his sights – every single symbiote they (and YOU!) have ever known and cared about is as well!

Venom #6

Exclusive Preview: Venom #6

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Venom #6

(W) Ram V. (A/CA) Bryan Hitch (VCA) Mark Bagley
(I) Andrew Currie, Wade Von Grawbadger (C) Alex Sinclair, Peter Pantazis (L) Clayton Cowles
RATED T+
In Shops: Mar 09, 2022
SRP: $3.99

“DESTRUCTION” BEGINS HERE!

Dylan Brock is in the fight of his life – and he may be in it alone! As he and the VENOM symbiote continue to learn to live together without Eddie Brock, the LIFE FOUNDATION has activated a deadly new operative named the SPEARHEAD! Dylan and Venom aren’t the only ones dead in his sights – every single symbiote they (and YOU!) have ever known and cared about is as well!

Venom #6

Review: Venom #2

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Venom #2

Lets face it, Venom #1 was a bit of a surprise really shaking things up after the previous long run the series had. Out is Eddie Brock as Venom and in is his son Dylan (sorry spoilers). Venom #2 focuses the entire issue on Dylan and his new “role” as Venom… which is very different than what we’ve previously seen.

Written by Ram V., Venom #2 has a rather touching quality about it as it narrows its focus and delivers a lot of answers. Who were the soldiers that attacked Eddie? We get some answers with that. What’s up with Venom? Answers there too! The second issue does a solid job of taking all of the setup from the newest volume’s debut and shrinking the scale of it all. The cosmic aspects are shelved for a bit. Instead, Venom #2 is about a son lost and on the run thinking his father is dead. What Ram V. emphasizes, but doesn’t overdo, is the dramatic aspects. Dylan listens to a message left by his father which feels like something Eddie would actually say. It isn’t some last minute change of character but smells of regret and failure to keep his son safe and having dragged him into this crazy world.

Venom #2 also delivers a newish status-quo for Venom itself. No longer is it a suit and personality hidden away on Eddie’s body. It’s now a character unto itself, taking on the look of a vicious dog protecting Dylan. It all comes together in a fun way helping bring some levity to what otherwise is a rather down story.

I’m not the biggest fan of Bryan Hitch‘s style. That’s not anything on him and more my personal preference. Hitch is joined by Andrew Currie on ink, Alex Sinclair on color, and Clayton Cowles on lettering. I actually generally enjoy Hitch’s art for these first two issues. Again, it’s not quite my thing, but there’s some solid moments and panels where Hitch brings an exciting flair to the action. What stands out to me is the use of the hint then action. Smoke is thrown and Venom’s tentacles reach out from it sort of thing. There’s a “flow” to that in the storytelling that works really well. The characters too look good and you get the sadness from Dylan. The only issue is a new character whose presence is just a bit too obvious when introduced. A subtler approach might have worked better.

Venom #1 took the series in a whole new direction with some pretty grand concepts. Venom #2 dials things back a bit delivering action but also a focus on the characters and the impact of that debut issue. It hints we’re going to get a series that can do the macro and the micro and balance it out, which should make for a very interesting read going forward.

Story: Ram V. Art: Bryan Hitch
Ink: Andrew Currie Color: Alex Sinclair Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Story: 8.1 Art: 7.6 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology – Kindle – Zeus Comics

Review: Venom #1

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Venom #1

After an “epic” run, it’s always interesting to see the direction a new creative team takes a character and series. Venom has had a hell of a run these past few years putting the character front and center in events like “King in Black” and shaking up Eddie Brock’s life by introducing his son. It’s been a hell of a recent run for the character. So, what’s next? A new creative team plots the course and kicks things off with Venom #1, an issue packed with concepts and ideas that feel like a bit of a mix of so much of what we’ve seen.

Writers Al Ewing and Ram V. team up for Venom #1 and the result is a time-spanning adventure that shakes things up for Eddie and Dylan in so many ways. There’s so much packed in the issue feels like it’s almost too-much but balances a fine line that it doesn’t quite cross.

Eddie is now the new “King in Black”, controlling the symbiotes and guiding them to something. His new role has him disappearing for extended periods of time with his mind literally elsewhere… in space. That leaves Dylan on his own and getting into trouble in school as he’s basically home alone. Venom too is wandering around as Eddie must adjust to his new role and the symbiote is left on Earth to figure out what’s next. There’s also something ominous coming with dire warnings for Eddie and everyone he knows. It’s an epic story that spans time and space and feels much like the much heralded Hulk run Ewing recently completed. The concepts are grand, different, and build off what has come before while plotting a new direction. There’s ramifications of recent events mixed a bit with Venom’s time in space, and some teases of the generally forgettable “The End” series of one-shot comics.

Bryan Hitch handles the art with ink by Andrew Currie, color by Alex Sinclair, and lettering by Clayton Cowles. I’m not usually a fan of Hitch’s art but this debut issue stands out. Hitch brings his own style but at the same time keeps things a bit “classic” in a way too. The characters feel a bit like a mix of the previous art with Hitch’s work. The colors are great with a mix of eye-popping space and darker, more ominous moments on Earth. The lettering as well is key giving each symbiote more of a personality in a way. The art isn’t one that jumps out at you but there’s some solid moments that feel rather superhero heroic and others that really nail the tone of the story.

Venom #1 is an interesting start. There’s some grand concepts and ideas that could be interesting to see how they play out. What’s great is the issue does an excellent job of building off recent events while also charting its own path. It’s both solid for new readers and long time fans as well.

Story: Al Ewing, Ram V. Art: Bryan Hitch
Ink: Andrew Currie Color: Alex Sinclair Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Story: 8.15 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.1 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology – Kindle – Zeus Comics – TFAW

Review: Icon & Rocket: Season One #1

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Long ago an alien was stranded on Earth. Despite amazing powers, he decided to waste away hidden from society. A chain of events will change that and the world.

Story: Reginald Hudlin
Art: Doug Braithwaite
Ink: Scott Hanna, Andrew Currie
Color: Brad Anderson
Letterer: Andworld Design

Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.

Amazon
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Review: Icon & Rocket: Season One #1

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Icon & Rocket: Season One #1

Last month, Milestone returned with Static and now we get to see the line and world expand with Icon & Rocket: Season One #1. The series launches the classic hero and sidekick team-up and delivers a debut that’s a bit classic in its delivery with an updated setting.

The series takes us from the tragic trip that saw the alien known as Arnus crash on Earth. Taking on a human guise, he was raised among humans but over the years he decided his adopted home was beyond saving. Instead, he kept his gifts to himself living an isolated life. Enter Raquel Ervin, a bright young woman, who fell into the wrong crowd and crossed paths with Arnus, now going by Augustus Freeman. Thus setting up the duo known as Rocket and Icon.

Written by Reginald Hudlin, Icon & Rocket: Season One #1 is an entertaining start. The debut has some classical elements to it feeling like a mix of classic Superman and Batman in varying ways. But, it also looks to challenge the superhero genre. Augustus is an individual with immense power and chooses not to use it. He sees the negativity in his actions that removing one problem will create a vacuum for another to fill. It’s an interesting approach to the “why don’t superheroes solve xyz problem?”.

I haven’t read previously released comics featuring the duo so coming in fresh to the series, it feels engaging to me. While it’s a generally slow beginning (showing modern decompression in its storytelling), it also builds to its finale delivering a glimmer of hope. It’s interesting in that way as we see subtle shifts from a cold, negative, start to a slightly classic finale that shines a beacon of light.

The art is solid. Doug Braithwaite‘s pencils deliver a lot of detail that begs the reader to linger on pages to get the great story. Joined by Scott Hanna and Andrew Currie on ink, Brad Anderson on color, and lettering by Andworld Design, the comic looks fantastic. It delivers a somewhat dour mood without being depressing. The look and style has a darkness before the light aspect about it. The comic could easily have featured a much more over the top and violent opening but the art captures the scared nature of its assailants and downplays the actions in some ways. These aren’t hardened criminals but petty thieves who stumble and make a horrible mistake. The art captures the emotional journey of its initial focus.

Icon & Rocket: Season One #1 is a solid debut for me. Without knowing a lot about the series, it’s a start that has me wanting to come back to read more. There’s a retro feel in some ways but also a touch of modern comics. It’s another success for Milestone which is finally back and delivering the quality we’ve been waiting for.

Story: Reginald Hudlin Art: Doug Braithwaite
Ink: Scott Hanna, Andrew Currie Color: Brad Anderson Letterer: Andworld Design
Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology – Amazon – Kindle – Zeus Comics – TFAW

Preview: Icon & Rocket: Season One #1

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Icon & Rocket: Season One #1

Story: Reginald Hudlin
Art: Doug Braithwaite

Long ago, the stranded alien known as Arnus gave up hope of returning to his home planet. Tragically, he’d also realized that his adopted home of Earth was beyond saving. Content to waste away his long life in a human guise, Arnus was past caring…until the day a young woman named Raquel Ervin crashed into his life. Soon she’d convinced him to put his incredible power to work again as the heroic Icon…and to transform her into his sidekick, Rocket! But an innocent question on Rocket’s part—“Why can’t we do something about the drugs on my corner?”—quickly sets a chain of events in motion leading to the pair becoming the most hunted beings on Earth…and they’re not just being pursued by Earthlings, either!

Writer, director, and producer Reginald Hudlin (Black Panther: Who Is the Black Panther?) and superstar artist Doug Braithwaite unleash a tale of power and responsibility that will stretch from the boardrooms of corporate America to the jungles of South America and the depths of deep space! If you’ve ever thought there were certain things that a superhero story just couldn’t do, it might be time to start thinking differently…

Icon & Rocket: Season One #1

Venom #1 Kicks Off a New Epic Era in October

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Hot off the heels of Venom #200 and Extreme Carnage, this October will see the start of one of the most ambitious series in symbiote history: Venom #1! Al Ewing and Ram V have teamed up to craft a mind-bending and gut-wrenching tale of symbiosis the likes of which the Marvel Universe has never seen. Rounding out this symbiote hivemind will be legendary artist Bryan Hitch joined by Andrew Currie on inks and Alex Sinclair on colors, bringing his rich and detailed style to the Venomverse. The future of Venom lies in the hands of this mastermind team, and you won’t believe what lies ahead!

Check out Bryan Hitch’s main cover now and pick up Venom #1 when it hits stands on October 13th!

Venom #1

Al Ewing, Ram V., and Bryan Hitch Continue the Adventures of Venom

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Following a blockbuster turn by Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman, Marvel’s resident master of horror, Al Ewing, and Ram V will take over the adventures of Venom — bringing the same style and sensibilities that made Immortal Hulk a smash hit. Ewing and award-winning author Ram V, a titan of terror in his own right, will work together to lend a dramatic and dangerous air to this twisted new vision of Venom! Rounding out this symbiote hivemind will be legendary artist Bryan Hitch, bringing his rich and detailed style to the Venomverse. The future of Venom lies in the hands of this mastermind team, and you won’t believe what lies ahead!

Fans can get their first glimpse at what’s in store in this year’s Free Comic Book Day title, Free Comic Book Day 2021: Spider-Man/Venom, available at participating comics shops on August 14th. Stay tuned for more information and don’t miss the next superstar era of Venom this November featuring inks by Andrew Currie and color by Alex Sinclair.

Review: Tales From the Dark Multiverse: Flashpoint #1

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Tales From the Dark Multiverse: Flashpoint

DC Comics’ Tales From the Dark Multiverse have been fun, twisted takes on infamous storylines. Some entries have been better than others. Overall, it’s been interesting to see where creators take a known story and what they can do with the premise. Tales From the Dark Multiverse: Flashpoint has Bryan Hitch writing and providing pencils for the world-changing event.

In this version of Flashpoint, Barry Allen doesn’t regain his powers. This leaves the Reverse-Flash to roam this world and do with as he pleases. Hitch takes things to interesting places using the over-sized issue as best he can. Like so many previous one-shots, this is a story that could easily have been a mini-series on its own. A lot is packed into the issue. While it doesn’t deliver a punch, it does entertain, especially for those that have read the original.

While Hitch as a writer and artist can be hit or miss for me, Tales From the Dark Multiverse: Flashpoint is a solid entry into that world. There’s a logical progression that Hitch takes things as we see Eobard Thawne take advantage of the situation. But, more importantly, we get a debate about the “hope” that Barry Allen represents. Barry’s “hope” created Flashpoint and Thawne points out that hope was actually selfishness. That gets juxtaposed with this version of Batman which is Thomas Wayne who lost his son Bruce in the alley and his wife breakdown after. There’s something interesting and tragic about it all as we know the damage Barry did and wonder if Thawne and Thomas will repeat his mistakes. We also get to see more of what drives Thawne and he finds a new opponent in Wayne.

Hitch’s art is solid as well. While he doesn’t quite bring the motion that so many others do on the Flash, there’s a great use of Thawne’s movement in the art. There’s also the “doom” of Flashpoint without causing the comic to be a downer. This is a drab, depressing world, but Hitch doesn’t drag the comic down by focusing too much in that. The colors of Alex Sinclair and Jeremiah Skipper instead give us oranges, reds, and yellows, that create a mood without the comic itself being moody.

Tales From the Dark Multiverse: Flashpoint does a solid job of revisiting Flashpoint and taking it in a logical direction that’s not just annihilation and war. There’s an intriguing idea behind what Bryan Hitch has created and where the story leaves it. It also creates some intriguing possibilities for the future and Thawne’s character. Like so many of the other “Tales From”, this is a “dark” world I wouldn’t mind revisiting and hope we get to see more of it.

Story: Bryan Hitch Art: Bryan Hitch
Ink: Andrew Currie, Scott Hanna Color: Alex Sinclair, Jeremiah Skipper Letterer: Rob Leigh
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology – Amazon – Kindle – Zeus Comics

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