Venom #157

LETHAL PROTECTOR pt III

Written by Mike Costa

Penciled by Mark Bagley
Cover by Mark Bagley
Published Nov 8 2017

   Mayor Fisk addresses the cameras and admits there’s some dangerous creatures beneath New York’s streets. As he speaks, Eddie Brock chides Doctor Steven for his shoddy medical repairs. Suddenly on TV the police commisioner introduces Kraven and Eddie recognizes him. He holds the severed head of one of the dino-people, and further, the news reports also that Venom is on the loose. Eddie and Venom know that there’s only one thing to do - find Kraven and take him out. And since his visit to Alchemax must be kept a secret, he’ll have to do it without the serum needed to keep his psychotic episodes at bay..

Well here goes nothing.

   A short cameo reveals Lee Price’s lawyer giving him news about a Venom sighting, while in the sewers, the symbiote blends in with the troops persuing him. He takes them out summarily while triggering Kraven’s traps along the way. Finally he spots him, and he attacks. The bad news though is that Kraven anticipated this and just so brought some added protection...

Gross!

   Shriek unleashes a massive sound blast that immediately explodes Venom from Eddie’s body. Kraven tells her to hit him again, and this time the burst damages the city streets above them, crumbling a brownstone and sending innocent people scrambling. Venom does everything he can to stop it, webbing it up before running out of gas. Kraven screams at Shriek for starting the cave in, and later spies the Dino-folk, telling his men to not engage. Just then scores of rats pour out of a sewer pipe... the bait has been set.
   The issue wraps with Eddie trapped in the rubble. Normally Venom would shore up his broken bones but for the first time since their reunion, he feels alone. Worse yet, he’s late for his treatment from Alchemax. Without it, the alien slowly builds rage... and Eddie has no way to control it. Will he be able to get control of the monster in time? We’ll have to wait as this issue is left to be continued.

Eddie Brock is in some trouble.

   You know, I’m super psyched with where they’ve brought this character. Formerly being a maniacal villain, they’ve changed him into a hero where Eddie Brock is essentially a man trying to control his demons. While it’s been done before, I sense a more permenant change with Mike Costa at the helm. With Lee Price being around, I enjoy the toying back and forth on whether they’ll pivot the alien to being unhinged. Its an interesting story and keeps building. I give this one a 9/10.

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