Reviewer: Tim Stevens
Story Title: Venomous Part 2
Written by: Mark Millar
Pencilled by: Terry Dodson
Inked by: Rachel Dodson
Colored by: Avalon’s Ian Hannin
Lettered by: VC’s Cory Petit
Editor: Axel Alonso
Publisher: Marvel Comics/Marvel Knights
With this issue, it has finally become clear to me. That whole “Shush” thing Millar was throwing around months ago (in reference to the huge Loeb/Lee Batman collaboration, “Hush”) was pretty much bollocks. All the two have in common is that there was a lot of appearances by recognizable characters and a shadowy bad guy setting out to ruin the lead characte’s life. If that makes a book a Hush copy, well then, most comics are, (look at Captain America #31 for the same type of thing. Oh, and read my review. Plug, plug.). So, why Millar was trying to sell himself as derivative is a mystery to me, but I am here to tell you that it just is not the case.
As you can probably tell from the cover (and my teaser) Eart’s Mightiest Mutants are paid a visit by Peter this time out. However, exception for a smart cameo through a coffee shop window, the played out folks on the cover are not the mutants Spidey has a little sit down with. Instead, Rachel Summers and a random psychic girl (does she have a name? I know not. I haven’t ever seen her. Maybe a Stepford Cuckoo?) are essentially the only two characters up in Westchester that the Webslinger has a chance to do a bit of chatting with. And what a chat it is, as it leaves off on a cliffhanger that does not sound very good for Peter or his buckwheat pancake tossing Aunt.
Of course, it should be mentioned that this meeting violates the internal logic of the book. Three issues ago, ol’ Webhead engaged in a bit of fisticuffs to reach the Avengers mansion, only to decide not to ask for help for fear of his identity being revealed. Here, he willingly subjects himself to two psychics who now, undoubtedly, know who he is. If it is do to increased desperation or identifying more, and therefore trusting more, with the renegade heroes, then I get it. That would make sense to me. Unfortunately, the script makes no real effort to explain this change of feelings. Not a big deal in my eyes, but certainly worth noting. The visit to the X-Mansion is otherwise well staged and the dialogue works well. Only one moment falls flat, a joke comparing Rachel’s convoluted back story to the Wallcrawle’s own clones. The idea is funny, but Millar overwrites the moment, effectively killing the humor. You can understand and appreciate the humor of it, but the line is not laugh worthy.
In the end, however, there are three moments that make this issue pop for me and none of them have anything to do with the X-Men, (a personal bias of mine perhaps? Perhaps.). The first is the bearer of great power and great responsibility’s visit to a certain cornrow sporting, green mask wearing portrait of villainy. Millar makes it clear how dangerous Norman Osborn is every moment he takes a breath, in costume or in jail. His story how he keeps himself busy by playing with the life of a guard with a sick wife back home is as pure an expression of Osborn’s sociopathology as you are likely to find. Then, coming on the heels of that, is an admittance of fear that is tied in to Doc Ock’s mysterious behavior last issue. If the Green Goblin is worried for his life, what the hell is going on?
However, with the copious costumed shenanigans going on, Millar still takes the time to visit with the alter ego, Parker. Aunt May’s favorite nephew scrounges for cash for his pictures to combat the debt problems that he discovered last issue and JJJ is surprisingly willing to play the ball on the matter, although, as always, for his own Spider-Man embarrassing reasons. There is also a nice bit about the fallout of announcing a cash reward for the true identity of a super hero.
The final moment that I give props to has no Spider-Man at all, in or out of costume. Venom is the poster boy for 90’s excess and doing things for a buck, not because it makes a lick of sense or a good story. Thus, whenever he comes anywhere near a book, I get nervous. Millar is thankfully dodging that drooling brain eating mess with a twist on Brock’s motives for returning to the Big Apple. A life threatening disease and a certain film have convinced him to give up his murderous symbiotic ways and the super villain community has gathered together to benefit from that choice. I like the twist very much.
Oh, and Shocker makes a brief appearance too. SWEET!
I know this is blasphemous, but this is the only mainstream Spidey book I give a lick about these days. Each issue, flaws and all, has kept me entertained. This one is no exception.
The Final Word: Mutants, super villains, and everyone’s favorite cantankerous editor are all here. Even with logic issues, you just can’t beat that.
