Comics Bulletin logo
Search
  • Columns
    Random
    • Harvey Pekar, 1939-2010

      Daniel Gehen
      July 14, 2010
      Columns, Comics Bulletin Soapbox
    Recent
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 2

      Daniel Gehen
      December 4, 2020
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 1

      Daniel Gehen
      October 30, 2020
    • Comictober 2020: DRACULA MOTHERF**KER

      Daniel Gehen
      October 27, 2020
    • What Looks Good
    • Comics Bulletin Soapbox
    • The Full Run
    • Leading Question
    • Top 10
    • The Long-Form
    • Jumping On
    • Comics in Color
    • Slouches Towards Comics
  • Big Two
    Random
    • Review: 'HAL JORDAN & THE GLC' #18

      Daniel Gehen
      April 16, 2017
      Big Two, Big Two Reviews, DC Comics
    Recent
    • Retro Review: Detective Comics #826 Remains a Holiday Classic

      Daniel Gehen
      December 3, 2020
    • Stan Lee

      nguyen ly
      November 7, 2020
    • Collecting Profile: Jack O’ Lantern

      nguyen ly
      October 31, 2020
    • DC Comics
    • Big Two Reviews
    • Marvel Comics
  • Indie
    Random
    • Preview: Princeless vol. 4: Be Yourself

      Daniel Gehen
      October 28, 2015
      Action Lab Entertainment
    Recent
    • Review: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist

      Daniel Gehen
      December 14, 2020
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 2

      Daniel Gehen
      December 4, 2020
    • 4.5

      TMNT: The Last Ronin #1 Lives Up to the Hype (Review)

      Daniel Gehen
      October 29, 2020
    • Reviews
    • Archie Comics
    • Boom! Studios
    • Dark Horse
    • IDW
    • Image
    • Oni Press
    • Valiant
  • Reviews
    Random
    • 3.0

      SUNDAY SLUGFEST: Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #4

      Daniel Gehen
      December 18, 2011
      Reviews, Slugfest
    Recent
    • Review: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist

      Daniel Gehen
      December 14, 2020
    • Retro Review: Detective Comics #826 Remains a Holiday Classic

      Daniel Gehen
      December 3, 2020
    • 4.5

      TMNT: The Last Ronin #1 Lives Up to the Hype (Review)

      Daniel Gehen
      October 29, 2020
    • Singles Going Steady
    • Slugfest
    • Manga
      • Reviews
    • Small Press
      • Reviews
      • ICYMI
      • Tiny Pages Made of Ashes
  • Interviews
    Random
    • Interview: Joe Giella Recalls Fond Memories

      Daniel Gehen
      May 15, 2015
      Interviews
    Recent
    • Interview: Jon Davis-Hunt Talks SHADOWMAN

      Daniel Gehen
      June 8, 2020
    • Interview: Becky Cloonan talks DARK AGNES and Her Personal Influences

      Mike Nickells
      March 4, 2020
    • Simon Roy

      Interview: Simon Roy on His Inspirations and Collaborations on PROTECTOR

      Mike Nickells
      January 29, 2020
    • Audio Interview
    • Video Interview
  • Classic Comics
    Random
    • Looking at The Enigma: A Love Letter

      Daniel Gehen
      October 13, 2016
      Classic Comics, DC Comics
    Recent
    • Countdown to the King: Marvel’s Godzilla

      Daniel Gehen
      May 29, 2019
    • Honoring A Legend: Fantagraphics To Resurrect Tomi Ungerer Classics

      Daniel Gehen
      February 15, 2019
    • Reliving the Craziest Decade in Comics History: An interview with Jason Sacks

      Mark Stack
      January 2, 2019
    • Classic Comics Cavalcade
    • Classic Interviews
  • News
    Random
    • Exclusive Preview: Ninjak #23

      Daniel Gehen
      December 16, 2016
      Indie, News, Previews, Valiant
    Recent
    • 2020 Ringo Awards Winners Announced

      Daniel Gehen
      October 26, 2020
    • BAD IDEA Announces 2021 Publishing Slate

      Daniel Gehen
      September 29, 2020
    • A Full Replay of NCSFest 2020 is now Available

      Daniel Gehen
      September 15, 2020
    • Press Release
    • Kickstarter Spotlight
  • Books
    Random
    • Review: 'Prisoner 155' is a Remarkable Portrait of a Political Revolutionary

      Daniel Gehen
      May 7, 2018
      Books
    Recent
    • Collecting Profile: Disney Frozen

      CB Staff
      November 22, 2019
    • Collecting Profile: NFL Superpro

      CB Staff
      August 31, 2019
    • “THE BEST OF WITZEND” is a Wonderful Celebration of Artistic Freedom

      Daniel Gehen
      September 15, 2018
    • Review: ‘Machete Squad’ is a Disappointing Afghan Memoir

      Jason Sacks
      July 31, 2018
    • Review: ‘Out of Nothing’ is the Antidote to Our Sick Times

      Jason Sacks
      July 23, 2018
    • Review: ‘Bizarre Romance’ Shows Rough Edges in the Early Days of a New Marriage

      Jason Sacks
      July 10, 2018
What's New
  • Collecting Profile: Batwoman
  • Collecting Profile: Daredevil
  • Collecting Profile: Floronic Man
  • Review of Cheetah in Wonder Woman 1984
  • Review: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist
  • Collecting Profile: Transformers
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Contact Us
  • Write for us!
  • Visit Video Game Break!
Home
Big Two

Review: VENOM #5 Continues Building a Solo Mythology

Daniel Gehen
August 23, 2018
Big Two, Big Two Reviews, Marvel Comics, Reviews

Marvel Entertainment

(w) Donny Cates (A) Ryan Stegman & JP Mayer (C) Frank Martin

One of the biggest problems that comic publishers – especially ones that feature superhero universes – is that inevitably all characters end up linked together. Look at how many Batman-related or Superman-related characters are running around DC’s books. Valiant has the immortal Anni-Padda brothers. And then there’s Marvel with their 800 bajillion X-Men, constantly rotating cast of Avengers, the crazily expanded cast of Spider-characters. They’re all connected, which means no matter what their is a key connection to a major character. For Venom to work, you need Spider-Man (sorry Sony). That is, unless you change the game. That’s exactly what Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman are doing to Eddie Brock in Venom.

Though Marvel and the Mouse would never admit it, it appears that the Spidey-sharing agreement with Sony has influenced this series by attempting to build a strong enough mythology for Venom to stand alone and apart from Spider-man. Sure, we have a completely meaningless cameo from Miles Morales, but that’s more because no one knows what to do with him since Bendis joined the Distinguished Competition. But no matter the reason for this change in direction, Donny Cates has proven to be up to the task.

The amount of world-building that Cates has crafted over the first four issues and into this fifth one is staggering – especially for a modern superhero comic. The reason for its effectiveness is largely to do with the approach of these reveals. Often, attempts to add to a long-running character’s mythology comes across as cheap; lazily tacked on for the purpose of being shocking (I’m looking at you Sins Past). With Venom #5, nothing is added to the mythology in such a manner.

Cates uses previously established concepts as a means to introduce new elements. He also adds in other components that are seemingly unrelated, but keeps them in the foreground for readers to get acclimated to them. Finally, he ties them all together in a manner that feels as organic as it does authentic. It’s an approach executed time and again in some of the best prose storytelling, as well as by some of the best writers or cartoonists in the industry. To see it occur in a mainstream superhero book is a pleasant surprise.

Of course, Cates is not a one-man team. The art from Ryan Stegman and JP Mayer continues to be among the most visually striking in comics. When it comes to a classic, superhero “house” style, this duo is seemingly at a level above their contemporaries. Each character is full of detail, and the attention to expressiveness and body language makes the readers buy into this world. As great as their line-work is, praise should also go to colorist Frank Martin, who gives the book a wonderfully dark and atmospheric aesthetic.

Venom #5 continues the series trend of being a true gem not just among the Big Two, but the industry as a whole. This is solely due to the immensely talented creative team, because if we’re being honest, Venom as a character is clearly a product of  1980s and 1990s comics. As long as  the team keeps up the good work, Eddie Brock may have finally found his place in the 21s century.

Review: VENOM #5 Continues Building a Solo Mythology
4.5Overall Score

Donny CatesFrank MartinJP MayerRyan StegmanVenom

Share On:
Tweet
Kickstarter Spotlight: WOLVERTON, THIEF OF IMPOSSIBLE OBJECTS #2
Review: “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” Lives!

About The Author

Daniel Gehen
Editor-in-Chief

Dan was introduced to the 1960s Batman show at a young age, which developed into a lifelong passion for comics. When he's not grinding out his day job, he can be found reading about Scarlet Speedsters, Web-Heads, or Sagas just about anywhere. If it's good he'll read it. If it's bad... there's a chance he still might read it.

Related Posts

  • What Looks Good for the Week of January 1st, 2020

    Daniel Gehen
    December 30, 2019
  • 2.5

    Review: BERSERKER UNBOUND #2 Barely Improves Upon The First

    Jason Jeffords Jr.
    September 4, 2019

Support Us!

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

Friends of the Site

  • SOLRAD
  • Your Chicken Enemy
  • Psycho Drive-In
  • Women Write About Comics
  • The Beat
  • Loser City
RSSTwitterFacebookgoogleplusinstagramtumblr

Comics Bulletin is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, audible.com, and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, Comics Bulletin earns from qualifying purchases.

All content on this site (c) 2018 The Respective Copyright Holders