Written by Andrew Fontana
Donny Cates’ and Ryan Stegman’s Venom is one of those books that gets better every issue.
Cates and company are giving the wicked webslinger everything they got and then some; in these past issues they’ve expanded the Venom mythology beyond the shadow of Spider-Man.
Venom #5 continues this winning streak with yet another issue of crazy plot twists and gorgeous artwork.
Venom #5 has two really fun twists (one of which is spoiled on the cover) and excellent character work that humanizes Eddie Brock and his symbiote. Cates spent the first few issues focusing on the relationship between these two.
In Venom #5 we are given more focus on the symbiote itself. Cates’ treatment of Brock’s alien half other as a full character onto itself makes Venom as a whole a far more compelling character. The revelation of Rex Strickland’s true identity underscores this theme, and is a cool reveal all on its own.
The craziness of Donny Czates’ script is given vivid life through Ryan Stegman’s sleek pencils. Stegman’s Venom is hulking and alien, and dominates every panel. Stegman captures the liquid properties of the symbiote equally well. Colorist Frank Martin manages to make the most out of the dark spectrum of colors he used. Everything remains perfectly visible even with the preponderance of dark colors.
Rating: 8.5
Venom #5 is now available at comic book retailers everywhere.
