So, you grab "Web of Spider-Man #121" to get the latest chapter of the Clone Saga before it's over, and undoubtedly next to it on the shelf sits the first issue of "Venom: Separation Anxiety." There are FIVE symbiotes (spellcheck doesn't like that word, but that's how it's spelled on the cover) meaning five times the excitement. Also, Eddie Brock has lost his symbiote. Well, that's unfortunate. All the symbiotes have the kind of orca whale Spider-Mask lens eyes; it makes sense for Venom to have those, as he's kind of got a twisted version of Spidey's costume theme going on, but why would it be the same for every symbiote? Maybe it's just a coincidence.
The cover's gimmicky 90s, with raised textures for the characters, as with a globe. They raise Eddie Brock's facial features, so you can feel into his mouth and sunken eye sockets. Y'know, I'm getting a kind of "Aliens" vibe from this cover (the symbiotes' reaching fingers are dead on), and the screaming, sunken face actually really contributes to it. Good show.
Opening the issue we see... that nothing is bigger than GameDay '94 collectible cards, apparently. Oh wait, in the first STORY page we see Eddie (I think), wearing a form-fitting green suit, super science shackled to the wall, with guards pointing guns at "every major organ." He comments that they're actually afraid of him! Can you believe it? Two page spread of them flying him into a science prison, and he comments that "You'd think that Eddie Brock was a dangerous man!" Well, you have killed a few dozen people...
Venom: Separation Anxiety
"Part 1 of 4: Apart"
Written by Howard Mackie
Penciled by Ron Randall (is that not a great name?)
Inked by Sam DeLarosa
Still got an "Aliens" kinda vibe, can't quite place my finger why, but it's definitely not a bad thing. Brock laments that they know he's a killer, but that was before he lost his symbiote in a fight with the Scarlet Spider. Where is it now? It's in a top-secret government lab in upstate New York, ideally far away from Eddie Brock (but I'm not hopeful). The government is interested in studying an alien life form. Yeah, makes sense.
The symbiote forms into an image of Eddie Brock's head, thinking "pain" and "Eddie." Aw, it's actually kinda touching.
OH COOL! Ad for Contra: Hard Corps. MEEDLYMEEDLYMEEDLYMEEDLY AWESOME. Oh, then Sunset Riders again. Lotsa Konami ads this month...
Yeah okay, Brock is in New Mexico, the symbiote is in New York. This is a good plan, guys. GOOD JOB. A doctor's going to see Brock, but it turns out he's a Daily Bugle reporter in disguise who wants to get the scoop on Brock and Venom. I take it back. Eh, he's still essentially locked in a vault with mounted miniguns pointed at him from all sides. Still, hire a new guy to hand out the registration IDs.
Brock is being kept in isolation and nobody is speaking to him, and he finds the silence unbearable. The worst part is the waiting, man, it's spiritually draining. He remarks that he hasn't really been alone since being in the church where Venom found him (oh-kay), and laments about all the people he's killed trying to get to Spider-Man. Yeah, as a guy all worried about protecting "innocents," he sure does kill a lot of policemen and prison guards and such. He wonders what the hell he was thinking, how he's become a monster. Could be wrong, but it might be the alien messing with your brain chemistry. That concept scare anyone else?
In New York, the symbiote seems to feel Eddie's pain and writhes around. Back in New Mexico, they ask to double-check undercover reporter's ID. Wuh-oh! In his rage at realizing what he's become, Brock... holy shit, Brock starts ripping through his thick steel restraints and punching through his cell. The guards make ready to kill him.
Outside, a floozy accosts the sentries. Her clothes start melting, as gooey tendrils take the guards from behind. Hold on, I'm going to go watch some japanese porn.
Okay. Brock's adrenaline rush seems to be wearing off. He realizes that he's a killer, and needs to pay. Catholic guilt, I guess. More guards get suffocated. Eddie thinks that if he continunes trying to escape, one of the guards might put him out of his misery. Then he sees that some of the guards' clothes are melting, and they're actually...
Hold on, outdated video game ad. Top Gear 3000. It actually has a line in the ad copy that just says "Waaagh!" so it's worth buying in my book.
...SYMBIOTES! Just like on the cover! There's a yellow one, a black one, a purple one, a green one, a red AND yellow one. What, no blue? Some have like, spikes, or tendrils, I guess maybe there's not much in the way you can put discerning features. Brock says they're the symbiotes he left for dead at the Life Foundation (who the hell knows?). Have to stop them before too late they're slaughtering everyone. Oh wait, they're hurting, not killing. So just a lot of concussions and lifelong disabilities. Whatta scoop!
One of the intruders begins to lose control over his symbiote and almost slices up a guard. Apparently the reporter's name is "Kenny."
The "Bullpen Bulletins Hyper Page" has a paragraph on the series we're reading RIGHT NOW, and apparently the fate of the suit itself will be "quite astonishing." Can't wait!
The other suits being taking over their hosts, giving them one ring-style THE POWER I CAN DO ANYTHING I WAAAAANT kinda dialogue. Brock finally busts through his cell and starts... holy shit, starts smacking one of the symbiotes around. Guy's got some balls. However, he's subdued and they take him away. Kenny tries to convince them he's his doctor and should come with him (HE CAN'T MISS THIS SCOOP) but they recognize him and just... kidnap him too. Hostage, or something.
The letter's page is called "Eddie's Clubhouse." The writers relay Venom's comments towards the authors of the published letters. Eh, it's kinda amusing. Eddie Hatfield thinks that Venom is the greatest "character/hero/vigilante in the entire Marvel universe, and always will be." VENOM WILL BE COOL FOREVER MAAAAAAAN. Oh sweet, Venom's going to be in the Spider-Man cartoon series!
This was actually not unenjoyable to read. I have issue #2 as well, so let's see what happens with Venom's crazy kids.
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