Venom #18 – Review

By: Rick Remender & Cullen Bunn (writers), Lan Medina (pencils), Nelson Decastro (inks), Chris Sotomayor (colors), and Clayton Cowles (letters)

The Story: Flash races to get to Betty before Jack and the Savage Six.

The Review:  With co-writer in tow, it’s another solid outing for Venom.  Aside from the brief Circle of Six crossover, it’s pretty remarkable how consistent this book has been in both quality and style.  For instance, once again, Flash’s narration is strong this month.  Remender and Bunn manage to once again strike the balance between a clipped, efficient use of words representative of Flash’s military background and training and narration that is rife with emotion, tension, and desperation.  In other words, as Flash desperately tries to get to Betty, the narration does exactly what it should: it lets you step into the mind of the character, while I also pulling you into the story.

I’m also enjoying what Remender and Bunn are doing with the Rogue’s Gallery here.  As always, Jack is written wonderfully.  He’s cunning and creepy and having him get to Betty sans costume, playing up his old “Flash’s friend” identity under a guise of friendliness was a really great turn that’s perfect for the character.