The Bill July 27, 2011

After taking a couple of weeks off due to a lack of books and an increased workload from this impending movie (Cheap plug: We got linked by Bloody Disgusting! Totally awesome!), I'm back with more reviews!

Now, you'd think that I'd take the time during my absence to rename and/or restructure this review feature of mine like I had been griping about earlier this year. Well, good news: I figured out a way to restructure that works better for me. Bad news: I was too lazy to think of a new title.

So with that enthusiastic intro, let's get to the new and improved Bill for this Week!




The Book You Should Be Reading:

Venom # 5
Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: Tony Moore, Tom Fowler

I'm shocked at how much I love this book.

When I saw those first pictures of this new, gun-totting Venom, I groaned as loudly as any other fan over the age of 13. "Just what we need," I thought, "another version of Venom. And this one with guns. I miss Gargan already..."

And then I read that first, fantastic issue and everything changed. Each issue since has been rich with ideas, action, and a surprising amount of character development. Of all the books on the stands right now, this is the one that reminds me of classic Marvel the most. Sure, it's a little... grimier than you'd expect, but the balance of Venom and Flash that Remender is able to pull off is something that hasn't been seen in most books for years.

This issue was no exception, starting with another epic fight scene before settling into a very emotional story about Flash and his father. I was struck with this issue in particular by it's throwback appeal. Here Venom fights some throw away villain (an update/new version of the Human Fly), before we get to the real meat of the story involving Flash finding his relapsed drunk of a father. It's something that a lesser writer might make two issues out of, or might just eschew one of those aspects for the other, leaving an unsatisfying experience in it's wake.

I'm just going to say it and get it over with: Flash Thompson Venom is my favorite character of 2011. And dare I say, this book is quickly becoming one of my must-reads, almost edging out Avengers Academy for the title.

It's great stuff and, if you're not reading it, you really ought to be. If you're not, and this thing gets cancelled... well, you and I are going to have to have a discussion where my fist may or may not become perpendicular to your face. Fair warning.

Hey! Pictures!



And so that's how things will be from now on. Instead of two books, I'll just review the one, but I'll try to go a little more indepth on it. Fun times! Come back next time!