Last month went by with no issue of SSM on the stands. It’s epidemic. I suppose an Eddie Brock appearance during the Black Suit Sales Event at your local Ford dealer isn’t too surprising. But he’s not Venom anymore, so what’s the Spider-Man part of this? Also, I haven’t read it, but I know one thing for sure: Eddie doesn’t die. Along for the ride on this 2-parter is the great Lee Weeks! He just keeps popping up. He provides just breakdowns for this one, with finishes by Stefano Gaudino and colors by Matt Milla. I always think “breakdowns” is so interesting. It’s only supposed to be the loosest of pencils. A lot of detail, shading, backgrounds, this is traditionally left to the finisher when that word is used. But you can always tell who the penciler was.
It’s a Lee Weeks page, and no mistake.
Flashbacks to ASM 300 & 317 and MKSM 6, of course, mixed in with the stuff that wasn’t depicted. The specter of Venom taunts Eddie throughout his day, saying some part of it will always be inside him, and it’s waiting for him to die, so the doctors can “slice you open and set me free.” It also characterizes their split as his idea, even tho it tried to leave him in TAC V2 5, couldn’t, then suddenly could when Millar came along with his characteristic lack of interest in continuity. Bit of “I don’t want you, you don’t want me” with these 2, really. But, Eddie thinks, he’s held on. And he wonders why. If he’s meant for some higher purpose.
First hospital or second? Man, why did Strackzynski do that? He made a bad situation so much worse.
The bullet was meant for Peter, Mary Jane, and I think you know that.
She can’t imagine what they’d do without her? She was already dead before, just remember that. Remember how Peter was in prison and a clone and stuff. This isn’t terribly much worse than that. Man. What a sobering thought. Same assessment in terms of story quality and enjoyability, too. This is worse than the early clone saga. It’s hard being a Spider-Man fan. The scene shifts to Spider-Man out Spider-Man-ing as MJ commands May to pull through. He busts up a mugging violently, thinking they’ve caught him “at the end of a VERY long week.” Is it suddenly a week now? I give up. He tells the victim to call the police, and she scolds him for not stopping to see if she’s ok. So he asks.
Peter’s in a huge hurry. Not to go see May or something, but to go see Madame Web. Knowing why he’s there, she’s already got some tea ready for the conversation she knows is coming. Peter explains what’s happened to a woman who can see the future and probably knew before he did. So he wants her to contact May’s spirit, to tell her come back. I don’t think that’s in the dossier for a clairvoyant, but Madame Web says she can do it, if the conditions are right. Ok, sure, why not? Meanwhile, Eddie Brock prays for guidance, his vow to protect the innocent at odds with his need to hurt Spider-Man.
Well, then. It’s a good thing they got Lee Weeks. It’s kind of depressing how many comic book artists wouldn’t know how to draw a guy in a tight suit that’s not so tight it looks like skin.