Not an ideal time for Frank Cho to tag back in, but deadlines is deadlines. We begin with Peter tackling “Venom” through the wall into the school showers, putting pieces of his costume on (Somehow?) while fighting, pointing out that the real Venom had a moral code this guy clearly is not interested in.
“Us?” Who are you, lady? I guess that’s supposed to be Liz despite the dark hair. The fight spills into the street, where “Venom” is hit by a gas truck that explodes, killing the driver, as Spider-Man scoops up a dog and rescues it, instead. “Venom” then picks up a smaller truck and lob it at Spide-rMan.
Credit where it’s due, that’s a good page. Millar keeps having Spider-Man reiterate that the symbiote feeds on hate, even tho, you know it doesn’t. He also postulated awhile back that Angelo must be full of hate to make “Venom” so huge, which, again, is nothing. “Venom” runs and Spider-Man chases him. “Venom” pulls the old invisibility trick I think everyone forgot he has…
Cheap shock. It’s all Millar has. The big punch on that last page is clearly modeled on the one from ASM 121. People sure love to reference that image. It’s a great panel, no doubt. So, Spider-Man just decides to start winning this fight, and then is. He pummels “Venom” and there’s nothing he can do about it. The symbiote FINALLY gets a say, but what it says is stupid, saying Angelo’s fear “is shaking them apart.”
The fruit drop is a good gag. So ends the brief, yet still too long career of the 2nd Venom. Not only did Angelo die, we’re told Eddie Brock slit his wrists and “probably won’t make it” (He will). But what Spider-Man is focused on, reasonably, is the poor sap who got murked in that cheap fake out earlier. He thinks this stupid bounty has gone on too long (Correct!) and it’s time he put a stop to it. So we cut to an establishing shot of the Bugle, wherein JJJ is asking Peter if he really found out who Spider-Man is.
Garbage. Absolute garbage. I don’t even feel like talking about it.
Peter walks out thinking he doesn’t deserve this money because he didn’t earn it (?????????? This is stupider than the gold notebook!), but luckily, he knows a lady whose kid is suddenly in need of money for his Leukemia treatment, so his stupid refusal to take the money at least has a happy ending. He even left word that Adrian sent the money, like a big softie.
Millar has been trying to imply the mystery villain is another clone or something the whole time. He was even depicted hanging upside down watching TV at one point. But, of course, it’s not a clone. It’s somehow stupider than that.