“I told you I don’t want to roast marshmallows!”
Venom: Sinner Takes All #1
Marvel Comics (August, 1995)
EDITOR: Tom Brevoort GROUP EDITOR: Danny Fingeroth EDITOR IN CHIEF: Bob Budiansky “Sinner Takes All!” WRITER: Larry Hama PENCILER: Greg Luzniak INKER: Scott Koblish COLORIST: Tom Smith LETTERER: Ken Lopez The Jury: “Trial Run: part one ‘Tour Of Jury Duty” WRITER: Dan Slott PENCILER: John Calimee INKER: Greg Adams COLORIST: Mark Bernardo LETTERER: John Costanza
In the Venom story, Brock is attacked by guys out to burn street bums but attacks them instead. Injured, he goes to his ex-wife’s, only to find she’s been put into the hospital when a supposedly new “Sin-Eater” shot the guy behind the Carnage Unleashed game after being found not-guilty. As Venom, Brock goes to her hospital room to protect her, knowing as the cops do that Sin-Eater will go to finish the job.
What they got right: The thing this comic most got right was in the execution of the exposition, catching people up to the history of the Sin-Eater character and setting up the mystery of if this was the same guy (highly possible in comics even if he’s supposed to be dead) or a copycat, and what his actual endgame is. They even explain why Ann’s TV is on while she’s out so Eddie can see the right news story.
What they got wrong: This one is a long-standing gripe with how the “Bible-quoting villain” is used in fiction. There is rarely, if ever, a counterbalance of a Christian character who can verbally spar with the villain by putting the quotes in their proper context. It just makes Christians (especially Conservative Christians like myself) look bad, intentionally or otherwise. Also at one point Sin-Eater appears to teleport right next Ann, but I could just not be following the action as well as I think. The art is otherwise rather good.
In the Jury’s tale, a new recruit gets a good look at the new Jury’s methods on her first assignment. This time in a situation even I won’t condemn heroes killing during, is the new Wysper.
What they got right: After my previous introduction to the Jury it’s nice to see the new commander is a much better person and wanting to turn the team into actual heroes. After seeing a bit of Wysper’s history, as well as her personality in the story, I kind of like her and hope she goes far in the Marvel universe. She doesn’t, does she?
What they got wrong: “Wysper”? Say it with me Linkara fans: Because poor literacy is kewl.
Recommendation: Despite my rant I’m pretty neural on the Venom story. I’m actually more interested in the Jury story, so if they release(d) that solo it’s worth taking a look at. I only have the next issue and we’ll look into that tomorrow.
Related articles
- “Yesterday’s” Comic> Venom #4
- “Yesterday’s” Comic> Venom Super Special
- “Yesterday’s” Comic> Amazing Spider-Man #384
- COMICS: Otto Octavius Becomes The “Superior Venom” In SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #24 Preview (comicbookmovie.com) Yes, somebody thought that was a good idea.
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