Venom - Super Powered Fiction

Cosplay Friday: Venom

By Nick Ahlhelm | August 10, 2012 - 4:30 pm | Comics, Coolness

From the infamous set that got banned from Facebook:

Source. Modeled by Freddie Nova. Character owned by Marvel Comics.

Super Powered Comics (and more): Kyle Steele’s Year in Review

By Kyle Steele | December 28, 2011 - 4:23 pm | Comics

Another year is almost over and I thought I would take a moment to reflect on some of the things that I felt were very good in the world comics.

The new costume isn't perfect, but it's the only flaw to the new Wonder Woman.

DC: With the big 52 I’ve found myself reading more comics from them now, from Wonder Woman (which I’ve spoken about before), Action Comics, and Flash. While not everything was perfect, it did create a good start for the New DC to build on, and can’t wait to see the new couple of waves of new books that’s going to come out through their doors.

Marvel: This year many of the flagship titles didn’t peak my interest like years past, but the secondary titles (or ones that seem to be left on their own) like Daredevil, Venom, and Thunderbolts have been very stellar. Sadly a lot of other great books got cancelled though this should lead to Marvel refocusing and creating some new more interesting books for this next year.

Indie books: No I’m not talking about Indiana Jones (I know, cheap joke); I’m talking about the smaller publisher books that have done very well and that I’ve enjoyed this year. Invincible from Image has been in a bit of a rebuilding mode from their last big event, yet should see big things from it in the upcoming monthes as the last issue shows it going to be exciting.

Another book that was amazing this year was IDW’s Rocketeer Adventures, an anthology book that was so great with works by a wide range of creators: Darwyn Cooke, Mark Waid, Gene Ha, and a list of greats that I could go on all day. Even though we have lost the late Dave Stevens it was nice to see his greatest creation treated so well by IDW and all the creators involved. I hope that they will do another run someday, but for now you can pick up the trade and be very happy.

Film: I was very impressed with Marvel’s film line-up this year especially X-Men: First Class and Captain America: The First Avenger. After Captain America it was hard not to be more hopeful for the upcoming Avengers movie (man to think they are making an Avengers movie is so weird from what they were ten years ago). With Batman as well coming next year it should be an entertaining summer.

Video Games: While we have to wait a year for Batman’s next theatrical adventure, this year saw his return to video game consoles, and man was it worth the wait. Batman Arkham City was more than just a great superhero video game, but was one of the best video games this year period. Every aspect of it was everything that this character should be, and expanded upon Arkham Asylum in everyway. The only thing that I think could match it in the upcoming year is if we see Amazing Spider-man return to the greatness that we haven’t seen since Ultimate Spider-man in 2005.

Television- sadly we lost one comic based tv show with the loss of Human Target, which I found to be pretty entertaining, but Walking Dead is showing that a comic based show could be done well. This next year hopefully we’ll see Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Oeming’s Powers premiere on FX as well as see some progress on a Jessica Jones and Hulk shows through Marvel.

Now don’t read too much into this list, just because something wasn’t mentioned doesn’t mean that I didn’t like it, I just didn’t write it down. Now everyone has opinions so write some down in the comment section and tell us at super powered fiction what you enjoyed this year. May your Holiday season be comic filled and fun.

Kyle Steele is an aspiring comic writer/artist who is currently started working on a new creator owned book that will see publication through some medium in the upcoming year. You can follow him at twitter.com/kylesteele43 and talk about your favorite comic moments from this past year.

Super Powered Comics: Venom: the best Spidey book out there?

By Kyle Steele | December 8, 2011 - 8:29 am | Comics

Leave a comment

I can’t believe that I’m reading a Venom comic monthly, and it just happens to one of the best comics Marvel is putting out.

That being said this is no Lethal Protector, as Rick Remender is playing in a world with his own Venom and his own rules. No longer is it Eddie Brock, or even Mac Gargen in the symbiote, but a amputee Flash Thompson who is using it for the good of America for the US Army. For those who have been following the character since Brand New Day this feels very natural and allows us a book that is very within the Spider-man universe, but also gives us a different side that often gets overlooked.

Remender and crew have done a great job of setting up the new dynamic as well as staying true to the Spidey formula (which maybe the best mainstream Spidey book right now) as Flash is trying to lead the double life and deal with his girlfriend (poor Betty Grant, first Peter, than Ned, and now Flash). It also has the distinction of doing a tie-in right (though I did enjoy Spider Island) that made it so you didn’t need to read the other books but rewarded you if you did.

Wednesday saw the release of issue 10 which is the start of a new direction and artist Lan Medina (another in a series of fantastic artists, but more on that later) on board to breath life into the title. You do need to know a bit about the book and where it’s at so far, but it’s a catch-up read that I promise will be worth the time.

Along with Remender is the art, starting with Tony Moore (who just finished up Fear Agent with Remender), and Tom Fowler (just check out Mysterius the Unfathomable, it’s great) this is one pretty book and a style that I would never think I’d see in a Venom book. Both had been switching and with Lan Medina in the mix it only gets better. Moore and Fowler both have very complementary styles, and even with Medina which is much different than the two the secondary art team have done a great job of keeping the overall look of the book constant.

One of the things I’ve enjoyed about Remender’s work is his ability to take the years of history and still tell fun original stories without ignoring it (just look at his Uncanny X-Force, and crazy fun Punisher work). I’m looking forward to his work on Secret Avengers just for that reason (and he seems like a perfect fit to take over from Warren Ellis) and want to see him continue to work his magic in the house of ideas.

This is one of my top five books that I’m reading right now and look forward to see the title continue to grow. Even if you are weary of Venom (and all the other symbiotes for that matter) you should think about giving this book a try… otherwise Marvel just might cancel this book as well.