With the Venom War unfolding at a furious pace in Marvel Comics, fans waiting for the trade should probably buy this week’s release of Venom War Volume 7. Bringing together Venom #31-34 and Carnage #5-6, this collection is essential reading to gain a deeper understanding of Dylan Brock’s mental state and how Carnage got to where he is at the start of the Venom War.
There’s a lot of comic relief in Venom Volume 7, first showing Carnage killing Dylan (spoiler alert!), then showing Carnage making his way to Venom’s Time Gardens and wreaking havoc. The collection starts with Dylan getting the job and Carnage slaughtering him with a smile, and ends with Meridius getting ready to take on the world.
Torun Gronbeck wrote the majority of the collection, with Al Ewing co-writing Venom #32 and Venom #33-34. The main story arc in this collection sees Dylan and the Venom symbiote face off against Carnage, with the aftermath of that battle creating major ripples and setting in a new direction that ultimately leads to the Venom War. Essentially, both characters needed to be in a new frame of mind for the upcoming events, and overall, this collection does a good job of delivering those new directions.
Featuring work by Ken Lashley, Juan Ferreira and Pere Pérez, this collection is chaotic and extremely violent, showcasing each artist at their best. From Dylan and Carnage slashing each other to Venom’s bizarre transformation in the Garden of Time, it’s a riot of violent sci-fi weirdness.
Carnage versus any kind of Venom. Who’s there?
Credit: Marvel
What’s striking, and maybe takes away from the enjoyment of the reading, is how they repeat certain battles. Take for example the chaotic and intense fight between Dylan and Carnage. In the next issue, we relive that fight again. We know how Carnage got to that fight, but it’s weird to see the same fight a second time. Perhaps this is to cover both Carnage and Venom for those who haven’t read both, but it’s awkward to read them together.
The final two issues of this collection have great art by Ferreira and clearly play into the horror aspect of Venom. Basically, it’s just the Venom symbiote wandering into a graveyard and taking over the bodies. There’s also a scene where Dylan encounters a priest who’s turned into a vampire; he knows Eddie, adding some connection there. Both issues are good bridges to Venom War while also providing some horror elements with storylines that are more creepy than slasher.
If you’re planning on reading Venom War in collected editions, make sure to read Venom Volume 7, “Exsanguination,” by Al Ewing. In this collected edition, you’ll get the perspectives of Dylan and Carnage, as well as how Meridius gets involved early on.
‘Venom by Al Ewing Volume 7: Bloodletting’ Properly Sets Up Dylan and Carnage for the Venom War
Venom Volume 7 by Al Ewing: Blood Loss
If you’re planning on reading Venom War in collected editions, make sure to read Venom Volume 7, “Exsanguination,” by Al Ewing. In this collected edition, you’ll get the perspectives of Dylan and Carnage, as well as how Meridius gets involved early on.
Prepare Dylan and Carnage for the Venom War
Lots of violent and chaotic art
Oddly enough, it repeats some of the combat we’ve already seen in this collection.
The last two issues have a decidedly different feel to them.
