Absolute Carnage Absolute Aftermath: Venom #20 Reviewed
by Josh Davison
Mild Spoilers Ahead
The Maker, aka Reed Richards of the Ultimate Universe, flees his laboratory in the aftermath of Carnage’s attack. He sets up shop at another location and shares his findings with unknown patrons. He has theories about how and why a symbiote reproduces, and he has a connection between this and Dylan Brock’s abilities. Meanwhile, Eddie and Dylan have a heart-to-heart. Dylan knows that he’s Eddie’s son now, and he wants to know why Eddie left him with his abusive grandfather for so long.
Venom #20 serves as an aftermath issue to Absolute Carnage, showing what the Maker learned from the crisis and how Eddie and Dylan are recovering from it all.
The Eddie and Dylan part of the issue is almost all the aforementioned heart-to-heart. It’s a pretty damn touching sequence, and we get to see how Eddie is going to try to make up for his mistakes and secrets with his son.
Meanwhile, the Maker’s part of the comic, which is the lion’s share, is all foreshadowing. He has many hypotheses about the symbiotes and Dylan’s relation to the species. There are a couple of major reveals, both of which are multiversal in scope and nature.
Iban Coello and Ze Carlos are the artists on this venture, and their styles meld well. Both styles are quite expressive and make the symbiotes look cool. We also get to see the Maker’s grotesque head in all its warped glory. The scenes with Eddie and Dylan are tender and endearing. Rain Beredo gives a lively color treatment to the full book, and it all comes together quite well.
Venom #20 is an emotional and foreboding read for Eddie Brock’s solo title. We get to see Eddie finally bond with his son while the Maker schemes away in the shadows. It’s a damn good read, and I give it a recommendation. Check it out.
Venom #20 comes to us from writer Donny Cates, artists Iban Coello and Ze Carlos, color artist Rain Beredo, letterer VC’s Clayton Cowles, cover artist Kyle Hotz with Dan Brown, and variant cover artists Ryan Bodenheim with Michael Garland; and Khoi Pham with Morry Hollowell.
Final Score: 8/10
