In Review: Venom (2021-) #3 – Escalation Part One

Synopsis: As everything, Dylan Brock has come to know and love unravels around him, he is beginning to realize a terrible truth: The VENOM SYMBIOTE is not a harmless pet, no matter how much it pretends to be one. It’s an alien. A dangerous, violent, often bloodthirsty alien. Whatever bond it had with Dylan’s father, Eddie Brock, special as it may have been…is gone. And Dylan might be soon too.

The Story

With Dylan Brock still on the run. There is competition among various corporate entities to get a hold of him and the Venom Symbiote. One such place is the Life Foundation where Mr. Drake is looking to get a hold of Venom for study. Meanwhile, Dylan has hooked up with Eddie’s former partner and photojournalist Archer Lyle. Archer has pretty much taken Dylan in and is lending him a hand in getting to the bottom of the conspiracy, which killed his father. But can she be trusted?

The Artwork

Much like with previous issues. Bryan Hitch pretty much has the art style nailed down for this series. I particularly enjoyed the panels in which we see Dylan tell Venom to stay where he is. Venom is presently occupying the body of a Staffordshire Terrier, which is visually quite appropriate given the nature of the Venom symbiote. I also loved the panels in which we see Dylan and Archer break into the research lab. Hitch manages to capture the clinical corporate look of the place really well. I’d not want to work there.

Overall

Another solid issue, which adds a few more layers to the story and brings us a little closer to the conspiracy. Additionally, we also get some great internal dialogue from the Venom Symbiote about the problems it is having when it comes to a lack of a bond with Eddies son. This winds up being a nice bit of foreshadowing for a moment in which he confronts Eddies son when he is told to stay behind.