Venom, Vol. 5: Venom Beyond

Venom (2018)

by Donny Cates (Writer), Dave Dorman, Iban Coello (Illustrator)

The madness of Venom Island has come to an explosive end! But if you thought that story was insane comic book action of the highest order, then shut your yap, buckle in and face front, True Believer - because we're about to outdo ourselves! The Maker, an evil alternate version of Reed Richards with an unmatched intellect and unhinged morals, has been secretly living here on Earth. And for the past few months, he's been fascinated...by symbiotes! Now, prepare to fi nd out why - and witness exactly what the Maker intends to do with any symbiotes that he can get his blood-soaked hands on...

COLLECTING: VENOM (2018) 26-30

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics, Fantasy, Spider Man

128 pages, Paperback

First published March 10, 2021

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Venom Vol. 5: Venom Beyond.
Thanks to some idiotic editing going on behind the scenes, the names of graphic novels are being changed to their subtitle only, removing the actual comic title and volume number from the name. So good luck trying to find comics on Goodreads in the future. I suggest you let them know what you think of the change by contacting them via the Contact Us page.



During a fight, Eddie and Dylan get tossed into another universe. In this one, Eddie died and Anne lived.
And symbiotes have taken over everyone and everything.
Among other spoilery things.



There's a lot of good action in this one. Mostly it's a really enjoyable What If story that leads up to the King in Black event. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll just say that this was well worth the read for any fan of Venom.

Recommended!

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Venom and his son get transported to an alternate Earth where Knull (in a way) has taken over. It's a darkest timeline type of story. It's fine. These have been done so many times though that you know they ultimately don't matter. Luke Ross draws the last 2 issues and is a longtime solid artist. Juan Gedeon need an inker or something. His art often looked unfinished. Next up King in Black.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Venom and his son find themselves transported to a parallel universe where almost the entire population of Earth is bonded with Klyntar symbiotes. Yes, folks, it's yet another parallel universe story from the folks at Marvel. I am so over parallel universe superhero stories.

That being said, this one was OK. The story was reasonably engaging and the artwork was at least pretty decent throughout. Can we just get through a year with no parallel universe/time travel stories, though, Marvel? Pretty please with a DeLorean on top?

My next book: Poems 1918-21, Including Three Portraits and Four Cantos

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reminded me a bit of the X-Force by Rick Remender where we go into a alternate reality and our heroes have to survive.

And it actually works here. After being ambushed by Virus, a person built up like Iron Man who wants to exact revenge on Brock for...unknown reasons. After their fight Brock takes his son to the Maker to find out what to do but the Maker is working on a alternate dimension and bam, we end up in a world FILLED with symbiots. While there Eddie meets a old face and things get...interesting.

This was pretty fun. I actually enjoyed the pacing and although with going to another dimension usually results in less stakes, it still was interesting to see. I also thought was nice character development for our characters and by the end we got some really cool moments with our heroes. The ending was kind of bitter sweet which was a nice change.

The calm before the storm as we head into the King in Black after this. A 4 out of 5.

[Tiag⊗ the Mutant · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just stop with the verses already, seriously, just stop!

[Subham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great volume, Eddie goes to the Maker for help when he finds he has a symbiote and then he is being chased by VIRUS and they jump through some portal and he goes to a world seemed to be conquered by Knull and The Maker is back in the ultimate verse and then we have Eddie in this world tryna find whats going while battling virus, this world avengers comes in and then we discover Agent Venom aka Annie and so there is new alliances forced, new world order being understood, Annie telling him about Codex aka Dylan of this world and how he conquered it and so its upto this ragtag group of rebellion to defeat Codex and even Virus and team up with different people to save the world! It was an epic story and just shows a nightmare when Knull influences dylan too much but its a story about Mother and son, Husband and wife..who have lost connection but still together but introducing new villains, new dystopian world and overall just a fun story and the art is great! Loved the whole volume! Next up: Knull is here!

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had some good moments but this other earth was kinda ridiculous. Im still stoked for king in black but these last 2 volumes have been nowhere as good as everything through absolute carnage.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5, rounded up.

Venom...in...space! Well, close enough. An accident in the Maker's lab sends Eddie and Dylan careening into another dimension ruled by symbiotes, where they encounter some very familiar faces. But to get home, they will have to face themselves in more ways than one, as well as unraveling the mysterious identities of the Codex, and Virus!

I like a good alternate universe story every now and then, but you'd think Donny Cates might give Eddie and Dylan a bit of a break, right? The emotional devastation in this arc is unbelievable, and while some of the surprise reveals are painful (hello Agent Venom) some of them are predictable (hello Codex) and some of them are just kind of there (hello Virus). It's a nice way to get Eddie and Dylan to spend time together and see what might have been, but it also feels a little like playing for time since Knull's arrival back on Earth is all but inevitable now.

The artwork's a tad disappointing after the last few arcs - Juan Gideon's pencils feel a little inconsistent compared to previous work, while Iban Coello doesn't get to flex his muscles quite as much as he did before either, and Luke Ross' style is practically unrecognisable to what it used to be. While losing Ryan Stegman has always hurt this book, it's a shame that we couldn't stick to just one artist for this arc rather than messing it around.

Beyond is probably my least favourite of Cates' arcs, but it's still very good indeed. The artwork's a little worse for wear, and the big, punchy reveals aren't as big and punchy as they could be, but it's still a hell of a good time, and it'll tide you over until King In Black slimes itself onto shelves.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty whacko, with a heaping dose of that “what if our heroes grew up in a dystopian nightmare universe”. Still, good characterisation and lots of goofy warps on our faves. Particularly love what they did with Reed.

[Adam Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Setting the stage for King in Black, this Volume of Venom takes us back to the Ultimate Universe, Earth-1610 to grow Eddie and his powers... probably so he can stand any chance against Knull...
Highlights:
- After informing the Avengers about Knull coming (aftermath of Absolute Carnage) Eddie tries to find peace for a bit. He is interrupted by Virus, a man who swears get vengeance for something Eddie did to him. Wearing cast off pieces of War Machine armor, he is a viable threat.
- Eddie takes Dylan to meet The Maker, a version of Reed Richards from E-1610, to try and figure out the boy's powers. Maker reveals he is E-1610 Venom, but his symbiote is synthetic, which means it can be improved. He gets the upper hand and the 3 of them, along with Virus are transported to E-1610.
- In the Ultimate Universe, Virus immediately attacks Eddie, but destroys the machine to get back home AND is taken by the Avengers to jail. We find out that the 1610 Avengers, along with most of the other 1610 heroes are held in thrall and complete with symbiotes by a lieutenant of Knull, known as Codex. Codex is trying to successfully bond more symbiotes with heroes and villains we know. When a symbiote is bonded with Virus, we find out it is Mac Gargan and he calls himself Scorpion once again.
- Eddie and Dylan escape and eventually meet the only heroes left not under Codex's control. Peter Parker (Spider-Man), Cletus Kasady (Carnage), Wade Wilson (Deadpool), Andi Benton (Scream) and their leader Agent Venom, who is the 1610 version of Annie, Eddie's ex-wife and love. While trying to bond with her, Eddie learns that when his 1610 counterpart died, she was pregnant with 1610 Dylan, who has grown up to become Codex.
- Venom, in proximity to a symbiote hive mind for the first time in ages, is able to tap into Codex's network and get lots of new upgrades for his symbiote, including wings and a lazer blast.
- A war breaks out, where the symbiotes are driven away, when Codex is subdued. Back with Annie, and the heroes no longer under control, Earth-1610 begins to heal... and when Eddie and Dylan get back home to Marvel-616... the stars have gone out...

Bring on King in Black! I'm ready!
Donny Cates is doing fantastic with Venom and all of the symbiotes.
Recommend.

[Jirka Navrátil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jak jsem si myslel, že tohle bude jen výplň před eventem tak tohle bylo fakt úžasný.

[Blindzider · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still pretty good. While the story is a side road to the main event, it takes a look at the relationship between Eddie, Dylan, and his mom. Cates really pulls at the heartstrings on this one. In addition, he foreshadows a future story with Dylan and revisits an old "enemy" of Venom's. Cates has added more powers to the symbiote, which I'm not sure I care for but that may or may not change with the upcoming event.

[Oneirosophos · Rating 5 out of 5]

And this is how you respect the character and DELIVER!

ANOTHER MASTERPIECE BY DONNY!!!

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 4 out of 5]

O prelúdio para Rei das Trevas, mais um conto de realidades alternativas trazido para nós por Donny Cates e companhia. Dessa vez vem também acompanhado dos ótimos desenhos do brasileiro Luke Ross. Nesta realidade conhecemo o Vírus, uma espécie de Venom simbionte com uma armadura do Homem de Ferro, mas também ficamos sabendo o que acontece em um mundo onde o Códex - uma versão deturpada de Dylan Brock - domina a tudo e a todos com seus simbiontes. Nessa realidade quem é o Venom não é Eddie Brock, já que ele acabou se matando naquele fatídico dia na Igreja, mas Annie, a sua noiva. É um quadrinho divertido de se acompanhar e ainda traz Web of Venom: End of Empyre, que mostra os novos aliados krees e skrulls lidando com a ascensão de Knull por todo o espaço sideral e se dirigindo ao planeta Terra.

[Rafa Araujo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pues como que ya me encariñe con el Venom de Cates, me interesa mucho lo que les sigue pasando a Eddie y a Dylan , pero esta historia en ese universo alterno si se me hizo muy simplona. Por ejemplo, el Knull original super malandro y el de ahí todo débil ....NO. Historia entretenida y hasta ahí.

[Brian Garthoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of the entire look and feel of Venom Beyond. It finally got me to care about Dylan Brock, introduced a lot of fun alternate looks for characters, and segued smoothly back toward the inevitable Knull arrival they’ve been hyping for thirty damn issues! Onto the King in Black!

[Ant Tellez · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8/5.0

Just a tad underwhelming for my liking in the progression of this series, but still an enjoyable and fun volume.

[Will Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

A universe-hopping adventure that's VERY by the numbers, but has enough heartwarming moments for Eddie and crew that it redeems the predictable storyline. Eddie and Dylan are tossed into an alternate future ruled by symbiotes, and meet some unexpected faces along the way.

The setting doesn't quite have the same punch after the likes of Venomverse, and doesn't showcase many interesting symbiote designs, but this universe's version of Annie Brock is a welcome addition to the cast. The book is at its most compelling when it's focusing on the interactions with the Brock family and seeing them make up for all the moments they missed out on in their respective universes. Is it the most healthy thing in the world? No, probably not. But it allows the characters to get some much needed closure and gives them a happy ending before the series big finale. I've become very attached to Eddie and Dylan over the course of this series and it's nice to see them both get a "win" for once.

The art is definitely a step down. I don't mind the change in artists, what I do mind is the level of difficulty in finding which panel to read next. I like how expressive Juan Gedeon's Venom is, but his panel layouts are very chaotic, and it was very difficult to find which panel to read next (especially during the fight scenes). It made reading this book a chore and really hampered my enjoyment of it.

Venom Beyond isn't as strong as the stories that have come before, but it is a nice palette cleanser before the series jumps into the abyss with the next arc. Ladies and gentlemen, all hail The King in Black!

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Venom and his son get transported to an alternate Earth by the Maker (the evil Reed Richards, who doesn't have much to do here but set up the gateway for the transportation). There, they face a dark world where everyone has been taken over by symbiotes under the control of Codex. This wasn't terrible, but didn't seem absolutely essential either--kind of a lull before the big events of the King in Black storyline. Art was quite variable throughout, with a lot of it being very sketchy and rather difficult to follow, with lots of tiny thumbnail sketches interspersed through battle scenes that stretch across double page spreads.

[MajesticalLion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic volume. Recently found out that Donny Cates will be leaving Venom soon, so I wanted to get caught up before that last issue. And this volume just reminds me of how much I'm gonna miss this series. The dynamic between Eddie, Annie and Dylan was gold. You get the classic comic book multiverse trope of "let's see this world's version of this Avenger" and that's always fun. Kinda bummed that Codex didn't really do much, but that doesn't take away from my enjoyment of the volume, cause he was still good. Just kinda sidelined. And that ending? Ho boy. On to King in Black.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was worried this one would just tread water before the big event, but Cates does a nice job of writing a story that sticks to some key themes and fills out the mythology while still being nice on its own. You couldn't read this volume as a stand-alone, but it's an engaging side adventure on the run to the finish.

[César Rodríguez Cuenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una buena historia, un buen dibujo, pero nada más allá. El personaje de Venom/Eddie Brock me gusta mucho, tiene muchos problemas y eso, su hijo un poco más meh. Todo el mundo que se inventan para esta etapa mola mucho, pero sale poco. La siguiente etapa tiene pinta de estar mucho más guapa

[Emmett Spain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cool, action-packed adventure, this time in an alternate dimension! This story was quite unexpected, given the slow build to Knull’s arrival, but it worked really well. More great comics from Donny Cates & co.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume is the "alternate universe where the bad guys have won" trope. In this case, symbiotes have taken over the world and their leader ends up being very familiar. It's not the most original, but it is still a good read.

And next, we finally have arrived at King in Black.

[Jodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 Stars

[Adam Jarvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great venom comic in the saga. onwards to the next!!

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collects Venom (2018) issues #26-30 and material from Free Comic Book Day 2020 (Spider/Man/Venom)

This Multiversal story features a cameo by The Maker, and I think this may be one of my favorite volumes of "Venom" that I've ever read. You do, however, need to have read Cates' run so far to get the most out of this story.

SPOILERS:

There is quite a big tease for the potential future of the Ultimate Universe.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It’s a quick read with a lot of action—but it’s still balanced out with a lot of heart, between Eddie and Dylan’s relationship and the interactions between Eddie and his symbiote.

[Derek Moreland · Rating 2 out of 5]

Im really starting to think that Cates should have left the book after Maximum Carnage. The last couple of trades have been drivel.

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un último preámbulo antes de la llegada total de Knull a la tierra... Esto de entrada puede sonar fatal teniendo en cuenta que en esta colección venimos de un par de entregas que compilaban justamente historias anexas a esto y al evento Absolut Carnage que ya era el gran preámbulo de esta amenaza contra la misma existencia del Universo Marvel ligada a Eddie Brock y su simbionte alienígena. A su vez, el grueso de este conjunto de capítulos descubre un nuevo futuro distópico apocalíptico como ya es un clásico en los comics Marvel. Esto también abocaba al fracaso... Pero Donny Cates logra mantener bien el rumbo de esta cabecera. Eddie sigue tratando de proteger a la desesperada a su hijo Dylan. Quien ya conoce totalmente su herencia que lo liga al simbionte y la amenaza de Knull. Esto hace que la zozobra de Eddie empiece en su interior. Pero de forma exterior, un misterioso agresor, armado con tecnología unida a trozos de diferentes héroes y villanos tecnológicos, se propone acabar con Eddie alegando una venganza personal. Nada que pueda ayudar al hecho de que El Hacedor está a punto de lograr que sus planes potenciados por la asociación de Eddie y su simbionte sean un éxito par él (ahora estamos disfrutando de ello con Jonathan Hickman y su reevaluación del Universo Ultimate)... y un nuevo quiebro de cabeza para Eddie y Dylan. Al ser arrastrados a un vistazo a la terrible posibilidad de perder en la lucha contra el Rey de Negro.


Cates logra hacer destacar lo emocional por encima de su bien reconocido talento para los "blockbusters" comiqueros. Este viaje entre realidades, lleva a Eddie y Dylan reencontrarse de cierta forma con una figura clave para ellos que perdieron en su realidad. Y este personaje, gracias a la oportunidad editorial, disfruta de un excelente "What If..?" que realmente animaría a seguir siendo explorado. Pero lo importante es que tanto para padre, pero sobre todo, hijo. Logra hacerle sanar dolorosas heridas internas de las que poder olvidarse para hacer frente a la amenaza de Knull. Los textos de acompañamiento hacen destacar el hecho de que estos capítulos se publicaron al poco de salir de la cuarentena global del COVID-19 que paralizó el mundo. Esto tiene paralelismos curiosos pero anecdóticos como el que ese misterioso nuevo vengador se autodenomine VIRUS (sic.). Pero quizás explica el por qué funciona TAN bien esta inesperada aventura "familiar" del clan del Simbionte Venom. Seguramente Donny Cates exorcizó bastante de su miedo e incertidumbre en el encierro de la cuarentena para la que siempre fue bueno contar con la cercanía de seres queridos y terrible cuando la distancia y el "enemigo invisible" nos separaba, con estos personajes. Desde luego, el epílogo parece una respuesta totalmente anti pandémica y se sigue defendiendo bien que esta etapa esté totalmente ligada a la paternidad de Eddie Brock.

Por comentar también. Esta aventura a "El Otro Lado" se lleva a cabo con otros artistas a parte del capítulo del Free Comic Day de Stegman. Llevándose el grueso Juan Gedeón, que la verdad es que tiene un trazo y energía visual cercana a Daniel Warren Johnson. Pero su resultado parece más tosco e inacabado (que a pesar de que el contexto de la historia a lo 90" invitase a ello, deja que desear en el marco general de la cabecera). Iban Coello sí que se presenta como una opción mejor y más segura para actuar de "suplente".


El Cielo se ha quedado sin estrellas... ¿Qué nos deparará la llegada final del Dios de los Simbiontes?