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Venom: Lethal Protector (Collected Editions)
Venom: Protector Letal
Venom - alien symbiote and defender of the innocent! When Eddie Brock heads West, there's no shortage of enemies waiting to test his resolve - including the Jury! Plus: Spider-Man meets Venom's father! And Venom gives birth to a whole new horde of sinister symbiotes! It's the original Venom in his first - and deadliest - solo series!
Collecting: Venom: Lethal Protector 1-6
Collecting: Venom: Lethal Protector 1-6
Paperback
First published July 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
December 26, 2022
This first "solo" Venom story (although it doesn't seem that way when Spider-Man constantly shows up), is a poor attempt at making this villain/antihero become his own character. The story is so convoluted, Eddie Brock relocates to San Francisco and then there is an underground city fighting an evil businessman he gets caught up in for some reason?
The idea of other symbiotes to fight is a good idea, which is barely used and frankly just wasted. The only saving grace is the Mark Bagley art in the first half, which is the epitome of 90's fun.
So I guess the first Venom film--which also isn't that good--is moderately based on the premise of Lethal Protector. But even if one thinks that movie works, and to each their own, it's hard to argue that the comic source material is much worth a reread...
The idea of other symbiotes to fight is a good idea, which is barely used and frankly just wasted. The only saving grace is the Mark Bagley art in the first half, which is the epitome of 90's fun.
So I guess the first Venom film--which also isn't that good--is moderately based on the premise of Lethal Protector. But even if one thinks that movie works, and to each their own, it's hard to argue that the comic source material is much worth a reread...
August 19, 2018
Vote: ☆☆☆1/2
It seems the upcoming Venom movie is going to be based on the storyline of Lethal Protector 90s miniseries, so it was just the right time to re-read this (luckly I still keep boxed almost all the hundreds of comic books I used to buy an collect in my youth years..).
Storyline aged good for being a cheesy 90s one and a few well made gags made me laugh to tears, sadly Ron Lim's artworks in issues 4-6 are just not as good as Mark Bagley's ones in first half of the series.
Totally forgot about Eddie's childhood past "secret origin" plot collected here.
Not bad.
December 16, 2021
I liked it!
Fun to see Venom going away in San Francisco getting away from Spidey and all of the drama, just to have a new beginning with devoting his life to protect the innocent etc.
Spidey being all skeptical about it got old too fast and pretty much stating the obvious while talking/thinking both characters made the whole thing a bit dumb, but still the main plot and above all the artwork saved it!
If you're a fan of Venom, be sure to check it out!
Fun to see Venom going away in San Francisco getting away from Spidey and all of the drama, just to have a new beginning with devoting his life to protect the innocent etc.
Spidey being all skeptical about it got old too fast and pretty much stating the obvious while talking/thinking both characters made the whole thing a bit dumb, but still the main plot and above all the artwork saved it!
If you're a fan of Venom, be sure to check it out!
October 1, 2022
This was so stupid and fun at the same time.
After the truce with Spider-Man, Eddie Brock goes to his hometown, in hopes that he can escape all the madness of being Venom. But of course conflict arises. There's a couple things that happen and then they all lead into each other. First off, he stumbles across a town that is underground stuck in 1910. How did that town get underground?
No, they do explain, but I still thought it was stupid. Anyways this evil corporation wants to destroy this town in favor of building something on top of it. And, Venom decides that he is going to stop this corporation. There's some other stop that happens, but I won't spoil.
Oh and Spider-Man is here too. Even though they have a truce, Peter finds out that Venom is in San Francisco, and he flies out there to capture him I guess. I will be completely honest here, he was completely useless here until about halfway. But even then, he really didn't need to be there. But, he probably was only there to sell more copies of the issues.
Overall, it's not the best thing ever, but it's still fun.
After the truce with Spider-Man, Eddie Brock goes to his hometown, in hopes that he can escape all the madness of being Venom. But of course conflict arises. There's a couple things that happen and then they all lead into each other. First off, he stumbles across a town that is underground stuck in 1910. How did that town get underground?
No, they do explain, but I still thought it was stupid. Anyways this evil corporation wants to destroy this town in favor of building something on top of it. And, Venom decides that he is going to stop this corporation. There's some other stop that happens, but I won't spoil.
Oh and Spider-Man is here too. Even though they have a truce, Peter finds out that Venom is in San Francisco, and he flies out there to capture him I guess. I will be completely honest here, he was completely useless here until about halfway. But even then, he really didn't need to be there. But, he probably was only there to sell more copies of the issues.
Overall, it's not the best thing ever, but it's still fun.
September 25, 2022
You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.
If there’s one foe that comes to mind when you think about Spider-Man, it’s Venom. With his symbiote that allows him to take on a form similar to Spider-Man’s costume but with a much darker, sharper, and deadlier edge, Venom has always been seen as an adversary that you simply did not want to go up against unless you were looking to meet Death far sooner than intended. Although the character saw its first live-action adaptation in Spider-Man 3, its reception was far from being as positive as it was for the Green Goblin. It’s only in 2018 that Venom receives its first live-action solo movie in Sony’s Universe of Marvel Characters, although it excludes our favourite friendly neighbourhood webslinger as a quintessential part of Venom’s origin story. With controversy accumulating with each appearance, it is at least a consolation to know that the latest live-action movie gives us a splendid CGI representation of the creepy villain. But the big surprise regarding Venom is that he isn’t just a psychopathic killer like his much more evil counterpart, Carnage. Venom is so much more.
Venom: Lethal Protector is a six-issue comic book limited series that follows Eddie Brock, also known as Venom, as he showcases the world that he can also be a hero. Struggling to belong anywhere in San Francisco and to anyone, Eddie Brock finds himself struggling with his place in the world as the population views him as a menace to society. It’s in his latest actions that he looks to protect the innocent, but things aren’t as easy as he wishes it to be when countless enemies look to put an end to Eddie Brock and Venom. In Lethal Protector, David Michelinie exposes our alien symbiote in a brand-new light that will challenge Spider-Man into acknowledging that the murderous Venom can change and keep his word. As the story explores Eddie Brock and Venom’s internal relationship, weaknesses and strengths, fans can rejoice in some of the most goofy dialogues and colourful action sequences in this classic story arc.
With this story arc marking Eddie Brock’s first appearance as the main character, David Michelinie offers quite the ride with Venom going from a villain to an anti-hero. His conflicted self trying to find a place he could call home and his new desire to help the innocent who are abused by those who are wealthy, powerful, or strong, turns Venom into an unexpectedly zany character that can be quite hard to recognize at first but quickly grows on you. If you thought Spider-Man was the only character that would throw punches as well as punchlines as he effortlessly brings down his rivals within seconds, think again. Eddie Brock and Venom showcase quite a collection of snappy and corny lines to whip you around with. It’s even more funny to go through since they always speak to each other, considering that the alien symbiote has a personality of its own and is in constant interaction with Eddie Brock; the dialogue doesn’t however make it easy for the reader to know who is talking to who. But once you do accustom yourself to their interaction with themselves and with the world, you’ll grow to love the character’s insane and well-intentioned self.
It is however important to mention that it is a story arc that can get very over the top yet so amusing at the same time. While it may be expected from some comic book stories from the 90s, this one is no exception in its ability to jump from one plot twist to another in a spectacular fashion. In fact, each issue ends on a cliffhanger that introduces a new threat that no one will see coming. To top it off, even the dialogue has a tone that is typical of the era, from self-description of their actions to self-announcing their superhero or supervillain names out loud, you will be constantly reminded that this is a comic book story from an era that strives in its ability to be vibrant, eccentric and action-packed. The artwork is also iconic of its generation and often focuses on dramatic moments, whether it’s action sequences or facial expressions. The colour palette is also mainly primary colours and a heavy usage of the whole array at the colourist’s disposition. While Venom might be a deadly creature, the story arc is still exploding with colours as bright as the sun.
Venom: Lethal Protector is the idiosyncratic transformation of an iconic villain into an anti-hero through colourful and frenzied showdowns.
If there’s one foe that comes to mind when you think about Spider-Man, it’s Venom. With his symbiote that allows him to take on a form similar to Spider-Man’s costume but with a much darker, sharper, and deadlier edge, Venom has always been seen as an adversary that you simply did not want to go up against unless you were looking to meet Death far sooner than intended. Although the character saw its first live-action adaptation in Spider-Man 3, its reception was far from being as positive as it was for the Green Goblin. It’s only in 2018 that Venom receives its first live-action solo movie in Sony’s Universe of Marvel Characters, although it excludes our favourite friendly neighbourhood webslinger as a quintessential part of Venom’s origin story. With controversy accumulating with each appearance, it is at least a consolation to know that the latest live-action movie gives us a splendid CGI representation of the creepy villain. But the big surprise regarding Venom is that he isn’t just a psychopathic killer like his much more evil counterpart, Carnage. Venom is so much more.
Venom: Lethal Protector is a six-issue comic book limited series that follows Eddie Brock, also known as Venom, as he showcases the world that he can also be a hero. Struggling to belong anywhere in San Francisco and to anyone, Eddie Brock finds himself struggling with his place in the world as the population views him as a menace to society. It’s in his latest actions that he looks to protect the innocent, but things aren’t as easy as he wishes it to be when countless enemies look to put an end to Eddie Brock and Venom. In Lethal Protector, David Michelinie exposes our alien symbiote in a brand-new light that will challenge Spider-Man into acknowledging that the murderous Venom can change and keep his word. As the story explores Eddie Brock and Venom’s internal relationship, weaknesses and strengths, fans can rejoice in some of the most goofy dialogues and colourful action sequences in this classic story arc.
With this story arc marking Eddie Brock’s first appearance as the main character, David Michelinie offers quite the ride with Venom going from a villain to an anti-hero. His conflicted self trying to find a place he could call home and his new desire to help the innocent who are abused by those who are wealthy, powerful, or strong, turns Venom into an unexpectedly zany character that can be quite hard to recognize at first but quickly grows on you. If you thought Spider-Man was the only character that would throw punches as well as punchlines as he effortlessly brings down his rivals within seconds, think again. Eddie Brock and Venom showcase quite a collection of snappy and corny lines to whip you around with. It’s even more funny to go through since they always speak to each other, considering that the alien symbiote has a personality of its own and is in constant interaction with Eddie Brock; the dialogue doesn’t however make it easy for the reader to know who is talking to who. But once you do accustom yourself to their interaction with themselves and with the world, you’ll grow to love the character’s insane and well-intentioned self.
It is however important to mention that it is a story arc that can get very over the top yet so amusing at the same time. While it may be expected from some comic book stories from the 90s, this one is no exception in its ability to jump from one plot twist to another in a spectacular fashion. In fact, each issue ends on a cliffhanger that introduces a new threat that no one will see coming. To top it off, even the dialogue has a tone that is typical of the era, from self-description of their actions to self-announcing their superhero or supervillain names out loud, you will be constantly reminded that this is a comic book story from an era that strives in its ability to be vibrant, eccentric and action-packed. The artwork is also iconic of its generation and often focuses on dramatic moments, whether it’s action sequences or facial expressions. The colour palette is also mainly primary colours and a heavy usage of the whole array at the colourist’s disposition. While Venom might be a deadly creature, the story arc is still exploding with colours as bright as the sun.
Venom: Lethal Protector is the idiosyncratic transformation of an iconic villain into an anti-hero through colourful and frenzied showdowns.
September 29, 2018
The Goddamn 90s
Y’know what?! I’ve read way to much 90s venom and hated all of it. So that’s it for me folks. This is my last time reading any incarnation of Venom that is 90s and earlier. I know there are probably a lot of Venom fans right now wanting to kill me. I get it. I can relate if I see a bad review on one of my favourite stories. And I read this comic in preparation for the movie coming out on October 5th. I wish I hadn’t. This wasnt as painful to read as Venom the Madness or Venom the Enemy Within, but I’m sorry I guess I just don’t enjoy this era of Spider-Man or Venom.
Aight so the plot is pretty simple. Spider-Man and Venom made a pact and this inspired Venom to become a very messed up looking super hero. The execution of this concept to me is waaaaaay to convoluted for its own good. Micheline should have played it closer to the chest and not have introduced so many new things like the life foundation and a secret city from 1906. The villain is a complete cornball idiot who literally wants to STEAL GOLD. Give me a goddamn break. But another problem with him is that he shown way to little. That’s why I think this story is a mess. There was so many things and subplots going on i even forgot about the main villain. That’s not good man.
The character of Eddie Brock and Venom is exactly how he should be and has a surprisingly good back story. I mean its nothing original but its the most well done thing in the story. Just a side note though. Why does it look like Eddie Brock is on 2000 types of steroids? I know he’s supposed to be pretty huge but he’s more than half the size of the frickin hulk. Venom’s arc in this comic is already set in the beginning of the story. So we know what he’s trying to do to change himself. The only main person that doesn’t know what Venom is really up to, is Spider-Man.
Time for the dialogue. What are the words I’m looking for? Oh ya. Cringe inducing to the MAX. A plot of the dialogue is pretty horrid, as are the inner thought bubbles. More descriptions of panels, more cheesey ass lines, and of course more generic villain dialogue.
Mark Bagely’s art was good. That is one of the other things are thought was acceptable. The artwork. So good job with the art.
Alright I made through 3 90s Venom comics. I’m DONE. DONE DONE. This is just not my type if story. If you love this story don’t listen to me. Don’t be discouraged if I call one of your favourite storylines and complicated piece of crap. But for me and the few other people..... Letter Grade: (D)
Y’know what?! I’ve read way to much 90s venom and hated all of it. So that’s it for me folks. This is my last time reading any incarnation of Venom that is 90s and earlier. I know there are probably a lot of Venom fans right now wanting to kill me. I get it. I can relate if I see a bad review on one of my favourite stories. And I read this comic in preparation for the movie coming out on October 5th. I wish I hadn’t. This wasnt as painful to read as Venom the Madness or Venom the Enemy Within, but I’m sorry I guess I just don’t enjoy this era of Spider-Man or Venom.
Aight so the plot is pretty simple. Spider-Man and Venom made a pact and this inspired Venom to become a very messed up looking super hero. The execution of this concept to me is waaaaaay to convoluted for its own good. Micheline should have played it closer to the chest and not have introduced so many new things like the life foundation and a secret city from 1906. The villain is a complete cornball idiot who literally wants to STEAL GOLD. Give me a goddamn break. But another problem with him is that he shown way to little. That’s why I think this story is a mess. There was so many things and subplots going on i even forgot about the main villain. That’s not good man.
The character of Eddie Brock and Venom is exactly how he should be and has a surprisingly good back story. I mean its nothing original but its the most well done thing in the story. Just a side note though. Why does it look like Eddie Brock is on 2000 types of steroids? I know he’s supposed to be pretty huge but he’s more than half the size of the frickin hulk. Venom’s arc in this comic is already set in the beginning of the story. So we know what he’s trying to do to change himself. The only main person that doesn’t know what Venom is really up to, is Spider-Man.
Time for the dialogue. What are the words I’m looking for? Oh ya. Cringe inducing to the MAX. A plot of the dialogue is pretty horrid, as are the inner thought bubbles. More descriptions of panels, more cheesey ass lines, and of course more generic villain dialogue.
Mark Bagely’s art was good. That is one of the other things are thought was acceptable. The artwork. So good job with the art.
Alright I made through 3 90s Venom comics. I’m DONE. DONE DONE. This is just not my type if story. If you love this story don’t listen to me. Don’t be discouraged if I call one of your favourite storylines and complicated piece of crap. But for me and the few other people..... Letter Grade: (D)
October 21, 2021
Mindless but fun.
October 15, 2018
A somewhat decent mindless read. Venom is good... if you want to read a cheesy 90s comic. Bring out the mullets and bad dialogue! This was one of the main comics that inspired the new Venom movie (along with Planet of
The symbiotes) and yeah it totally sucks but there’s something entertaining and nostalgic about it that makes it somewhat enjoyable and some pretty good artwork too. Overall nothing all that special if you aren’t a fan of the character.
The symbiotes) and yeah it totally sucks but there’s something entertaining and nostalgic about it that makes it somewhat enjoyable and some pretty good artwork too. Overall nothing all that special if you aren’t a fan of the character.
April 8, 2014
This book is a good representation of what comic books should strive for - zany plot lines that don't get derailed by their own absurdness centered around a moral core. This book keeps cliches to a minimum and really manages to tell a fresh Venom story.
February 3, 2019
This was such a good start to my reading of Venom! I can't believe I didn't get onto these comics beforehand. The storyline was really good! I love how the series within the comic all flowed into one another and each of the parts were very continuous.The characters were really interesting, and I can't wait to read more of these issues!
October 25, 2021
Me gustó, no se si porque es bueno o porque soy fan de Venom, todo muy ok.
Sin dejar de lado como todo cómic noventero un montón de momentos awkward.
Sin dejar de lado como todo cómic noventero un montón de momentos awkward.
July 20, 2018
It's Venom versus...big business? The main story centers around Venom trying to stop a businessman from destroying the underground society that took him in when nobody else would, and it's as underwhelming a motivation for a comic book as it sounds. Thankfully there are some detours to this plot that makes Venom: Lethal Protector an interesting read despite its subpar main story.
For one, Spider-Man is in quite a bit of these issues (presumably because Marvel didn't think Venom was strong enough a character to hold his own in a limited series). And somewhere in the middle of the action comes an army of mech suit-donning soldiers called the Jury try to exact revenge on Venom for killing someone when he broke out of the Vault prison (as seen in the Venom: Deathtrap: The Vault one-shot). After a few exchanges with the Jury, they just kind of become forgotten plot elements. Same with Eddie Brock's dad being in the story; he's built up to have some kind of importance that never quite amounts to anything significant. Another plot you can add to this convoluted spectacle is the symbiote offspring story, where five new symbiote villains are introduced to terrorize Venom. Unfortunately, they are disposed of like yesterday's garbage in no time at all, making for weak and unworthy adversaries to the awesome Venom. This subplot had the most potential but ended up being the most disappointing, as well.
A trend you'll find here is that Lethal Protector had patchy writing, with many plot holes and questionable decisions sprinkled throughout. I know these subplots and foreshadowing must be cleared up in future Venom or Spider-Man comics, but they should've been relatively clear-cut in the limited series in which they were initially mentioned! At the very least, they should have been hinted at as being cliffhangers for future comics, but we don't even get that. All the unanswered questions of Lethal Protector just get hung out to dry in favor of a subpar conclusion to the evil businessman/underground society plot. To an unknowing reader, these stories just seem to end without a conclusion, and only the more attentive Venom fans will know that these escapade continue in future story arcs and collections. Bottom-line: this graphic novel would have benefited greatly from having a more contained set of stories rather than those that require further reading to see any given subplot fully pan out.
Fortunately, Venom managed to be a more interesting character in Lethal Protector than in his previous appearances. What I mean to say is, Venom gets some character development for a change! I know, shocking, right? That Venom, of all characters, would be treated somewhat respectably is quite the marvel since thus far he had only ever been written as a vessel of blind hatred aimed towards Spider-Man. Venom becoming more of his own character and anti-hero – independent of Spider-Man's influence – in Lethal Protector warrants some kudos. Lethal Protector marks the beginning of Venom's transition from full-fledged villain to someone in the middle of that spectrum, paving the way for some great future Spider-Man stories (such as the incredible Maximum Carnage).
I won't hide the fact that Venom is my favorite Spider-Man villain (perhaps even my favorite in all of comics), and so my rating of three stars may be skewed largely in favor of this collection even though it may not deserve such a high rating. If I were not such a fanboy to Venom, maybe this collection would be rated lower. Regardless of my bias, I do think that Lethal Protector has some redeeming qualities that make it worth reading, especially in the department of Venom's characterization. Whether you're a huge Venom fan, like I am, or if you're somewhat indifferent to him but want to learn more about his escapades as a newly declared "good guy," this is a good place to look. Just know that reading Lethal Protector essentially means you have to read subsequent Venom graphic novels to appreciate his story to its fullest extent.
For one, Spider-Man is in quite a bit of these issues (presumably because Marvel didn't think Venom was strong enough a character to hold his own in a limited series). And somewhere in the middle of the action comes an army of mech suit-donning soldiers called the Jury try to exact revenge on Venom for killing someone when he broke out of the Vault prison (as seen in the Venom: Deathtrap: The Vault one-shot). After a few exchanges with the Jury, they just kind of become forgotten plot elements. Same with Eddie Brock's dad being in the story; he's built up to have some kind of importance that never quite amounts to anything significant. Another plot you can add to this convoluted spectacle is the symbiote offspring story, where five new symbiote villains are introduced to terrorize Venom. Unfortunately, they are disposed of like yesterday's garbage in no time at all, making for weak and unworthy adversaries to the awesome Venom. This subplot had the most potential but ended up being the most disappointing, as well.
A trend you'll find here is that Lethal Protector had patchy writing, with many plot holes and questionable decisions sprinkled throughout. I know these subplots and foreshadowing must be cleared up in future Venom or Spider-Man comics, but they should've been relatively clear-cut in the limited series in which they were initially mentioned! At the very least, they should have been hinted at as being cliffhangers for future comics, but we don't even get that. All the unanswered questions of Lethal Protector just get hung out to dry in favor of a subpar conclusion to the evil businessman/underground society plot. To an unknowing reader, these stories just seem to end without a conclusion, and only the more attentive Venom fans will know that these escapade continue in future story arcs and collections. Bottom-line: this graphic novel would have benefited greatly from having a more contained set of stories rather than those that require further reading to see any given subplot fully pan out.
Fortunately, Venom managed to be a more interesting character in Lethal Protector than in his previous appearances. What I mean to say is, Venom gets some character development for a change! I know, shocking, right? That Venom, of all characters, would be treated somewhat respectably is quite the marvel since thus far he had only ever been written as a vessel of blind hatred aimed towards Spider-Man. Venom becoming more of his own character and anti-hero – independent of Spider-Man's influence – in Lethal Protector warrants some kudos. Lethal Protector marks the beginning of Venom's transition from full-fledged villain to someone in the middle of that spectrum, paving the way for some great future Spider-Man stories (such as the incredible Maximum Carnage).
I won't hide the fact that Venom is my favorite Spider-Man villain (perhaps even my favorite in all of comics), and so my rating of three stars may be skewed largely in favor of this collection even though it may not deserve such a high rating. If I were not such a fanboy to Venom, maybe this collection would be rated lower. Regardless of my bias, I do think that Lethal Protector has some redeeming qualities that make it worth reading, especially in the department of Venom's characterization. Whether you're a huge Venom fan, like I am, or if you're somewhat indifferent to him but want to learn more about his escapades as a newly declared "good guy," this is a good place to look. Just know that reading Lethal Protector essentially means you have to read subsequent Venom graphic novels to appreciate his story to its fullest extent.
October 1, 2014
Like Claremont's Wolverine series, there seems to be something awfully bizarre about this in hindsight. A limited series to see if Venom was a popular enough character to sell books? Please!
(Although despite the tremendous popularity of the character, I guess the answer is: No, not popular enough. I wonder why.)
This is a perfectly fine little yarn. Maybe there is too little action. Maybe it failed to establish that Venom has his own problems separate and apart from Spider-Man. Maybe it was a (big!) mistake to suggest that there could be still more symbiotes. All true.
Still, there's something fun about the over-the-top super-Spider-Man (excepting morals) that Venom represents.
(Although despite the tremendous popularity of the character, I guess the answer is: No, not popular enough. I wonder why.)
This is a perfectly fine little yarn. Maybe there is too little action. Maybe it failed to establish that Venom has his own problems separate and apart from Spider-Man. Maybe it was a (big!) mistake to suggest that there could be still more symbiotes. All true.
Still, there's something fun about the over-the-top super-Spider-Man (excepting morals) that Venom represents.
September 11, 2018
This was the first attempt by Marvel to make Venom more of an anti-hero, and it's pretty good. Venom is equal parts scary and corny, working in San Francisco underground to protect the innocent in his....special way. The director of the upcoming Venom movie said that he took elements of the story line for the film from this limited series, and as you read it you can definitely see it for yourself. I enjoyed this entertaining, occasionally hilarious romp.
May 6, 2025
Lethal Protector offered a solid introduction for me to Venom in comic form. From his iconic first appearance in issue one to some genuinely cold and entertaining moments, Venom himself is a compelling presence throughout this collection. The art direction truly shines when it comes to his symbiote, delivering some awesome and dynamic action shots that perfectly capture his power and ferocity.
The inclusion of Spider-Man was also a welcome element. He played a supportive role without overshadowing Venom, effectively filling the shoes of a side character and adding a familiar dynamic to the narrative. Getting to see the two team up will also always be welcome from a Spidey fan’s perspective.
However, where this comic falters is in its overall storyline. While Venom's character arc and visual representation are strong, the plot itself felt weak and seemed to lose its way as the story progressed. By the end, the narrative had become rather forgettable, which is a shame considering the strength of the central character.
Ultimately, this collection definitely boosted my appreciation for Venom as a character. It's just a shame the forgettable story didn’t quite live up to his potential.
The inclusion of Spider-Man was also a welcome element. He played a supportive role without overshadowing Venom, effectively filling the shoes of a side character and adding a familiar dynamic to the narrative. Getting to see the two team up will also always be welcome from a Spidey fan’s perspective.
However, where this comic falters is in its overall storyline. While Venom's character arc and visual representation are strong, the plot itself felt weak and seemed to lose its way as the story progressed. By the end, the narrative had become rather forgettable, which is a shame considering the strength of the central character.
Ultimately, this collection definitely boosted my appreciation for Venom as a character. It's just a shame the forgettable story didn’t quite live up to his potential.
August 24, 2021
First couples pages has venom stopping a robbery almost turned rape. He then makes a few jokes about being a hero while he looks like he might bite your face off.
This is 90s to the extreme and it's both amazing and horrible. The dialogue ranges from pretty enjoyable and funny (peter is actually pretty funny and so is venom) to some awful dialogue from the father of Eddie being awful.
The art can be cool too, especially venom and spidy. Though backgrounds lack detail as does it most times in this time period.
Overall venom wants to be a hero and teams up with spidy. That's the story. Pretty fun but as expected goofy.
This is 90s to the extreme and it's both amazing and horrible. The dialogue ranges from pretty enjoyable and funny (peter is actually pretty funny and so is venom) to some awful dialogue from the father of Eddie being awful.
The art can be cool too, especially venom and spidy. Though backgrounds lack detail as does it most times in this time period.
Overall venom wants to be a hero and teams up with spidy. That's the story. Pretty fun but as expected goofy.
October 11, 2015
A great representation of what I loved about comics as a kid in 1993.
August 7, 2021
Lethal Protector was originally published in 1993 as a six-issue story with Venom as the main character.
The story was written by David Micheline and it shows the major storytelling issues of the time which were partly lead to major changes in the comic book industry in the late 90s. The story itself is a bit incoherent and it's so overloaded with action and movement that it ends up more like a frustrating experience for the reader. Some storylines were solely introduced with the purpose of having a bigger action scene and some lines weren't even resolved by the end of the comic book. The arrival of Orwell Taylor and his task force with the intention of avenging his son killed by Venom, leads to nowhere, except for a visual spectacle of a crowded fight scene which involves the Golden Gate Bridge. The story takes place in San Francisco and that might have been an interesting aspect, that Spider-Man is acting out outside of his hometown, but it only ends up being a sightseeing tour with Venom, using the city without any meaningful purpose.
A storyline building up around some homeless people, whose hiding place is threatened by a park recreation program. There's an older part of the town beneath the park which sunk underground during an earthquake in 1906, and since then it's left intact and used by the homeless community. The park recreation program is only a cover-up for Roland Treece who's trying to reach a gold stock which might have sunk belowground with the part of the city. The gold is simply used as a MacGuffin and stands without any serious significance, except connecting Venom with the homeless community. The setting of the sunken town might be one of the most interesting things about the story, but it's left without any bigger role in the unfolding of the narrative.
There are so many different parties involved in the story, Orwell Taylor, the Life Foundation, Roland Treece, that it's impossible to provide a detailed background for them in a six-issue story. The number of events and action scenes makes the whole story so busy and hectic that it leaves the reader frustrated. The action scenes are following the dramaturgy of a professional wrestling show: Orwell Taylor with his task force beats up Venom, the Life Foundation and the squad of symbiotes beat up Spider-Man, so they suspend all their previous hostility against each other and form a partnership against their common enemies. They handle with the Life Foundation, and then resolve the problem with the sunken town and the homeless community.
David Micheline introduced so many villains in the story, a group of mercenaries lead by Orwell Taylor, and the five other symbiotes extracted from Venom, that it's very hard to keep track on them. Luckily there's no need to, because they become so insignificant and meaningless in the story, they simply become a sidenote, mere data in the history of Spider-Man, who's character was 31-year-old at the time of the publication. The way of the storytelling shows what went wrong with mainstream comic books over the 90s, when the authors tried to grab the attention of the audience by raising the ante endlessly and due to that erasing any significance of the events. Though it might be still an interesting and entertaining story for someone who's trying to understand the culture of the 90s from a retrospective viewpoint.
Lethal Protector is an interesting piece of artwork from the 90s. The first part of the story, drawn by Mark Bagley and inked by Sam DeLarosa and Al Milgrom, is a lot more impressive than the second half of the book, with beautiful single page spreads and great set pieces. Compared to that the artwork provided by Ron Lim, might be a bit bland.
The story introduces many great themes, but most of them were left without elaboration. The underground homeless town and the Life Foundation vault seem very interesting, and they would have deserved a lot more attention from the writer. I'm aware of that they might be elaborated in other stories, and this is just the way it is with comic books and their addictive nature. The choice is left for the reader if he's willing to go down further in the comic books of the 90s to research all these details, but then it might not be worthwhile. In the case of Venom: Lethal Protector the enjoyment of this process is clearly combined with frustration and dissatisfaction.
The story was written by David Micheline and it shows the major storytelling issues of the time which were partly lead to major changes in the comic book industry in the late 90s. The story itself is a bit incoherent and it's so overloaded with action and movement that it ends up more like a frustrating experience for the reader. Some storylines were solely introduced with the purpose of having a bigger action scene and some lines weren't even resolved by the end of the comic book. The arrival of Orwell Taylor and his task force with the intention of avenging his son killed by Venom, leads to nowhere, except for a visual spectacle of a crowded fight scene which involves the Golden Gate Bridge. The story takes place in San Francisco and that might have been an interesting aspect, that Spider-Man is acting out outside of his hometown, but it only ends up being a sightseeing tour with Venom, using the city without any meaningful purpose.
A storyline building up around some homeless people, whose hiding place is threatened by a park recreation program. There's an older part of the town beneath the park which sunk underground during an earthquake in 1906, and since then it's left intact and used by the homeless community. The park recreation program is only a cover-up for Roland Treece who's trying to reach a gold stock which might have sunk belowground with the part of the city. The gold is simply used as a MacGuffin and stands without any serious significance, except connecting Venom with the homeless community. The setting of the sunken town might be one of the most interesting things about the story, but it's left without any bigger role in the unfolding of the narrative.
There are so many different parties involved in the story, Orwell Taylor, the Life Foundation, Roland Treece, that it's impossible to provide a detailed background for them in a six-issue story. The number of events and action scenes makes the whole story so busy and hectic that it leaves the reader frustrated. The action scenes are following the dramaturgy of a professional wrestling show: Orwell Taylor with his task force beats up Venom, the Life Foundation and the squad of symbiotes beat up Spider-Man, so they suspend all their previous hostility against each other and form a partnership against their common enemies. They handle with the Life Foundation, and then resolve the problem with the sunken town and the homeless community.
David Micheline introduced so many villains in the story, a group of mercenaries lead by Orwell Taylor, and the five other symbiotes extracted from Venom, that it's very hard to keep track on them. Luckily there's no need to, because they become so insignificant and meaningless in the story, they simply become a sidenote, mere data in the history of Spider-Man, who's character was 31-year-old at the time of the publication. The way of the storytelling shows what went wrong with mainstream comic books over the 90s, when the authors tried to grab the attention of the audience by raising the ante endlessly and due to that erasing any significance of the events. Though it might be still an interesting and entertaining story for someone who's trying to understand the culture of the 90s from a retrospective viewpoint.
Lethal Protector is an interesting piece of artwork from the 90s. The first part of the story, drawn by Mark Bagley and inked by Sam DeLarosa and Al Milgrom, is a lot more impressive than the second half of the book, with beautiful single page spreads and great set pieces. Compared to that the artwork provided by Ron Lim, might be a bit bland.
The story introduces many great themes, but most of them were left without elaboration. The underground homeless town and the Life Foundation vault seem very interesting, and they would have deserved a lot more attention from the writer. I'm aware of that they might be elaborated in other stories, and this is just the way it is with comic books and their addictive nature. The choice is left for the reader if he's willing to go down further in the comic books of the 90s to research all these details, but then it might not be worthwhile. In the case of Venom: Lethal Protector the enjoyment of this process is clearly combined with frustration and dissatisfaction.
July 27, 2021
Eddie y Venom quieren empezar una nueva vida en San Francisco en la que su objetivo principal sea proteger inocentes, a pesar de sus métodos poco ortodoxos, claro. Sin embargo, Eddie es un hombre buscado por la justicia, así que deberá huir hasta buscar su verdadero hogar.
Un clásico de Marvel y un esencial de Venom. Válido para aquellos que no conozcan al personaje de antes o lo conozcan y hayan leído poco o nada (mi caso). Explican sus orígenes a la perfección y te los recuerdan de vez en cuando para no perder al lector, así que se puede entrar de cabeza sin problemas. A partir de esta introducción es cuando comienza la historia de esta serie. Ha sido algo simple y sin tanta locura como se puede ver en númeris actuales, por ejemplo; bastante vainilla. Eso no quiere decir que esté mal o falte algo. Sí que he echado de menos a Venom como ente separado de Eddie, porque podemos ver la visión de Eddie y de Venom (ellos dos juntos), pero al simbionte no se lo oye en ningún momento y es algo que me suele gustar. Aunque no pasa nada, salen mucho juntos como Venom así que compensa.
La traducción al español de España es bastante mejorable.
Un clásico de Marvel y un esencial de Venom. Válido para aquellos que no conozcan al personaje de antes o lo conozcan y hayan leído poco o nada (mi caso). Explican sus orígenes a la perfección y te los recuerdan de vez en cuando para no perder al lector, así que se puede entrar de cabeza sin problemas. A partir de esta introducción es cuando comienza la historia de esta serie. Ha sido algo simple y sin tanta locura como se puede ver en númeris actuales, por ejemplo; bastante vainilla. Eso no quiere decir que esté mal o falte algo. Sí que he echado de menos a Venom como ente separado de Eddie, porque podemos ver la visión de Eddie y de Venom (ellos dos juntos), pero al simbionte no se lo oye en ningún momento y es algo que me suele gustar. Aunque no pasa nada, salen mucho juntos como Venom así que compensa.
La traducción al español de España es bastante mejorable.
October 11, 2021
Venom es el protector de los inocentes y tambien al parecer el terror de los tipos millonarios.
Después de tratar de matar a Spider Man en varias ocasiones, Eddie Brock decide enmendar su camino y regresar a su natal San Francisco para convertirse en un antiheroe y ayudar a los inocentes, aunque esto no será nada sencillo pues Venom no deja de ser un monstruo y sus métodos llamaran la atención de El jurado, la fundación Life y Roland Treece, personas con dinero que por una u otra razón quieren verlo muerto.
Pues no lo voy a negar, lo mejor de esta mini serie es el dibujo de Mark Bagley, se nota que tanto el personaje como el tipo de historia eran un producto muy de los noventas y pues la verdad no hay mucho que decir, es venom agarrandose a golpes con medio mundo. Se nota que de aqui agarraron la inspiración para la primer película en solitario del personaje.
Si te gusta Venom, Protector Letal tiene un arte excelente y a Venom luchando pero no esperes encontrar una historia profunda ni nada por el estilo, entretiene pero sin más...
Después de tratar de matar a Spider Man en varias ocasiones, Eddie Brock decide enmendar su camino y regresar a su natal San Francisco para convertirse en un antiheroe y ayudar a los inocentes, aunque esto no será nada sencillo pues Venom no deja de ser un monstruo y sus métodos llamaran la atención de El jurado, la fundación Life y Roland Treece, personas con dinero que por una u otra razón quieren verlo muerto.
Pues no lo voy a negar, lo mejor de esta mini serie es el dibujo de Mark Bagley, se nota que tanto el personaje como el tipo de historia eran un producto muy de los noventas y pues la verdad no hay mucho que decir, es venom agarrandose a golpes con medio mundo. Se nota que de aqui agarraron la inspiración para la primer película en solitario del personaje.
Si te gusta Venom, Protector Letal tiene un arte excelente y a Venom luchando pero no esperes encontrar una historia profunda ni nada por el estilo, entretiene pero sin más...
December 18, 2017
This story lacks a bit of focus at times, but overall its pretty fun.
Apparently the upcoming Venom movie with Tom Hardy pulls from this story, but what it pulls is still a mystery as I write this review. There's a lot to pull from; Eddie's upbringing, Venom protecting the homeless of San Francisco, the Life Foundation, and Roland Treece trying to steal gold. There are also 5 new Symbiote threats created and destroyed in literally one issue. David Michelinie wrote a very unfocused script, but landed some great and memorable moments throughout the chaos. The art by Bagley is great in issues 1-3 and Lims art in 4-6 is okay. If you're a Venom fan, I'd recommend picking this one up to see the turning point of Venom from villain to anti-hero. Worth the purchase.
Apparently the upcoming Venom movie with Tom Hardy pulls from this story, but what it pulls is still a mystery as I write this review. There's a lot to pull from; Eddie's upbringing, Venom protecting the homeless of San Francisco, the Life Foundation, and Roland Treece trying to steal gold. There are also 5 new Symbiote threats created and destroyed in literally one issue. David Michelinie wrote a very unfocused script, but landed some great and memorable moments throughout the chaos. The art by Bagley is great in issues 1-3 and Lims art in 4-6 is okay. If you're a Venom fan, I'd recommend picking this one up to see the turning point of Venom from villain to anti-hero. Worth the purchase.
September 25, 2019
There are aspects of Venom as a character that I expected to like, and I did like them when present: the plural pronoun, the fact that the symbiont is the only clothing Brock wears, the reunion scene at the end; it's an unusual intimacy if I've ever seen one, and I'm trash for that trope. But all the rest of this is everything that I don't like in comics, from bulging muscles to bland one-liners to stilted expository dialog. This last would be much alleviated--and there would be more of the good parts--if the symbiont were given dialog, rather than having it related, clumsily, through Brock.
January 20, 2019
i REALLY enjoyed this for so many reasons. the language they used was so hilarious to me, like the phrasing and the way the civilians reacted to venom was the funniest thing ever, it was so cheesy. also the venom movie kinda seems to take some (A LOT OF) notes from this. and like eddie & venom were so funny akskfjsj. also scream, agony, lasher, phage, and riot 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 ICONIC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2024
This is PURE 90s comic and it is such a great time. Growing up I ploughed through the sequel series to this, but never read the first six issues. There is A LOT in here, with many smaller sequences having much larger implications in future series.
The writing is VERY 90s hahaha, but I had a such a fun time reading it.
The writing is VERY 90s hahaha, but I had a such a fun time reading it.
February 9, 2018
So I remember the Venom character from the 90's Spider-Man cartoon.
And now there's going to be a movie starring Tom Hardy.
So I read this one since its one of the comics the movie is based on I think. It was an interesting read. The art was alright at times.
And now there's going to be a movie starring Tom Hardy.
So I read this one since its one of the comics the movie is based on I think. It was an interesting read. The art was alright at times.
July 20, 2025
4/5 Stars
Individual Issues Rated Below -
Venom: Lethal Protector #1: 3.5/5 Stars
Venom: Lethal Protector #2: 3.5/5 Stars
Venom: Lethal Protector #3: 4/5 Stars
Venom: Lethal Protector #4: 3.5/5 Stars
Venom: Lethal Protector #5: 5/5 Stars
Venom: Lethal Protector #6: 4/5 Stars
Individual Issues Rated Below -
Venom: Lethal Protector #1: 3.5/5 Stars
Venom: Lethal Protector #2: 3.5/5 Stars
Venom: Lethal Protector #3: 4/5 Stars
Venom: Lethal Protector #4: 3.5/5 Stars
Venom: Lethal Protector #5: 5/5 Stars
Venom: Lethal Protector #6: 4/5 Stars
August 16, 2025
Spiderman y Venom son novios, se quieren
October 2, 2025
Realized about midway through that I had actually read this many years ago. Oops. Anyway it’s a fun enough romp. Michelinie has always been a bright spot for me in the abysmal DeFalco era of Marvel.
October 27, 2018
Quick and Sweet
It was nice to have all 6 issues to read at once. The story was simple with multiple outside story arcs to revisit.
It was nice to have all 6 issues to read at once. The story was simple with multiple outside story arcs to revisit.
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