Venom: Separation Anxiety #2- Highlighting Legendary Creators Who Are Still Creating
From Marvel Comics
Written by David Michelinie
Art by Gerardo Sandoval
Cover Art by Paulo Siqueria
I feel like it is my sworn duty as a comic book fan to make you all aware of this latest Venom prequel comic from legendary writer David Michelinie.
“Venom: Separation Anxiety” is the most recent modern retro comic installment from Marvel Comics- which has to be one of, if not my favorite, publishing decisions they have made in recent years. If you are not aware of this trend, then allow me to direct your attention to the amazing comics currently being released by some of your favorite legendary writers such as, Symbiote Spider-Man and, more recently, Symbiote Spider-Man 2099 from Peter David (which is a rare direct continuation by the way), Wolverine: Madripoor Knights by Chris Claremont, and of course Venom: Lethal Protector from David Michelinie.
I think we as consumers take for granted how important and unbelievable these writers’ presence in modern comics is with the laundry list of monumental achievements and contributions to comics they collectively lay claim to. After all, it is easy to miss these titles being spoiled for choice amidst the flood of event tie-ins and exciting new elseworlds, and one shots that the industry has to offer. However, I think it is more important than ever to appreciate, respect, and seek out more knowledge of the dedicated history of the legacy characters we all enjoy as fans.
In the case of David Michelinie, this is the guy who made Iron Man a character- with personal struggles- rather than just “generic hero #1.” He also had one of the longest runs of the Amazing Spider-Man of all time- including the introduction of Venom. The Marvel comics universe has become even more ingrained and saturated with Venom-lore in recent years, which is why it is so amazing that we have multiple new volumes of Michilenie’s perspective of Venom to add to the reading list.
In his modern work, Michelinie proves yet again that he is one of the true masters of original ideas- weaving intriguing character matchups and teams never before seen with a quintessential, action packed, comic book plot that will leave you yearning for the comics of your youth. It is continually baffling to me how inventive, funny, organic, complex, and surprising Michilenie’s Venom comics are, knowing that this is a 76 year old man at the helm. Talk about showing the youngins’ how it’s fucking done!
“Separation Anxiety” is a familiar title at Marvel having been used in the 1994 Venom miniseries by Howard Mackie in which Eddie Brock becomes separated from his titular Symbiote host. This could be a fitting homage by Michelinie as the 2024 iteration features part of the Venom Symbiote becoming attached to the heinous mind controlling villain, The Purple Man, promising an all out battle between the future “King in Black” and a new “King in Purple.”
Let’s dive into the story of “Separation Anxiety” Issue #2 which means,
WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD!
Issue #2 begins by following the Purple Man as he begins to embrace his new symbiote and escapes to the home of Doctor Hans Guilder who helped inhibit the Purple with a mental implant limiting his telepathic abilities. Here, the Purple Man reveals his true intentions, recounting his horrific torture and experimentation at the hands of Doctor Doom in Michilenie’s epic Avengers title Emperor DOOM from 1982. In this story, Doom was able to construct a mass mind control device using the Purple Man’s abilities and used a hair from his head to create a small psychic prism that allowed him to control others on a smaller scale, and Purple Man wants that damn hair back!
It’s an absurd and twisted vendetta that is really revealing of how dangerous and narcissistic the Purple Man really is and it’s so refreshing to see him utilized to his full potential.
Armed with the power of the Symbiote, the Purple Man is basically untouchable as he makes his way to the last known location of the prism- Fantastic 4 headquarters!
Meanwhile, Eddie and his once coworker Joy catch up on the whereabouts of the Purple Man after his escape from the Vault where Joy reveals that she selfishly wants to use Eddie and Venom to get the best story on the subject she can, causing Venom to flee feeling taken advantage of.
Which is the theme of this whole story as this issue eloquently relays- as both Venom and the Purple Man suffer from the “Separation” of a part of their identity and the mistrust and uncertainty that comes from such a feeling of betrayal.
As Eddie arrives at Four Freedoms Plaza, having received intel about the prism from Joy before swinging off, he sees The Thing returning home- that’s right, the “Blue Eyed ever loving thing” is in this comic too!
Eddie watches in horror as the Thing is approached by the Purple Man in disguise and quickly influenced by his Symbiote tendrils to gain access to the building. Venom pursues the duo inside, making himself invisible- which is an ability he has really lost in modern comics and now every time I’m reminded of it, it makes me mad.
Once upstairs, it is revealed that Reed has completely reengineered DOOM’s machine with the prism, which is a classic meddlesome Reed thing to do. However, before the Purple Man can be gifted the prism by his “willing friend” The Thing- it is intercepted by Venom’s webs, leading to an all out brawl between The Thing and Venom and it is a beautiful sight to behold with Gerardo Sandoval’s larger-than-life, explosive, muscular artwork. Seriously, the splash page of Venom and the Thing made me audibly gasp!
In the end, neither the Purple Man or Venom is able to lay claim to the prism as a henchman from the Roxxon Corporation in a really advanced suit that teleports, that I do not recognize but I think has a really cool design, intercepts the prism and escapes. Both Eddie and the Purple Man make their exits too in the ensuing chaos, leaving The Thing to hazily attempt to recall anything from the last hour.
In the final pages, we are treated to a look at the mysterious military organization who attempted to raid the Vault in Issue #1- as they look down on the hulking form of a mind controlled and jacked Rhino and muse on needing a meeting with Wilson Fisk.
You really never know what you are going to get in an issue of Michelinie’s Venom but the fact that we got The Thing, Roxxon, the Rhino, and now we are gonna get Kingpin- is just so exciting and I just love learning about these missing chapters in Venom’s early history from a master at play.
Please support your local comic book store and read Venom: Separation Anxiety on shelves now!
-Nicholas Aaron Hodge
