Sensational Spider-Man (Vol. 2) #38

Story Details

A wretched-looking Eddie Brock is in hospital recalling how it all went wrong. How he blames Peter for uncovering his Sin Eater deception, his many, many defeats as Venom and how he sold the symbiote off to the highest bidder when he found out he had cancer, before trying to commit suicide.

The symbiote appears to still be a part of him however - in his subconscious at the very least. As he is meandering around the hospital, he stumbles across MJ and May in one of the rooms.

MJ is telling an unconscious May how she wishes the sniper bullet had hit her Amazing Spider-Man #538.

Meanwhile, Peter is out on patrol in the black outfit. He bashes up some muggers but ignores the wellbeing of the girl they were trying to attack. He swings away to see Madame Web, who has now lost the French accent she seemed to have for one arc Sensational Spider-Man (Vol. 2) #23. Peter asks her to perform some sort of séance for his aunt.

Back at the hospital and Eddie is struggling with the demon of the symbiote in his mind. He unwraps a package he has ordered - it is a black spider suit which he puts on.

General Comments

This is a slightly different issue. Through the whole of Roberto Aguirre- Sacasa's run, with the exception of Clayton Crain's interiors, the writing has trumped the art. Here though, Lee Weeks' and Stefano Gaudiano's work comfortably betters what is actually depicting. The image near the end of Venom towering over Eddie is wonderfully constructed and really draws out the feeling behind Back In Black. Eddie looks great - gaunt, tired and truly haunted. Venom seems terrifying. The black Spider-Man is sleek and agile. This is how a back in black book should look - darker and edgier.

With that in the bank, the rest of the tale is slightly lacking in that, once again, nothing really happens. Spidey asks a non-French Madame Web to perform a séance and Eddie Brock discovers he is in the same hospital as Peter's family. Three dollars, please.

Overall Rating

Most of the score is for the art, which does live up to the Sensational moniker.