Venom: The Enemy Within #2

Background

Venom battled little green monsters that were attacking people in San Francisco. In New York, Morbius and Demogoblin suddenly disappeared. When Venom was defeated, the monsters took him to their underground lair, where Morbius appeared on a throne.

Story Details

In the throne room, Eddie wondered what a living vampire had to go with goblin creatures. Morbius told him there was no need to kneel, as he could kill him as easily on his feet. They fought, and Morbius had recognized Eddie as Venom. He threw Morbius into a cave wall and a crack appeared, letting sunlight into the chamber. The sunlight burned Morbius, making him scream. The light had a similar effect on the goblins, who fled in terror. Morbius corrected Venom, saying he had nothing to do with the creatures. They both gave their backgrounds: Venom on the mysterious sudden appearance of the monsters, Morbius on his unexplained arrival in San Francisco.

Venom pointed out a green face painted on the wall of the cavern and how it somewhat resembled Morbius. He had noticed how the goblins seemed disorganized and chaotic, so had perhaps summoned Morbius as their leader. Morbius found that unlikely but agreed that they may be looking for a leader. He told Venom that San Francisco was his city and began to leave, and Venom tried to persuade him to stay. They didn't get far as they were attacked again by the goblins. The creatures used their sonic attack against them, smashing a hole in a wall, letting in sea water. The monsters and heroes were all washed away, with Venom saving Morbius from drowning. Morbius found a crack in the maintenance tunnel wall and led them through a tunnel likely dug by the goblins. At the end they found a concrete roof, that once smashed through, brought them to Alcatraz prison.

In the city, the debate of how to handle the quarantine grew more heated. Many citizens wanted to be able to leave the city, despite what the mayor and military said. Newly elected mayor Palentine claimed that the goblins were a Biblical plague and the only way to defeat them was with fire. In the streets, people argued over burning the city or ignoring the mayor.

Back in the goblins underground throne room, the creatures excitedly danced as Demogoblin appeared on the throne. In irritation, the monster asked them what they had to say for themselves. They screamed out in excitement.

At Alcatraz, Eddie found a prison cell with the goblin face painted on a wall. The wall opened and a diary was found inside. It was the memoir or Charles Palene, a seventeen-year-old prisoner. He'd been a small-time crook in New York that stumbled across a cult about to commit a human sacrifice. He accidentally fell through the window and into the basement, where the cult leader decided to make him the sacrifice. During the struggle, he yanked off the leader's necklace just in time for the police to arrive and shoot the cultist holding the sacrificial knife. Charles was arrested and sentenced to five years at a work farm but was allowed to keep the necklace. He escaped from the farm easily, almost too easily. He went on a small crime spree, which was also too easy.

At his hotel hideout, he would look into the beads on the necklace and see shadows inside. The law eventually caught up with him and he ended up at Alcatraz. He spent time in the prison library and found an occult book that gave information about his necklace. The information not provided by the book was given by the necklace itself. In his cell, he recited a chant that summoned the green monsters, who looked like they wanted to eat him alive. The only thing that saved him was the fact that he held on to the necklace so tightly. He ordered the goblins to dig him out of the prison. Slowly, through dark magic, he erased his criminal past and worked his way up to being mayor. Charlie Palene had become Charles Palentine!

In the mayor's mansion, Palentine addressed a crowd, promising that they had nothing to fear from the goblins as long as he was in charge.

At Alcatraz, Morbius heard the pitter patter of thousands of little feet. He and Venom were then faced by the goblins and their new leader, Demogoblin.

General Comments

When you read the early 90s Venom books, it definitely feels like they were written for a younger audience. They're light on story and heavy on action, even if the action is boring. Or maybe they weren't written for younger readers as much as the writers just didn't care. It's hard to tell.

• It was a little funny that Morbius called Venom an "alien slug."
• I kind of enjoyed that Demogoblin seemed unfazed by the little green monsters that summoned him. It's like he recognized them.
• When Charlie summoned the goblins in his prison cell, he used magic words from H.P. Lovecraft.

Overall Rating

There isnt much to the story to talk about.