Flash Thompson is: AGENT VENOM

[The Sevenshot Kid]

Have any of you guys been reading the latest volume of Venom that Marvel's been putting out this year? It's six issues in right now and it's the only Spidey-centric thing that I can touch in main Marvel continuity.

The series follows Flash Thompson being recruited by the government to do black-ops work for them after losing his legs in Iraq (his actions earning him a recommendation for the Congressional Medal of Honor). The plan is simple: put the newly captured Venom symbiote on Flash and send him out on missions for the government. Flash, being the great stand-up guy that he is, accepts this without a second thought.

The job comes with risks: Flash can't stay in the suit more than 48 hours without risking permanent bonding. In one fell swoop, Flash gets everything he's ever wanted. He's got powers like Spidey, he's serving his country, and he's got his legs back. But with great power comes The Parker Luck.

I was suuuuuuuuuuuuper skeptical when the series started but I started reading it a couple weeks ago and I absolutely love it. The writing is great, the characterization is consistent, the art is stellar, and it's a good Spider-Man book!

This series is so fantastic I just can't wait for the next issue to come out. Feel free to discuss the awesomeness of Flash Thompson.

[BloodyMage]

It does sound like an interesting approach.

[POS Industries]

So I take it they managed to get the symbiote off of Gargan recently?

Can't say I'm bothered by that. Always felt that the "Hey, we can't think of anything to do with Scorpion, let's make him Venom!" approach was a tad lame.

[The Sevenshot Kid]

So I take it they managed to get the symbiote off of Gargan recently?

I think that happened after "Seige" but I've never kept up with the greater Marvel continuity so I'm not sure.

Can't say I'm bothered by that. Always felt that the "Hey, we can't think of anything to do with Scorpion, let's make him Venom!" approach was a tad lame.

Yeah, I hated that the character wasn't so much Gargan (not that he was much of a character anyway) as it was just Venom. With Flash we're not having Venom jammed down our throats. Flash spends all his time in the suit battling to keep it under his control so you know shit is going down when the tongue rolls out and he starts saying "we" instead of "I". Whereas other Venom's have been monsters, Flash is a soldier. His being Venom isn't a gimmick as much as it is the next logical step for the character.

[Magus]

I'm glad you are keeping us informed on decent comics to buy, since the only thing I've really enjoyed in recent months is the new Batman Beyond (I guess there is a new TMNT reboot coming out, I'll be looking into that), and I for one am horribly disappointed with the majority of comics available right now. I'll be looking into this new Venom and your Gates of Gotham recommendation...

Is this comic called Agent Venom or just Venom, by the way?

[The Sevenshot Kid]

I'm glad you are keeping us informed on decent comics to buy, since the only thing I've really enjoyed in recent months is the new Batman Beyond (I guess there is a new TMNT reboot coming out, I'll be looking into that), and I for one am horribly disappointed with the majority of comics available right now. I'll be looking into this new Venom and your Gates of Gotham recommendation...

Is this comic called Agent Venom or just Venom, by the way?

It's just Venom and it's written by Rick Remender with six issues out right now. And so far I haven't been disappointed by a single issue.