Queen In Black: Venom Unchained Issue 2 is published by Marvel Comics and written by Charles Soule, art by Jaunan Ramírez, colors by Erick Arciniega, and letters by Travis Lanham.
This is part of the Queen in Black event. Eddie Brock bonds with a new symbiote, one that will help him break out of Ryker’s Island and join the fight against Hela.
An interesting feature about the events of this comic is we already know that Eddie bonds with another Symbiote. We’ve seen him appear in Queen in Black, helping the fight due to a very peculiar release schedule within the crossover. However, Queen in Black: Venom Unchained Issue 2 does a great job of moving from when the previous chapter of this tie-in finished to right where Eddie appears in the Queen in Black issue. It fills the gaps perfectly, providing the ultimate explanation.
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Sleeper is another Symbiote and an offspring of Venom, with a particular affinity with Dylan and Eddie Brock. This issue features a quick introduction, then throws the new pair straight into the fight. The pace is energetic and vicious, with an intense and explosive fight early on. There’s a journey for Eddie, breaking out of prison and going directly into a symbiote battle in New York.
Queen In Black: Venom Unchained Issue 2 is relentless, with a really surprising and bold death in the center that is gloriously messed up. The way Charles Soule treats this moment is fascinating, recognizing the emotion of the scene whilst also delivering some unsettling humorous jibes in there too. The ending is only a shock if you haven’t read Queen in Black, because otherwise it’s already happened.
The bonding between a host and symbiotes is always the most interesting part of a Venom/symbiote comic. And in Queen in Black: Venom Unchained Issue 2, there is a new combination. Eddie is the most experienced Symbiote wielder on Earth, and even he finds it disconcerting. Sleeper isn’t as sadistic as Carnage or as adorably comfortable as Venom. But it has its own way of delivering violence, with unique powers due to its origin.
The bond isn’t as telepathic yet, with Eddie showing a lot of restraint. But Sleeper also has its own intentions and plans during this invasion. It is able to depart and go and do its own thing whilst a symbiote still bonds with Eddie, creating an intriguing dynamic. It means Sleeper can be doing its own thing whilst Eddie is also fighting, just within the added intelligence and control that Sleeper has.
The art is sensational. In the previous chapter of this tie-in, the concept was very human. There were no powers, no symbiotes, and no super suits within Ryker’s Island. But in Queen In Black: Venom Unchained Issue 2, it makes up for the lack of Symbiotes with a sudden influx. Sleeper has its own design, coming in two parts. The general skin and look is very similar to Venom, with a huge, hulking figure. But Sleeper’s intelligence manifests in the form of a black cat.
The details are extraordinary. Ramírez does a fantastic job of making the cat’s movements feline in nature whilst also being sinister and alien. It grins, revealing sharp teeth and multiple sets of eyes. There are also these metallic whips on the back of Sleeper’s large form, adding extensions to its body beyond the Symbiotic tendrils.
The movement and the action in Queen In Black: Venom Unchained Issue 2 are phenomenal, suddenly giving Eddie power and strength that allows him to fight back. Eddie breaks out of the prison and sprouts huge dragon wings. Every part of Sleeper’s design is awesome and fresh, taking the symbiote idea even further among a comic full of them. The second half of the book is very bloody and gruesome, embellishing the Symbiotic violence.
The colors are terrific. In the opening pages, red and black are heavily used by Arciniega. Eddie seems at home with a symbiote that has that oily black skin so famously associated with Venom, but with some added silver to represent the technology that constitutes Sleeper.
The red comes from everywhere, from the sky to the fire and generates a sense of danger. Then when Sleeper and Eddie venture into the city, the symbiote squadrons that have their own colored crests come into play. The lettering brilliantly differentiates between Eddie’s word balloons and Sleeper’s, even when Eddie is within the symbiote.
Queen In Black: Venom Unchained Issue 2 returns Eddie to where he belongs. He may rightfully be imprisoned for his crimes with Carnage, but a symbiote war feels empty without his presence. He is a key figure within this section of the Marvel Universe. The first chapter was strangely quiet, which served a great purpose within the chaotic event. But now Eddie is brought into the heart of the story. Some readers, myself included, were confused by how the main book introduced Eddie and Sleeper before this issue even released. But this is a great piece of connective tissue that ties the story back together nicely.
Queen In Black: Venom Unchained Issue 2 is available where comics are sold.
Queen In Black: Venom Unchained Issue 2
TL;DR
Queen In Black: Venom Unchained Issue 2 returns Eddie to where he belongs. He may rightfully be imprisoned for his crimes with Carnage, but a symbiote war feels empty without his presence.
