Hello, Unspokenites and welcome back to my look back at the “Spirits of Venom” epic! Why is it an epic? Because this storyline literally made me drool as a kid at how amazingly badass it was! So I’m a little biased, sue me. (It’s true about the drool unfortunately. I’ve gone through more copies of these comics from slobber stains than a rent-a-Santa goes through pants due to pee puddles during the holiday season!) Well then, shall we return to our little tale? Let’s! I now bring you the second part of our story as it was originally presented in “Spirits of Vengeance” #5!
Blackness everywhere. Surrounding him. Forcing to pull him under. Johnny Blaze’s head throbs in pain. Must’ve hit it as he dove into the tunnel. As his vision clears, he’s met with a sight that can only be described as a war! Combatants on both sides are tearing into one another as the deadly Deathspawn surround them all! That’s when Blaze notices the priest from earlier! He’s down here too, caught in this chaos! But before the former Ghost Rider can react, the Deathspawn threaten to once again drown him in inky blackness! Only this time, he comes out firing! Hellfire blasts hit in all directions, causing the creatures to flee in fear! Unfortunately, they take the priest, Spider-Man, and others with them as captives! (Johnny Blaze is soooo cool! Long hair, sunglasses, trench coat, and a cigarette hanging lazily from his lips. Add to that the fact that he rides a motorcycle, and I’ve got a total man-crush!)
Ghost Rider demands that they pursue Spider-Man as he has been their ally in the past. Blaze begrudgingly agrees and fires once again into the crowd of Deathspawn! Unfortunately, Venom hears the sound of his web-slinging enemy’s name and rushes after Spidey at the same time! The result is winging the Venom symbiote with a hellfire blast! (Gulp! Venom’s gonna be a bit miffed. Maybe a gift basket with exotic soaps and a Hallmark apology card?) Venom screeches in anguish as it’s alien tendrils flail everywhere! A moment passes and the symbiote once again slithers to re-cover it’s human host. And then, with no warning, he grabs Blaze by the throat and pins him to a tunnel wall! The antihero’s boots dangle while he struggles to breathe! Blaze merely smiles as he presses the hellfire shotgun barrel closer into his attacker’s throat!
After harsh words are said, Venom turns away from Blaze and splashes after the creatures that abducted his arachnid arch-foe! His symbiote uses it’s camouflage ability to turn invisible as Venom presses on through the sewers. That’s when Ghost Rider looks down. The body of his own arch-nemesis, Deathwatch, lies at his feet! The Deathspawn must’ve been planning on resurrecting the villain down here! He places the corpse over his shoulder and listens to the nearest wall. Johnny Blaze questions his skull-faced partner. Suddenly, the Rider punches through the wall, stating that he can hear the cries of the innocent within the hidden chamber beyond! (Anyone else feeling slightly claustrophobic reading this? Yeah. Me neither. I think I’m gonna go pass out for an unrelated reason…..)
Ghost Rider and Blaze continue for a short while into the secret tunnel before the floor opens up into yet another chamber. As the two dark heroes examine this, Deathspawn suddenly spring from the large hole and lunge for Deathwatch’s body! They succeed in dragging it down into the darkness with them! Before the Rider and Blaze have time to think, Venom suddenly becomes visible nearby, knocking both anti-heroes into the dark abyss! Ghost Rider catches Johnny Blaze before he hits bottom and Venom lands next to them. But before the trio can fight further, Venom senses someone beyond this room and swings off to investigate! (Geez! Venom needs to chill out. He’s acting like my equally evil two year old great-niece, Eden! Someone needs to put him over their knee! Okay. Maybe that’s a dangerous idea.)
Thinking that the evil Deathspawn lie in wait within, Venom begins attacking the first solid bodies he finds! Ghost Rider quickly stops him though, forcing him to look at their surroundings. Terrified humans huddle amongst the decaying corpses of their fallen! They are meant to feed the very creatures they seek! That’s when Ghost Rider hears a familiar voice ask for help in the shadows. The three peer into the veil of blackness and see Spider-Man, the priest, and the others pinned to the wall with a sticky substance! As Ghost Rider works on freeing them, the minions of Deathwatch fill the chamber in mass! (Uh-oh! Looks like our heroes could really use a hand here! Where’s Spider-Ham when you need him?)
As Blaze fires into the horde of Deathspawn, opening a path for the humans to escape, Spider-Man swings off to get the priest to safety! That’s when things go from bad to worse as Deathwatch’s body is taken by his servants and drug away! Ghost Rider must now make a hasty decision. Will he follow his enemy’s corpse to stop his impending resurrection, or will he help the rest of the people escape? No contest. Innocent life must be protected. Venom, Johnny Blaze, and Ghost Rider run off to do just that!
To be continued…..
Dedicated to the “evil” great-niece I mentioned earlier, Eden Love Miller. You are truly the light in a sadly dwindling family line. I love you, sweetheart.
Thirty years ago, Rob Liefeld’s renegade super-hero team, Brigade, went to war with the undead mercenaries of Bloodstrike in a brutal, bloody, and bone-crunching battle chronicled in a six-part epic called “Blood Brothers”
Every 90’s comic nerd is at least somewhat familiar with Rob Liefeld’s Image Comics launching mega-hit Youngblood. The team book focusing on a UN sanctioned celebrity super squad was a smash out of the gate and paved the way for Todd McFarlene’s Spawn and Jim Lee’s WildC.A.T.’s, among others. Liefeld wasn’t content with just one, however, and soon launched a second team book: BRIGADE.
In Brigade, a former Youngblood leader called Battlestone (civilian name: John Stone) had taken it upon himself to recruit a band of misfit super humans in an attempt to mold them into a squad that fit his own view of the war against evil. It would later be revealed (in Youngblood #0) that Battlestone had actually been relieved of his position in Youngblood after inadvertently killing a member of his team in a confrontation while on a mission.
Rob and his buddy/protégé Marat Mychaels (creator of Blindside, y’all!), put together a solid group of superhumans for Battlestone to lead, including brothers Seahawk (powers of flight, superhuman strength/stamina) and Coldsnap (power to control/manipulate ice). These two are mega-rich and fund the team. The squad also features Kayo (human archer/martial artist), Thermal (heat and fire generation/manipulation), Stasis (energy manipulation), and Atlas (size-changing abilities).
The initial Brigade mini-series is fun stuff, if a little bland. The team takes down some terrorists in issue one, then spends the next three issues battling a powerful alien called Genocide, first on Earth, and eventually on his home planet. While there, Brigade loses one if its own in Atlas, a Giant-Man type, who get his chest blasted open and dies (interestingly, Atlas actually grows bigger at his death, rather than shrinking down to normal human size). Mychaels art here is heavily influenced by Rob, and it works perfectly as this is essentially a Youngblood spin-off.
While Brigade was off-planet for awhile, the government was none too happy about their debut and set in motion a plan to get them off the table without bothering the big guns in Youngblood about it. That’s where Bloodstrike came in.
“Blood Brothers” didn’t kick off until the regular Brigade series started, but Bloodstrike #1, with it’s now infamous ‘Rub The Blood’ cover gimmick, served as an introduction to that team, as well as a prelude to the crossover. The issue is fairly standard stuff as the team takes out a rando terrorist cell and we get the scoop on the team members.
Cabbot (a seemingly immortal soldier) leads the team consisting of Tag (ability to freeze enemies with a touch), Fourplay (a four armed bruiser), Shogun (a walking/flying tank), and Deadlock (a savage supervillain?). Cabbot also has access to ROAM, an artificial intelligence/teleportation device.
Penciller Dan Fraga is at his most Liefeld-cloney here (not a complaint!). It also gave us this image, which I will never forget.
The issue wraps with Cabbot getting word that they are being sent to wipe out Brigade, and it’s revealed that Cabbot and Battlestone ARE BROTHERS! WHAAAAAA?! So we know after this, IT IS ON!
The opening to Brigade #1 (pt. 1) informs that the teams journey home on a stolen space craft has lasted three long months. I’m not sure what they were living off of during that time. Did they consume Atlas’ giant corpse? It is left unaddressed. What is addressed, is the high tension the team is feeling. Battlestone is withdrawn and being, well, kind of an asshole. When Kayo and Thermal seek a little guidance now that they’ve returned to Earth, Stasis is more or less sickened by the display and tries to storm out. Then the fun begins.
Holy Schnikes! Look at Stasis’ cold, dead eyes! This shit is serious!
From that point it’s several pages of back-and-forth battle and tough guy (or girl) talk. Before Image, it was not that common to see giant battles that go on for several pages. Often a few panels here and there is all you got. Not when Rob Liefeld is charge. Strap in.
While he might slack in providing detail, Marat Mychaels art is dynamic in the fight sequence. He’s starting to separate his style from Liefeld and do his own thing, really packing in the panels on some of the pages. The muted colors give it an ugly sheen, but I kind of dig it.
At one point in the fight, Coldsnap has his “regulation apparatus” damaged and seems to be getting consumed by ice. Seahawk is also taken down and it quickly becomes clear that Brigade is outmatched. Battlestone and Thermal recover Coldsnap and Stasis before high tailing it. Once in the air, Battlestone is back at his blowhard routine answering every query with the equivalent of “Shut up! I’m the leader!”
Stone takes his fallen teammates to G.A.T.E Industries where a man named Sandler seems to owe him a favor, but then it’s back to recruiting, because Kayo and Seahawk have been captured.
When we shift to Bloodstrike #2 (pt. 2) Dan Fraga is back, and while he’s still got a very Liefeld skew to his pencils, there are hints of early 90’s Jae Lee in there as well. The inks are heavy and everything is dark as hell. Whether intentional or not, it’s reflective of the tone. Despite the balls-out action, the story is dire and depressing in a way.
Anyway, I’m in on Fraga. If for no other reason than that damn middle panel is an EXCLAMATION POINT! LOOK AT THAT BEAUTY!
In this chapter Battlestone has the opportunity to give a mysterious figure from his past, Boone, a recruitment pitch. I’m sorry, but it’s hard to see why anyone would follow this jerk. Every response to an honest question is just him being a dick. But hey, it works!
But this is Bloodstrike’s book, so what are they getting into? Why, another slobber-knocker, of course! Cabbot sends Fourplay and Shogun after the remains of Brigade, while another mysterious newcomer, Lethal, somehow has access to ROAM and uses it to teleport into Bloodstrike’s base in an attempt to free Seahawk and Kayo. Deadlock interrupts and the final nine pages (of nineteen) is Lethal in battle with Deadlock and Cabbot.
She holds her own, but quickly realizes a little help is needed and manages to blast open the stasis tube holding Seahawk and Kayo, setting up one of the best match-ups this battle royale has to offer.
There are a ton of 90’s “gimmick covers” out there. Some really good, some really bad. Well, Brigade #2 (pt.3) has one of my favorite covers of all time, gimmick or no. Likely inspired by the famous Incredible Hulk #340 cover, we get a close-up of Seahawk’s face, blood spattered, teeth gritted so hard some of them seem to meld together. His silver mask, embossed and enhanced by a foil-coating, reflects Cabbot, guns blazing. They even went the extra mile with the foil on the back cover as well, framing the Deathmate Red advertisement! (This Blood’s For You! is a damn all-timer of a tag-line, btw.)
While theoretically Kayo is also freed from the stasis tube, we don’t see him in action. It’s all Seahawk, baby. In part 2, ROAM informed Cabbot (and the readers) that during an analysis of Seahawk’s physiology, it was revealed he had a healing factor. Who didn’t back then, amirite? But ROAM couldn’t discern where it, or his other powers originated, setting up some “mysterious origins of Seahawk” intrigue for later. But that wouldn’t matter if he didn’t take care of Cabbot, so how does that go down? Read on…
Seahawk Vs. Cabbot may register as little more than a blip on the radar of all-time classic comic book battles, but for me, it’s top ten. Cabbot has a couple teammates watching, but Deadlock makes sure it stays one-on-one. The combatants toss out the obligatory one-liners, Seahawk with the young underdog verbiage, and Cabbot that of the old warhorse. Mychaels gives us a fight that makes sense logistically, showing the characters reacting to each other’s moves, and countering appropriately.
But who am I kidding? It’s the brutality that really gets me going. And Blood Brothers brings that in spades.
Dear Lord, he must’ve blown his heart out of his back! Luckily that old healing factor is working overtime, and his pointy helmet isn’t just to remind people of Wolverine and/or Batman, it can be put to very good use in a scrap as well.
SPLORCH! is the best sound effect I’ve ever seen in a comic book. It was likely that sound combined with the sight of their leader getting damn near gutted that distracted Tag and Deadlock long enough for Lethal to make her escape with Seahawk.
But if you think that’s the only action to be found in Brigade #2, I’m happy to surprise you. There is not one page in this book that doesn’t have at least two characters engaging in a fight. Not one.
The rest of Bloodstrike (Shogun & Fourplay) manage to catch up to Brigade at G.A.T.E. International and engage two-on-two with Battlestone and Boone. I mean, it’s kind of weak compared to that last fight, but we do see Battlestone getting hacked with a buzzsaw and several holes blasted through his torso, which I feel is pretty sharp.
About this time, the rest of the Bloodstrike crew arrive and things look dire for Brigade… Until Coldsnap shows back up outta nowhere all Ice-Hulked out! How the hell does that work?!
The cover to Bloodstrike #3 (pt. 4) gives us a great look at Dan Fraga’s obsession with curled tongues, which he puts plenty of detail into throughout the issue.
Here are four examples of it:
I also appreciate the letterer using @$$ as a substitute for “ass” in that first panel. I always got a kick out of that and $#!+ when I was a kid. This book didn’t have a rating or “Approved By The Comics Code” stamp, so I’m not sure why they didn’t just go nuts with the cursing, but the 90’s were a different time, I guess. Brutal violence is A-OK, but keep the potty mouth and sex stuff to a minimum.
This particular issue probably has the least amount of action in the storyline, with a full five pages devoted to Lethal and Seahawk jabbering about Battlestone’s past and whatnot. During this exposition, Lethal refuses to tell much of her own story, but gives Seahawk the 411 on Battlestone and Bloodstrike. The lot of whom are alive and kicking due to their participation in Project: Born Again, a government program that revives dead soldiers. I’m getting bored, time for some more smashing.
Well, maybe Stasis is gonna be back soon? It’s a bit odd that Cabbot is so hell bent on “saving” her from Project: Born Again, but he had no issue putting a bullet in her skull with no warning. Maybe it’s because he’s psychotic.
Brigade 3 (pt. 5) brings us the finale to this ho-down. Right away Shogun blasts Stasis out of that tube and her lifeless body drops like a rock. I’m not even sure what to say about it, but something’s up with the way Mychaels draws her butt there. It’s like he had finished it, and then went back later and beefed it up.
It’s another free-for-all, with both teams finally at full strength and going toe-to-toe. But as Shogun points out, it’s really all about those blood brothers.
And boy is Cabbot ready for it. Mychaels really pumps the ‘roids into him for this panel.
A solid five pages of big, bold panels are devoted to Battlestone and Cabbot trading blows. I especially appreciate this sequence of Battlestone spotting a knife to swipe and rolling through to brandish it.
Battlestone eventually gets Cabbot on the ropes, but rather than kill him, gives him the option of a truce. As long as Bloodstrike stays out of Brigade’s business, Stone will keep what he knows about all the government’s dirty secrets to himself. Cabbot agrees and the whole mess comes to an abrupt end.
Seahawk speaks for the reader.
Both leaders give their teams a pep talk as they lick their wounds, warning that while this battle has ended, there is sure to be another conflict in the future.
There wasn’t.
Brigade certainly took the hardest hits, losing Stasis and having Coldsnap transformed, but they also gained some members and set a new status quo for the future. Bloodstrike went relatively unscathed, but not for long.
Before signing off, I will leave you with these deliciously demented panels from Bloodstrike’s next conflict. In issue #5 of their title, they face off with “Old Man Superman” himself, Supreme. It goes… poorly.
Fierce rage built up in him, ready to overflow like lava from an erupting volcano. Only his steel will stood between him and completely losing himself to it. If he were to succumb, would anyone be safe from his wrath? But enough about me quitting smoking this month. I should probably get on with the subject to this month’s article. This article will be the first of four as I take a look back at a personal favorite storyline of mine from my youth, “Spirits of Venom”! This narrative concerns part one which was originally presented in “Web of Spider-Man” #95. Enjoy the coming chaos, Unspokenites!
A storm raged overhead as Spider-Man swung upon his webline. In his other hand, he carried the bound form of one of his most relentless foes, the Hobgoblin! Hobgoblin struggled in his web cocoon but to no avail. He was trapped. As he relaxed his taxed muscles, he complained to his wall-crawling enemy about how this was all unnecessary. The man he had tried to kill was only a contract to be fulfilled after all. It was nothing personal. Plus in the end, he had only defended himself. These words stung Spider-Man and he let go of his captive! He let him fall several stories before catching him at last. He then roared into the face of the assassin about how the taking of any life couldn’t be any more personal and he’d see the goblin punished for what he had done! Then, Spidey continued his swinging, heading to the nearest police station. This had all not gone unnoticed however. They were being watched from a distance…..(Seems like Spidey’s in a really bad mood. Grum-pee! What is it about attempted murder that strikes a nerve in most superheroes? Go figure. He just needs a calming cigarette. Sorry. I’m doing my best here.)
The two beings that were witnessing this scene were far from your usual bystander on the street. No. These two perched instead upon the head of a gargoyle statue that was affixed atop a tall building. One of them was known as the hellish Demogoblin! The other had no known name. He was a savage doppelganger of Spider-Man himself! (How’d these two monstrosities meet? I blame online dating sites personally.) The Demogoblin spoke to his growling comrade about how he and the Hobgoblin used to be one being, but now he and the other “sinner” who carried him must be slain! He would kill the Hobgoblin but he’d save Spider-Man for the Doppelganger to do with as it wished! This terrible twosome then began their pursuit! Spidey’s spider-sense suddenly warned him of danger! He immediately let go of his webline and he and the Hobgoblin began to plummet! A smart move, as the six-armed Doppelganger narrowly missed with its many claws! The wall-crawler then fired another web upwards and swung both of them to the top of an adjacent building. That’s when the demonic Demogoblin made his grand entrance!
Riding atop his hellfire glider, he decreed that all sinners would be sent into the pits of firey Hell by his righteous hand, starting with the two before him! (Okay. So it’s become apparent to me that the Demogoblin is in need of some serious therapy! Am I wrong?!) He continued by stating that all who aided the sinner, Hobgoblin, would burn as well! Still carrying the ensnared Hobgoblin, Spidey threw a kick at the Doppelganger, sending it crashing into the Demogoblin and stunning them both! Obviously at a disadvantage, Spider-Man shot another web and swung away in hasty retreat! He didn’t get far, as the Doppelganger fired a web of his own! Only this one has it’s own unique razor-webbing and it sliced right through Spidey’s line! This sent both he and Hobgoblin into a forced nosedive towards the pointed peak of a church roof!
Several blocks away and beneath the streets of Manhattan, two other heroes were on a quest of their own. Ghost Rider turned his flaming head, searching for his evil prey as Johnny Blaze, the man who was the Spirit of Vengeance before him, followed with his hellfire shotgun in hand. They were hunting evil creatures called Deathspawn and they were last seen entering these sewers. Suddenly, Blaze aimed upwards as he sensed something watching them from above! That’s when Venom dropped from the ceiling! (Damn! Who else is in this issue?! Why not add in Archie and Jughead while you’re at it?!) Ghost Rider and Blaze both assumed that Venom was here for them. That’s why they were surprised when he leaped past them to the killers that were hiding in the shadows! They were more human looking versions of these Deathspawn and as Venom tussled with them, more apparition-like creatures crept out to attack the dark heroes!
Meanwhile, Spider-Man and Hobgoblin had survived their fall. Spidey achingly pulled the goblin inside of the church through an unlocked window with sore arms. Hobgoblin once again stated how much easier this would all be if the web-slinger were to cut him free. Spider-Man of course declined. Their conversation was interrupted by the sudden appearance of a priest carrying a flashlight in shakey hands. He called out for them to reveal themselves in a frightened voice. Spider-Man stepped from the shadows, immediately putting the priest’s nerves at ease. Spider-Man asked for help. But before he could even finish his sentence, the priest agreed. He knew the goodness in this hero’s heart and was happy to be of service. (Finally! A bit of good luck for Spidey. I get tired of the whole “misunderstood hero” thing. The guy’s been around since 1962 for God’s sake! Yet he looks to be about 20 to 25 years old…..Comics are weird.)
The priest led them to the catacombs beneath the church to hide from their attackers. After, he then returned to the church’s main floor. But upon his arrival, he was terrified as he was standing face-to-face with the fanged Demogoblin and his many-limbed cohort! The priest ordered them to leave. This was hallowed ground and it would not abide their evil! Growing increasingly impatient, the Doppelganger lept towards the priest’s throat, ready to draw blood one way or another! But the Demogoblin would have none of this! Wasn’t this a man of God not unlike himself? No. The priest would live. He caught the beast by one of it’s arms and forced it back! Instead, he force the priest to lead them to their prey! Terrified, he began to lead them downstairs. Spidey’s luck held however and he noticed the trio before he could be attacked from behind. He made his presence known so that the Demogoblin would forget the priest. It worked! Too well, apparently, because the goblin threw a flaming pumpkin bomb towards Spider-Mans masked face! (Speaking of mental problems, can you imagine how much therapy this priest is gonna need after this night? Hell, you’d think any average person would need some strong meds just to live in a comic universe!)
In the sewers, Ghost Rider, Blaze, and Venom were having trouble of their own! For every Deathspawn they struck down, two more seemed to materialize! Venom, always a loner, soon tired of this and went after his original prey, the human-looking twin Deathspawn! Blaze fired his mystical weapon at the ceiling of the sewers, creating a large hole for them all to escape from. But Venom only cared about his own mission. He webbed up the two villains and escaped from the hole alone! In the church, Demogoblin threw the priest towards Spider-Man to exchange for Hobgoblin! Spidey caught him just as Venom burst through a recent hole that exploded from the catacombs floor! (Aaaand both stories have now intersected. Excellent storytelling. And the writer of this comic isn’t that bad either. ) Venom then spied his longtime arch-nemesis and leaped towards the wall-crawler, forgetting his webbed-up prize from moments ago! However, the Doppelganger would not be denied Spider-Man’s blood! It threw itself full force into Venom and the two monsters clashed in the shadows!
Demogoblin approached Spider-Man, ready to collect Hobgoblin! But this was interrupted as hellfire erupted from the large hole in the floor! Out came Ghost Rider, Blaze, and a horde of fleeing Deathspawn! When the Demogoblin spied Ghost Rider emerging from the sewers below, his fanged mouth spread into an awkward smile! He would slay an actual demon this night! Calling Ghost Rider by his supposed true demon name, he attacked the Spirit of Vengeance! To make matters worse, the still-bound Hobgoblin was being drug into the sewers by the evil wraiths! Ghost Rider and Demogoblin followed, entangled in battle! The same thing for Venom and Doppelganger as they fell in next! Blaze cleared the church catacombs of any remaining Deathspawn spirits with his hellish rifle! He then jumped in as well! (Whee! Sounds like fun! And less dangerous than most amusement park rides too!)
Only Spider-Man and the priest remained now. The rest of the combatants had already vanished into the sewers. Spidey spoke of his wife and family awaiting him at home. If he jumped in as well, there was a good chance he’d never come out alive again. The priest replied that he had already saved countless lives in his superhero career. There was no need to prove anything else. He should follow his heart. Spider-Man thanked the priest before he lept into the abyss and most probably his own certain doom.
to be continued…..
Dedicated to my nephew, Blade Miller, one of the strongest men I know.
The Unspoken Decade: 90's Comic Book Blog Extraordinaire 