Venom (vol. 2) #24 — Nick Peron

Oct 14

Oct 14 Venom (vol. 2) #24

Monsters of Evil Part Two

At the Department of Occult Armaments Neverwake Facility, the Venom symbiote has just been possessed by a demonic entity. Son of Satan and his minions are in awe at this transformation. The demon possessing Venom demands Hellstrom to provide him an offering because it hungers. Growing impatient, the demon grabs one of the DOA cultists and eats him, but finds it offensive to its delicate palette.

When Son of Satan presents three victims that have been specially prepared for an offering the demon struggles with feeding because he hears his meal both welcoming their sacrifice and pleading to be let free. These conflicting statements are painful for the demon which can’t understand what is going on. This is because Flash Thompson is still inside and fighting to free the symbiote of this demonic corruption. As Flash fights free of the demonic possession. Hellstrom was is impressed and decides to make Venom part of his zoo. However, before they can restrain him, Flash flees outside the facility. As he runs, Flash wonders what the hell happened to him and forces himself to vomit in the hopes of freeing himself from the demonic presence. Realizing that he is in over his head, Flash decides to get some help.

He pays a visit to Katy Kiernan, a reporter for the Daily Inquisitor. Seeing the state the Venom is in, she points out that she warned him about the DOA. Carrying Agent Venom to a chair, he tells her that he has been cut off from the Avengers and needs help. When she asks what he needs, he tells her that he thinks he might need an exorcism.

She takes Venom to her friend Reggie who works at a shop called the Hidden Sanctuary Books & Esoterica. There, Reggie — a former priest — puts Venom under a hypnotic trance so he can communicate with the demon that has taken residence. The demon tells them that this is not the situation it was promised as it has taken possession of someone with the mark and such things are forbidden.[1] When Reggie asks why it doesn’t just leave, the demon becomes visibly angry and lashes out, explaining that every time it tries to leave this vessel something pulls him back down. The demon then pleads with Reggie to save it. When Katy mentions the vessel by name, the demonic presence becomes submerged again and Flash wakes up from his trance. They quickly update Agent Venom on what happened and when he tells Katy that Daimon Hellstrom did this to him, she is surprised because she has a past history with him.

Meanwhile, at the Bronx Zoo, Daimon Hellstrom is being lectured by one of DOA’s number crunchers because he has not produced the results that they agreed upon, particularly in light of Agent Venom’s interference. Growing annoyed, Hellstrom warns the man to let him work, lest his blood goes to fueling his possession engines. He then sends off the accountant with assurances that Agent Venom is part of his plan. No sooner is the number cruncher gone does Venom — who disguised himself as one of the DOA followers — reveals himself. Daimon is impressed that Venom was able to shield himself from his vision, but Agent Venom is in no mood to talk as he wants Hellstrom to remove the demon that is trapped inside of him.

Daimon mocks Agent Venom, suggesting that the anger and hatred are all his and that, perhaps, the demon was within him all along. However, this is only a distraction as Flash is attacked from behind by Daimon Hellstrom’s latest creation, the Monsters of Evil. Daimon tells Flash that while his loyal creatures are willing to kill him, he would much rather have him lead them instead.