TVS EXCLUSIVE: questions for declan shalvey interview

Interview with Declan Shalvey

As someone who has zero artistic ability, I have great respect for anyone who can put a pen to paper and create a work of art.  That is why I am excited to announce that the artist who will be bringing Toxin and Eddie Brock back to the pages of Venom in February, Declan Shalvey, has graciously agreed to do an interview with TheVenomSite! I will be in contact with him later this week, but first I would like your help! Since you guys submitted so many great questions for the Cullen Bunn interview, I am calling upon you again. Simply leave your questions in the comment section. I'll pick my favorite ones to ask Declan. Look for the interview later this week. This should be another fun Q&A session!

ultimate comics spider-man 20 preview

Who is Ultimate Venom?

 Newsarama has a couple black and white pages from next February's Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man 20:

Ultimate Spidey 19 begins the Venom Wars arc and comes out on Wednesday.  I will post previews when (if) they are released.  Any thoughts or wishes as to who is inside the Venom suit?

Updated:

Here is another page from issue 20 - 

amazing spider-man 700

700

700. Dying Wish: Suicide Run: The symbiote is in a flashback panel.  Carnage is in a panel of the backup story

Facts -

Venom and Carnage appear on the cover

bunn and shalvey talk venom

Bunn and Shalvey Interview

Venom writer and artist (Cullen Bunn and Declan Shalvey) sat down with Marvel today to talk about Venom moving to Philly and what is in store for him come February.  Below are some of my favorite parts - which is most of the interview (as well as some preview art):

Marvel.com: Declan, how do you approach Venom visually? What do you keep foremost in your mind when drawing him in action, using his powers, etc.?Declan Shalvey: One of the most challenging things about drawing Flash is drawing him in his wheelchair. Wheelchairs are very technical and hard to draw, but I think it's important to have him in it. One of the most compelling things about Flash to me is how he needs the symbiote in a very real way. Without it, he can't walk and that creates a very interesting dynamic between host and symbiote, on top of all of Flash's previous dependency issues. However, it is a unique challenge to draw Flash in the wheelchair; I spent a lot of time designing his apartment to be wheelchair friendly, for example. I've noticed how some disabled people can adjust and move like their wheelchair is an extension of their own body, and that's a unique thing I hope to be able to draw in the book.

Marvel.com: Conversely, what kind of people will he be meeting in Philly and what sort of immediate impact will they have on him? And what will his new job there be like?Cullen Bunn: I’m really excited about expanding the cast of supporting characters. Several new faces will be showing up in Flash’s life: new neighbors, new co-workers, and new contacts and resources on the job. A few are more important than others. One of the first people Flash will meet is Andi, a teenage girl who lives in his new apartment building. She’ll become an important person in Flash’s life, something of a day-to-day reminder of the people he’s trying to protect. Venom will also be meeting a number of strange characters who run in same circles as tabloid reporter Katy Kiernan. Venom has discovered that he’s something of a weirdness factor. Strange science, urban legends, supernatural threats—these things are outside his realm of understanding. So he has to turn to some experts in those fields. First up is conspiracy theorist Jimmy-Z. Flash starts his new job in VENOM #32. While I’m not saying much about Flash’s new job just yet, it will introduce him to a supporting cast that will mean a lot to him and put his role as a hero into sharp focus. There’s another character that will have a more important voice in the book in the days to come. They’re already in the book, but their role will be expanded. Yeah, I’m being secretive, but hopefully this character will surprise some folks.

Marvel.com: Declan, who of this new cast has been fun to design for you, and why? Declan Shalvey: We do have one prominent supporting character coming that I've already designed and it's been an interesting challenge to build the character from scratch. With Flash's new job, there'll be more characters to create which is a challenge I look forward to. I get to do more research on fashion and clothing and I haven't had much opportunity to do that before. There is another character coming into the book who's been previously established, but we're taking a slightly different approach to how he's drawn that I hope the fans will be on board with.

Marvel.com: What's the danger level like in Philly? What's our first menace and how will Venom react to it? Cullen Bunn: In VENOM #28, Venom heads to Philadelphia to investigate a series of strange disappearances. This quickly leads to an encounter with the U-Foes, a group of villains who are way out of Flash’s league. Forget about beating them, Flash is going to have to try some new tactics simply to survive. We’ll see Venom expanding the plays in his game book, and we’ll see him changing his way of thinking in terms of his responsibilities as a hero. In issue #30, you’ll see a side of Venom that will be quite different from what you’ve seen before, and he’ll start showing off some new skills in order to make it out of his encounter with the U-Foes alive. This adventure will bring Venom to Philly, but it will also plant the seed for a long-term storyline that will haunt Flash for a long while. There will be lasting ramifications—including the introduction of some new villains—that stem from the three-issue U-Foes arc.

Marvel.com: Declan, what sort of mood or tone will you try to strike in the book’s art? And what sort of research have you been doing for the Philadelphia setting? Declan Shalvey: Well, I've wanted to do a darker street-level book at Marvel for quite a while and I feel that this is the opportunity to explore that. There are certain horror and sci-fi concepts thrown into the series too, so there'll always be interesting visuals. Anyone who is familiar with my work can probably tell I like to play with composition, use of black, etc., and I feel I have more room to develop those approaches with VENOM than I preciously did on THUNDERBOLTS. From the research I've done—I've read up a lot on the city's history and took a virtual tour around it via the magic of Google Street View and Google Earth—Philly reminds me somewhat of Brooklyn. It's very lived-in, with a variety of wonderful architecture; it hasn't been completely revamped with modernist design, so I will find it personally more interesting to draw. I'm going to try and give Philly—and the book—a very grounded, textured feel.  

Marvel.com: What sort of role will former-Venom Eddie Brock be playing going forward in the series? Cullen Bunn: Eddie has a big role to play—huge. When we last saw Eddie, he was the host of the Toxin symbiote. His appearance was that of a hulking, slobbering monstrosity. It was obvious that the symbiote was in control and Eddie was just along for the ride. Since that time, Eddie and the symbiote have reached a new understanding. Their relationship has changed quite a bit. In fact, about the only thing that’s the same with Eddie and Toxin is that they hate Venom.
So, we know that Toxin and Venom are on a collision course, and it’s gonna be messy once they finally collide. After they meet again—and by “meet” I mean “try to rip each other to shreds”—the dynamic between these two will change a little. I think readers will be very interested in seeing the roles Toxin and Venom will play in each other’s lives. When they aren’t trying to slaughter each other.  

Marvel.com: Cullen, how much input do you have with Venom's role in THUNDERBOLTS? Cullen Bunn: Early on, I talked to Jordan White, who edits THUNDERBOLTS, about some of the things I have planned for Flash and Venom, and writer Dan Way and I have talked quite a bit about Flash and the symbiote. For the most part, though, I don’t have a lot of input in terms of what will be happening on Venom’s new team. THUNDERBOLTS is Dan’s book and I like being surprised by it as much as any other reader. As far as elements I want to make sure are maintained about Venom, I talked to Jordan and Dan about a “new attitude” that Flash is going to start exhibiting, and I think that will really make his role in that team in particular very interesting. I’ve also got a few things planned for how Flash and the symbiote interact with once another that I want to make sure are introduced primarily in VENOM but represented in his other appearances. In the end, Dan and I want the two books to make sense and work well together. I think the “shared world” aspect of these books is important to both of us.  

Marvel.com: Okay, so how much will THUNDERBOLTS be reflected in the new direction of VENOM? Cullen Bunn: Being a part of a team—especially one so different from his previous team, the Secret Avengers—will be an important part of Venom’s life, so you’ll certainly see the impact of his involvement in his book. For the most part, Thunderbolts business will be kept to a minimum in VENOM. The book will focus on Flash’s solo adventures. I’m not going to lie, though. I like the possibilities for crossovers and guest appearances that this new team presents!

Are you guys ready for Venom's new life next year?

TALK ABOUT: venom 28

Venom 28

What did you think of Venom vs The U-Foes?  Sound off in the comments!

venom 28 - 30

Venom vs U-Foes

28. The Land Where The Killers Dwell: Venom goes to Philly to fight the U-Foes
29. Drowning In A Nightmare: Venom and Valkyrie vs the U-Foes
30. The Unwanted: Venom defeats the U-Foes and decides to relocate to Philadelphia

Facts:
Toxin appears in the last page of Issue 30

thunderbolts 1 - 6

Venom enlists in The Thunderbolts

1.  Enlisted: General Ross recruits Venom to join The Thunderbolts
2. Weaponized: Venom and The Thunderbolts fight to take down a dictator 
3. Unconventional Warfare: Venom leads an attack on a military base
4. Massive Response: Venom frees Elektra
5. Coup: Venom attacks soldiers to free captives
6. Fallout: Venom delivers Madman to Red Hulk

Facts:
Thunderbolts 1 Preview

Review

Thunderbolts 1 Variant

Thunderbolts 1 Variant

Thunderbolts 5 Variant

anti-venom fan creation comic preview

Anti-Venom: Strangers In The Night

I don't usually post fan creations (I recommend utilizing the Reddit forums), but this is one way I can give back to the community (and this one is freakin' awesome).  TVS member zer0_obscura asked me to share a preview of his Anti-Venom comic:

Would you like to see Anti-Venom return in a Marvel book written by Zero?

Also if this is something the community digs, I can start a members 'spotlight' with more fan creations.  Just a thought.

secret avengers 37 variant

Secret Avengers 37 Variant Cover

This marks the final issue of Secret Avengers and is scheduled for release on January 30th.

[Thanks to CJV0729  for the tip]

venom 28 preview

Venom 28

Venom 28 comes out 12/19.

venom in captain america and black widow 640

Captain America and Black Widow 640

Captain America and Black Widow 640 is the final issue and will be available 12/19.

venom in thunderbolts 2

Pages from Thunderbolts 2

Thunderbolts scribe, Daniel Way talked to CBR earlier today about The Thunderbolts and provided a peek at some interior art from issue 2:

"With Venom, Tony Moore did a great job remaking Venom's costume and Steve's take on it is awesome. There are times when the symbiote is very much a different character or at least a separate character than Flash Thompson. And Steve is very good at showing you whether Flash or the symbiote is in charge at a particular moment."

Do you like where this series is heading?
Thunderbolts 2 comes out on Wednesday 12/19.

march 2013 previews

March 2013

Venom 32
03/06

CULLEN BUNN (W)
DECLAN SHALVEY (A)
Cover by SHANE DAVIS
• TOXIN’S IN PHILLY. THE DEVIL’S IN JERSEY. VENOM’S GOING TO WAR

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man 21
03/20
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W)
SARA PICHELLI (A/C)
VENOM WAR CONTINUES
• As his father lies in critical condition, Miles is desperate to solve the mystery of the new VENOM!!
• How does the villain know so much about Miles?
• Miles turns to the one person who can help him… Gwen Stacy!














Thunderbolts 6 & 7 - Covers have not yet been released

Daniel Way (W) ISSUE #6 - STEVE DILLON (A) ISSUE #7 - PHIL NOTO (A)
• The team reaches the bloody end of their first mission!
• The final deadly team member is revealed! Issue #7 Emotions run high!

thunderbolts 2 cover

Thunderbolts 2

The previously unreleased cover to Thunderbolts 2 from Comixology available 12/19.

steve wacker talks about venom

Steve Wacker Interview w/CBR

Venom senior editor, Stephen Wacker, sat down with ComicBookResources and answered some fan questions about Venom:

Moving on to part two of our massive fan question rundown, campion questioner Spidey616 had several Spidey-related queries, starting with, "After becoming the new Toxin have we truly seen the last of Eddie Brock or can we expect to see him again in the near future? What about some of the new Symbiote characters Zeb Wells/Clayton Crain created like Scorn or the Mercury Team?" 

Wacker: Toxin is a HUGE part of Cullen Bunn’s upcoming "Venom" story. "Venom" editor Tom Brennan and I -- along with Cullen and artist Declan Shalvey -- just had a big conference call about this earlier in the week. So, yes...my god yes! And if you haven’t been picking up "Venom," we just published a Point One issue that serves as a great jumping on point. "Venom" #27.1 is on sale right now.

Prince Of Orphans had a specific question on "Venom," asking, "Since you're senior editor for 'Venom,' could I maybe get some insight to where Daimon Hellstrom is headed in that title? He seems to have descended more into villainy in comparison to his other cameos in 'New Avengers' and 'Journey into Mystery.'" 

Wacker: I went right to the source on this one…Venom writer Cullen Bunn: 

Bunn: That's a great question, and I can understand the confusion. I think those kinds of discrepancies are often written off with some fancy chronological footwork, but that's not the case here. There is a story reason for the different portrayals of Hellstrom. And there is an explanation as to how he's been in two (or even four) places at once. It's something I'll address in an upcoming arc of "Venom" (sometime after issue #36, I believe). Suffice it to say, Hellstrom is still in prison... he has betrayed everyone and put poor Flash Thompson through Hell. Everything else... all the confusion... is all part of his plan.

We also get our first look at Declan Shalvey's art for issue 31:

What do you think about Toxin's HUGE role coming up in Venom?  And who the hell is he fighting in issue 31?

venom 32

Venom 32 Cover

Venom 32 comes out in March.

TVS EXCLUSIVE: q&a with cullen bunn

I think it is fair to say that our little symbiote obsessed community has finally put itself on the map!  Cullen Bunn has decided to take time out of his busy schedule to answer some of our questions about Venom!  A big 'thank you' goes out to all of you who commented and provided questions for me to ask Cullen.  There was a TON to choose from so obviously I couldn't ask them all.  I tried to select topics that everyone was curious about.  I hope I did a decent job as the voice for this community.  And now, TVS's exclusive interview with Venom writer, Cullen Bunn:

 

TVS: First off, thank you for taking the time to answer some questions from our little community. You hit the nail on the head when you said in Venom 23 'you freaks love your symbiotes.' Were you a familiar with Venom before you came on board this series? What drew you to take over the title from Rick Remender?

Bunn: Thank you for talking to me! I was absolutely familiar with Venom, from the earliest days of the symbiote’s first appearance. I remember it like it was yesterday… my friend Aric bringing his copy of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 252 to school. We were at an assembly… sitting on the bleachers… and he pulled this book out of his backpack. Immediately, I was drawn to that image of “the new Spider-Man!” Back then, I was buying most of my comic books at convenience stores and flea markets, but I did everything I could to track down Spider-Man issues featuring the symbiote. I loved the mystery of it all… and I loved how they built such a big concept all from the simple idea of “Spidey gets a new suit.” I followed Venom storylines here and there through the years, but I wasn’t a die-hard collector (not like you freaks). I knew who Venom was, of course. I knew who he was. When Marvel announced the new Venom series, I was immediately intrigued by the concept art and the notion of Venom as a “secret agent,” so I started reading the new series when it came out… and I loved it. When Stephen Whacker (whom I’d met at a convention or two) called me and asked if I’d be interested in taking over the series, I was thrilled. Here was my chance to put my own spin on a character I was genuinely excited about.

 

 

TVS: It seems like after working with Rick Remender on The Savage Six, utilizing The Circle of Four elements in Monsters of Evil, and now finishing the preplanned Minimum Carnage crossover, you are finally able to take the reigns and tell your own Venom stories. What can we expect from our favorite symbiote and its host in 2013?

 

Bunn: With issue 27.1 I start to look toward forging new ground and leaving my “footprint” on Venom. I’ll be introducing a number of new supporting characters, giving Flash a new job, redefining the Flash/symbiote relationship, etc. I don’t think it’s a secret that Toxin is coming back soon (like issue… uh… 30 soon) but I’ve been keeping how he will be portrayed pretty quiet, because it’s a new beginning for that character as well. I will be weaving back into the Descent storyline and eventually bringing that to a close, but it’s not going to happen immediately. You might see a certain master of crime show back up, but—again—my plan is to take my time getting there. And, yes, I’ve started putting together ideas for the “spawning” that has been teased forever, but that’s the kind of story I think I should definitely take my time with if at all possible. I know it’s been teased forever, but we’ll have to wait a while longer. And I’ll be introducing a new group of villains called (at least in my mind) the Symbiote Slayers. They’ll be appearing sooner rather than later.

 

 

TVS: With his departure from the Secret Avengers and Project Rebirth abandoned will there be any more sedating the symbiote or will Flash have to coexist with the alien at full strength?

 

Bunn:I was working on the “Toxic” arc recently, and I realized I had no idea where Rick Remender planned on leaving the symbiote sedation after the end of SECRET AVENGERS! So… I gave him a yell to see how the end of that book might play into what I was doing. I’m not going to spoil how the Avengers book ends, but I will say that the control of the symbiote will be completely in Flash’s hands… and it’s something he’s going to struggle with. There have been more than a few times now that the symbiote has instinctively saved Flash’s bacon. He’s beginning to wonder if he should treat the symbiote less like a “suit” and more like a partner.

 

 

TVS: How will Venom's membership with The Thunderbolts affect your series?

Bunn: I don’t think it will impact what I’m planning too much. Daniel Way and I are in contact, making sure we’re coordinating our stories so that everything meshes cleanly. I think most of the “big” Venom moments will occur in the solo book, but I’m really thrilled by what Daniel has planned. There’s always the possibility of a crossover, of course, but we’ll see.

 

 

TVS: Finally, before we head into some fan questions, I have to ask about Eddie Brock. Solicitations for next year hint that Toxin will be back. The last time we saw Brock he went from Anti-Venom, to symbiote hunter, to Toxin all in a few months. Any information you can share about Mr. Brock's future in Venom?

 

Bunn: I think fans of Eddie Brock will be really happy once the “Toxic” arc rolls around. Brock will definitely be returning, and I think he’ll be seen as a very important presence as the series moves forward. My hope is to establish his identity as Toxin and make him a big part of the supporting cast. As you said, he’s gone through so many rapid-fire changes. I’d like to give Eddie some stability.

 

And now some questions from the fans!

 

 

 

Shockdingo: In the past we saw the emotional connection between the symbiote and Brock, and even at times Kasady and his symbiote. With recent developments for Flash, in the future, is it possible to give the symbiote more of a literary "voice" and see more of a connection between host and symbiote? Thank you.

Bunn: The relationship between Flash and the symbiote will be very important in the series. Flash is feeling pretty alone now, and the symbiote might be his only real friend. How he sees the symbiote… how he interacts with it… will change quite a bit. As for the “voice” of the symbiote, it’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot. I do have some thoughts on how this will be portrayed. It might be different from what folks are expecting, but I hope they like it nonetheless.

 

 

WolfCypher: Do you feel that characters being shared by multiple writers makes consistency difficult? With Venom in your book, Secret Avengers, and soon Thunderbolts, are you afraid that the this same character will feel like he's being portrayed in three completely different styles, or that the way he's being used in other stories contradict his character in your book?

 

Bunn: That’s always a risk and a problem in big shared universes. And I don’t want to be a slave to continuity, but I think readers want to feel like these characters exist in the same world from book to book. The portrayal of Hellstrom, for instance, drives me nuts. I’ve established him as a villain and thrown him in prison, but he’s still running around in several other books. Sometimes, that can be explained as “the events in this issue occurred before Cullen was a jerk and made Hellstrom a big meanie,” but not always. And I feel like it’s my responsibility to make those disparate elements work together. Actually, that can sometimes present a fun challenge and open up some interesting doors. I can say that Rick and Daniel have always been interested in making the different books work together story-wise. We try to stay in touch and understand what we’re all working on. Of course, there will be minor differences in how the character is portrayed, but I think we’re doing our best to keep it together.

 

 

Mateia Andrei: will your stories on Venom focus more on magic and supernatural phenomenons or fictional technology?

 

Bunn: My hope is that I can show the versatility of the Venom character by putting him in a number of different genres. While the first arc was supernatural, the next arc was a science fantasy story. My next 3-issue arc is more of a straight forward super hero story. The upcoming “Toxic” arc is… I dunno… more of a street level story with some horror elements. So… the simple answer is “Yes, to all of the above.” There will be more supernatural arcs, more super-heroics, more crime stories, more horror stories… For as long as they let me write the book, I see switching things up fairly regularly. But my goal is to build connective tissue with recurring themes, returning villains, relationships between characters, the primary cast (being Flash and the symbiote), and the supporting characters I’m introducing.

 

 

KorkyJohnson: W/O knowing how Secret Avengers ends, does the relationship between Valkyrie and Flash end w/ the new Fearless Defenders series? Also, since you're the writer of both books, could you see any foreseeable crossovers between the two?

 

Bunn: The relationship between Valkyrie and Flash does not end with the end of Secret Avengers and the beginning of Fearless Defenders. In fact, you’ll see Valkyrie in Venom issues 28 – 30. The relationship may change over time (as all relationships do) but it will always be there in one form or another. For various reasons, I think it is far too important to be simply forgotten. I don’t have a crossover planned necessarily, but I already have a few Venom issues planned that will feature Valkyrie, and I came up with some fun ways to include Venom in the Fearless Defenders.

 

 

Yakscamelsandmules: Why do you think Venom is such an enduring character?

 

Bunn: I think the versatility and unpredictability of the character plays a big role in his popularity. Hell, you never know when the symbiote is going to be saddled with a new host, spawn some new offspring, or go berserk. Even after all these years, there’s still a lot of mystery about Venom, and that can fuel a lot of interesting stories and spark a reader’s imagination.

 

Thanks so much for talking with me, folks! Let’s do this again sometime!

 

 

 

 

Once again, thank you Cullen for stopping by TVS.  I think it says a lot about a writer who listens and interacts with fans.  So what did you guys think?  Did these answers make you excited for what is to come in 2013?  I know I'm pumped! 

 

Also, the sneak peek (pictured on the top left) is a Declan Shavely panel from an upcoming issue that he Tweeted yesterday. 

REVIEW: minimum carnage

It was hyped up all summer long and well before Cullen Bunn took over as the writer of Venom, but was Minimum Carnage worth the wait?
While Minimum Carnage was only a six part arc, I am including Venom 27.1 since it deals with the aftermath as well as serving as a conclusion for this part of Venom's story.

The Story: Carnage breaks out of prison and heads to the Microverse where he is hired to kill a god.  Venom teams up with Scarlet Spider and goes after him.

The Good: Carnage - I loved the way Carnage was written.  From his witty little nicknames ("Fake Spider-Man", "Half-Assed Venom") to his insane lust for killing.  His only mission was to inflict chaos, whether that was on earth or in the Microverse.  This arc stayed very true to his character.  Art - Sure some of the art wasn't always the best, but each issue gave my eyes something to ogle at: Alpha - Every panel with Medina's Carnage, Part 2 - Pham's Venom losing control, Part 3 - The savage look that Shalvey gave Carnage, Part 4 - The Carnage vs SS fight, Part 5 - Venom showing he 'can do mean', Omega - Giant Carnage, 27.1 - Every freaking panel of Checchetto's art.  While you might not agree, the different art styles were definitely the highlight of this arc.

The Bad: Mistakes? - It feels like mistakes were made (some probably intentional) just for the shock value.  The decapitation of Carnage should in fact kill Cletus, correct?  Did the symbiote actually grow him a new set of legs because of their bond, or was this an over sight by the artist because it wasn't mentioned anywhere in the actual books?  Why does Cletus's hair change from red in the first issue to blonde in the finale (even his face looked nothing like the Kasady I know)?  The Microverse - I know nothing about this world.  All of my previous knowledge came from a wikipedia search I did prior to the event.  I didn't know the rules, so when Carnage just slipped through the floor or our heroes were simply teleported back as miniatures, I had to accept it and move on.  There isn't exactly anything wrong with The Microverse, it was just a turn off because of my ignorance.

The Overall:  3.5 outta 5.  I did enjoy this arc as well as learning more about Scarlet Spider.  I can't say I liked what happened to Carnage.  No one can replace Cletus (some said the same about Eddie though) and still have Carnage.  It will be interesting to see how it all plays out, I'm just not a fan of it right now.  Since Remender left, if felt like this arc was forced because it felt more like his style of Venom then Bunn's current style (see issue 27.1).

Minimum Carnage was definitely better than Maximum Carnage, but I am still going to wait until 2043 for the release of Median Carnage!