Venom (vol. 2) #17
Savage Six Prologue
In the warehouse where he stores his gear, Flash Thompson debates his life choices and how he always had options. Now he is at a crossroads that could cost him everything, including his recent membership in the Avengers. He makes up his mind and calls Giant-Man and asks him to send the symbiote. He lies and says that he wants to help the police catch a thief and insists that he doesn’t need any help. Moments later, Agent Venom is web-swinging across town wondering what Giant-Man or the Beast would think about his personal evolution.[1] Flash is unaware that he is being stalked by Eddie Brock, who is hunting down and eliminating all the symbiotes on Earth.
Meanwhile, at the Crime-Master’s hideout, the mobster is recruiting other villains into his gang. He has already recruited Death Adder and Megatak and welcomes the newest recruit, the Human Fly. He is impressed that the Fly has managed to earn the ire of the Kingpin and is welcoming him into his group.[2] As this meeting progresses, Agent Venom takes aim with a sniper rifle and waits for a good shot at Crime-Master, figuring that by killing the mobster he can protect his friends and family. Down below, Crime-Master has secured he Fly’s membership and proposes a toast to his new team, the Savage Six.
Before Agent Venom can take the shot, Eddie Brock starts shooting at him with sonic bullets, alerting the criminals below to his presence. The former host for the Venom symbiote makes it known that he has come to kill the alien creature as he views it as a cancer to the world. Recovering from this ambush, Venom webs up Eddie Brock. Then, Flash tries to rain the office below with bullets but Megatak has created a computer-generated shield to protect them. Unaware of who is trying to kill them, Crime-Master orders the Human Fly to go up there and earn his position on the team by eliminating the shooter.
Jack O’Lantern gets up there first and instantly recognizes Venom. He is soon joined by the Fly and Death Adder. The latter of the three rakes Venom with his poison tipped claws causing Flash to become delirious and ultimately, he’s knocked to the ground. He tells Crime-Master to kill him and get it over with and leave his family alone. However, the mobster is in no mood to negotiate and as Megatak lays into Venom, suggests that he will start by killing Flash’s mother then his beloved Betty Brant. Realizing that this is a losing battle, Flash manages to escape. However, when the members of the Savage Six search the area they find Eddie Brock and Crime-Master decides to put him to good use.
When Eddie wakes up, he’s naked and restrained in a room with Crime-Master and Jack O’Lantern. Crime-Master has decided that he was looking for the perfect host to be the sixth member of his team and has decided that Brock will make a great addition. Jack then opens a bio-hazard container unleashing the Toxin symbiote, which eagerly bonds to Brock. Breaking free from his bonds, the new Toxin is asked what he would like to do. Brock, now fully bonded to Toxin tells the Crime-Master that he wants to kill Venom.
Recurring Characters
Agent Venom, Savage Six (Crime-Master, Jack O’Lantern, Death Adder, Megatak, Human Fly, Toxin), Giant-Man (voice only)
Continuity Notes
Flash goes over a lot of his personal demons presently:
He is currently being blackmailed by the Crime-Master after the mobster learned his secret identity in Venom (vol. 2) #2
Flash mentions his recent break-up with Betty Brant. The pair have dated on-and-off for years dating back to Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #90. More recently they got back together in Amazing Spider-Man #648 until he broke up with her in Venom (vol. 2) #12. This was to protect her from his dealings with Crime-Master.
Flash mentions his alcoholism. His problems with substance abuse dated back to Spider-Man: Redemption #1. After his father died in Venom (vol. 2) #7, Flash went on a bender in Venom (vol. 2) #11-14.
Flash’s history as a soldier dated back to Amazing Spider-Man #43. More recently, Flash rejoined the military and lost his legs in combat in Amazing Spider-Man #574.
Flash refers to himself as a killer. This is in reference to the lives he’s taken since becoming Agent Venom back in Amazing Spider-Man #654. He killed a scientist in Venom (vol. 2) #1 and later lost control of the symbiote and murdered the Hijacker in issue #9.
As we learned last issue, the Human Fly stole a bunch of drug money from one of the Kingpin’s men.
