Monsters of Evil Part Three

Possessed by a demon, Agent Venom has been given an ultimatum by the Son of Satan: Lead his Monsters of Evil or die.

Refusing, Venom is first attacked by Skunk Ape, a massive fire breathing gorilla. This is followed by an attack from Gragoa a massive demonic bull. Fighting free Venom pulls his guns and shoots at the three-headed Sphinx and the reptilian Worm. Daimon Hellstrom tells Venom that fighting is futile because these creatures were ancient and powerful even before he possessed them with demons.

When the creatures attack anew, the Son of Satan explains the origins of each creature. Gragoa was worshiped as a god by the the Moloids of Subterranea, while Lord Tiki was brought to life during a botched fertility ritual. Worm was an alien creature from space that came to Earth to study humanity. The Skunk Ape used to be a scientist who accidentally transformed himself during one of his experiments, while the Sphinx comes to this era from ancient Egypt a victim of one of its own riddles and curses. After the introductions Daimon asks Agent Venom if he will join them. Flash tells him to go fuck himself and gets struck by Gragoa so hard he goes flying into the zoo’s reptile house.

Recovering from the blow, Flash thinks that Hellstrom made the mistake of telling him his plans and considering the battle ahead, he thinks it will be a piece of cake. The Monsters of Evil all split up and begin searching for Venom, who is now waiting for the right moment to strike. Remembering how earlier he managed to command a demon to leave its host just by commanding it, he decides to use this to his advantage. He stalks the Sphinx and ambushes the creature. Impaling one of its heads with his symbiote, Flash causes the creature to scream in agony, drawing out the others. Then, Flash reaches deep down inside himself and finds the strength to order the demons around.

Later, Agent Venom confronts the Son of Satan and orders him to surrender. When Hellstrom refuses, Venom tells him that he’s not alone and orders the Monsters of Evil to attack. Once Hellstrom has been beaten into submission, he orders the Monsters to stop and then tells them to get lost, warning them that he’ll hunt them down if they cause trouble in the future.

Daimon Hellstrom is later incarcerated at the Raft. It is there that Venom demands answers as to how he is able to control demons. Hellstrom explains that this is because he has was given a Hell-Mark when he, the Red Hulk, X-23, and Ghost Rider entered into a pack with Mephisto to defeat Blackheart.[1] He explains that these marks are foretelling the Descent, a day when one of the many Hell-Lords falls farther than the others and in doing so becomes the true devil. To prepare for this coming event, Mephisto — like the other Hell-Lords — are marking potential heirs. Flash doesn’t understand why he was chosen since he is not a demon. Hellstrom explains that while neither of them truly are demons they can be following the Descent and could potentially end up ruling their own corner of Hell once everything is said and done. Hellstrom goes on to explain that this is why he sided with DOA, because in order to combat the ultimate evil sometimes it helps to ally yourself with something equally evil. He then asks Flash if he’d prefer Hellstrom sitting on the throne to Hell or if he would rather see a real fucker get the job.[2]

Later, Agent Venom returns to the apartment to update Katy Kiernan about what happened. Despite the fact that the Monsters of Evil are still alive and the demon that has possessed him is still trapped inside him he still feels like this was a one for the win column. Not only has he come to thank Katy for her help but to ask her to be his ally as he continues his investigations into DOA as he needs someone who knows all about the supernatural that he can trust. Katy accepts the offer as long as she can still write about it in the Daily Inquisitor. Agent Venom agrees and when she asks what he wants her to look into, he suggests that she start with end of the world.

Later, Flash is on a rooftop and tries calling Betty Brant to make sure she is safe. He gets her voice mail and as he is leaving a message he gets a call from the Secret Avengers ordering him to go to Colorado to stop a prison break.

This story continues in Minimum Carnage: Alpha #1….

Recurring Characters

Agent Venom, Katy Kiernan, Department of Occult Armaments (Son of Satan), Monsters of Evil (Lord Tiki, Gragoa, Worm, Skunk Ape, Sphinx), Hawkeye (voice only)

Continuity Notes

1. See Venom (vol. 2) #13-14.

2. As I write this in October 2020, the Descent has yet to be chronicled.