Venom (vol. 2) #3
Web of Death!
Betty Brant is woken up in the middle of the night when her home is invaded by Jack O’Lantern. Before kidnapping her, the villain asks her if she wonders what people say behind her back, suggesting they question why she would date a legless drunk like Flash Thompson.
While at Project Rebirth, General Brad Dodge is informed that they have lost radio contact with Agent Venom for over three days by his subordinate, Kate Glover. However, her recommendations that they activate the kill switch are declined because he wants to make sure the factory processing the Antarctic Vibranium in the Savage Land.
At that moment, in the Savage Land, Agent Venom is storming the facility. He is losing control of the Venom symbiote as it is slaughtering the Crime-Master’s Henchmen. At first he is horrified by the loss of life, but reminds himself that these men are terrorists to justify the killing. After slaughtering the last of the troops, Flash uses the last of his sedatives to keep the symbiote in check, giving him another hour to destroy the facility. Flash destroys the facility and secures a helicopter containing a shipment of goods. He is contacted by the new Crime-Master who demands that Flash fly the chopper back to New York and hand its cargo over to him. The Crime-Master reveals that not only does he know that Venom is actually Flash Thompson, but he also has his girlfriend, Betty Brant prisoner.
At that moment, Peter Parker has arrived at Betty Brant’s apartment and sees it in shambles. He quickly calls her roommate, Glory Grant, and confirms that she was home. After telling Glory to call the police, Peter changes into Spider-Man to go out and look for her.
Later, Agent Venom lands the chopper containing the Vibranium in Bushwick, New York. By this point, the symbiote is in full control. As the Crime-Master introduces himself, the symbiote becomes more-and-more agitated. Crime-Master tells Agent Venom that Betty is in a factor not far away and that he has the next five minutes to rescue her. When Agent Venom asks why Crime-Master is doing all of this, the mobster explains that he intends to keep Thompson in his back pocket, knowing that he won’t report this incident to his superiors because he has become addicted to the symbiote and will want to keep wearing it.
As Flash races to where Betty is being kept prisoner, the symbiote assumes its natural form making Flash look like the Venom of old. Along the way he is ambushed by Spider-Man who fears that the symbiote has somehow remembered his secret identity and is using Betty to get at him.[1] Both men fight each other unaware that they have the same goals in mind. As Flash starts losing his temper allowing the symbiote to take complete control. Venom announces its intention to kill Spider-Man unaware that General Dodge is observing this via a video feed. Deciding that Thompson has lost control of the symbiote, the General activates the kill switch.
Recurring Characters
Agent Venom, Jack O’Lantern, Crime-Master, Betty Brant, Spider-Man, Brad Dodge, Kate Glover, Samson, Glory Grant (voice)
Continuity Notes
Spider-Man had, relatively recently, had Doctor Strange cast a spell to erase everyone’s memory of his true identity. Prior to this, the symbiote knew Peter Parker as Spider-Man since it first bonded with him back in Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #8. For more on how Spider-Man covered up his true identity see Amazing Spider-Man #638-641.
