10 Reasons Why Donny Cates’ Venom Was So Great
3. Ryan Stegman's Art
It shouldn’t have taken this long to mention, but the brilliant artwork by Ryan Stegman on Venom is a huge part of what makes the book so great. While he isn’t present for the entire run, showing up mostly for the major climactic storylines, his contribution to the book cannot be understated.
He carves out a corner of the Marvel universe that is entirely Venom’s own. The rainy, gothic cityscapes are the perfect playground for these stories, from New York to San Francisco, as well as more abstract locations such as those seen during Knull’s backstory.
His character design is also brilliant, his Venom harkens back to the original Todd MacFarlane drawings with the big, bulbous forehead and hugely expressive face, with the seamless addition of the dragon wings only enhancing the timeless design. Similarly, his design of Eddie in his various incarnations, whether it be long haired, bearded or both, is based on MacFarlane’s original rugged depiction, rather than the generic handsome comic hero he is often portrayed as. He gives Knull all the spindly gravitas you’d expect, and it’s a delight to see his version of all the marvel heroes that show up in King in Black.