A surprisingly heartfelt chapter about guilt, forgiveness, and learning to live with the monster
Venom (2025) #258 takes a more emotional route than expected, shifting away from pure symbiote chaos and into something more personal, grounded, and reflective. After the events involving Torment and Paul Rabin’s death, the issue centers on Dylan Brock, Mary Jane Watson, Peter Parker, and Venom as they all process the fallout in different ways. What makes this chapter work is how it treats guilt not as something that can be easily solved, but as something people carry, confront, and sometimes learn to share.
PROS:
The issue opens at Paul’s funeral, immediately setting a somber tone. Dylan blames himself for what happened, believing his anger and connection to Venom played a part in Paul’s death. Mary Jane, however, pushes back in a way that feels honest and mature. She does not excuse everything Dylan has done, but she reminds him that Paul made his own choices too. This conversation becomes one of the stronger emotional beats of the issue because it gives Dylan space to feel remorse without letting him drown in it.
Peter and MJ’s scenes are also a highlight. Their walk through Central Park gives the issue a softer, more intimate energy, allowing them to talk about Paul, trauma, friendship, and the complicated history between them. The writing leans into the idea that love, friendship, and forgiveness do not always erase pain, but they can become a foundation for moving forward. It is a very human moment in a comic filled with alien symbiotes, alternate dimensions, and superhero baggage.
The issue also does a good job showing Peter’s own emotional weight. His conversation with MJ makes it clear that he still carries guilt for the things he could not prevent, especially during the time MJ spent in Paul’s dimension. What works here is that the comic does not turn Peter into the sole victim or the sole hero of the situation. Instead, it shows how everyone involved has been hurt in different ways. That gives the story more emotional balance.
Of course, this is still a Venom comic, and the issue does not forget that. Once Peter puts on the Spider-Man mask and confronts Venom, the story shifts into a more tense and action-driven mode. Venom’s new form looks powerful, sharp, and visually striking, especially with the gold elements that make the design feel more heroic and dangerous at the same time. The fight between Spider-Man and Venom is brief but effective, mainly because it is built around a moral debate rather than just punches. Peter sees Venom as reckless and dangerous, while Venom argues that he let Torment go because, in that moment, protecting Dylan and respecting Gwen’s choice mattered more.
That tension is what makes the issue interesting. Venom is not presented as fully right, but he is not completely wrong either. He has a violent instinct, but he also has a protective one. He is trying to become something better, even if he still sounds terrifying while doing it. By the end, Venom frames himself and MJ as a “functioning whole,” which gives the issue its strongest thematic statement: this version of Venom is not just about possession or power, but partnership.
The art supports both sides of the story well. The quieter cemetery and park scenes have a clean, emotional softness that helps the dialogue breathe, while the Venom action scenes bring back the energy, scale, and monster appeal readers expect. The final transformation into Venom, with MJ as the host, is easily one of the most memorable visuals of the issue.
CONS:
For a balanced take, the main downside is that the issue may feel dialogue-heavy for readers expecting a more action-packed Venom installment. Much of the chapter is built around conversations, emotional processing, and relationship repair, so the pacing can feel slower compared to more explosive symbiote stories. Still, that slower pace also gives the issue its emotional weight.
CONCLUSION:
Overall, Venom (2025) #258 is a strong character-focused issue that uses the symbiote mythos to explore guilt, responsibility, and healing. It may not be the loudest or most action-heavy chapter, but it gives Dylan, MJ, Peter, and Venom meaningful emotional ground to stand on.
By the end, the issue feels less like a reset and more like a step forward — one built on pain, forgiveness, and the uneasy but powerful idea that being bonded does not have to mean being broken.
Rating: 8/10
