The Good
Now that Flash's long running conflict with the Crime-Master is over, it's time to pick up the pieces. The revelations were too much for Betty and now Flash is left alone. This is the perfect time for him to dive into missions with the Secret Avengers.
With bits carrying over from his crossover with X-23 and Ghost Rider, Flash finds himself on a reconnaissance mission involving some dark matters. Hawkeye was strict about Venom not getting involved but you could probably imagine what will happen next.
When Venom runs into Hellstrom, there are some interesting developments. Venom is able to do some things that will need to be explored further. Hellstrom also has some interesting comments so we'll have to wait to see where this leads to.
The Bad
I can't say I'm a Hellstrom fan. That makes it difficult to get excited about an issue featuring him. It also felt a little too convenient for the story for Venom to end up alone. He's on a mission for the Secret Avengers and while he was only supposed to observe and not engage with the 'enemy,' as soon as his radio contact was terminated, you would think someone would rush to his side immediately, especially if Hawkeye still doesn't completely trust him.
I am curious where the direction of this title will go. Is Venom finished going on missions for the government and only going on missions for the Secret Avengers? If that's the case, making the argument for him to continue on solo missions might become difficult. It almost makes more sense for him to go where he is needed by the government.
The Verdict
Venom vs. Hellstrom. This isn't something I can get excited over due to my lack of interest in Hellstrom. There is some interesting little developments thrown about that could change things for Venom. Of course there's a doosey of a cliffhanger as well. Hopefully Venom can solve this mission without the Secret Avengers rushing to his aide. This is meant to be a solo book and we need to see that Flash still has what it takes to wear the suit and complete his missions. Hopefully he'll be facing villains I find more appealing in later issues. There still is a lot of potential to Flash Thompson being Venom. It almost feels as if he needs to find a new direction in the aftermath of his battle with Crime-Master.