PREVIOUSLY: FROM THE DESK OF BEN URICH: Norah, Can you believe the trash this DB rag spits out? No bother - while they're getting to the bottom of nothing, Frontline will get the real stories and the real glory, and I right? Anyway, two big scoops for you to take a look at:

1) Anti-Venom (nice name, huh?) - remember this guy? The white symbiote that, along with the garden variety Venom, tore apart Martin Li's FEAST Center when Norman Osborn's Thunderbolts came to town a few weeks ago? We want to get something more on him. Witnesses on the scene said he was Eddie Brock - that's right, the original Venom. Get to the bottom of this guy - start at Our Lady of Saints Church. Trust me, you'll find out what you need to know there.

2) The "New" Avengers - where are these guys? It's been enough time since the feds decided to hand the keys to our planetary security off to Norman Osborn - where did these guys end up? What are they doing now? I got word that Wolverine's been hanging around a bar downtown - maybe he'll bring friends with him next time? I want the name of the hangout and at least a quote or two.

That's all for me kid. Find out what you can, Winters. I know it's not your usual gossip column stuff, but Paris and Britney can wait for another day. Get to it!

Urich

REVIEW: The story opens with a young woman running through back alleys, seemingly afraid of someone, or something, pursuing her. Rounding a corner, she is intercepted by none other than Anti-Venom whose sole reasoning for getting involved into her life is to stop her from "using", in other words, injecting drugs into her body. Following what he calls his higher calling, Anti-Venom cleanses her body from the poison coursing through her bloodstream. Then, regaining his human form, he hands her a card from the FEAST center, telling her that people there will help her. We are then treated to a flashback of sorts, explaining about Eddie Brock's life prior to becoming Anti-Venom and how he owes a debt of gratitude to Martin Li for giving him a second chance at life.

A short time later, at the FEAST center, the young girl "saved" by Anti-Venom shows up, seeking help, as suggested by her savior. Aunt May who just so happens to be working puts an arm around her and guides her to a couch where they begin to talk. Upon seeing May talking to the girl, another FEAST employee comes over and points out that they are currently at full capacity so May shouldn't admit the girl. Aunt May pays no heed to his warning and goes to have a chat with Martin Li about the girl. She finds him in the workout room with all the refugees they took in (during the recent "New Ways to Die" storyline). To May's surprise, the refugees are being taught martial arts. Martin Li claims to be teaching self-defense for the women and security guard work for the men, in other words, skills they can use when they leave the shelter. Having said that, he tells May that it is a closed session and closes the door on her. Though May believes the whole thing is kind of odd, she brushes it off and continues on her way.

Anti-Venom is on the prowl for drug vendors; he wants to rid the streets of them. In the Brooklyn Navy Yard, he finds what he's looking for – a trade is being made between two gangs, one of which is Mr. Negative's (its members are wearing masks). Needless to say, he crashes the party and starts tearing through the two drug cartels. He easily disposes of the non-masked gang members but makes a surprising discovery when he stabs one of Mr. Negative's men – they appear to have some kind of healing factor. Despite this, he ragingly continues his attack, only to soon find out that something in his opponents' blood stings just like it did when he fought Venom (a few weeks earlier). He grabs one of Mr. Negative's men and orders him to tell him how he did that to him.

In Chinatown, one of the refugees, Mei-Li approaches Mr. Negative to speak with him about their current "arrangement". Mei-Li is grateful for everything he's done for them but she has no desire to become any man's servant, even one as generous as him. Mr. Negative replies that he understands that becoming one of his Inner Demons is a lot to ask of her. Grabbing her in a chokehold, he forcibly convinces her to reconsider his offer. Needless to say, she readily agrees. The monochromatic villain then proceeds to instruct Mei-Li to join his Inner Demons in an attack on an Oscorp supply truck; again she says yes. Just then, one of Mr. Negative's henchmen, who was at the Navy Yard when it came under attack by Anti-Venom, arrives and tells his boss what happened to him and the others back at the yard. Mad, yet composed upon hearing this, he takes out a gun and shoots the messenger in the gut. Turning to the now subdued Mei-Li, he tells her they have to move fast since Anti-Venom probably found out about the raid they are planning against Oscorp from Mr. Negative's men at the scene.

On the New Jersey Turnpike, a trucker comes across a broken down car (and I mean BROKEN DOWN car!) next to which lie two seemingly unconscious individuals wearing masks (more of Mr. Negative's henchmen). The trucker approaches them but they surprise him, revealing that they are not unconscious. They quickly take him out, tie him up with duct tape, and steal the transport truck. As they drive away, they receive a call from their associates, whom are requesting backup.

The reason for their request for backup is soon revealed – they are under attack by Anti-Venom, who is none too happy, and tears through them easily. His luck may have run out its course, however, when Mr. Negative himself shows up with dozens of his Inner Demons by his side. Mr. Negative, who surprisingly knows that Anti-Venom is Eddie Brock, offers him a chance to join them in hurting Oscorp. Anti-Venom wants nothing with him so Mr. Negative sics his men on him. Within seconds, Anti-Venom disappears under a barrage of pummeling fists. In a surprising twist of events, however, Anti-Venom seems to vanish into the air. Mr. Negative instructs his men to fan out and find him. One of Mr. Negative's men is ordered to stay with the truck. This particular individual climbs inside the truck's cabin where he finds another Inner Demon sitting at the wheel. This Inner Demon, revealed to be none other than Anti-Venom in disguise, kicks him out of the truck and drives away.

Realizing the truck's content – pharmaceutical drugs – could be used to help people who are sick and cannot afford expensive treatments, Anti-Venom, now transformed into Eddie Brock, drives the truck to the FEAST center. Making use of his "powers", he unlocks the backdoor that leads into the storage area. As he prepares to start transporting boxes inside, he hears voices coming from around the corner. Hugging the wall, he sneaks a peek to see who it is. He's surprised to see Mr. Negative talking with one of his henchmen. As he wonders what the villain is doing there, a flash of light suddenly blinds him. When he looks again, he is absolutely shocked to find out that Mr. Negative is none other than Martin Li! He transforms into Anti-Venom and crashes through a wall, making his way out of there. Martin Li is left wondering exactly what just happened.

Eddie Brock is devastated. He had thought that Martin Li saving him was all part of something larger, a blessing of sort. He is now confused about his purpose in life. To make matters worse, he is the only one that knows that Martin Li and Mr. Negative are one and the same, but no one will believe him, because he's a monster.

The end...for now.