St. Pierre Inker: Derek Fisher A three-part series, published between March and May 1997, which follows Brock as he is captured and tried for his crimes as Venom. Brock is represented by Matt Murdock (Daredevil), with Cletus Kasady (Carnage) testifying against him. After Kasady bonds again with his symbiote, Brock, Daredevil and Spider-Man unite to stop him. Before Brock can be judged, agent Daryll Smith (from an unknown agency) offers Brock amnesty in exchange for becoming an agent. Venom: License to Kill (1997) Writer: Larry Hama Penciler: Derek Aucoin (#1–3), Josh Hood (#3) Inker: Rich Faber (#1–2), Ralph Cabrera (#1), Eric Cannon (#3), Scott Koblish (#3) In a three-part series published between June and August 1997, the story continues with Venom as a government agent controlled by a bomb implanted in his chest. He is tasked with neutralizing biological-weapons expert Dr. Sergei Yesenofsky before he can release a deadly toxin. Yesenofsky's son Kostya sacrifices his life to divert a nuclear missile heading for Yesenofsky's base, and uses the explosion to destroy the toxin. Yesenofsky survives, swearing to avenge Kostya. Venom: Sign of the Boss (1997) Writer: Ivan Velez, Jr. Penciler: Tom Derenick Inker: Chris Ivy In a two-part series published between September and October 1997, Venom continues his career as a government agent, working as a bodyguard for foreign president Franco Santera. He confronts (and later joins forces with) Danny Ketch, the Ghost Rider. Venom: The Finale (1997–1998) Writer: Larry Hama Penciler: Mark Pajarillo Inker: Robert Jones (#1–3), Pam Eklund (#3) This three-part finale to the Venom series was published between November 1997 and January 1998. The Overreach Committee (the organization in charge of Brock's clandestine agency) decides to terminate him because of his brutal methods. Brock cuts the bomb from his chest, and uses it to escape. His escape brings him into a confrontation with Spider-Man. After a fight with Spider-Man and an injection of dopamine blockers by Agent Smith, Brock is separated from the symbiote (which is apparently killed when Brock is re-arrested). The final issue sees Brock recover some memory of his history with Spider-Man; he had lost his knowledge of the hero's secret identity in the Spider-Man/Venom single issue (December 1997). Venom (2003–2004) Writer: Daniel Way Penciler: Francisco Herrera (#1–5, #11–13), Paco Medina (#6–10), Sean Galloway (#13), Skottie Young (#14–18) Inker: Carlos Cuevas (#1–5, #11–13), Juan Vlasco (#6–10), Wayne Faucher (#13), Rick Ketcham (#14–18) An eighteen-issue