Marvel is celebrating their Giant-Size line throughout 2024, and it all kicks off with Giant-Size Spider-Man #1. What better way to commemorate the format than with a Venom vs. Miles matchup? The two have some history, and in the new one-shot, they got to team up or get their butts kicked.
This issue is very good at calling back to other stories, serving as a refresher for those who haven’t kept up with other adventures, and getting you hyped to read more comics. On top of that, Cody Ziglar writes a strong issue, with a keen sense for slang and the voice of these characters. You don’t often see characters speaking like real people do in the streets, and it adds a layer of realism and reliability to the characters. As far as Giant-Size is concerned, Ziglar knocks it out of the park, effectively celebrating the nature of these one-shot specials.
The story is fairly easy to jump into. Rabble recently uncovered Miles’ secret identity, seriously putting him and his family in danger. Misty Knight is helping Miles on a mission to uncover Rabble’s dangerous weaponry, and Venom just so happens to be at the same warehouse at the same time to knock heads. This version of Venom is Eddie Brock’s son Dylan, and he comes with chains now. It’s cool to see this version of Venom since he’s barely done much since being introduced.
As far as the plot, this is a fight comic through and through. That means Venom fights Miles, Miles fights henchmen, and vice versa. The action is intense, easy to follow, and filled with clever twists and turns. Anyone who likes the Venom-Saber should gear up for some cool moments. Miles is written well, and it’s clear Ziglar is using this as a vehicle to amp us up for future Rabble fights. The only element that seemed lacking was Venom, who adds a lot of chaos to the story, but it’s never explained why Dylan wasn’t in control or where he’s off to.
I wish I could speak in title font.
Credit: Marvel
Iban Coello draws a great Venom that’s hulking but also a bit fluid. He looks similar to his ’90s days, which adds a nostalgic vibe to him. Coello’s Spider-Man is also strong, with nice detailing on the mask in close-ups, making it look like cloth or good expressions via the eyes in the mask, with cool effects by color artist GURU-eFX.
It’s a bit surprising the extra-sized nature of this issue is partly due to a reprint of Miles’ most traumatic fights with Venom. Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #22 is reprinted here, and it’s a fantastic story. The way Sara Pichelli draws Venom is unreal and it’s nice to revisit what writer Brian Michael Bendis did with these characters. It’s a little bit of a head-scratcher since this fight wasn’t referenced in the main story, but maybe Marvel slapped it on the back of the main story without telling the creators. it’s also a touch disappointing the extra cost is being justified thanks to a reprint of an old comic, but I’m sure many who haven’t read it yet will appreciate it.
Giant-Size Spider-Man #1 does a great job delivering big superhero action while calling back on stories while building toward Rabble and “Gang War” related stories. Thanks to a classic Miles reprint, the book feels padded out, but it’s a solid issue, so it’s tough to complain.
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