After an origins one-shot in January, Kid Venom returns this week with a four-issue miniseries. Set in Japan in 977, symbiotes are taking people and creatures hostage; creator Taigami continues his alternate take on symbiotes. Told in a manga style, the comic feels innovative and fresh in more than a few ways.
Kid Venom #1 opens with Kid Venom’s symbiote named Clinter, who can’t seem to eat an entire Oni, aka a symbiote. Looking a lot like Carnage, this giant symbiote turns out not to have a host and is all symbiote. Thus, you can’t eat the alien completely to reveal the animal or person underneath it. This is a key point to the enemy Kid Venom and his samurai corps face by the end of the issue.
While building on the various characters Kid Venom will interact with at the samurai corps, Taigami also reveals a mystery Spider-Man fans won’t want to miss. In fact, the reveal may suggest there are multiverse shenanigans going on.
That symbiote is freaky!
Credit: Marvel
Visually speaking, this issue looks great. The layout design is simple, making for a page-turning experience. The enemy symbiotes are particularly scary due to their size and spider-like quality. Their red flesh looks like muscle and is reminiscent of the beasts in Attack on Titan. The faster page turning is a double edged sword, though, as some pages feel absent of plot or character development.
Letters by Joe Sabino and translation by Aki Yanagi are good, with attention to detail when symbiotes are speaking and with sound effects. Word balloons are extra large here, possibly to fill the larger panels with limited panels per page.
If you haven’t guessed yet, this issue doesn’t feature a heck of a lot. It sets up a few characters, but so quickly, you’ll never quite know how to feel about them. The threat is established, but their motivation is absent. I can’t say I cared about these characters one way or another.
If you’re looking for some manga action with a spin on symbiotes, Kid Venom is an enjoyable and unique ride. It’s light on character and plot, but it has striking visuals and an unmistakable manga sensibility.
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