It’s gonna be war, or more specifically Venom War, so why not train symbiotes like Black Widow does in Black Widow: Venomous? Today, the new one-shot aims to refresh fans of Black Widow’s new relationship with a symbiote while highlighting how badass it is for a super-spy to harness the power of a symbiote! Prepare to be dazzled in what might be the prettiest superhero comic of the year.
As artist Luciano Vecchio told me, this issue goes wild with page layouts. The book is super clean looking, with dynamic art that’s so good you gotta see it to believe it. Colors by David Curiel and Rachelle Rosenberg add to the eye-popping effects. From the gooey symbiote effects to the sleek suits Black Widow wears, this is grade-A art, even how the spider effect of the symbiote and its millions of spiders is unreal to look at.
As far as story, this is a training issue. Usually when characters get a symbiote they’re afraid, but writer Erica Schultz flips that here. Early on, we learn that the symbiote is scared of a lab where a weapon to kill the symbiote is being made. Black Widow goes it alone, then comes home to whip the symbiote into shape. Cue the training montage!
Those spiders are freaky!
Credit: Marvel
That montage is more of a collection of scenes utilizing Black Widow’s memories to put friends and foes up against the symbiote. Schultz captures Black Widow’s matter-of-fact and super seriousness well. She’s a teacher, but as we learn, she can sometimes go too hard. She’s learning to be better. It’s particularly interesting how Schultz finds different lessons through different heroes Black Widow has learned from. A nice touch that makes this feel bigger than just a Black Widow comic.
There’s also good costume design here. From the villain, who’s like a symbiote Ultron, to the new costume for the symbiote Black Widow, there’s a lot to love here. On top of the costume, the character has a new name that feels appropriate.
If there are any qualms with this one-shot, it is that there isn’t a lot of plot to it. Essentially, Black Widow needs to get her symbiote into shape for Venom War. The mission they go on isn’t very important. That said, I understand this is kind of the point of the entire issue; it could have just used a little more plot, maybe in probing Black Widow. She’s more of a teacher, and the symbiote is the main character here.
Black Widow: Venomous is a delight. Visually stunning, this is a great one-shot that anyone can pick up and enjoy. Get it for the nuance in characters, but devour it for the extraordinary art.
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