The cover for Venom War: Spider-Man tells no lies: Spider-Man is back in the symbiote suit for Venom War, which launched last week. In what has to be one of the most exciting ideas for Spider-Man in some time, Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, and Greg Land enter the event with a three-issue tie-in. Can the stakes even be high in a tie-in? Wait until you get to the end of this issue!
Venom War: Spider-Man #1 is highly entertaining, with great dialogue and a cinematic visual style only Land can bring. Sure, Land draws three arms at one point and reuses facial expressions, but you can’t deny the dynamic art and dimension of the characters.
The issue opens with Peter allowing the Venom symbiote to bond with him. They’re on speaking terms for once in a long time, and they need to work together to save as many people as possible. Throughout the issue, these two bicker, agree, and even make each other blush.
Capturing the great dialogue is good lettering by Joe Caramagna. The symbiote talks in a cloud-like word balloon conveying it’s in Peter’s head rather than speaking out loud. Sound effects are always excellent by Caramagna, like a “BOOM” that’s split between the “BO” and “OM.”
They must team up!
Credit: Marvel
If you’re balking at the $4.99 price tag, know there’s a lot of action and plot to get through, making this a good value. Spider-Man’s interactions with the symbiote are only half the battle, as there’s plenty of hobgoblin madness, a team-up you might not expect, and a high-stakes cliffhanger. I honestly thought the comic was over at one point, but it continues.
And then the chains come into play.
The action is quite good, with hobgoblins plural zipping about, pumpkin bombs going off, and Spider-Man rocking the symbiote. I can’t tell you why the monster shows up at the end, but it sure looks cool.
Venom War: Spider-Man #1 is a great tie-in, thanks to the zippy dialogue and constant pedal-to-the-metal action. The creative team makes you love Spider-Man in the symbiote costume, and dare I ask, does he have to ever let it go?
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