Marvel Comics is nearing its big Spider-Verse vs. Venomverse miniseries after checking in on the Spider-Verse, and it’s now time to look at the symbiotes. Web of Venomverse: Fresh Brains focuses on the symbiote Hive Mind picking a team to fight against the Web-Heart as it scans the multiverse. This anthology issue features new, never-before-seen symbiotes: Venomouse, Venomizer, an alternate Eddie Brock Venom, and Mandy’s Phlegm.
Kicking things off in this anthology is “The Hive Mind,” setting up the journey to find a leader in a story written by Mat Groom with art by Luciano Vecchio. It’s a two-page scene heavy on captions laying out the main players picked so far. The cosmic side of Marvel is explored here given the heady concept of the Hive Mind, with a good setup for the rest of the issue.
First up, the Hive Mind decides to probe a universe where Venomouse is born in a story written by Erica Schultz with art by Dylan Burnett. The cartoony style by Burnett adds to the somewhat ridiculousness of a mouse Venom, which leads into the goopy liquid nature of the symbiote. It’s a little silly that the Hive Mind would consider a mouse as a leader for its team, but it gives this issue a chance to explore a lighter and fun take on a different kind of Venom. The bridge from this story is drawn by Vecchio, who makes the cuter Venommouse downright frightening.
Juan Jose Ryp draws a freaky Venom.
Credit: Marvel
Next up is “Venomizer,” written by David Dastmalchian with art by Juan Jose Ryp. Ryp’s art is hyper detailed, which brings this story into a more realistic look, which is juxtaposed well with the brighter comic-book characters of the Power Pack who take center stage. They’re having a movie night with no parents around, but unfortunately for them, a symbiote has broken into their home! The design of the symbiote, who takes over one of the Power Pack kids, is freaky, with its face taking on a twirling tongue framed by teeth. Cool stuff. The horror element is strong with this tale given the kid focus.
A different Eddie Brock gets the focus next, where Spider-Man is dead. Groom writes with art by Chris Allen in a story that reminds us the multiverse sometimes aligns closely with the 616 save for smaller details. Allen draws a freaky Green Goblin who is all teeth and eyes, so to speak. The creators want a more classic Venom to enter the fray here, as this Eddie is fairly close to the 616 version. Aside from this, Venom being mostly familiar to the ’90s version, there’s also a theme using Polaroids that doesn’t quite work. It’s not until the final page that we learn who they are to Venom.
Lastly, Chris Eliopoulos writes and draws a story comic-strip style story about Phlegm. He’s a cute little guy who is friends with Mandy, but when a late-night snack enters the house, Mandy may not be super happy with the symbiotes’ choice.
Web of Venomverse: Fresh Brains delivers an entertaining and offbeat preview of the upcoming symbiote-centric crossover, balancing visceral horror with unexpected laughs. While a few stories hit harder than others, the anthology succeeds in showcasing just how weird and wild the Venomverse can be—a strong entry point for fans hungry for multiversal madness and fresh symbiote lore.
You must be logged in to post a comment.