Fans of Venom and Spider-Man have a lot to be happy about since All-New Venom #9 dropped a bombshell of a cliffhanger: Paul and MJ are breaking up! With that info in our back pockets, All-New Venom #10 sets out to do a heck of a lot more. Fans asking a lot of questions — just check out Venom Unleashed to see what I mean — have a lot of answers after putting this issue down. That includes the long road of unpacking the trauma MJ has with the symbiote.
All-New Venom#10 opens with Flash and Rick Jones catching their breath after escaping Doc Ock’s clutches. Aside from recapping what they just went through and curtailing any loose plot threads, Toxin is close to death after being worn by Flash! With Sleeper aware of what is required, the melodrama of this growing symbiote supporting cast sets up some stakes for Toxin to overcome.
From there, the issue dives into Paul’s utter shock that MJ is dumping him. A bit of the butt of the joke, Paul even asks MJ if she can think of any reason not to break up. A tall ask since she’s the one who suggested it. This leads directly to closing off the subplot of Dylan being in the dark about Venom. Fans hoping for some closure between the symbiote, Dylan’s parent, and Dylan should feel, at the very least, that some closure is coming. Writer Al Ewing continues to highlight the complicated nature of these relationship dynamics.
Paul is stunned.
Credit: Marvel
Instead of MJ/Venom fighting some random villain, the story then dives into MJ confronting the symbiote. It’s one of the most asked about things since MJ has gone through some serious trauma with the symbiote entering her life in the past. Ultimately, it’s clear their relationship is messy and far from friendly, but they’re also stuck to each other. There are some rather mature themes at work here, including the notion that people can “fix” their partner when in an unhealthy relationship. I also think fans angry that Venom isn’t with Eddie should be pleased that, at the very least, Ewing is aware MJ and Venom aren’t going to be together forever.
Closing out the issue is a nice cliffhanger that bookends things. There isn’t any immediate danger or high stakes, but for fans of the various symbiotes in this universe, we’ve got one more to get excited about.
Speaking of new characters and designs, Carlos Gomez once again does a fantastic job on art. The book looks great, with no rushed-looking art that you might see for an artist drawing ten issues in a row. Color artist Frank D’Armata continues to add a nice sheen to the Venom costume, which also plays nicely with Gomez’s symbiote tendrils. There’s a lot of high emotions in this issue, but Venom, inside the mindscape, takes the cake. It’s almost childlike in its size and shape, which helps convey the emotional immaturity of the symbiote.
All-New Venom #10 is a thoughtful and character-driven issue that digs into MJ’s fraught bond with the symbiote while also setting the stage for bigger developments across Venom’s extended family. Though the cliffhanger may not hit with the explosive force of the last issue’s breakup reveal, the emotional weight, nuanced relationship work, and gorgeous visuals make this a standout chapter.
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