After the fan response to Luciano Vecchio’s Spider-Venom design, it’s no surprise the character is getting his own one-shot this week in Web of Venom #1. It’s cool, edgy, and the fact that we don’t know who is inside makes him mysterious. Time to remove the mystery, as Jordan Morris and artists Luke Ross and Ramon Rosanas reveal the man behind the symbiote.
As one-shots go, Web of Venom #1 feels self-contained and thorough in its origin story. The issue opens with Venom speaking to his symbiote, who speaks via purple word balloons, before he confronts security guards. He clearly knows how to be Venom and get a feel for the hero business. After some tendril attacks, he pops some claws and does a “Venomrang” attack. Clearly, the character is having a little fun with being superpowered.
From there, the story dives into their backstory, and the man underneath is a bit of a surprise. A classic Spider-Man villain in their own right, Morris unveils how they got the symbiote in the first place. The trajectory from two-bit villain to something far more powerful makes sense and also involves uncovering a brand-new symbiote. It’s unclear whether this is the 616 universe, though it could work, since everything appears to be in line with 616 continuity. I hope it’s the 616, since this character could use a boost in standing.
Symbiote fans will be enthralled with this new symbiote named Passenger. Details are minimal, but there’s plenty of opportunity to mine from a symbiote that was on Earth for so long. Throw in a cliffhanger that promises more story, and all in all, it’s a fun start to this new symbiote hero.
This guy knows his references.
Credit: Marvel
Even though the issue opens with an action scene before going into a flashback like so many tales before it, Morris at least reflects on it as the symbiote can’t believe its host is retelling it. Overall, the scripting is good, keeping you interested, especially if you dig this main character. That said, there’s nothing too fantastical or surprising about this origin. Bad guy gets roped into an upgrade, said upgrade has strings attached from a supervillain, which kicks off an escape. It’s fairly straightforward, with the most enticing bits being saved for another day.
Art by Ross and Rosanas is clean and easy to follow. The references to past comic costumes and poses are well done, and the symbiote action is well-drawn. The layouts tend to be fairly standard, with no big artistic swings save for a great double-page splash. Simply put, the art matches the story, which is fairly simple and never takes too many chances.
Web of Venom #1 delivers a solid and enjoyable origin for Spider-Venom, even if it plays things a bit safe. Jordan Morris sets up a character with clear potential, backed by a strong visual identity and just enough mystery to keep readers curious. While it does not break new ground, it lays a stable foundation that could lead to more exciting stories ahead.
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