Spider-Verse Vs. Venomverse #1

If there’s one thing Marvel loves, it’s a Spider-Man centric multiverse event, and the beloved trend continues with this newest explosive offering. Spider-Verse Vs. Venomverse has officially kicked off with the release of its first issue, and with such a major event going down in the comic world, of course we’re here to give our thoughts! There’s a lot to talk about here, but let’s just say that Mat Groom and Kyle Higgins have certainly not disappointed with this release.

Today, we’re talking all things Spider-Verse Vs. Venomverse #1, and we’ll be sure to avoid any and all spoilers, so feel free to read ahead before picking up your own copy. Without further ado, let’s get into the review!

---

Spider-Verse Vs. Venomverse #1 Review

Image by Marvel Comics

The first thing I noticed as I began my journey into the world of Spider-Verse Vs. Venomverse was the stunning, sprawling world that Luciano Vecchio has brought to the pages. This first issue, particularly its first pages, is a visual spectacle, with the art often covering both pages in a landscape orientation, no corner left bare, filled to the brim with bright colours, innovative designs, and incredible detail. While there’s not much that’s particularly unique about this comic’s art-style, it does what it does very well, and believes wholeheartedly that if there’s nothing broken with the Spider-Man designs we’ve come to know and love, then why fix them?

That being said, while the art is sure to catch your eye, you’ll actually be spending a lot of your time with this first issue of Spider-Verse Vs. Venomverse perusing through blocks and blocks, and even more blocks, of text. Seriously, get your reading glasses on – this comic is far from the light-reading a lot of modern comic fans may have come accustomed to. This is an introductory chapter, so a lot of this text is necessary – while I would argue that the amount of text takes away from the stunning art somewhat, I’ll give this comic a pass here. However, I do hope the amount of text boxes is a little more controlled come the next issue.

On the character side of things, we’ve got some really charming representations of both Spider-Man, Venom, and all of their multi-versal counterparts here. It’s nice to see Eddie Brock treated with so much dignity, considering his fanfare and potential as a central character. Sure, we all love Venom’s monstrous side, but it’s nice to balance this out with his humanity. On the topic of balance, Spider-Verse Vs. Venomverse also sets up its plot extremely well by showing both sides as evenly capable of victory in this conflict. While some stories make it painfully clear who the eventual victor will be, this comic shows both sides as potential winners, which really helps to keep the reader on their toes.

Image by Marvel Comics

However, the first issue of Spider-Verse Vs. Venomverse does raise some concerns regarding the potential for nuance in this story. From the first pages, it’s clear that the comic wants to draw parallels between Peter, Eddie, and their respective teams. However, the parallels here are direct, barely deviating in any way. In fact, there’s little to no difference in how these characters approach their shared situation, outside of a differing colour scheme. It makes me nervous for the future of the comic – how much can an interesting plot really be drawn out of a conflict wherein both sides are so directly equivalent? Parallels can be fun and interesting, but difference is just as spicy for a war plot like this.

We’re a long way away from this, but this first issue also gave me some unease regarding where Spider-Verse Vs. Venomverse is going in the long run. Something tells me that the premise set up here, that the Spiders must destroy the Symbiotes, or vice versa, is not actually going to play out as promised. Maybe it’s all my anime experiences speaking, but something tells me that there’s going to be a potential cop-out down the line for this series. Only time will tell, and this is really no critique against this issue itself, but this first chapter did stir some concern in me, concern that I hope won’t negatively affect my reading experience going forward.

Getting back to the positives, I also want to praise the diversity in the character designs for all of the Spider-Man and Venom armies. It’s clear that, regardless of who is working on them, these Spider-Verse stories are very fun for the creators in terms of character design, and their creativity shines through this issue clearly. There was, for me, no design that stood out negatively, and plenty that stood out positively. Diverse, creative, and visually-appealing – what’s not to love on the visual side of things with this comic?

Image by Marvel Comics

Now, this is a superhero comic, so I’m sure you’re wondering – what about the action? Well, this is the first issue of Spider-Verse Vs. Venomverse, so action was pretty minimal throughout. Things got going near the end, and when they did, it was a real thrill, but most of the issue is dedicated to exposition and set-up. However, this taste of action we got at the end does promise some really incredible, action-oriented issues in the future, and I cannot wait for it to all unfold.

Overall, the first issue of Spider-Verse Vs. Venomverse promises an exciting future ahead for this series. While text-heavy, and a little worrying in terms of a ‘power of friendship’ storyline, this issue was a visual masterpiece, and teased some incredible battles and dynamics between the Spiders and the Symbiotes down the line. I’m hooked. What did you think of this issue? Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and thanks for reading!

See also: Absolute Green Lantern #1 Review

• ShareCopied to clipboard
• X
• Facebook