I have to admit I am torn here, if I am going to be all anal about it and insist on reviewing this as a Spider-Man book it scores pretty low. Why? Well Spider-Man isn't even in it for one thing and Pete only appears in one panel (not counting the final two pages of here's what's coming stuff). If I decide to look at it as just a comic book for entertainment purposes then it scores pretty high. Which is what I decided to do, why? 'cause I fucking love Venom! That's basically what this is, it's Venom #0.1 written by Dan Slott, firmly set in the time-line established in ASM #654.
It's Venom all the way this issue, we get to see Flash on his first official mission for Project Rebirth 2.0. It's a suave 007-esque affair that see's him go from infiltration to full on tux wearing ballroom dancing with his sultry target. The transition from symbiote uniform to tux by Humberto Ramos looks awesome, as do all the panels he get's to bust out old school Venom in. The rules of this new military ruled Venom are laid out for us, Flash can only wear the suit for 48 hours at a time and for a maximum of 20 missions. The integrity of the symbiote is tested on removal to make sure no bonding has occured.
Leading on from that mission is Flash's second foray in the suit this time it's less 007 more Schwarzenegger as he is air dropped into a compound alone to retrieve and protect an asset. Unfortunately he is cut off from his handler and the terrorists manage to find a psychological trigger point for Flash, the loss of his legs. This gives the symbiote a chance to grasp control and we get a glimpse of the Venom of old as he tears through everyone. Flash manages to regain control in time to make the rendezvous and it's mission accomplished. When the symbiote is removed there is only 99% of it returned to containment...uh oh.
Overall this is a good introduction to the Venom series, it's not without it's issues and for me it kind of pissed in the face of Marvel's .1 initiative. This is not a jumping on point for Amazing Spider-Man, yes the last 2 pages show a little of what is to come in ASM but it doesn't make up for a whole issue about another character. Despite how fucking cool some of what is coming looks. While Slott is a great writer and he has done amazing things with the book since taking over, I have to question the wisdom of having a new book introduced by a writer and artist team who are so stylistically different from the actual team starting the Venom series. That is something that can't be leveled at Slott though his writing is on point again and you really get a feel for what drives Flash now and his vulnerabilities.
It will be very interesting to see how the series itself handles the 48 hour, 20 mission paradox. Especially seeing as it hasn't even started yet and they are already 2 missions down. It's already clear how easily the symbiote will be able to take control if Flash experiences any kind of psychological trauma and the glimpse we get of how the whole situation effects his private life certainly has some interesting possibilities. The fact that he instinctively attempts to stand up and go to comfort Betty could show just how much the two aspects of his life are clashing already. Good book with a decent by the numbers story and some great art but it will motivate more people to buy Venom #1 than ASM #655 and that really shouldn't have been the point should it?
Writer: Dan Slott
Art: Humberto Ramos, Carlos Cuevas
Colors: Edgar Delgado
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Cover: Paulo Siquiera
Publisher: Marvel
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