MARCO SPEAKS SPIDEY- WHAT IF…? DARK: VENOM (2023) #1 REVIEW

Marvel is truly blessing us with a large variety of Venom comics, nowadays. And it really makes sense, especially considering how Venom will be the big star in the upcoming Playstation 5 video game. While the original Venom is busy with his kingship duties, and getting ready for the upcoming onslaught of Carnage, readers get a special treat with this tale that happens in an alternate universe. It is a story about the symbiote taking over the life of somebody that is quite frankly, another perfect fit to be Venom. With Ben Grimm, we have a large, hulking, powerful being plagued with insecurities and anger. This all spells disaster, as destiny finds him to be the perfect host for the very opportunistic symbiote.

OFFICIAL MARVEL DESCRIPTION:

Published:

August 02, 2023

Writer:

Stephanie Renee Williams

Penciler:

Jethro Morales

Cover Artist:

Philip Tan

WHAT IF…BEN GRIMM BECAME VENOM? When BEN GRIMM returns to Earth after his exploration of space post-SECRET WARS, he finds that the FANTASTIC FOUR has trapped a helpless Klyntar symbiote in Reed’s lab! But is that symbiote really helpless? Or is it truly one of the most dangerous symbiotes in the galaxy? Witness the birth of a brand-new VENOM!

PROS:

• The deep dive into the inner workings of Ben Grimm is executed perfectly in this issue. We, as readers, revisit the pain that Ben had to endure because of his transformation into a superhero. We also see the complexities of his relationships… most importantly, with Reed Richards. While Ben, undoubtedly, loves Reed like his own brother, he does keep inside a very deep and strong sense of anger, blaming Reed for making him the Thing. The conflict between Ben and Reed creates a perfect environment for the symbiote to feed off all the fear, the anguish, and the dire, desperate hope for an easy way out or a quick-fix solution.
• Including Lizard in this story was an MVP move by the creative team, both script-wise and in terms of the art. Lizard is such a menacing and complex character, because he shares similar insecurities and hatred that other hosts hold in their hearts. Lizard is also angry at the world for fearing him because of his appearance. He is also enraged by Reed Richards, who always appears to overshadow him. And this leads him to fool Ben into giving him the symbiote, by acting as a fellow victim going through similar hardships. The results are bloody, tragic, and ultimately, necessary, for Ben to fully embrace the symbiote and his role as the world’s Venom.
• Speaking of the art, this issue is another home run for Marvel, as we are gifted with dynamic action scenes, heart-wrenching drama, and disturbing transformations, all visually stunning and engaging to the fans’ eyes. Seeing Ben and Lizard evolve in Venom versions of themselves is just a spectacle worth every penny.
• What gets me even more thrilled is imagining all the possibilities for the upcoming Playstation 5 game, conjuring in my head all the possible versions of Venom we can get with such a large cast of characters in the video game continuity.

CONS:

• They made Sue look so weak in this issue. I really would have appreciated giving her more screentime, kicking symbiote butt. Also, as with my criticism with other outside takes on the character, I feel that Reed Richards should act far more intelligent and smarter than what he showed this issue. For such a big genius, he just doesn’t strike me as “fantastic” most of the time.

FINAL GRADE: A

With this special one-shot, we realize that in any universe or reality, the wicked symbiote simply has so many options to pick from, when it comes to selecting its next host. And that just highlights the realism of these titles, exposing the human race and its very human flaws. Even in a world filled with superheroes, there will always be tragic characters with tragic flaws. But life is never completely hopeless, as we see a new Venom, ready to rid society of any malevolent threats. And if anything, though, this is a solid Fantastic Four story, as well, and with all the rumors about the casting for the future Marvel Cinematic Universe movie, this may be a good introduction to newer readers.