MARCO SPEAKS SPIDEY: Death of the Venomverse (2023) #5 REVIEW

If you skip my little introduction here and go straight to the official description for the issue, as provided by Marvel, you’ll see the most basic spoiler, and it doesn’t seem management even cares with this one. But we knew it all along, didn’t we? When this series started, and as more chapters went along, there grew an uneasy feeling among us all that all this was much ado about nothing. It didn’t matter in the end because we knew that Carnage would win. What we came for, though, was seeing how he wins and cements himself as more powerful than almost any Venom across all reality. In this climactic installment of the “Death of the Venomverse” series, Marvel fans are thrust deep into the cataclysmic end of a universe where the black symbiotes have lost miserably against a Carnage who has gained unparalleled dominance. But as with all tales of power and corruption, even the mightiest of empires face potential ruin. The future looks bright! Trust me, we can only go up from here!

OFFICIAL MARVEL COMICS DESCRIPTION:

Published:

September 27, 2023

Writer:

T Taigami, David Michelinie, Cullen Bunn

Penciler:

Justin Mason, T Taigami, Gerardo Sandoval

Cover Artist:

Bjorn Barends

CARNAGE WINS!

PROS:

• “Death of the Venomverse #5” delivers an explosive end to what has been an enthralling series. The book’s writing has been top-notch throughout, giving readers a fresh perspective on the familiar Venom and Carnage lore. In this issue, the team weaves a tale that combines the raw emotion of all the Venoms’ struggle with the sheer force of a universe collapsing upon itself, and Carnage laughing his way to the bank. The main story is also backed up by additional tales at the end, which make for a very happy customer and comic book fan. You will really get your bang for the buck this week.
• Seeing Carnage take on an alternate version of the original King in Black was an epic sight never to be forgotten. It was almost funny how the Venoms had to assemble and actually try to help the King in Black. The action in this issue was just all over the place, and that is a good thing. This series’ art has been the crown jewel of this series. Every page drips with detail, and the kinetic energy of the battles is palpable. In this issue, the team’s depiction of the final stand by Carnage against the symbiote army is simply magnificent. A blend of dark, inky shadows and stark contrasts makes the impending doom of the Venomverse all the more tangible. And Carnage truly looks like a god, just like he says.
• One of the standout moments is a heartfelt reunion and death among alternate universe versions of Venom. Their moments together, brief as they are, provide a touching respite amidst the chaos and serve as a poignant reminder of what all of the Venoms are fighting for. It is a great tragedy when they all realize that the war that they were fighting was a lost cause, and that it was always going to be that way. Their retreat was pitiful, but at the end of the day, they just wanted to live and spend as much time as possible with loved ones. This last issue really played with all the emotions and feelings, tugging at every single heartstring.

CONS:

• However, the comic is not without its flaws. Some might find the pacing a bit rushed, with a few key events feeling like they deserved more space to breathe. A few side characters introduced earlier in the series could also have used more closure. Perhaps, maybe one more additional issue would have been helpful in fleshing out all the storylines, all the characterizations, and all the Hollywood-level battle scenes.

FINAL GRADE: A

That said, the strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. The title’s narrative mastery, coupled with its visual brilliance, makes this issue a must-read for Venom fans and general Marvel enthusiasts alike. The final pages, teasing the next potential story arc, leave readers eagerly anticipating what’s next for the world of Venom. We all know it is going to be battle for the ages, when Carnage finally meets the original Venom, the one, true, King in Black.