REVIEW: ‘All-New Venom’ Issue #1

All-New Venom #1 is published by Marvel Comics. It is written by Al Ewing, with art by Carlos Gómez, and colors by Frank D’Armata. As A.I.M. attacks the trial of Madame Masque, a new Venom arrives to save the day. But who is the new host of the Symbiote?

There is an interesting approach to All-New Venom #1, addressing the comic like a murder mystery. Each character in the courthouse is considered a suspect, a possible host of the new Venom. These figures are placed in their spots before the action breaks out, just like an episode of Poirot, except a Symbiote is about to appear, not a Belgian detective. Multiple former events and storylines are used as the catalyst for the battle that takes place, both Venom War and Gang War.

All-New Venom #1 picks up some of the pieces and then binds them together in one battle. This is when the pace ignites, scattering the pieces of the mystery all over the place whilst introducing the star of the show. This leads to a Venom vs A.I.M. fight full of excitement and ferocity. It’s a captivating opening clash that raises questions and sets up all of the appropriate parties.

All-New Venom #1 places itself deep within the superhero community of New York. Ewing utilises many members of Spider-Man’s supporting cast, many of whom could be the Venom symbiote’s new host: Mayor Luke Cage, Robbie Robertson, and Rick Jones. They sit at the back of the courtroom, watching proceedings. But when the villains attack, all three disappear, and the new Venom enters, raising suspicions as to who is under the slithering tendrils. The dialogue is energetic and enjoyable.

Venom is a chatterbox despite his obscured identity. There is already confidence in the newcomer’s personality. He understands his abilities, with some new additions of his own that create hints of who he might be. There are even some quips that surface. But the real intrigue comes from his knowledge. Venom knows science, martial arts, and many of the characters. Even with all of the clues, it is impossible to know his identity for sure.

The art is clean and captivating. The new series heralds a new-look Venom. The new emblem on his torso is bigger and more encompassing. The rest of his designs remain practically the same, with a bulky body and long tongue. The only slight gripe is that the shark-like teeth have been reduced, which lessens the character’s ferocity. The action is fast-flowing and fantastic.

The small space makes the characters look even bigger than usual. The sense of movement and power coming from both Venom and the A.I.M. soldiers is phenomenal. Those beekeeper outfits have been upgraded into full battlesuits. The mad scientists match the size of Venom, leading to a clash of powerhouses.

Venom’s muscular form is athletic and maneuverable, focusing more on martial arts than the Symbiote’s previous hosts. It should be noted that this series appears to veer away from gore or excessive violence at an early glance, and perhaps the smaller teeth are another sign of that.

The colors are pivotal to All-New Venom #1, especially the Venom redesign. The Venom emblem is the most significant change. Once white, it has now been turned into a gleaming gold. This makes him look grander and more heroic. The colors are also superb at showing the definition of Venom’s skin. It reveals the rippling muscles, bulging veins, and other shapes. The lettering is clear, even when switching the color palettes for Venom’s word balloons.

All-New Venom #1 heralds a new era for Symbiote and host alike. The change in design and the tone are beacons of how far the character has come, moving from a beacon of horror into a true hero. However, the lack of a Brock under the alien skin is fresh and exciting. The supporting cast is an excellent crutch for readers to find familiarity to hang on to whilst also offering up possibilities of who the new Venom could be.

The hero’s anonymity and the fact that he could be one of many suspects are intriguing and exciting. Ewing brings history and old storylines for All-New Venom #1 to bounce off.

All-New Venom #1 is available where comics are sold.