Amazing Spider-Man/Venom: Death Spiral #1 (Marvel Comics)
Hello there! Padawan J here, the resident Star Wars expert from the ODPH! This week I'm going to be reviewing the FIRST issue of Amazing Spider-Man/Venom: Death Spiral #1 from Marvel Comics!
Peter Parker is finally home, after an extended trip into the depths of space! So that means he’s going to get some time to rest & relax right? Let’s jump into it!
Credit: Marvel Comics // Amazing Spider-Man/Venom: Death Spiral #1 by Joe Kelly, Al Ewing & Charles Soule (Writers), Jesus Saiz (Artist), Matt Hollingsworth (Color Artist), VC’s Joe Caramagna (Letterer), Ed McGuinness & Marte Garcia (Cover Artists) is a great first issue that sets up what’s sure to be a thrilling crossover!
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
The Story
The creative team writing this issue are some of the BEST writers in the business right now, and seeing them come together for this crossover is a nothing short of legendary! You’ve got Joe Kelly, who’s current run on Spider-Man has been absolutely stellar and a breath of fresh air. Then you’ve got Al Ewing who’s been doing great things with Thor & Knull and both series have been tremendous! Lastly you have Charles Soule who’s one of the best Star Wars authors out there, and has had some legendary stories in the Marvel universe as well.
The story might be the best first issue I’ve read for a crossover/major event book ever. You’ve got a lot of moving pieces when it comes to this crossover. You’re bringing together 3 of the biggest characters in the Spider-Man mythos, two of which have ongoing series.
The story is split into 4 parts that all mix and intertwine between each other simultaneously. The first part is from Peter’s perspective, and he’s still picking up the pieces from his trip into outer space. It makes for an interesting transition from the previous story arc Joe Kelly had him on, but it’s one that makes sense. Then you have Eddie Brock/Carnage who are up to their usual mischief, all the while they’re tracking down Venom. Speaking of Venom, they’re the third portion of the story and we see Mary Jane Watson dealing with her own issues. It’s a nice change of pace and an interesting start for them in the issue, and it’ll be interesting to see what kind of ramifications this has for the future of Mary Jane and Venom.
Lastly, and most importantly, the final portion of the story involves a series of characters that at first glance seem inconsequential. However once you start paying attention to the names of said characters, you start to pick up on a pattern. It makes for a very compelling bit of storytelling, and it sets up the villain of the crossover. I really enjoyed how they set it up, because when I was reading through it I didn’t pick up on it at first. There are a few gruesome moments, but I chalked it up to a crazy set of circumstances. It’s a masterful choice to intro the villain in this way on the authors part.
The Artwork
Jesus Saiz & Matt Hollingsworth both did a tremendous job with the artwork on this issue. I particularly liked the way the color was used between Peter, Eddie & Mary Jane and how it was in a similar color pattern to Spider-Man, Carnage & Venom. I also liked the way the overall issue was drawn, as it gave it a crisp feel that set it apart from other Spider-Man books on the shelves right now. It’s some of the best artwork out there right now!
FINAL POINT: Joe Kelly, Al Ewing & Charles Soule do an incredible job setting up what’s sure to be an explosive story. It’s a great start that is impressive and phenomenal! Together with the wonderful artwork, this is an issue that should be at the top of your list!
Overall Grade: 9/10
Thank you for taking the time to check out my review. Be sure to reach out to me on Twitter, and let me know what you thought of the issue!
