All-New Venom #10: We Can Still Be Friends, Right?

It’s the fallout of the year’s messiest and arguably most overdue breakup as Mary Jane Watson calls it quits with boyfriend Paul Rabin. Paul is naturally left speechless, but after recovering from momentary shock, is surprisingly mature and level-headed about the situation. He recognizes the legitimacy of MJ’s feelings and while he’s not so quick to give up on their relationship, he understands the futility in trying to salvage an unhappy situation.

Yes, Al Ewing understands that Paul has already taken enough of a beating from the narrative and fandom alike; no need to rub salt in the wound portraying as some emotionally immature incel. Any Spider-Man fans still clinging to the hope that Paul would be revealed as a secret supervillain pulling the string may walk away disappointed. However, for the first time since his creation, there’s a spark of interest in the character, as he is free to exist for a purpose other than being an obstacle in the way of Peter and MJ’s whirlwind romance.

Meanwhile, Venom’s ragtag group of allies, symbiotes and hosts alike, catch the breaths in an abandoned factory after a chaotic prison break. Rick Jones reluctantly bonds with the Toxin symbiote to save it from near-death. And Flash Thompson must formulate a plan to keep his friends safe while maintaining his cover as a double agent amongst the very people hunting them down. On the whole, the comic stays light on action, heavy in these quieter, character-driven moments. After 3 consecutive issues of high-octane combat against all matter of villains, All-New Venom #10 has earned the opportunity to slow down and express its feelings. It all adds up to a genuinely poignant exploration of MJ and Venom’s complex history, and how the trauma the symbiote inflicted on her all those years ago still lingers to this day. No matter how many villains they vanquish together, these sins of the past will always be there to prevent them from being friends.

And, of course, there’s never the slightest risk of any of this being dull when one has the advantage of Carlos Gomez’s sharp pencils and Frank D’Armata’s warm colors. The emotions of every interaction are simply heightened by the quality of their work. In industry where many artists excel in action but plateau in quieter moments, Gomez stands out for going the extra mile to vary faces and hand gestures in every panel. Characters under his pencil are so dynamic and ever-shifting that one’s mind almost fills in the gaps to perceive them as fully animated. Such is the magic of this well-rounded, worth-the-read issue of All-New Venom.