Extreme Venomverse #1: All In The Family

Extreme Venomverse feels unique amongst the plethora of comics built around the concept of a multiverse. Multiversal expeditions have experienced a massive spike in relevance within the past two years, becoming a media subgenre, and with that newfound popularity comes new storytelling cliches and conventions. Consumers have come to expect bombastic tales that explore the most outlandish alternate universes or timelines. Venomverse chooses to lower the stakes for three humble narratives connected by an invisible thread.

In the fashion of Marvel’s iconic anthology series, the introductory story asks some intriguing questions. What if Peter Parker had perished in his attempt to free himself from the black suit’s influence? And what if the abandoned Symbiote sought recompense rather than seek revenge? A simple and nostalgic adventure ensues with Eddie Brock as the new Spider-Man, rocking an excellent costume that blends design elements of both classic Venom and black-suited Spider-Man.

There isn’t enough time or panel space for eye-catching art in Eddie’s short fight against Doctor Octopus. Still, there is a stand-out moment that demonstrates his scrappy willingness to fight dirty, differentiating him from his goody-two-shoes predecessor. The internal struggle is far more captivating than the action anyway, as Eddie questions whether his desire to turn his life around and do good is genuine or just the psychological influence of the Symbiote.

The proceeding story feels the shortest, but it still offers a fascinating peek into a world where Eddie, Anne, and Dylan live together as a picturesque family, sharing the burden of the Venom symbiote. Young Dylan’s inability to control his powers results in a tussle between parents and son. It’s a poignant coming-of-age metaphor, and its optimistic ending becomes somber compared to the strained, messy state of the Brock family in the main universe.

The issue’s finale is closest in line with what readers usually expect from this kind of book. The Symbiote is placed in a different setting, interacting with reinterpreted rogues and brand-new characters. The art has a grittier quality that compliments the action-adventure, and the version of Scorpion, who inhabits this universe, has a stark white design that immediately identifies him as the adversary of “Samurai Venom.” With a severe and sleek plotline and neat action, it is the perfect story to cap off this solid anthology.