Venom #26: Along Came A Spider

Venom #26 kickstarts a major shakeup to this series’ cast and narrative; changes so significant and abrupt that they will undoubtedly leave a selection of readers feeling alienated. Eddie Brock, Meridius, and all of their variants that have become so familiar will no longer have a presence in the book, as is firmly disclosed in this issue’s fan mail section. Dylan Brock remains for now, but his role feels more transitional, as if he is here to help coast the comic into its new era before departing to join his father.

In place of the Brocks is Natasha Romanoff, the notorious Black Widow, newly imbued with Venom’s latest symbiote spawn and ready to use it to her full advantage. Natasha is hot on the trail of NoName, a terrorist organization consisting of individuals who were wronged by the megacorporation Alchemax. After tracking down Dylan through their shared hivemind, Nat and the young teen form an uneasy alliance, realizing that they must act quickly to rescue his friend Toxin from the clutches of an armed militia.

Julius Ohta’s art alongside Frank D’Armata’s colors do wonders for the presentation of Venom’s new, noir direction. Thick, textured line art appears to be a staple of Ohta’s work and it gives every busy environment a sense of depth while allowing characters to easily stick out against them.

Black Widow’s symbiote suit receives the glorious introduction it deserves in a full-page spread, and while she bears a resemblance to some of Marvel’s female web slingers, the costume’s inky blackness and glowing red accents give it a distinguished alien aesthetic. Even more spectacular is the fact that her symbiote does not squash and stretch with the typical slime physics. It moves around her as a massive swarm of spiders, making for a delightfully creepy visual. Even out of costume, Nat’s striking green eyes and furrowed brow convey a wide array of emotions, and it all makes a compelling argument for why this new protagonist could win over on-the-fence readers.