Who Is All-New Venom? TPB review

Since 1988, Venom has stayed relatively the same, that is, until Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman breathed new life into the character in 2018, and since then, Ram V, Al Ewing, and Carlos Gomez have continued to evolve the character. By my math, that’s 26 years staying relatively the same, with the last 11 years being more about reinvention than anything else. The very shocking twist as to who is wearing the suit is unveiled in the first six issues of All-New Venom: Who Is All-New Venom? trade paperback out this week. Collected in an extra-sized format with ten issues instead of the usual five or six, fans can get a full primer on this new direction for Venom before the Death Spiral event mixes things up in the coming months.

The first issue is set in a courtroom where Madame Masque is accused of being a new symbiote. Quickly, we realize that the prosecution is simply using a metaphor to compare her to an alien goop monster, but it’s also a fun way to point fingers at one of the main suspects right off the bat. It’s revealed that a new Venom with a gold chest could be Madame Masque, Luke Cage, Robbie Robertson, or Rick Jones. From the start, Ewing keeps readers on their toes and ensures we’re second-guessing anyone as to them being the new Venom.

While this story spins out of Venom War #5, it is very much a new, reader-friendly issue. Sure, it would be helpful to know why Dylan is living with Paul and Mary Jane, but it’s fairly easy to jump in and start making guesses as to who Venom is under the symbiote.

The action in this sequence is intense, juxtaposed well with Venom’s somewhat silly and fun-loving attitude. In fact, his (or her) dialogue seems to be a clue. Given the dialogue, I know I have a top pick of the four, but you never know… maybe all the “suspects” are red herrings!

Outside of playing around with the host’s identity, this series leans into the Venom symbiote’s upgrade by showcasing brand-new powers. It’s not exactly clear what the limits of the new symbiote’s abilities are, but Ewing and Gomez concoct some clever and bona fide weird new transformations. We’re talking submarine mode, putting out fires, and more.

By issue #5, the identity of Venom is revealed, and it makes a lot of sense. All-New Venom #5 blends two plots leading towards the big reveal on the final page. Plot A involves Robbie Robertson confronting Paul about who Venom could be. Plot B wraps up where we left off with Venom fighting M.O.D.O.K. The two plots intertwine nicely to ramp up the action while detailing clues Robbie has discovered as the series unfolds. The scripting is tight and well-paced, keeping you on the edge of your seat.

If you think the Robbie scenes are boring, think again. Artist Carlos Gomez does a good job of capturing Robbie’s certainty as he unpacks details with Paul. As you go through things, you’ll be tempted to go back and check the previous issues. This subplot serves the mystery element of the series well. Action is fabulous too, and as always, D’Armata brings a good sense of light, giving the gold chest on Venom a metallic feel. The AIM agents’ Venom fights early on feel extra dangerous, given the tight space of the courtroom, and their suits have a cool Hulkbuster vibe. Throw in the fact that there’s a yellow/green sickly color used in the fight, and it’s an extra dangerous feeling.

This trade paperback ends in a smart way, focusing exclusively on Venom and its host…spoilers…Mary Jane. Instead of MJ/Venom fighting some random villain, the story then dives into MJ confronting the symbiote. It’s one of the most asked about things since MJ has gone through some serious trauma with the symbiote entering her life in the past. Ultimately, it’s clear their relationship is messy and far from friendly, but they’re also stuck to each other. There are some rather mature themes at work here, including the notion that people can “fix” their partner when in an unhealthy relationship. I also think fans who are angry that Venom isn’t with Eddie should be pleased that, at the very least, Ewing is aware that MJ and Venom aren’t going to be together forever.

All-New Venom: Who Is All-New Venom? is an exciting read from beginning to end, first starting as a mystery as to who Venom could be, then leaning into the identity and what it means for Venom. The change in focus adds variety, culminating in a thoughtful, character-driven issue that delves into MJ’s fraught bond with the symbiote while also setting the stage for bigger developments across Venom’s extended family. Love or hate the new Venom host, it’s hard to deny that the art and play on tropes is a thrill in this collection.

‘All-New Venom: Who Is All-New Venom?’ TPB review

All-New Venom: Who Is All-New Venom? TPB

All-New Venom: Who Is All-New Venom? is an exciting read from beginning to end, first starting as a mystery as to who Venom could be, then leaning into the identity and what it means for Venom. The change in focus adds variety, culminating in a thoughtful, character-driven issue that delves into MJ’s fraught bond with the symbiote while also setting the stage for bigger developments across Venom’s extended family. Love or hate the new Venom host, it’s hard to deny that the art and play on tropes is a thrill in this collection.

The whodunit-style plot keeps readers guessing and second-guessing the identity of the new Venom.

Carlos Gomez’s art impresses with dynamic action and creative symbiote visuals

Strong character moments between MJ, Flash, Dylan, and Paul.

MJ’s trauma with the symbiote is given thoughtful and emotionally resonant exploration.

Venom is underused at the start.

The final cliffhanger is intriguing but low-stakes compared to past bombshells, which might leave some readers underwhelmed.