SPIDER-VERSE VS. VENOMVERSE#3 (MARVEL COMICS)

The stakes are high! Cosmic entities known as the Web-Heart & Hive-Mind have pitted champions against each other. Spiders and Symbiotes battle for survival. With all these personalities involved, it was only a matter of time before something went wrong.

Last readers watched, Spider-Ham took Weapon VIII off the board. Who's next to fall in the dangerous game?

SPIDER-VERSE vs. VENOMVERSE #3 by Mat Groom and Kyle Higgins, Jim Towe Rachelle Rosenberg and Travis Lanham looks to keep the excitement level rising with its latest chapter.

SPIDER-VERSE vs. VENOMVERSE #3 by Mat Groom and Kyle Higgins, Jim Towe Rachelle Rosenberg and Travis Lanham (Marvel Comics)

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

Higgins and Groom come out the gate swinging with Team Spidey's rescue attempt of Miles. The one-liners come fast as Spidey is navigating through the combat. His banter offsets the uneasy tension building. Readers watch as the good times quickly disappear to the nature of the game.

Recluse and Miles (Spider-Prowler) both carry big scars on their sleeves. The writing showcases a more aggressive edge in their bouts. It does contrast the morals of Spider-Man himself. Luckily, he gets a more calm team member added. Having Takuya Yamashiro join the squad is a perfect addition. Readers see there's at least someone he can trust. Most of the other members have other plans in motion. This all gives way to a strong ending. The close builds up a hell of a main event for readers to pull up for next go around.

Towe and Rosenberg drop in a nice two page splash of the Miles rescue to set pace. Panels move fast as the action heats up. The symbiotes give a few different looks to team Spidey's attack. One of which tries playing off emotions. Readers can sense the trouble brooding behind the scenes. it's only a matter of time before it implodes.

The Team Spider swinging panel is eye catching. Seeing all the different spiders on page is a nice treat for readers. This quickly takes a back seat to Takuya Yamashiro's debut. The mid page shot is subtle but slips in enough story. It is a huge difference in comparison to Spidey interrogating another member. All events push towards the closing pages form here. The art delivers on setting the stage for something larger at hand. Considering what we find on the final page, readers will have to prepare for the wild action forthcoming.

OVERALL GRADE: 9.2

The latest installment shows desperate times call forth extreme measures. Groom and Higgins present the mounting tension with an excellent script. Towe and Rosenberg construct a high pace conflict with many moving parts. This series has been a blast to read and shows no signs of slowing down now.

Let me know your thoughts on Spider-Verse vs. Venomverse #3 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

ALL NEW VENOM #5 (MARVEL COMICS)

At long last, a mystery solved. There is a new host for one of Marvel’s most polarizing characters. Dylan Brock has made it a mission to find out who. Suspects have ranged from Luke Cage to Madame Masque. Masque has drawn out the Lethal Protector. M.O.D.O.K. is on the scene as well. With innocents in the crossfire, will this be a short career for the all new VENOM?

ALL NEW VENOM #5 by Al Ewing, Carlos Gómez, Frank D'Armata, and Clayton Cowles exposes the identity of its’ latest host.

Let’s not delay any longer and find out who it is.

ALL NEW VENOM #5 by Al Ewing, Carlos Gómez, Frank D'Armata, and Clayton Cowles (Marvel Comics)

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

Ewing draws out the reveal through Robbie Robertson. He is investigating Dylan Brock’s search. It brings him to the doorstep of Paul Rabin and Mary Jane Watson. The conversation is frank as Robbie has pieced together the identity. Paul plays shocked in response to questions. The writing alludes to his blindness of truth. As his probing becomes harder, Paul slips further into a panic denial. All the while, Venom has its hands full.

The majority of the chapter hones in on Venom and Sleeper versus M.O.D.O.K. There is plenty of action to go around. Venom itself carries a new energy to it during the melee. Readers can instantly sense there’s a heroic vibe to the symbiote. The conflict concludes on a very unorthodox move. It proves challenging as far as heroics go. There’s little time to process as Venom retreats to a familiar spot. Once here, all points circle back to a common ground. The last page says it all with many more thoughts behind it. Readers will have to let this era of Venom play out before judgement is made.

Gómez and D'Armata bring the action with this chapter. They open the fight with a near full page shot of M.O.D.O.K. unloading on Sleeper. It’s a great example of how powerful the villain is. Venom’s response is almost comical in presentation. Granted, its’ fighting a monster head but the move is a but too “Looney Tunes”. It causes a drastic response via near full page image.

The art team spotlights the symbiote pairing saving others. It creates a thrilling feel as the fight heads to its’ end. Once here, the attack goes BIG to stop the villain once and for all. The fallout eases fans back into a normal state. This catches up with Robbie’s questioning and Paul’s frantic reactions. This all builds towards the revealing final page. The full page image leaves no doubts on who the host is. Where we go from here is anyone’s guess.

OVERALL GRADE: 8

Venom’s new host is introduced behind an action packed chapter. Ewing sets events in motion with solid writing. Gómez and D'Armata give fans an energetic brawl before dropping the big news. A new era of the Lethal Protector definitely begins now.

Let me know in the comments below your thoughts on All New Venom #5. Thanks for reading!