The cover of Free Comic Book Day: Spider-Man/Venom, for the May 6, 2023 issue for Free Comic Book Day. Free Comic Book Day: Spider-Man/Venom
- Writer:
- Zeb Wells, Al Ewing
- Artist:
- Patrick Gleason, CAFU
- Letterer:
- Joe Caramagna, Clayton Cowles
- Cover Artist:
- Patrick Gleason, Bryan Valenza
- Publisher:
- Marvel
- Price:
- $0
- Release Date:
- 2023-05-06
- Colorist:
- Marcio Menyz, Frank D'Armata
Free Comic Book Day is back with an impressive selection of brief but showstopping story samplers, including Free Comic Book Day: Spider-Man/Venom, which features three new tales set deep within the tangled web of Spider-Man by some of the most famed writers of the beloved franchise.
"Hunting Bait," written by Zeb Wells, illustrated by Patrick Gleason, colored by Marcio Menyz, lettered by VC's Joe Caramagna, stars Peter Parker and sets up the proper re-introduction of an iconic villain. The Venom segment, "January, 1940," written by Al Ewing, illustrated by Cafu, with colors by Frank D'Amata and letters by VC's Clayton Cowles, goes back to the '40s to bring forth the disturbing origin of the Symbiote's new, rubbery nemesis. Finally, a sneak preview of the upcoming series Ultimate Invasion #1, written by Jonathan Hickman, reveals Miles Morales's newest and most terrifying enemy yet, one that threatens the very balance of their existence.
It's a tall order for any storyteller to convey enough plot and intrigue in a short amount of time, let alone pages. Free Comic Book Day: Spider-Man/Venom demonstrates why writers Zeb Wells, Al Ewing, and to a lesser extent for this issue, Jonathan Hickman are so well respected. Wells' segment, "Hunting Bait," demonstrates his knowledge of Peter Parker's witty, exuberant yet subtly angsty personality, his inherent vulnerability, and lack of awareness, making Kraven and Doc Ock's reintroductions so jarring. The visuals shift from the warm and vibrant oranges and primaries of Spidey's world to the cold, dark, and unnatural realm of Doc Ock -- inky blackness punctuated by radioactive shades.
The closing segment -- the preview of Ultimate Invasion #1, the start of a new and promisingly intense disaster arc for Ultimate Marvel -- stands out as having much less activity. The pages are devoted to a lengthy conversation between a visibly suspicious and uncomfortable Miles with a being who describes himself as a brother from another universe -- a universe long destroyed and forgotten. It's an interesting take on the multiverse, a stand-by premise for Marvel as of late, but the idea of a universe that was successfully obliterated from existence with some of its characters still alive in some capacity feels fresh. There is an element of disquiet in this issue, from the intensity of artists Bryan Hitch and Andrew Currie's lines, the unsettling font letterer Joe Caramagna uses for this multiversal character, and colorist Alex Sinclair's uniformly cold palette. It's a creepy passage.
The most intriguing story is the one that ends with fewer answers than questions -- Ewing's Venom chapter, "January, 1940," which is set in the Golden Age of Comics. There's a meta quality to Ewing's writing here, focusing on a comic book writer looking for story inspiration from two scientists and Flexo, their being of "living rubber." While the scientists pass off Flexo as an unambiguous hero, the story takes a stark yet satisfying turn. Ewing cleverly sets up impressive intrigue with only a few pages, stoking readers' curiosity for this new character and its future interactions with the beloved Symbiote. The art adds to this air of mystery, deception, and narrative depth, along with a sense of the uncanny.
Although these stories have little time for characterization, depth, or intrigue, the talented writers prove their deep understanding of the world of Spider-Man, making Free Comic Book Day: Spider-Man/Venom an enjoyable, if brief, experience.