Spider-Verse vs. Venom-Verse #2 – Who Will Survive?

Spider-Verse vs. Venom-Verse #2

In honor of this very special, very historic series, the Nerd Initiative team has elected to have two people handle this review, one from the Venom-Verse side (Off the Cuff Tom) and one from the Spider-Verse side (Michael Rothman).

With the Symbiote Hive Mind and the Great Web of Life and Destiny both assembling their champions for this epic battle for survival, both Spiders and Symbiotes are stacked with talent from across the multi-verse.

The task is simple, one team wins and survives, while the losers cease to exist. As the action has already begun, casualties are piling up and the aftermath of Viking Venom’s death will certainly be felt in this issue and the issues to come.

Creative Team:

Writers: Mat Groom and Kyle Higgins

Artist: Luciano Vecchio

Color Artist: Rachelle Rosenberg

Letters: VC’s Travis Lanham

Publisher: Marvel Entertainment

The Art:

Spider-Verse – As the art in the story goes back and forth between Spiders and Symbiotes, there’s a clear distinction between the two and obviously the dialogue matches perfectly as well.

With the Spiders, the humor and wise-cracking obviously take precedence, and thus the art needs to match.

What’s also pretty cool and unique is as the rounds progress, it seems Spiders and Venoms come off the bench to participate, thus we get introduced to new characters and that’s always a visual feast for the reader.

Venom-Verse— WE are pleased with the paneled pages! OUR glorious differences jump off the page and envelop you in OUR sheer power! The action is done with a sharpness that makes us beam OUR slimy fang-fested grin. With each of US taking OUR time to shine, it doesn’t matter what the webheads do! Seriously, who wears a ruffled collar to a multiversal deathmatch?!

ALL-NEW VENOM 1 – Who Is Venom??

The Writing:

Spider-Verse – As the contest continues, friction erupts due to what Weapon VIII did in issue #1. While Peter tries to keep the team in line, focused and stop the group from killing anymore Symbiotes, not everyone agrees with him and thus, splinter factions begin to form.

Miles even suggests at one point that they all go their separate ways. That has an immediate and unfortunate result the Spiders did NOT anticipate.

The action is fast and the dialogue keeps the book moving, but it never feels like it’s too much or overwhelming, it really feels like an action movie you don’t want to end.

This book makes me feel like a kid in a candy store, so much fun and so many cool and unique characters that all make some good points. Things are just not cut and dry and that’s what makes for a great story!

Venom-Verse: WE are of two minds in this book… WE can understand the ferocious queens’ instinct to be prey or to prey. The Eddie Brock, on the other hand, has pushed the needle ever so slightly into mutual assured survival. The Lethal Protector and OUR sibling have bonded to a degree that WE have not experienced in some time.

The Spider Clan Venom has shown their true color as a ruthless warlord! WE are in a state of yorokobi with his cold, callous, and calculated counterattack against the Spider-ling.

As much as WE are part of the hive mind. The infighting within OURSELVES makes for a hard choice of who is the right Symbiote in the fight. Brock, Anne, the Queen? The Viking was not worth it. Why WE chose them is OUR own fault for picking the brutish thug.

Overall Grade: 9.5/10

Spider-Verse – 9.5/10

I can’t get enough of this series. Towards the end of issue #2, we get a surprise turn of events that literally gave me chills. Groom and Higgins have crafted one of the most heartfelt, yet action-packed narratives we’ve seen in years.

What a treat for Spidey fans as we continue to meet unique characters and see how they continue to evolve in such an untenable situation.

Venom-Verse – 9.5/10

WE are saddened that this is a limited five-issue run as WE have more stories to tell than those wall-crawlers. OUR only concern is “Trenchcoat.” he has been chosen by us, but WE cannot recall why. Will he tip the symbiote scales in OUR favor? Or will the Lethal Protector hold us back…?

We will even give a favorable mention to the now useless Weapon VIII; he made an adequate plaything. But WE now have a taste for BACON…

The Spiders and Symbiotes again agree that THIS is the multiversal webswinging event yet again! What do you think will break the thin web line that Mat Groom and Kyle Higgins are weaving?

Let us know in the comments below, and come back to Nerd Initiative for all your amazing, spectacular, and sensational comic reviews! WE dare you!

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