While an interesting concept, “Edge of Venomverse” #1 could do with some more interesting execution that takes from both sides of its concept.
Written by Matthew Rosenberg”Cover
Illustrated by Roland Boschi
Colored by Daniel Brown
Lettered by VC’s Clayton CowlesThe series that sets up the epic VENOM EVENT of 2017 STARTS HERE! Each issue introduces another major Venomized character that will feed into VENOMVERSE itself! THIS ISSUE, the young mutant clone designated X-23 collides with a cryogenic tube containing a strange alien symbiote during her frenzied escape from The Facility, . Bonding with the alien enhances her already considerable abilities, and aids in her escape, but it begins to alter her mind! On the run from the very people that made her, can X-23 hold it together or is she doomed to give in to Venom!
Three years after the ‘Spider-Verse’ event, some may have forgotten the “Edge of Spider-Verse” miniseries, wherein individual Spider-People’s origin stories or adventures are shown. However, this initial issue seems to show much of the same appeal, though oddly using only the Venom symbiote rather than making the storyline about the species as a whole.
With “Edge of Venomverse” #1, Matthew Rosenberg crafts an interesting amalgam between a Venom symbiote story and the famous X-23 storylines ‘NYX’ and ‘Innocence Lost.’ As Rosenberg writes Laura, our main character, she is very similar to dissociative identities such as Smeagol and Gollum, Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde, or, to take a Marvel example, Bruce Banner and the Hulk. Rosenberg shows her as a conflicted person, not wanting to be used as a weapon, but twisted to being used as a weapon by another weapon, the symbiote that is kept in storage by the Facility. In a sense, between the arguments with Venom and Laura’s clever use of the organism to defend her new friends, Rosenberg crafts a question of who is truly the wielder: X-23 or the Venom symbiote?
The main problem with Rosenberg’s writing seems to be the lack of much in the way of truly original storytelling. The aforementioned X-23 storylines are so much of a focus that the issue has very little room to develop in its own right beyond a single fight. Furthermore, Rosenberg’s decision to focus in on these stories makes following each character in their own right a bit difficult, considering that those who are not knowledgeable on each members of the delinquent group shown would simply see them as a random group of kids, and someone like Zebra Daddy as a random mob boss without even the most remote importance.
“Edge of Venomverse” #1’s key problem is the focus on making a story about “X-23 with the additional powers of Venom,” rather than an inherently intriguing story about Venom that uses X-23 as its host, even to the point of neglecting to explain why the symbiote is in the possession of the Facility in the first place, perhaps the most mystifying aspect of the issue altogether. In all, the idea of Venom being involved in her story is only partially relevant, as Rosenberg’s plotting does not seem to even use much of its additional potential, if any, with exception of some power distribution, instead relying almost entirely on Laura’s own claws and healing with the symbiote acting as a costume of sorts.
One of the most interesting elements of the ‘Spider-Verse’ event was the inclusion of unique Spider-Men or Spider-Women who were distinct from the typical web-slinger in any number of ways, from technology to unique natures of their powers or identities. As the last page of “Edge of Venomverse” #1 shows, this intriguing element of the 2014 event has not been forgotten, and the further development of some of these odder Venom hosts can likely be expected going forward.
The darker elements of an early X-23 story definitely come through in the artwork. Roland Boschi’s pencils are rough, with focus in on the darkness of environments over much in the way of discernment between faces. The lack of focus in on individual identities helps to bring out the monstrosity of the Venom symbiote, in its hosts’ sharp teeth, white eyes, claws, what have you.
Continued belowIn all, the structure of the scenes seems akin to a monster story, with Laura/X-23 hiding from view as much as possible, and a focus on how people react to her creepier actions on account of her lack of social graces of any sort, while keeping her into the background on such scenes, or in the very least behind the foreground characters in the main focus of a panel.
Daniel Brown’s coloring does a lot to save the issue’s originality. Brown’s colors are dark at times, especially in the more foreboding early scenes. The coloration of dialogue boxes is of special note, as Brown works together with VC’s Clayton Cowles to create a distinctive style for both Laura’s boxes as X-23 and the Venom symbiote’s own boxes. These boxes allow the Brown and Cowles to distinguish between thought processes and thereby allowing for an easier way to distinguish the different tones.
While in some ways similar to 2014’s ‘Spider-Verse’ event, “Edge of Venomverse” seems just fresh enough of a way to bring up its eponymous event series to keep the story interesting, but regretfully not enough to make the first issue pass that same test.
Final Verdict: 6.75 – An interesting lead-in to a storyline, but relies far too heavily on previously written works, without making much new headway.
