Review: Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1

It seems like the theme of Marvel“s Annuals this year is a look into the hero“s past. This trend continues in the Amazing Spider-man Annual #1. But unlike the other Spider-man annuals that looked at early unexplored adventures of Pete and Miles, this time we are treated to the early adventures of Venom.

Or more accurately, Saladin Ahmed (Exiles, Quicksilver: No Surrender) and Garry Brown (Babyteeth, The Immortal Hulk) explore how the sentient black uniform Peter brought back from The Beyonder“s planet waaaaay back in 1984“s Secret Wars became the symbiote we know and love (or at least, love to hate) as Venom. The twist is this time we see it from the perspective of the alien.

If you want to see it from Peter Parker“s side, just go back and read the classic Jim Shooter run in Amazing Spider-Man from #252 to #300 (a great reason to get Marvel Unlimited, if there was one). But in this one-shot we see how the creature was alone and imprisoned until it was freed by Peter. For that action, the symbiote thought of Peter as it“s friend.

Ahmed does a great job of explaining the actions from the alien symbiote“s perspective. What from Peter“s eyes was a slow attack on him as an individual, the suit thought of a bonding as they grew together. He does a great job of showing the symbiote“s growing personality and how it misinterpreted Peter“s actions while controlling his body.

Unfortunately, the letdown here is Brown“s art. It is clear that he is making a deliberate choice in making the art as primitive as he does. However, it goes too far and it doesn“t really mesh with the growing personality of the suit. Peter doesn“t look like Peter Parker. He gives us the least sexy Black Cat that I can remember. Even poor Aunt May is barely recognizable.

Despite the let down of the art, I still recommend picking up this book. Ahmed story is clever enough to stand on it“s own merit. The subject is clearly chosen to get people more excited about the upcoming Venom movie. Ahmed delivers a compelling single issue tale that provides a unique look at a classic story-line without revising it.

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

Writer: Saladin Ahmed
Artist: Garry Brown
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Letters: Joe Caramagna

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Andy Hall

Sent from the future by our Robot Ape overlords to preserve the timeline. Reading and writing about comics until the revolution comes. All hail the Orangutan Android Solar King!