Writer: Mariko Tamaki
Artist: Gurihuru
Colors: Gurihuru
Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham

Release date November 6 2019
Review by D. Brown (WolfCypher)

This book is a weird one for me. As a grown man, I don’t think I have the right to criticize a comic that is clearly targeted to younger readers, more specifically children. What the intended target might find funny and charming, I could find annoying or juvenile. I felt I needed to try to imitate the mind of the reader that Marvel released this book towards, and that proved to be a little difficult to emulate.

For what’s it worth, I did finish this book on a good note. It had its charm, and there was nothing for me to find any real fault in. I imagine if I was the right age, I would have loved this book! Its definitely not trying to swing for the fences of the more contemporary pre-teens and older titles like your Batman and X-Men comics, or even you actual Spider-Man titles. In fact the conflict was pretty average (Venom switches bodies or brains with Spider-Man…) but what I really, genuinely enjoyed was the Odd Coupling of the two title characters. Spider-Man and Venom are on friendly terms (it would seem…) and are even roommates. That was really what entertained me in this book, and honestly, I wish this was the entire basis of this limited series.

This comic is going for the “good for all ages” rating, which it succeeds in doing, but don’t be surprised to find that any of you of the higher, more mature age ranges, don’t get the same kick out of this books art, writing, or the characters antics within, as someone else would between the ages of 5 and 11. There’s definitely enough content, and the right content, to keep the young reader entertained. The artwork is very kid-friendly, Saturday morning Disney-esque, meanwhile all the significant faces in the book look easily familiar and faithful enough to their contemporary selves from the main books.

Personally, I treated this book as an inoffensive distraction. Its not something I’m eagerly awaiting for the next issue, but its fine enough that if/when the next issue just so happens to appear on my radar in the coming month, I’d continue into the next issue. For me, its at least worth finishing. Again, I am totally not the targeted audience, here. But there’s not much room for me to complain. It’s a silly story where all the characters, in a very cartoony fashion, are in their superhero/villain personas at all times, even when doing chores or lounging about in their homes, ripe with exaggerated troupes reminiscent of the Cartoon Network show Teen Titans Go!, but to a much tamer degree. In fact this entire review can be summed up right here with the realization that this would be right up ones alley, regardless of age, if Teen Titans Go! (the comic or the cartoon) is more your taste. This issue doesn’t provide any of the meme humor that show is known for, and it doesn’t get as madcap as an episode from Go! can get, but that flavor is similar. Personally, I actually prefer this book’s take on cartoonish superhero antics over said Cartoon Network show.

Final Thoughts

This book easily serves its purpose if you just want to find an age-appropriate comic for a young reader, or if you’re hoping to introduce a little newbie into the world of comics, specifically Spider-Man.

7/10