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Spider-Man: Spider’s Shadow #1-5
Spider-Man: Spider's Shadow
In the proud Marvel tradition of WHAT IF?, Chip Zdarsky and Pasqual Ferry imagine a world where Peter Parker became Venom! Spider-Man once donned an alien suit that nearly destroyed his life…but what if he never took it off? In this shocking new version of the story, Peter ignores every warning…and embraces his dark symbiote! Now, haunted by terrible nightmares and exhausted by an endless barrage of villains, he is at the end of his rope…and when Hobgoblin attacks, Spider-Man isn’t so friendly anymore. The rules of engagement are about to change — permanently! Wilson Fisk wants to put an end to this deadly new Spidey once and for all. But with Peter haunted by his past and present more and more each day, can anyone save him from his own mind?
COLLECTING: Spider-Man: The Spider's Shadow (2021) 1-5
COLLECTING: Spider-Man: The Spider's Shadow (2021) 1-5
128 pages, Paperback
First published October 12, 2021
27 people are currently reading
383 people want to read
About the author
Chip Zdarsky
873 books854 followersChip Zdarsky is a Canadian comic book artist and journalist. He was born Steve Murray but is known by his fan base as Chip Zdarsky, and occasionally Todd Diamond. He writes and illustrates an advice column called Extremely Bad Advice for the Canadian national newspaper National Post's The Ampersand, their pop culture section's online edition. He is also the creator of Prison Funnies and Monster Cops.
Source: Wikipedia.
Source: Wikipedia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
July 23, 2022
What If? switches to a longer form miniseries format as Chip Zdarsky attempts to answer the question "What If Peter Parker kept the symbiote Suit?". It's a dark take on the story with Spider-Man murdering half his rogues gallery. I liked the inclusion of the Fantastic Four and it certainly makes sense since they were involved in the original story.
I wasn't a fan of Pasqual Ferry's art here. It's looser and sloppier, using Matt Hollingsworth's colors to try and hide imperfections.
I wasn't a fan of Pasqual Ferry's art here. It's looser and sloppier, using Matt Hollingsworth's colors to try and hide imperfections.
December 14, 2025
A good book. I much prefer the older, more mature Spider-man. I also prefer Peter with MJ. So if Peter decided to keep the Symbiote.
How far could the Symbiote currupt Peter Parker. Once he crosses the lines, he never thinks he would. Is there any coming back for him, and does he want to?
I have to say I do like Peter not holding back and winning fights. I also like MJ once again being the person who can tell him exactly what he needs to hear.
It was a good book that it felt a lot more than the pre Brand New Day Spider-man. I also like the interaction with the other superhero community and how certain other characters have to face certain truths about themselves.
How far could the Symbiote currupt Peter Parker. Once he crosses the lines, he never thinks he would. Is there any coming back for him, and does he want to?
I have to say I do like Peter not holding back and winning fights. I also like MJ once again being the person who can tell him exactly what he needs to hear.
It was a good book that it felt a lot more than the pre Brand New Day Spider-man. I also like the interaction with the other superhero community and how certain other characters have to face certain truths about themselves.
August 11, 2021
This one was another great one!
It stars with Peter getting the Venom symbiote but the question is what if he kept the symbiote even after Reed told him not to and then you see what happens to Aunt may and then he snaps and what he does to the Hobgoblin and how everyone is after him and in particular Kingpin and when they fight its something but then things get violent as he takes out many villain and its like a dark path and really lives up to what if and its bloody, dark and violent and gory even and I love how the artist brings it out.
Then the thing with what happens with Sinister six and finally the final battle when he discards and who the symbiote takes over next and its an epic battle between Spider-man and the forces that are and its something plus such a great emotional impact and showdown but regrets and all for sure but the ending is fantastic and the cliffhanger!
This was another great volume from Chip as he continues to explore the paths not taken by Spidey and makes it violent and bloody and like well deserved of hype and is proving to be one of Spidey's best writers and I love what he does here and then finally the art was so good and I love how it lives up to the shadow and doesn't hold anything back though the Avengers could have been done better and finally I am excited for whatever comes next!
It stars with Peter getting the Venom symbiote but the question is what if he kept the symbiote even after Reed told him not to and then you see what happens to Aunt may and then he snaps and what he does to the Hobgoblin and how everyone is after him and in particular Kingpin and when they fight its something but then things get violent as he takes out many villain and its like a dark path and really lives up to what if and its bloody, dark and violent and gory even and I love how the artist brings it out.
Then the thing with what happens with Sinister six and finally the final battle when he discards and who the symbiote takes over next and its an epic battle between Spider-man and the forces that are and its something plus such a great emotional impact and showdown but regrets and all for sure but the ending is fantastic and the cliffhanger!
This was another great volume from Chip as he continues to explore the paths not taken by Spidey and makes it violent and bloody and like well deserved of hype and is proving to be one of Spidey's best writers and I love what he does here and then finally the art was so good and I love how it lives up to the shadow and doesn't hold anything back though the Avengers could have been done better and finally I am excited for whatever comes next!
January 3, 2025
Peter followed his dark side in this story. The ending was not what I expected!
December 8, 2022
I think this is part of the "What If" story line. In this one, Peter having bonded with the symbiote suit decides he likes it and allows it far more control of his life. The "new" Spiderman is much more akin to Venom and this leads him down a dark path.
As his friends and fellow super heroes struggle to try to stop him, the villains are terrified of a SpiderMan who will kill them. While the premise and the story could have been really good, it suffers from the small size of the volume. Perhaps if they had fleshed out the story more it would have been better. The ending seemed too quick and forced.
Good enough artwork and a story that could have been much better had it been longer.
As his friends and fellow super heroes struggle to try to stop him, the villains are terrified of a SpiderMan who will kill them. While the premise and the story could have been really good, it suffers from the small size of the volume. Perhaps if they had fleshed out the story more it would have been better. The ending seemed too quick and forced.
Good enough artwork and a story that could have been much better had it been longer.
October 8, 2021
I feel like "What if Spider-Man kept the Venom symbiote?" has been explored before, although I can't actually remember where. Chip Zdarsky and Pasqual Ferry's latest attempt will definitely stick in my mind however, mostly because I really want to see what happens next.
It's nice when What If? stories are able to breathe. With five issues to explore this story rather than the usual one and done, Spider's Shadow gets to really dig into the consequences of Peter's actions as the Venom symbiote goes wild. There are a few dark turns and some deaths (because what's a What If? without someone getting brutally murdered) but it manages to have a somewhat optimistic ending despite the doom and gloom. The story goes in some fun directions, and it shows once again how well Zdarsky gets Peter Parker (and J. Jonah Jameson, to a lesser extent) as a character.
I also can't remember the last time Pasqual Ferry did interior art, but I'm glad to see him back again. He's a lot tighter than I remember, his pencils have always been a bit looser and more sweeping, but it's a return to form for sure. Oh and Phil Noto's covers are definitely worth mentioning as well, because they're gorgeous as always.
Spider's Shadow shows what happens when you give a story time to breathe, and when you get a creative team that really know what they're doing. Fingers crossed we get to see this universe explored again sometime soon, and that this starts a new renaissance of What If? titles just like it.
It's nice when What If? stories are able to breathe. With five issues to explore this story rather than the usual one and done, Spider's Shadow gets to really dig into the consequences of Peter's actions as the Venom symbiote goes wild. There are a few dark turns and some deaths (because what's a What If? without someone getting brutally murdered) but it manages to have a somewhat optimistic ending despite the doom and gloom. The story goes in some fun directions, and it shows once again how well Zdarsky gets Peter Parker (and J. Jonah Jameson, to a lesser extent) as a character.
I also can't remember the last time Pasqual Ferry did interior art, but I'm glad to see him back again. He's a lot tighter than I remember, his pencils have always been a bit looser and more sweeping, but it's a return to form for sure. Oh and Phil Noto's covers are definitely worth mentioning as well, because they're gorgeous as always.
Spider's Shadow shows what happens when you give a story time to breathe, and when you get a creative team that really know what they're doing. Fingers crossed we get to see this universe explored again sometime soon, and that this starts a new renaissance of What If? titles just like it.
December 8, 2021
Chip Zdarsky takes another swing at answering in five issues the question Marvel already managed to answer once before in just a single issue in What If? (1989-1998) #4 "What if the alien costume had possessed Spider-Man?"
I'm not a fan of What If? stories in general, but between the two I'll take Zdarsky's as he really crawls inside Peter's head for the suit's seduction and descent into violence. I liked the battle against a new Sinister Six, and Zdarsky also pulls off a more interesting ending that doesn't put the ever-useless Black Cat at the center of everything. (Though she does have a current series that seems to have a lot of fans. Perhaps I'll check that out sometime.)
I could have done without the epilogue opening the door for an unnecessary sequel though.
I'm not a fan of What If? stories in general, but between the two I'll take Zdarsky's as he really crawls inside Peter's head for the suit's seduction and descent into violence. I liked the battle against a new Sinister Six, and Zdarsky also pulls off a more interesting ending that doesn't put the ever-useless Black Cat at the center of everything. (Though she does have a current series that seems to have a lot of fans. Perhaps I'll check that out sometime.)
I could have done without the epilogue opening the door for an unnecessary sequel though.
November 16, 2021
Brutal and Dark, with a somewhat happy ending.
Basically, what if the Symbiote never left Peter. It's a simple idea but works real well. In the original comics it was making Peter lose his shit, hurt enimies worse than he ever has before. This is the comic that pushes him to the absolute limit. So Peter decides to end the villains reign by taking them down for good.
This is a really fun comic in a sense that you know this isn't the "Peter" we know. Chip still writes Peter really well, even into his decent into Madness. The art is solid with some cool fight scenes and really brutal deaths. I think the ending was happier than I expected but I still had a real good time with this quick and fun what if read.
A 3.5 out of 5, pushing it to a 4.
Basically, what if the Symbiote never left Peter. It's a simple idea but works real well. In the original comics it was making Peter lose his shit, hurt enimies worse than he ever has before. This is the comic that pushes him to the absolute limit. So Peter decides to end the villains reign by taking them down for good.
This is a really fun comic in a sense that you know this isn't the "Peter" we know. Chip still writes Peter really well, even into his decent into Madness. The art is solid with some cool fight scenes and really brutal deaths. I think the ending was happier than I expected but I still had a real good time with this quick and fun what if read.
A 3.5 out of 5, pushing it to a 4.
August 24, 2021
This is pretty good. I didn’t enjoy it as much as his Life Story, but it was still a good Spider-man tale
October 17, 2022
In recent years, not only Chip Zdarsky has proven himself to be one of the best writers currently at Marvel, but specifically one of the best Spider-Man writers. From his run of Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man, to Life Story (and even when the web-slinger appeared in Zdarsky’s Daredevil run), Zdarsky knows how to deliver the heart and humour you would expect in the life of Peter Parker. However, with his latest Spidey outing, in which he revives the What If? Banner, he looks back at a dark time in Peter’s life and makes it even darker.
Instead of a one-shot issue, which is the tradition of What If?, Zdarsky and artist Pasqual Ferry tell a five-issue miniseries that ponders the question: What if Peter Parker became Venom? Ignoring every warning and embraces his dark symbiotic suit, Peter is haunted by terrible nightmares and being plagued by an endless barrage of villains. Through the influence of his suit that alters him both physically and mentally, Peter decides to shed some blood, much to the shock from friends and enemies.
Often with What If? issues, they are twenty-two pages long that built on a quirky scenario that presents a different angle to a particular Marvel character, and due to the length of an issue, the storytelling never really matters. In a similar way, the What If? show that aired on Disney+ this year ultimately felt unsubstantial and probably won’t have any effect on the ongoing Marvel Cinematic Universe.
However, much like Spider-Man: Life Story, which had enough issues to give us a full insight into a different take on Peter Parker, Spider’s Shadow achieves a similar thing. With the decision of maintaining his black suit, despite being aware of the effects, Peter is torn between two voices: himself and the symbiote. Considering the psychological angle that is evoked throughout Spidey comics, Zdarsky pushes it even further in showing how the symbiote can corrupt our beloved hero.
No doubt that the comic gets dark – perhaps more so than what we usually expect from Spider-Man – as this is more of a horror comic, which allows Pasqual Ferry to embrace moments that are bloody and even surreal, including Mary Jane witnessing a symbiotic Peter sleeping whilst blackly webbed himself in his room. Whilst Ferry knows how to make the symbiote menacing, particularly in the way the black-suited Spider-Man looks, but his loose style can look a bit off when drawing the more human characters.
In expanding the What If? formula with five issues, some of the alterations don’t always work such as an underused Black Cat and Eddie Block becoming a different villain. However, Zdarsky continues to bring another different yet compelling take on J. Jonah Jameson, whose relationship with Spider-Man goes through quite an emotional transition. You could argue that the book tries a little too hard with a happy ending, but Spider’s Shadow does a good job in a comic that adds a new perspective on a dark point in Spidey’s comics history.
Instead of a one-shot issue, which is the tradition of What If?, Zdarsky and artist Pasqual Ferry tell a five-issue miniseries that ponders the question: What if Peter Parker became Venom? Ignoring every warning and embraces his dark symbiotic suit, Peter is haunted by terrible nightmares and being plagued by an endless barrage of villains. Through the influence of his suit that alters him both physically and mentally, Peter decides to shed some blood, much to the shock from friends and enemies.
Often with What If? issues, they are twenty-two pages long that built on a quirky scenario that presents a different angle to a particular Marvel character, and due to the length of an issue, the storytelling never really matters. In a similar way, the What If? show that aired on Disney+ this year ultimately felt unsubstantial and probably won’t have any effect on the ongoing Marvel Cinematic Universe.
However, much like Spider-Man: Life Story, which had enough issues to give us a full insight into a different take on Peter Parker, Spider’s Shadow achieves a similar thing. With the decision of maintaining his black suit, despite being aware of the effects, Peter is torn between two voices: himself and the symbiote. Considering the psychological angle that is evoked throughout Spidey comics, Zdarsky pushes it even further in showing how the symbiote can corrupt our beloved hero.
No doubt that the comic gets dark – perhaps more so than what we usually expect from Spider-Man – as this is more of a horror comic, which allows Pasqual Ferry to embrace moments that are bloody and even surreal, including Mary Jane witnessing a symbiotic Peter sleeping whilst blackly webbed himself in his room. Whilst Ferry knows how to make the symbiote menacing, particularly in the way the black-suited Spider-Man looks, but his loose style can look a bit off when drawing the more human characters.
In expanding the What If? formula with five issues, some of the alterations don’t always work such as an underused Black Cat and Eddie Block becoming a different villain. However, Zdarsky continues to bring another different yet compelling take on J. Jonah Jameson, whose relationship with Spider-Man goes through quite an emotional transition. You could argue that the book tries a little too hard with a happy ending, but Spider’s Shadow does a good job in a comic that adds a new perspective on a dark point in Spidey’s comics history.
January 19, 2022
Hey a good Spider-Man story, I haven’t read one of these in a while. Chip Zdarsky is back on the character, after is spectacular and life story runs, to bring us a what if story posing the question : What if Peter Parker became Venom?
Pretty entertaining throughout, with some suprising villain deaths, emotional character moments, and kinetic action scenes. Really enjoyed this one, and hope marvel
doesn’t abadon this what if imprint.
Pretty entertaining throughout, with some suprising villain deaths, emotional character moments, and kinetic action scenes. Really enjoyed this one, and hope marvel
doesn’t abadon this what if imprint.
August 12, 2021
Read as single issues.
(Issue number 5 just came out as I write this review.)
Another excellent title from Chip Zdarsky, one of the most most under-rated comic writers currently working!!
I've always been a fan of "What If", and this is a doozy, as it contemplates what would happen if Peter Parker accepted the symbiote and became Venom! Quite dark for a Marvel title, this books really digs into some meaty issues around this concept, while also giving us a look deeper into Peter Parkers long-suffering psyche!
(Issue number 5 just came out as I write this review.)
Another excellent title from Chip Zdarsky, one of the most most under-rated comic writers currently working!!
I've always been a fan of "What If", and this is a doozy, as it contemplates what would happen if Peter Parker accepted the symbiote and became Venom! Quite dark for a Marvel title, this books really digs into some meaty issues around this concept, while also giving us a look deeper into Peter Parkers long-suffering psyche!
December 16, 2021
Junji Ito meets Spider-Man
May 5, 2022
The Spider's Shadow offers a straightforward What If? story from Spidey's past. At some point in the 80s, Spider-Man donned the Venom symbiote. What if he kept the suit and its murderous intentions?
Chip Zdarsky doesn't go anywhere particularly original with the story, but the inclusion of the Fantastic Four is smartly done and there are some gruesome moments that might surprise the traditional Spidey reader. The art is certainly a high point, with great block coloring. Overall, though, it's little more than a neat What If? trifle, even if it does conclude with some intriguing cliffhangers.
Chip Zdarsky doesn't go anywhere particularly original with the story, but the inclusion of the Fantastic Four is smartly done and there are some gruesome moments that might surprise the traditional Spidey reader. The art is certainly a high point, with great block coloring. Overall, though, it's little more than a neat What If? trifle, even if it does conclude with some intriguing cliffhangers.
November 4, 2021
3.5 Stars
November 16, 2021
3.75
Some good parts. But the what if characterization veered too far off. And the end was a bit hokey.
Some good parts. But the what if characterization veered too far off. And the end was a bit hokey.
January 21, 2022
Chip Zadarsky tem sido o nome queridinho de muitos fãs de quadrinhos por sua passagem na Marvel Comics, principalmente em personagens como o Demolidor. Eu me mantenho fora do hype. Concordo que ele fez trabalhos incríveis como Homem-Aranha: História de Vida, mas não acredito que tudo que ele toque vire outro como muitos fazem parecer. Um bom exemplo dessa "exceção à regra" é este encadernado da minissérie Homem-Aranha: A Sombra da Aranha, que o escritor faz com o veterano artista Pasqual Ferry. A proposta da HQ é dar um novo inicio para tramas ao estilo What If...? (O Que Aconteceria Se...). Nesta HQ os dois artífices contam uma história que faz os leitores descobrirem o que aconteceria se o Homem-Aranha fosse dominado por seu uniforme simbionte. O resultado, então, não é nada demais e fica no nível das histórias menos memoráveis das séries clássicas de What If...?, porém com uma execução mais longa, já que aquelas histórias tinham o espaço de somente uma edição. Essa se passa em cinco. Por isso, Homem-Aranha: A Sombra da Aranha acaba sendo bastante decepcionante principalmente depois de sabermos toda a manobra que Donny Cates fez com o personagem Venom nos últimos anos.
June 2, 2024
Özünde bir What-If? hikayesi olsa da normal What-If? hikayelerinin aksine tek sayılık değil de beş sayılık bir hikaye.
Normalde What-If? hikayelerinin kısıtlı sayfa sayısından dolayı fazla gelişemediklerini ve potansiyellerine ulaşamadıklarını düşünürüm. Burada beş sayılık bir alan olduğunu görünce beklentim de ona göre yükselmişti ama yine olmamış. Durum bu kez sınırlı alandan değil de fazla geniş alandan kaynaklanıyor.
İlk üç sayı aslında anlatılmak isteneni yeterince veriyor. Öykü orada bitseymiş çok daha derli toplu, amacı belli bir hikaye olabilirmiş ama hikaye sündürüle sündürüle iki sayı daha uzatılmış. Olay bir Spider-Man öyküsüyken bir anda Fantastic Four ve Avengers'ın da pay edindiği bir krize dönüşüyor. Bu noktadan sonra da geriye ne hikaye kalıyor ne de bir şey. Yalap şalap bir toparlama ve son.
Normalde What-If? hikayelerinin kısıtlı sayfa sayısından dolayı fazla gelişemediklerini ve potansiyellerine ulaşamadıklarını düşünürüm. Burada beş sayılık bir alan olduğunu görünce beklentim de ona göre yükselmişti ama yine olmamış. Durum bu kez sınırlı alandan değil de fazla geniş alandan kaynaklanıyor.
İlk üç sayı aslında anlatılmak isteneni yeterince veriyor. Öykü orada bitseymiş çok daha derli toplu, amacı belli bir hikaye olabilirmiş ama hikaye sündürüle sündürüle iki sayı daha uzatılmış. Olay bir Spider-Man öyküsüyken bir anda Fantastic Four ve Avengers'ın da pay edindiği bir krize dönüşüyor. Bu noktadan sonra da geriye ne hikaye kalıyor ne de bir şey. Yalap şalap bir toparlama ve son.
September 25, 2024
A dark and intriguing 'What If...?' tale that is perhaps a bit too short.
Ever since reading Spider-Man: Life Story, I trust Zdarsky to get to the core of the webhead and imagine what would happen if righteousness anger took hold of him. In Spider's Shadow, Peter Parker gives in to the murderous urges of the symbiote suit and goes on a rampage through his rogue's gallery.
I was most impressed with the exchanges between a hurt Peter and a hungry symbiote, delving into the morality of taking the life of villains to prevent them taking more lives. This is a fine line that most heroes tread but Zdarsky shows what happens when it's crossed.
However I do wish he had stayed on the other side of that line a while longer. Once Spider-Man had dealt with his most homicidal enemies, would he then slaughter his B-list just in case they fill the power gap? How would he deal with other morally-questionable superheroes like The Punisher or Ghost Rider? What would he do when he realises that everybody, even those he has sworn to protect, fears him?
I put down the lack of such detail to a limited series. Zdarsky does better with more pages. That being said, I wouldn't have dealt with Doctor Octopus the way that he did or had the Fantastic Four forgive Spider-Man quite so easily.
These quibbles aside, I found Ferry's art brilliant and Zdarsky's storytelling top-notch. If you're interested in seeing familiar heroes pushed to the brink, then Spider-Man: Spider's Shadow is the comic book collection for you.
Ever since reading Spider-Man: Life Story, I trust Zdarsky to get to the core of the webhead and imagine what would happen if righteousness anger took hold of him. In Spider's Shadow, Peter Parker gives in to the murderous urges of the symbiote suit and goes on a rampage through his rogue's gallery.
I was most impressed with the exchanges between a hurt Peter and a hungry symbiote, delving into the morality of taking the life of villains to prevent them taking more lives. This is a fine line that most heroes tread but Zdarsky shows what happens when it's crossed.
However I do wish he had stayed on the other side of that line a while longer. Once Spider-Man had dealt with his most homicidal enemies, would he then slaughter his B-list just in case they fill the power gap? How would he deal with other morally-questionable superheroes like The Punisher or Ghost Rider? What would he do when he realises that everybody, even those he has sworn to protect, fears him?
I put down the lack of such detail to a limited series. Zdarsky does better with more pages. That being said, I wouldn't have dealt with Doctor Octopus the way that he did or had the Fantastic Four forgive Spider-Man quite so easily.
These quibbles aside, I found Ferry's art brilliant and Zdarsky's storytelling top-notch. If you're interested in seeing familiar heroes pushed to the brink, then Spider-Man: Spider's Shadow is the comic book collection for you.
March 2, 2022
What if...Spider-Man embraced the alien suit instead of rejecting it? Zdarsky's "what if?" story shines a light on Peter's dark side, the sort of classic exhaustion of every superhero - no one is grateful and the villains always escape jail. I liked how Zdarsky showed Peter's dark side, but I wish he had kept it at a smaller scale - adding in the F4 was great, but once the Avengers got involved, it felt a little too big. Peter's psychology was a lot more compelling and it never got beyond that often repeated ground. I was hoping for a darker, more twisted ending rather than a forced happy one. Also, all the women were very peripheral, and one who essentially fridged only to serve Peter's unraveling. The art is hit or miss - the Spidey scenes are great, but the facial expressions and coloring were off more often than not. It's never a good sign when you notice the coloring.
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November 16, 2021nowhere near as good as Zdarsky's previous Spider-man What If? Story. Doesn't feel like anything happened here that we haven't seen in other symbiote stories or in the 616 proper. a waste.
December 6, 2021
After enjoying Spider-Man: Life Story, I was optimistic to see what Chip Zdarsky might do for an encore. The result is the fairly disappointing extended "what if" story The Spider's Shadow.
What if instead of giving up the symbiotic black costume when Reed Richards warned him about it, Peter Parker kept it and gave himself over to its dark nature?
Well, according to this collection of five issues, Peter Parker would become public enemy number one, slaughtering multiple members of his rogue's gallery along the way because the Hobgoblin kills Aunt May. There's always been a bit of a dark undercurrent to the story of Spider-Man, though many writers haven't really explored that side of things. Zdarsky did that over the course of Peter's life in Life Story and maybe part of my issue here is that the timeline is simply too compressed to make for a satisfying story like the original collection was. Seeing Peter slowly descend into darkness makes sense and the question of "what if" Spidey had a really bad day and was pushed too far is an intriguing one.
But this could be one of those stories where it goes too dark and possibly too far. I get that Venom is a violent, dark mirror of Spider-Man -- a creature that is the bonding of two entities that hate Peter Parker. And the idea the alien costume might feed into some of Peter's internal self-doubt and loathing is an intriguing one. But honesty, the concept of Peter going dark was better realized in the animated series from the 90's when the dark suit was brought into the story. I guess I wanted to see Peter do more than just become a violent sociopath who kills or hurts everyone around him before getting a bit of redemption and an obligatory happy ending.
Like a lot of modern comics, this feels like a story that was expanded a bit too much for its running time. Life Story had each issue focus on a decade of Peter's life. This one just seems to run along from violent point to horrifying cliffhanger.
I wanted to enjoy this a lot more than I did. A bit of a disappointment.
What if instead of giving up the symbiotic black costume when Reed Richards warned him about it, Peter Parker kept it and gave himself over to its dark nature?
Well, according to this collection of five issues, Peter Parker would become public enemy number one, slaughtering multiple members of his rogue's gallery along the way because the Hobgoblin kills Aunt May. There's always been a bit of a dark undercurrent to the story of Spider-Man, though many writers haven't really explored that side of things. Zdarsky did that over the course of Peter's life in Life Story and maybe part of my issue here is that the timeline is simply too compressed to make for a satisfying story like the original collection was. Seeing Peter slowly descend into darkness makes sense and the question of "what if" Spidey had a really bad day and was pushed too far is an intriguing one.
But this could be one of those stories where it goes too dark and possibly too far. I get that Venom is a violent, dark mirror of Spider-Man -- a creature that is the bonding of two entities that hate Peter Parker. And the idea the alien costume might feed into some of Peter's internal self-doubt and loathing is an intriguing one. But honesty, the concept of Peter going dark was better realized in the animated series from the 90's when the dark suit was brought into the story. I guess I wanted to see Peter do more than just become a violent sociopath who kills or hurts everyone around him before getting a bit of redemption and an obligatory happy ending.
Like a lot of modern comics, this feels like a story that was expanded a bit too much for its running time. Life Story had each issue focus on a decade of Peter's life. This one just seems to run along from violent point to horrifying cliffhanger.
I wanted to enjoy this a lot more than I did. A bit of a disappointment.
January 10, 2022
"What if Peter Parker became Venom? Spider-Man once donned an alien suit that nearly destroyed his life, but what if he never took it off? In this shocking new version of the story, Peter ignores every warning and embraces his dark symbiote!"
Chip Zdarsky delivers a modern 'What if?' story here with some sadness and dark tones - at least by the standards of a Spider-Man book.
The writing here is good, which pretty much sets the book up for success automatically given that Spidey's more recent run of things in comics hasn't really met the usual expectations for most people. It's refreshing to see Peter Parker struggling against a darkness and facing some serious danger, all laid out against an interesting premise and storyline.
That said, I did find the writing a bit linear and two-dimensional. There doesn't appear to be much subplot here, pretty much nothing at all really, which does leave it sitting somewhat flat.
The greatest disappointment for me though was the art. Of course it does an adequate job, but I felt it didn't really match the quality or tone of the writing and I felt it should have been a lot darker and less cartoon like. There's a real lack of detail here for me, especially when it comes to characters, their faces and expressions.
Overall, Zdarsky delivers a pretty interesting story based on an equally interesting premise here, but it is somewhat lacking without any subplot. The art won't blow you a way and that's a real shame, because this could have really benefited by having some dark visuals or horror elements added that would have been absolutely fitting for this.
Chip Zdarsky delivers a modern 'What if?' story here with some sadness and dark tones - at least by the standards of a Spider-Man book.
The writing here is good, which pretty much sets the book up for success automatically given that Spidey's more recent run of things in comics hasn't really met the usual expectations for most people. It's refreshing to see Peter Parker struggling against a darkness and facing some serious danger, all laid out against an interesting premise and storyline.
That said, I did find the writing a bit linear and two-dimensional. There doesn't appear to be much subplot here, pretty much nothing at all really, which does leave it sitting somewhat flat.
The greatest disappointment for me though was the art. Of course it does an adequate job, but I felt it didn't really match the quality or tone of the writing and I felt it should have been a lot darker and less cartoon like. There's a real lack of detail here for me, especially when it comes to characters, their faces and expressions.
Overall, Zdarsky delivers a pretty interesting story based on an equally interesting premise here, but it is somewhat lacking without any subplot. The art won't blow you a way and that's a real shame, because this could have really benefited by having some dark visuals or horror elements added that would have been absolutely fitting for this.
March 15, 2025
i’ve been reading a heap of alt. earth comics lately, and this was a refreshing break from the usual great power and responsibility :DDD
zdarsky’s tale is a what-if, a hypothetical story where spider-man is consumed by the power of venom and plays god with moral ambiguity. i really appreciate what zdarsky put forward but for the love of spiderman I CANNOT GET BEHIND THE ART 😭😭 i wanted to like it bcs the front cover visual was so 🤤 but on god — IT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING FROM EPISODE DAWG
definitely unpredictable, i CAN say it is unlike anything i’ve ever read before but i’ve been on a high lately, and this was just a brainrot read tbh (peter went and kissed felicia and then figured out he loved mj like bru, murder AND adultery???)
3/5.
zdarsky’s tale is a what-if, a hypothetical story where spider-man is consumed by the power of venom and plays god with moral ambiguity. i really appreciate what zdarsky put forward but for the love of spiderman I CANNOT GET BEHIND THE ART 😭😭 i wanted to like it bcs the front cover visual was so 🤤 but on god — IT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING FROM EPISODE DAWG
definitely unpredictable, i CAN say it is unlike anything i’ve ever read before but i’ve been on a high lately, and this was just a brainrot read tbh (peter went and kissed felicia and then figured out he loved mj like bru, murder AND adultery???)
3/5.
July 1, 2023
In the age of Lowe, Wells and Slott, it's easy to forget what a good Spider-Man story looks like. As displayed in his other stories, Zdarsky's grasp on Spider-Man's character and his cast is impressive and consistent.
Read
August 23, 2022VENOM PETER! VENOM PETER!!
July 11, 2022
Bon petit What if
June 26, 2022
I'm not a big fan of the darkness in Venom stories, but the response of MJ and the other heroes to the whole situation was heartwarming.
October 17, 2022
For a What If? story this hits all the major stops: tragedy, death, renewal, and some weird plot points we’ve never seen in this particular mix.
It’s a solid, logical exploration of what would’ve happened to 80’s Spidey if he’d kept the suit. I never questioned the plot development, nor who was involved to address the situation. All made sense.
What I couldn’t shake is the feeling that Zdarsky is too in love with Spidey to actually take him to the worst place - to fully embrace the tragedy that is a guy with this much power, this much loss, so much persecution - how could he NOT go on killing til there was no other choice?
It’s not that I hate Peter - but for a comic with such a dark premise, I feel robbed of a truly Shakespearean ending. It ends in a way I didn’t expect, granted, and the book was enjoyable enough to that ending, but something felt…missing.
It’s a solid, logical exploration of what would’ve happened to 80’s Spidey if he’d kept the suit. I never questioned the plot development, nor who was involved to address the situation. All made sense.
What I couldn’t shake is the feeling that Zdarsky is too in love with Spidey to actually take him to the worst place - to fully embrace the tragedy that is a guy with this much power, this much loss, so much persecution - how could he NOT go on killing til there was no other choice?
It’s not that I hate Peter - but for a comic with such a dark premise, I feel robbed of a truly Shakespearean ending. It ends in a way I didn’t expect, granted, and the book was enjoyable enough to that ending, but something felt…missing.
December 2, 2021
Storia niente male, davvero dei colpi di scena inaspettati e svolte narrative inesplorate. Un What If che centra il bersaglio della stessa domanda che si pone. Ho solo trovato certi comportamenti di Peter eccessivamente forzati e piegati a favore di trama che, purtroppo, si protraggono fino alla fine. Ma alla fine possiamo dire che ci sta. Qualche sboronata di troppo sul finale, ma nel complesso (vedendo anche il finale) ce le facciamo passare.
Possiamo però dire che la vera parte del leone la fa Pasqual Ferry, disegnatore che non ho mai particolarmente apprezzato ma che qui ritrovo con uno stile raffinato, solido, consolidato e davvero elegante. Il suo Uomo Ragno è meraviglioso, tanto col costume nero quanto con quello classico. La stella in più è solo per lui.
Possiamo però dire che la vera parte del leone la fa Pasqual Ferry, disegnatore che non ho mai particolarmente apprezzato ma che qui ritrovo con uno stile raffinato, solido, consolidato e davvero elegante. Il suo Uomo Ragno è meraviglioso, tanto col costume nero quanto con quello classico. La stella in più è solo per lui.
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