All-New Venom (2024) #1 review: Who is behind the symbiote?

There's been a lot of mixed reactions to the end of Venom War (2024). Some feel the story was too convoluted for its own good, others are disappointed with the fact that the Venom symbiote rarely interacted with Eddie Brock, and it was definitely a missed opportunity to strip the Lethal Protector away from his position as the new King in Black so quickly. However, the series also had some positives thanks to amazing illustrations, epic fight scenes, and the return of beloved characters. But regardless of what happened before, it's time to start a new chapter, and with it also comes a new host.

That's right, All-New Venom is finally here.

I loved the idea of taking the character back to its roots and away from all the cosmical elements that took the spotlight in its latest stories. So I was really hopeful that this new series would mend the errors that came before it and feel like a breath of fresh air. Fortunately, that's exactly what we got, and even if the plot isn't looking really complex right now, I wouldn't count that possibility out just yet given that Al Ewing is behind the writer's seat. All things considered, it looks like we're in for a great new beginning.

A simple mistery with great results

The premise is really simple. After the Venom symbiote parted ways with Dylan Brock in the finale of Venom War, it managed to find a new host; we just don't know who that is yet. There are four possible suspects in the form of Rick Jones, Luke Cage, Robbie Robertson, and Madame Masque, who all conveniently dissapear once Venom enters the scene. This new iteration of the Lethal Protector has the same color palette as Madame Masque, performs a few judo moves like Rick Jones, and is an honest-to-goodness hero just like Luke Cage or Robbie. So even if the story isn't super complex right out of the gate; it's effective, and that's all that's needed.

It's no surprise other Spider-Man-related characters also make an appearance in All-New Venom (2024) #1. I love the idea that Dylan Brock will act as a detective, trying to figure out who's the symbiote's new host to claim it back. And while I absolutely dislike that Paul and "Jackpot" are still a thing in Marvel Comics, that's not a fault of this series in the slightest. If anything, Al Ewing is just using the characters from the extended universe and that's great. However, even if it's good to know who these people are beforehand and what have they been up to prior to this event, I have to say the series feels accessible to new readers. That's not something you could say about Venom War (2024) at all, so extra props have to be given for that.

Carlos Gomez's art in All-New Venom (2024) #1 is absolutely fantastic. It felt reminiscent of that from Iban Coello and Carlos Nieto in Venom War (2024), which is an absolute compliment. Gomez's illustrations pay a lot of attention to details and make out the most of impact lines, and over-the-top effects such as smoke to convey heavy hits and fast-paced action sequences. And Venom's new design? Consider me a fan. I love the mix of gold and black to create a new yet familiar version of the Lethal Protector.

Verdict: A great new beginning

All-New Venom (2024) #1 presents a simple yet effective mystery that, chances are, won't last very long. But while it does, it allows characters such as Luke, Robbie, and Rick to have fun and even intriguing interactions. Carlos Gomez's art is phenomenal, as it is Venom's new design. The best part is you don't need to know what happened before this series to understand what's going on here. But if you're up to date on everything, then the issue regards you with the appearance of other great Marvel characters such as Dylan Brock. Perhaps the first issue doesn't pack quite a punch such as other #1s, but the series has the potential to become something memorable.

All-New Venom (2024) #2 will be released on Jan. 08, 2025.