REVIEW: Swing Into New Stories in FCBD – SPIDER-MAN/VENOM
Did you get a chance to visit your local comic shop (LCS) on Free Comic Book Day this year, Marvel bog True Believers? If you did, or if you’ve been to your local LCS since then, you may have noticed the two Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) issues from Marvel Comics! These no-cost comics give you a glimpse at some of the exciting Marvel stories coming in the next months, and since yours truly volunteered at her local shop for the event, I managed to get my hands on both of them!
FCBD 2021: SPIDER-MAN/VENOM cover by Patrick Gleason. Photo: Marvel
“Test-Drive”
In “Test-Drive” by Zeb Wells, Patrick Gleason, Alejandro Sánchez, and Joe Caramagna, we get our first taste of Spider-Man Beyond, beginning this October at Marvel Comics!
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #78 cover by Arthur Adams. Photo: Marvel
This story was fun, funny, and had some very cool images (like the aftermath of the rescue).
Plus, the concept of a new Spidey with a full team behind him is very promising… even if it is set in Dallas, Texas instead of New York City!
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #79 cover by Arthur Adams. Photo: Marvel
“Like Father, Like Son”
In “Like Father, Like Son” by Ram V., Bryan Hitch, Andrew Currie, Alex Sinclair, and Clayton Cowles, we check in with the original (?) Venom symbiote. While Anti-Venom has had his tendrils full with all kinds of issues over in Extreme Carnage, this story checks-in with regular Venom…
King in Black #1, cover art by Ryan Stegman. Photo: Marvel
Who is apparently flying through space with some other symbiotes? Look, I missed King in Black, which I guess provides some essential context for whatever’s going on here. I think this story might have been exciting for those who have following this storyline, though… and don’t judge, I will catch up eventually.
Daredevil FCBD Bonus Story
This short preview story was snuck into the back of the book… so snuck in I actually thought it was more of “Like Father, Like Son” at first!
This is really more of an overture than an introductory story, with Chip Zdarsky, Greg Smallwood, and Cowles delivering four tantalizing pages.
Daredevil #27. Photo: Marvel Comics
I’m not super clear what’s going on here: did I just see what I think I saw, or is this another What If…? comic (we are supposed to get more of those, after all)?
Whatever the case, I am intrigued… which is just what this issue is trying to accomplish.
Spider-Man: Spider’s Shadow #5. Photo: Marvel Comics
FCBD 2021
Did you get a chance to pick up the two Marvel FCBD titles? What did you think of them? Let us know what you’re thinking in the comment section!
