Peter Parker, Eddie Brock and Flash Thompson have one major thing in common – the Venom symbiote changed all of their lives. The inky black alien life-form is doubling down on our heroes – and they’re not the only ones about to be put through the ringer. The next big chapter between Spider-Man and Venom begins here and so far it’s interesting.

Written by Dan Slott and Mike Costa, Venom Inc. Alpha kicks off this mini-event that is the next major chapter for the two characters who have seen a lot of change over the past few months. Peter Parker’s business is destroyed and he’s putting his life together and Venom is now back with Eddie Brock. It’s a return to the status-quo in some ways and each story has been entertaining in their own way.

Here things feel like they’re clashing a bit as Peter is asked to help find Venom by Flash Thompson so he can get the symbiote back. There’s also someone hunting symbiotes for some reason. That part is fuzzy but that’s the mystery of the comic.

While this issue is entertaining in a lot of ways the question is if we really need it as a special one-shot issue as opposed to a regular issue of Amazing Spider-Man or Venom. For that, I’m not sure there’s quite the need. This feels like a special and interesting issue of those series but on its own it doesn’t. It catches readers up and provides an entry point but as a whole it just feels like a solid issue of each series.

The art by Ryan Stegman is top notch. I’ve been a fan of his for a while and the way he depicts both Spider-Man and Venom is impressive with a style that feels like a mix of some of the greats. Stegman nails down what works really well for each character including the physics and physical defying depictions of each character. Everything looks great.

This is a nice start to this event though as a special issue I’m not quite so sure. There’s a lot here that’s intriguing and it looks great and impressively a hell of a lot happens within, I just wish this was part of the regular numbering for either series.

Story: Dan Slott, Mike Costa Art: Ryan Stegman
Story: 7.85 Art: 8.5 Overall: 7.95 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review