Spider-Man: Spider’s Shadow #3 Review

Venom has fully taken over Peter Parker and has gone on a murder spree. Will he be able to fight against the symbiote? Find out in Spider-Man: Spider’s Shadow #3 by Marvel Comics!

SPIDER-MAN: SPIDER’S SHADOW #3 (OF 5)

Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Artist: Pasqual Ferry
Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Editor: Wil Moss
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 9th, 2021

Previously in Spider’s Shadow: Peter Parker has kept the Venom symbiote instead of passing it off to Eddie Brock. The symbiote began to change Peter’s psyche and he became angry and violent. This is taken even further when Aunt May was caught in the middle of a fight between Spider-Man and Green Goblin. Now he has killed the Kingpin and a number of villains and the Sinister Six must come up with a plan to kill him.

FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIVES

J. Jonah Jameson has joined the Sinister Six to help destroy Spider-Man. Doctor Octopus has been replaced by Eddie Brock who is using Doc’s mechanical legs. The Sinister Six laid out a trap for Spider-Man and even manage to catch him off guard. But it isn’t enough as Spider-Man begins to kill many of them. The turning point was when a barn catches fire and Venom is in visible pain. The Sinister Six push Venom into the barn and the symbiote suit begins to fall off. J. Jonah Jameson realizes that Peter Parker is in the suit and rescues him before he could be killed by Kraven. With most of the Sinister Six dead, Jonah rushes Peter to his apartment where he finds Mary-Jane and the Black Cat waiting for him. Unfortunately, there is also a group of police outside. When Peter killed Kingpin, Wilson Fisk revealed his identity!

THE END OF EVIL SPIDER-MAN

I found myself a little disappointed that Peter Parker separated from the symbiote. We are more than halfway through the story arc, and I admit I would have been happy to see this separation at the conclusion of the series. But now Spider-Man has returned to the role of protagonist and Venom the villain. And for some reason that creative decision doesn’t interest me as much. The writing is still solid, and I respect the choice, but it feels like the safe choice. This is a “What If?” comic and we could have explored Spider-Venom the tyrant and super villain. Ironically, this choice actually makes J. Jonah Jamison the most interesting character in this specific issue.

I do want to say that the coloring is beautiful in this series. It is vivid and dynamic, and Venom really works well on the page. Watching the Venom outline in the darkness is one of those images that will stick with me for a long time.

BOTTOM LINE: GOOD BUT DISAPOINTED

My complaints should not be seen as a reason to dislike the book. The writing and choices are still solid, and the book is going to be great in a trade paperback. This is a recommendation from me to the right person and 4 out of 5 stars.

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