FCBD 2020: Spider-Man/Venom #1

Another excellent FCBD story, it fills in the blanks between Venom #25 & #26, but most importantly it introduces readers to Virus. Fans of Donny Cates run will lap this up, Ryan Stegmans art is incredible as always, and released as a free comic it's a no brainer. Pick this up at your LCS today. Read Full Review

Through some excellent framings of the fight between Venom and their new opponent, Virus, we're treated to some unique perspectives and a compact scrap that highlights Venom's longevity and resolve as one of the character's most appreciable qualities. Read Full Review

An enjoyable Spider-Man and Black Cat romp, and a Venom tale to remind us of what's to come, for the price of nothing. The Venom story might not be as essential due to Venom #26 being released before this, but the Spidey story handles itself as its own self-contained story. Even with the release of this being delayed, both stories are worth reading, and with “King in Black” being months away still, you can at least get your Ryan Stegman now while the long wait to Knull continues. Read Full Review

Your enjoyment might vary based on your expectations and how much Marvel you read though and I suspect readers new to MacKay's great Black Cat or Cates/Stegman's edgy and horrific Venom will be bowled over. Read Full Review

A double feature comic featuring Jed MacKay's Black Cat and Donny Cates' Venom, with both shorts setting up events in the main series. Read Full Review

cincyfan

Jul 22, 2020

Two very enjoyable stories I would give the Spider-Man a 8.5 and the venom a 9/10. thank you for the free book marvel

Psycamorean

Jul 24, 2020

This FCBD issue fared better than the X-Men one. While I would've preferred something more substantial for the Spider-Man/Black Cat story, what we got was really fun. I really like how the two characters are written together. I didn't love the art here, and I'm not sure why. It seemed like the scenes with Peter unmasked talking to Black Cat were drawn by someone else, but the credits don't say that. I've seen Patrick Gleason draw Peter much better in the 2099 ASM arc. The Venom story was a good introduction to Virus, and I think that really helps out issue 26 in hindsight. Virus seems like a bit less of a chump in this introduction than he seems in issue 26, so I'm more on board with the character now.

Spacey Medicine

Jul 29, 2020

This was fine! The first story was cute, the second one intriguing.