SPIDER-MAN: SPIDER'S SHADOW #1 Is an Incredible Start to a Great What If?
What if Peter Parker had fused with Venom? That’s what is explored in a new four issue series, Spider-Man: Spider’s Shadow. This mini-series What If? storyline comes from writer Chip Zdarsky and artist Pasqual Ferry and is available now at local comic shops, the Marvel Comics app, comiXology (affiliate link) and wherever you buy comics.
WHAT IF PETER PARKER BECAME VENOM? Peter Parker once put on an alien suit that nearly destroyed his life – but what if he’d never taken it off? Ignoring every warning, Spidey embraces the dark symbiote! Haunted by terrible nightmares and exhausted by an endless barrage of bad guys, Peter can’t seem to catch a break these days. So when the Hobgoblin attacks, he finds a hero at the end of his rope…and vulnerable to new dark impulses. Spider-Man is about to change his rules – but is it truly Peter who is in charge? Creative powerhouses Chip Zdarsky, Pasqual Ferry and Matt Hollingsworth bring you a terrifying tale of a Peter Parker possessed and on the edge!
I remember being a kid in the ‘90s and being wowed when I was introduced to the black symbiote in Spider-Man: The Animated Series. The awesome new outfit for Peter Parker was so sleek and stylish; I was sad when he gave it up. I know that the comic version is a little different, but I never got to read that. This new story in Spider’s Shadow is incredible though. Taking place around the same time as Amazing Spider-Man #258, this story sees Peter undergoing some changes that many fans will recognize from the original storyline.
Zdarsky does a great job of writing the story and making the characters feel real. The struggle that Peter is facing is palpable and well complemented by Ferry’s art. You can read and see the inner turmoil of Peter and everyone around him.
You don’t need to have read previous Spider-Man comics to enjoy Spider’s Shadow #1, but I think it helps to either read the comics around Amazing Spider-Man #258 (available on Marvel Unlimited) or “The Alien Costume” from the animated series (available on Disney+) to have a better grasp on the story. The comic will be better, but I felt like I followed pretty well with just my knowledge from the show.
If you like Spider-Man, then I highly recommend reading Spider’s Shadow. The story will continue in Spider’s Shadow #2 on May 12.
