In this review of All-New Venom #6, now that we know the ‘who’ behind Venom’s new identity (it’s MJ), we find out the when, how, why and the…what the heck is that thing?
ALL-NEW VENOM #6
Writer: Al Ewing
Artist: Carlos Gómez
Main Cover: Adam Kubert
Variant Covers: E.J. SU, LOGAN LUBERA, LUCAS WERNECK, PETE WOODS
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: May 7, 2025
This review contains spoilers
All-New Venom #6 picks up directly after the shocking reveal of Mary Jane Watson as the All New Venom. MJ had already upped her game recently by becoming the superhero Jackpot, and it appears that her special gauntlet designed by common-law husband Paul Rabin is integral to how MJ became molecularly bonded with the Venom symbiote.
In Paul and MJ’s apartment, MJ (and Venom) explain the complicated origin of their new symbiotic relationship to Paul and Daily Bugle editor Joe Robertson. In an effort to destroy a ‘super symbiote’ during the recent Venom War, MJ asked Spider-Man and Venom to modify her gauntlet to produce more reliable abilities from her ‘super power slot machine’, but those enhancements also removed the safeguards Paul had added for MJ’s protection.
The side effects from those upgrades became apparent soon after, when MJ’s gauntlet started calling up random “bad” glyphs that caused MJ’s body to literally disintegrate. A dying MJ soon found Venom languishing in a New York sewer, and the symbiote took a heroic cue from its recent bond with Spider-Man to save MJ by creating a deep symbiotic connection that essentially restructured the pair into one composite being.
As MJ and Venom explain, they need to maintain continuous contact or they will both die. Paul is convinced that Joe Robertson is going to expose MJ’s secret in The Daily Bugle, but Robertson explains that wouldn’t be in the public’s best interest since this new Venom is a hero, rather than a raging homicidal maniac (which is really more of a Carnage thing anyway).
MJ also explains her reasoning behind fostering Dylan (Eddie Brock’s son) just before the kid arrives in petulant teen mode, and makes a tense situation even more complicated.
All New Venom #6 ends with MJ receiving a phone call from longtime friend (and current Anti-Venom) Flash Thompson, who asks MJ to step outside because they need to fight.
Analysis
All-New Venom #6 is a weird comic, but it’s also extremely entertaining. Mary Jane Watson has been a key supporting player in countless Spider-Man stories (and that one thing with Iron Man), but until recently she hasn’t found the spotlight as a genuine superhero. MJ has always been a likable, interesting character, and here her personality, big heart and fearlessness shine brighter in her new heroic guise.
Writer Al Ewing has gone all in on this wild plot twist, riffing on the classic Marvel Comics mystery character trope to great effect. Ewing started his previous Venom run by pulling plot threads from Donny Cates’ cosmic symbiote storyline, and now Ewing has literally brought the classic anti-hero character back down to Earth, complete with an all new host.
Venom (the symbiote), with everything he/it has experienced in recent years (which is too long to list), is now a kinder, gentler entity, sitting calmly on a couch, his exposed chest looking like an outtake from an ‘Alien’ movie. Forget the recent Tom Hardy-voiced SONY movie version, this is an Venom symbiote with compassion, intelligence and warmth. MJ herself seems to be taking this all in stride, perhaps akin to a new medical condition (with super powered benefits).
Ewing’s script tackles huge sci-fi concepts (and some weird magic/science hybrid) in All New Venom #6, but he also grounds the story, making it accessible for both longtime fans and new readers. Ewing effortlessly captures Paul’s insecurity, MJ’s bravery, Robertson’s objectivity and even Venom’s humanity. Ewing’s writing synthesizes all of these elements into an effective mix of family drama, body horror, and wry humor.
Artist Carlos Gomez absolutely kills it on All New Venom #6, capturing an assortment of key moments from Ewing’s script, including MJ and Venom just “sitting on the couch”, a few unsettling scenes of MJ’s body horror (shudder), as well as some clever sight gags, and some quieter moments, all adding up to another exceptional issue.
The standout for All-New Venom #6 is Gomez’s the stunning full page bonding sequence of Venom and MJ that delivers the impact of this new hero’s origin.
Final Thoughts
All-New Venom #6 is a weird comic for sure, but the story and characters work here: equal parts thrilling, horrifying and laugh out loud funny. The creative team continues to deliver a high quality comic every month. Curious to see where the series goes next and for how long.
