X-23 gets even meaner.
The great thing about 2014's Edge of Spider-Verse mini-series is that each issue introduced (or reintroduced) a clever new take on the traditional Spider-Man mythos. Each of those issues subverted expectations, pushed that familiar Spider-Man origin story in new directions and gave readers a worthy new addition to the franchise. There's a reason Spider-Gwen became a breakout character and the star of her own long-running solo series. That's not to say Edge of Venomverse can't do the same, but this issue's Venom-ized version of X-23 is hardly the next Spider-Gwen. This issue does little to combine the two elements into a satisfying, cohesive whole.
It's not difficult to imagine X-23 and Venom being combined into something new and compelling. Laura is a character constantly fighting to keep her darker side in check, and being bonded with a symbiote only makes that struggle more dangerous and immediate. But this issue doesn't show much interest in highlighting that internal struggle. It mainly settles for offering a loose, compressed retelling of the original NYX mini-series, as the Venom-ized Laura hooks up with Kiden and the gang and learns how to survive on the mean streets. That basic formula still has its appeal, to be sure. Matthew Rosenberg does a fine job of building a dynamic among the various teen runaways and exploring the seedy side of the Marvel U. But at best, the issue is just rehashing familiar beats.
If nothing else, it's fun watching Ramon Bachs explore the characters and setting. Bach's grungy style is an apt match for the low-key but violent nature of the story. The book easily captures the vibe of a story about down-on-their-luck teens eking out a living, while at the same time never shying away from the violence and brutality inherent to Laura's world. The actual character design for this Venom-ized X-23 is nothing remarkable, but the way Bachs renders her as a feral monster constantly in motion brings a lot to the table. Basically, this issue makes a strong case that Bachs should be tapped to work on All-New Wolverine.
My biggest complaint here is that the Venom symbiote itself is almost incidental to the conflict. Ignoring its presence, there's really nothing to distinguish this incarnation of Laura from the one fans already know. Neither her origin nor her personality are actually changed. Even the idea that the symbiote begins spreading among her new friends is under-explored. It may be that the short, limiting structure is the biggest obstacle here. This issue doesn't even manage to tell a complete, cohesive story, instead ending abruptly as Laura's day-to-day struggles are suddenly interrupted by the call of the crossover.
The Verdict
Edge of Venomverse #1 works fine as a sort of short, condensed take on the origin of X-23 and her first meeting with the NYX cast. It's a story that's well-suited to Ramon Bachs' murky, brooding art style. But it's not one that makes particularly clever use of the Venom element. Nor does it do much at all to build anticipation for the upcoming Venomverse crossover.
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