By Keith R.A. DeCandido Venom's Wrath (Spider-Man) [Mass Market Paperback]

Marvel Berkley/Byron Preiss Productions Prose Novels

by Keith R.A. DeCandido

Ann Weying, ex-wife to Eddie Brock--aka the super-villain Venom--has been kidnapped, along with Daily Bugle editor Robbie Robertson and a police captain. Spider-Man must work with the NYPD to find the kidnappers before Venom carves a bloody swath through New York City to find his beloved!

Genres: Spider Man, Comics, Superheroes, Marvel, Fiction

Unknown Binding

First published October 1, 1998

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good Spider-Man story, and an even better Venom book. Venom was never one of my favorites, but he's well-depicted sympathetically here. Peter is more serious than usual, less snarky but displaying some good detective skills. The contrast between the marriages of Peter and MJ to that of Ann and Eddie is poignantly done, too. Excelsior, indeed.

[Corban Ford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Venom was really depicted well here, and I enjoyed the back and forth angle from the view of Spider-Man with the POV of Venom. One thing I would recommend is perhaps a better antagonist, the one in this book was rather underwhelming to me. Regardless, a good read, and watching Venom lay waste on people as only he can? just sooo soooo good.

[eres · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man this was such a fun read. When it comes to Marvel stuff I usually keep a different set of standards, instead of "is this a good comic/novel" I usually go by "is this good for a Marvel comic/novel", but in this case this novel is really enjoyable in itself. The large cast is utilized so well, and I absolutely love the multiple POVs which made the general in-universe well-lived in, instead of side-characters being puppeteered around Peter's self and having no life on their own. When the first chapter was in Betty Brant's POV I knew I was in for a treat.

Also the reflection around having an identity, from Ann Weying's standing as her own person instead of just being "Eddie Brock's ex-wife", to Betty Brant as a reporter, to Spider-Man's mask (like one character basically asking "How do we know if the Spider-Man we met yesterday is the same guy we meet today?", his mask being automatically inhuman because people can't see his expressions or him blinking; "there's a frame, but no picture."), to one antagonist's whole self, was so compelling. Highly recommend this novel. (and don't judge it by the generic title and cover!)

[Ross Vincent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once upon a time, a movies like "Venom", 'Spider-man", "Black Widow" and others would have had either a novelization or even a prequel tie-in book. Something that might bridge the gap between the first and second movies.

However, publishing changes and novelizations are less in demand.
So, to make due, I sat down and read this book, as sort of a primer before seeing the movie later this week.

This book has been on my shelves for decades - and I regret it and appreciate it. I regret it, since it was so good and interesting; appreciate it since, if I had read it at time of the publishing, I would have missed out on the little inside jokes and references. (Case in point- Hawkins and Drew).

Venom wasnt a huge part of the story - which is fine, given this is a SPIDER-MAN book, with Venom as a part time adversary more than a team up partner. But his part in the book showed just how much damage the guy can do to our friendly neighborhood Spider-man.

There are some things that date the book - the unusual way the cell phones are rarely used (try say "Oh yeah - let me see if I can find my cell phone' without being given a shocked look). Another is the Twin Towers. Yeah, that NYC icon was still around at the time of publishing, even though it had seen it's share of troubles in the work of Marvel comics and books.

[Kieran Westphal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a shockingly well done Spidey story. Don't let the cover fool you; where it may suggest a stock Spider-Man vs Venom story, the pages within contain a really interesting mystery that thrusts Spider-Man and his entire web of supporting characters into a conflict between Puerto Rican revolutionaries, the NYPD, and the FBI, with Venom popping in as a big chaotic battering ram every once in a while. It took a little while to hit its stride, but when it did, it really hit its stride, balancing the separate perspectives of all of its POV characters really well. Peter's voice is also really well captured here, better than a lot of comic book writers have managed to pull off in recent years. He's the perfect balance of charming and eye-rolling, and his internal thought process as the paradoxically larger than life everyman is exciting to read.

[WILLIAM COWHEY · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining read, I liked Venom's portrayal and I liked the villain even if he wasn't super memorable. Not enough snark from Spiderman would be my one complaint with him. Interesting enough to make me want to check out other Spiderman books in the series.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though the story was a bit unconventional--gangsters, mutants, a superhero, and a supervillain?--it delivered much more content was was decidedly more engrossing than many of the Marvel novels I've been reading lately. The one issue that keeps me from giving Venom's Wrath an excellent rating is a higher-than-usual profanity count.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a real novel. Better written than many popular series!! Better than Alice Feeny, Darcy Coates, Richard Knaak.

[Jason Pereira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gotta love Spiderman! Always action packed and great detective work.