Spider-Man: Anti-Venom
Among the many retooled and reimagined elements of continuity plaguing Spider-Man titles these days is the rebirth of archnemesis Venom. Evidence of comicdom’s commitment to recycling, the psychotic, homicidal madman has morphed into a monster on a mission—cleansing drugs from victims’ veins and scouring evil from the dirty streets. Lots of women in underwear running away as drug pushers meet their bloody comeuppance combine with punchy dialogue to make this a short rush of pulp noir for the oldest teens. Grades 10-12. --Jesse Karp