The Amazing Spider-Man #654.1

       Okay, I would just like to start this review by saying one thing. This is not an issue of Spider-Man. This is Venom, straight up. The cover to a comic can often mislead, but none mislead as much as this, because you don't even see an appearance from Spider-Man and you barely see Peter Parker. That being said, it's still a very good comic, the latest in the long line of Slott masterpieces we've been seeing lately. Enough jibber-jabber though, let's jump into Venom 654.1... I mean Amazing Spider-Man 654.1, and see what our favorite web-head faces this week! 
 
      Our issue opens with the new Venom, Flash Thompson, on his first mission, an attempt to place a trace on Bianca Demonico, who the military believes to be a member of the terrorist organization Ultimatum. After a successful insertion, Flash is stripped of his suit with 100% accuracy and is told that he has 19 missions remaining. When he goes home to Brooklyn though, he finds Betty distraught over the death of Martha Jameson (Last issue) and goes to talk to Peter, who reportedly is taking it the worst. When he finds him with Mary Jane though, Flash is furious, but he gets pulled back into a mission before he can do anything about it. His mission, follow up on Ultimatum and save the life of Yusef Kassim, a middle-eastern banker of significant importance. But as the mission unfolds, we learn that maybe Flash doesn't have as much control as he thought... 
 
       Dan Slott manages to do everything right while being horribly wrong. What do I mean? Well, this isn't really a Spider-Man comic now is it? I mean, I'm fine with the occasional issue of a book focusing on the supporting cast, but with this whole Point One initiative, I expected them to focus on the title characters a lot more than this. Instead though, we get an exceptional one and done tale involving the new Venom, and I greatly appreciated seeing a bit more of Flash Thompson as Venom before being thrown into his ongoing. His banter in the field was great and seeing Flash deal with not having the suit on was equally revealing, showing how comfortable he already is in the suit. I just wish we got more Spidey, but the teaser on the last page was really nice and made me excited for what is it come this year. 

       Humberto Ramos returns on art this issue, and it feels like just last month he was on this book. Oh wait, he was (Hehe). But seriously, it was great having Ramos come back in for an issue to draw this story, as he is one of those over the top pencillers that captures an incredible Venom. Whether Flash was in control or not, the suit looked good and I loved it. When you finally see Flag Smasher face off against Venom, you truly get some great looking work. I wonder if Marvel looked at this panel though and thought it too violent, because Joe Caramagna makes the "CHOMPPP" go right where the action is, hindering our sight. Regardless, it's effective and I look forward to the eventual return of Ramos down the line. 
 
       Overall, Amazing Spider-Man continues to be a great book, but this issue isn't exactly the jumping on point it should be. It's a great jumping on point for Venom, so go buy that next week, but if you're looking for your intro to Spidey, look elsewhere. Regardless, this book is a good 4.5 out of 5. Well worth the $2.99.