Spider-Man: The Venom Factor (Paperback)

by Diane Duane (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
That a full-color Spider-Man trading card will be bound into the first edition of this mediocre kick-off volume to the Marvel Comics Novels series clarifies just who is considered the target readership for the new line of books based on popular Marvel superheroes. Unfortunately, teens may be put off by Duane's (Spock's World) soap-operatic take on the characters, while nostalgia-crazed baby boomers are likely to find the pacing slow, at least until late in the story. The plot concerns how Spider-Man matches wits with archenemies Venom and Hobgoblin and uses an unnamed alien creature (who has a fondness for eating radioactive material) to try to keep Hobgoblin from destroying New York. The assorted characters' complex histories, drawn from decades' worth of Spider-Man comics, are recapped in chunks of prose that are as stale as Duane's handling of the acting career of Spider-Man's wife, Mary Jane Parker (whose forays into auditions don't reflect the reality of the New York acting scene), or, for that matter, of the requisite juvenile humor (Mary Jane wrinkling her nose at Spider-Man's sweat-soaked suit and suggesting that he create a "summerweight" one). Even so, with his comic books selling at the rate of 200 million a year Spidey clearly has enough fans to make this flawed but still mildly diverting first book in a promised Spider-Man trilogy a big success. Illustrations.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist
Something is stealing radioactive waste in New York, the homeless are being killed, and the navy has lost a mysterious cargo. Who better to deal with these harrowing happenings than Spider-Man? Well, the Feds and the NYPD, maybe--but Peter Parker (aka, in the appropriate tights, Spider-Man) somehow gets mixed up in it. As Peter worries about the price of film, and his girlfriend MJ auditions for acting jobs, the menaces multiply until Spider-Man, with some unlikely help, succeeds in saving the city (sorry to give that away) despite the usual misconceptions and opposition. Duane has a nice light touch with her comic-book superhero protagonist, managing to invest some intrinsically pretty unbelievable occurrences with a patina of authenticity. Great literature it ain't, but it's fun, which, after all, is what it's supposed to be. Dennis Winters --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 343 pages
• Publisher: Berkley (November 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572970383
• ISBN-13: 978-1572970380
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,131,348 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Da Majishan's Review, December 2, 1999

By	Mark Malazarte (Orlando, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spider-Man: The Venom Factor (Paperback)

Do you like science fiction? Have you read any comics in your life? If so, then Spider-Man: Venom Factor just might be the book for you. This wonderful book will leave you marveling in awe at the compelling and dramatic storyline, witty dialogue and mysterious plot so much that your hands will be drenched with sweat in anticipation of the next page. No kidding. If those of you who have been living under a rock, or if you're Amish (no offense), then you have heard of Manhattan's "neighborhood Spider-Man". If not, then Spider-Man is a young man that got bit by a radioactive spider, thus giving him spider-like powers for this reason he is named Spider-Man. I recommend you borrow, or better yet, buy this, and buy it now.

The major dilemma in this novel was that a symbiote from outer space has managed to take over Peter Parker's co-worker Eddie Brock. Eddie's mind then gets warped and goes berserk trying to create destruction. Luckily for New York, Spidey's here to the rescue! Spidey tries to help his co-worker and friend, Eddie Brock to fight the symbiote and not to give in to its power. While Spidey's trying to handle things with Venom, the Hobgoblin decides to wreak havoc and to get Venom on his side. From there, you must read the book to find out the spine-tingling story that is Spider-Man: Venom Factor.

If I were Siskel or Ebert and I rated books, then I would have to give Spider-Man: Venom Factor, a 2 thumbs up. Not only because I am fan of comics and Spider-Man himself, but also because Diane has made a nearly perfect conversion from comic book to hard book. Artist Ron Lim also has contributed to the atmosphere to the book with his wonderful artwork; really giving you that comic book feel without actually reading comics. If I were to read more books for later reports, then I'd read more of Diane Duane's series of Spider-Man books or X-Men. Even if you hate reading, you won't hate this book because of the brilliant plot and storyline, also the romance, and action. Now I know this is not some award-winning book or whatever, but if all of you Spider-Man fans go out and buy this book, then it might, it just might, have the potential to reach award-winning status. What are you waiting for? Read it now!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Venomous Web is Slung!, January 20, 2003

By	Michael S. Waren "schoeder" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Venom Factor (Spider-Man) (Hardcover)

Author Diane Duane weaves a great story about everyone favorite web-slinger, Spiderman. It appears that a someone, some creature, is terrorizing and killing certain members of N.Y.C.'s homeless population . Plus, this someone has a tasty bite for food that is radioactive. The creature at first appears to be Spiderman's enemy Venom or is it? Could the creature be Hobglobin? An unlikely allegiance is formed to find the true killer.

Although I not familiar with the character of Venom and the plot as it appeared in the popular comic book Diane Duane fills in the gaps for the reader and continues the story and characterization(s) in grand style. While I know that casting on the Spiderman sequel has begun and rumors of the sequel's story lines use the traditional, original villains that many of us grew up with. I hope that down the road that movie producers will have the insight to do at least one film about Venom and Spidey.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars She knows her spider-man, September 19, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Spider-Man: The Venom Factor (Paperback)

I have been a Spiderman comic collector for some time now. I normally don't read novels based on comic characters because they usually mess up. Not in this case. Duane really knows her spider-man and proves it with this book (first in a trilogy).