Thank you to Random House Worlds for sending a copy of Marvel: What If… Marc Spector Was Host to Venom? in exchange for an honest review.
What If… Marc Spector Was Host to Venom?
I was excited to read this novel in part because I am a fan of Moon Knight. I have enjoyed the majority of his Marvel Comics titles (try as I might, I can’t find those two runs from the late 90s). And as a reader who has spent many hours enjoying the exploits of Moon Knight, I was not disappointed with this novel.
The other reason I was excited about this book was the author. I have previously encountered Chen’s writing in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Dog of War. This comic was outstanding, featuring the seemingly unlikely narrative catalyst of Quark importing a Welsh Corgi. One of the things I really loved about the comic was the fact that it felt like a “lost episode” of Deep Space Nine, a seamless addition to the collection of stories about the space station I’ve already watched and rewatched.
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Likewise, What If… Marc Spector Was Host to Venom? is a perfect match for so many of the Moon Knight comics I have read, and which made me such a big fan of the character. Chen is adept at shifting tone and voice as the narrative shifts between alters and characters. Jake is distinct from Steven; Marc is distinct from Venom. Even without the character names at the top of their respective chapters, I suspect I could have easily determined who was the focal point of each segment.
However, in the interest of full disclosure, I do think I should mention that I am not the best person to judge the depiction of Dissociative Identity Disorder. I don’t have DID, and I have no psychiatric training. But as far as I could tell, Marc and his alters were depicted respectfully throughout the novel.
Moon Knight’s Supernatural Interlopers
One of the many interesting aspects of Moon Knight is his relationship with Khonshu. An ancient Egyptian deity who is responsible for resurrecting Marc and transforming him into his avatar, Khonshu and Marc have a complicated relationship. In this novel, that relationship is further examined by using Venom, an extraterrestrial symbiote, as a foil.
In fact, there is a lot of doubling. (What follows includes some early plot spoilers, but none that aren’t included in the novel’s official website description, linked below.) The story kicks off with Moon Knight encountering a doppelgänger Marc Spector from another world. This Spector is the one who introduces Venom to the narrative.
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When Venom jumps from the parallel universe Spector to Marc, Spector’s Steven and Jake personalities regain consciousness after having been repressed by Venom – but they can’t find their Marc. However, Venom forces Khonshu “out” of Marc, and Khonshu takes up residence in Spector, who never encountered the god in his home universe.
Is it complicated? Yes, very. But, I never had a hard time following what was going on. However, I do think that readers will need at least a passing familiarity with the way Venom, Khonshu and Marc’s alters all relate to one another in order to easily follow the narrative. But that’s just sort of the foundation of What If…? stories in general, isn’t it? If you don’t have a point of reference for the characters, then the “What If…?” questions addressed by these tales aren’t alternate realities. They’re just stories.
Who Watches the Watchers?
Finally, when I read What If… Wanda Maximoff and Peter Parker Were Siblings? by Seanan McGuire, I didn’t realize there was any continuity between the three books released in this series (so far). Frankly, What If… Wanda Maximoff and Peter Parker Were Siblings? probably had a little bit more of this continuity than this novel. In both cases, I didn’t need the additional context from the previous stories to enjoy the one I was reading.
That being said, I have nevertheless taken it upon myself to procure a copy of What If… Loki Was Worthy? by Madeleine Roux after completing What If… Marc Spector Was Host to Venom? I’m curious to fill in the blanks on that ongoing story. Plus, I just enjoyed these two books enough to go back for thirds. This is a lot like a key marketing strategy for Marvel Comics, which gives you pieces of the story in otherwise self-contained books to entice you into purchasing additional issues.
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At any rate, I’m eager to read more of this varied series, including the forthcoming fourth book. Marvel Comics fans, and especially Moon Knight enthusiasts, should pick up What If… Marc Spector Was Host to Venom? It’s a fun escape to another world, one where heroes prevail.
Marvel: What If… Marc Spector Was Host to Venom? is available at your local bookstore and/or public library now.
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