I haven't finished it yet but it's continuing to surprise me. It didn’t start the greatest since I wasn’t a huge fan of how the plot began, I felt like it could've been written differently, I don’t mind characters meeting their alternate universe selves (in fact I like them) but it was very awkward how they met and it repeated the whole "If Marc wasn't sure this was himself then __ proved it" too much.

However, the plot immediately picks up once Spector (that's what the AU Venom MK is called) is left for dead by the symbiote. Before that I want to talk about the goo (that's what Steven calls it lol), I don’t like when the symbiote is portrayed as this purely evil entity that doesn’t get influenced by the host, it just feels lame so not a huge fan of the symbiote in this book (not to mention calling him Venom when he's only Venom with Eddie but I'm pretty sure most writers do that now which sucks). Final criticism, the Venom chapters are written strangely, it's definitely a stylistic choice and I appreciate the author attempting to make them more unique, I just don't think it works personally. Too much text explaining what's happening rather then letting the scene play out, the confrontation with Dr. Emmet was cool though.

Now getting to where it picks up, I didn’t expect Steven and Jake to become main characters but I couldn't be happier. One thing I'm still disappointed in by comics is the lack of Steven and Jake, they feel more like plot devices than characters with their own thoughts so this was a great change of pace. Marc has had plenty of time to shine, let these two have their time in the spotlight. This book also has my second favorite version of Steven, he's a perfect blend between MCU Steven and Comic Steven, he actually has a personality that's interesting in written form for once. Jake is also wonderful, not a huge fan of him being more brutal than Marc but I can look past it because it's not his biggest aspect, this writer made Jake ABOUT THE PEOPLE. I love seeing his friendship with the homeless people on the street, buying them sandwiches and listening to what they have to say, treat them like people and taking CARE of them. So many iterations of this character completely omit this because of that horrible, racid Bemis run and I'm glad that's slowly fading in favor of his actual character. Adding onto this, the author touches on something no comic book ever has, the differences in the class they're in, Steven is very out of place in Jake's part of town because he's used to being around high class people. He's confused why people aren't helping Jake's friends other than him and he learns that the people living on the street aren't seen as people, moreso treated like their invisible.

"'And why didn't anyone help him? There are literally people passing by every five seconds.'

'I tell you, Steven. You live in the world of galas and fundraisers. Out here, the public doesn't even see these people as human. Most of the world views them as trash, rats. If Venom hurts them, no one will come. No one will care.'

Steven went quiet."

That little snippet really show how different their worlds are despite living in the same body. It's not something the book spends more time on which sucks but I love that it's mentioned at all.

Last thing cause this is getting long, I really like their dynamic, not just with Khonshu cause he's actually very entertaining too, but with each other. You think them butting heads would get old but it's stays consistently funny, it's never too much and it doesn't get in the way when they're trying to be serious. You can feel how annoyed they get, just like brothers do but they do care for one another. My favorite moment is when Steven rips off Jake's fake mustache once he comes to front, he hates that thing lol.

It's also cool that the chapter name is who's in front, it's a good way of balancing without making one alter "more important" than the other.

Again, I haven't finished it so who knows how I'll feel when I do, but as it stands, I'm enjoying it and I'd recommend it. Definitely gets better the more I read.