Miles Morales’ Venom form is trying to murder J. Jonah Jameson

There comes a time in every young Spider-Man’s life when his body goes through a lot of sudden and hard-to-predict changes. I’m talking, of course, of when he gets his first symbiote, which is exactly what is happening to Miles Morales in the Absolute Carnage event.

Unfortunately, Miles has become the host of one of Carnage’s mind-controlled symbiotes, which means he’s being forced to do Carnage’s bidding. And Carnage wants him to kill J. Jonah Jameson, in order to sow “confusion and fear.” That’s not cool.

But what is cool is Miles’ totally awesome brand new Venom form.

What else is happening in the pages of our favorite comics? I’ll tell you. Welcome to Polygon’s weekly list of the books that our comics editor, me, enjoyed this past week. It’s part society pages of superhero lives, part reading recommendations, part “look at this cool art.” Let’s get started!

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Absolute Carnage: Miles Morales #2

Saladin Ahmed, Federico Vicentini/Marvel Comics

Symbiote Miles Morales has actual spider-mandibles to go with his Venom-strike power, and SIX ARMS (plus legs makes eight), each of which has his iconic red shoulder webbing. If you’re going to go evil, do it in style, is what I’m saying.

Marvel Comics Presents: Wolverine #9

Zac Thompson, Lonnie Nadler, André Lima Araújo/Marvel Comics

Thank god last year’s What If? X-Men #1 has not been forgotten, and people are telling more stories about a world in which mutants only have extra powers in the virtual world and they’re called — yes — the .Exe-Men.

SFSX (Safe Sex) #1

Tina Horn, Michael Dowling/Image Comics

Like Second Coming, SFSX (crunched format for the phrase “Safe Sex”) is a title from the last big Vertigo relaunch that wound up finding a home at another publisher. The first issue is out, and the story — about a woman in a conservative sexual dystopia — is full of action. It’s also extremely not safe for work, in case you were wondering.

White Trees #2

Speaking of Spicy Comics, The White Trees wrapped up its two-issue run this week, and when it’s not being spicy it’s still being, gosh, just so beautiful.

Action Comics #1015

Brian Michael Bendis, Szymon Kudranski/DC Comics

My wonderful daughter Naomi is finally joining the wider superhero community and I could not be more proud. You should all read Naomi Vol. 1 when it hits!

Dial H for Hero #7

Sam Humphries, Erica Henderson/DC Comics

I loved seeing Erica Henderson (Squirrel Girl) stretch her style for one of the stories in this week’s Dial H for Hero. Also: Superman’s pal Bibbo Bibbowski.

New Mutants: War Children #1

Chris Claremont, Bill Sienkiewicz/Marvel Comics

Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz, the quintessential New Mutants creative team, reunited this week and they did not disappoint.

Fearless #3

Zoë Quinn, Marika Cresta/Marvel Comics

Fearless is a very solid anthology miniseries of all female and non-binary writers at Marvel. Extra shoutout for this extremely cute cat demon that is just the biggest Patsy Walker fan.

Black Panther #16

Ta-Nehisi Coates, Daniel Acuña/Marvel Comics

At the risk of reducing an arc with a lot of fascinating moving parts down to something too small: Killmonger symbiote, Killmonger symbiote, Killmonger symbiote!