Absolute Carnage: Symbiote Spider-Man #1
(W) Peter David (A) Francesco Mobili (CA) Greg Land
Rated T
In Shops: Sep 04, 2019
SRP: $4.99
AN UNTOLD TALE OF A SYMBIOTIC HOST FROM YESTERYEAR…
During its first visit to New York City, the alien symbiote that would come to be known as Venom bonded to a host that wasn’t Spider-Man or Eddie Brock. Face front, True Believers, as this mysterious man meets his destiny… at the hands of CARNAGE!
Absolute Carnage: Scream #2 (of 3)
(W) Cullen Bunn (A/CA) Gerardo Sandoval
Rated T+
In Shops: Sep 04, 2019
SRP: $3.99
• Patricia Robertson may know symbiotes…but nothing could have ever prepared her for their god, KNULL!
• With Carnage building strength to call the symbiote god to Earth, Patricia must harness the power of the Scream symbiote!
• Can Scream withstand the draw of Knull, or are they doomed to be another casualty?
Venom #17 drops the series right into “Absolute Carnage,” the event spreading from the Spider-Man titles. It’s also a follow-up in some ways to the one-shot Absolute Carnage: Separation Anxiety.
Venom is off with Spider-Man attempting to stop Carnage’s plan but that leaves his son/brother with the Maker. Yes, the Maker, the evil Reed Richards from the Ultimate Universe. Some of the issue is hinted at in Absolute Carnage #2, also out this week. And having read that first, I really wanted to know what happened in this issue. What’s entailed is pure action with a style that’s reminiscent of films of the 80s and 90s. Quips. Guns. And just solid action moments.
Writer Donny Cates delivers fantastic pacing and energy in this comic which is one piece of the bigger puzzle of the event. On its own, it doesn’t quite stand but in the bigger picture, it’s great. There’s a good mix of action cliches that just makes the comic work and makes it fun.
The art by Iban Coello is fantastic. The color from Rain Beredo and lettering by Clayton Cowles, it all comes together to really stand out and pop. There’s also some solid page layouts that are really interesting towards the beginning of the comic. Venom is a series as a whole that has consistently solid artwork to accompany fantastic writing.
Venom #17 is a great comic as part of the event. For those not checking that out, it doesn’t quite work. But, there’s still something to it in that being stalked/horror story way. Cates is consistently delivering an interesting Venom and even in an event tie-in finds new aspects to add depth to his world.
Story: Donny Cates Art: Iban Coello
Color: Rain Beredo Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.45 Overall: 8.1 Recommendation: Buy
Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Things are looking desperate in Absolute Carnage #2. Venom and Spider-Man are surrounded by Carnage and his horde and that’s even before we get to Miles Morales’ story.
Writer Donny Cates continues to deliver an event that brings a tinge of horror to the Spider-Man universe. Carnage is on a mission to resurrect the symbiote god and he’ll need to kill a lot of people to do so.
What Cates delivers so well is the feeling of desperation. Spider-Man and Venom are outnumbered and know it. That feeling of people overwhelmed is projected to the reader nicely. There’s a sense of drowning concerning it all. That experience is repeated quite a few times within the issue. And that also leads the first problem.
The issue delivers some of the events we see in Absolute Carnage: Miles Morales #1. While it comes off as the “Reader’s Digest” version the two stories don’t quite line up in all of the details as far as what’s show in each. Some of that may be chalked up to different perspectives but it stands out. Also, the spin-off’s depiction of events feels a bit superior to this abbreviated take.
The art by Ryan Stegman is pretty solid. With ink by JP Mayer and color by Frank Martin, it looks really good. It’s not all perfect. There are moments where Stegman’s style doesn’t quite match the “horror” vibe of it. And, in one particular panel, Pete’s facial expression doesn’t quite match the moment. Stegman’s style is usually fantastic for Venom and Spider-Man but here it misses the tone a bit. What does hit the vibe is Clayton Cowles‘ lettering which just nails Carnage’s “voice” so well. It stands out and emphasizes the terror in every scene he’s in. It’s a perfect match of a lettering style to a character.
Absolute Carnage #2 is a good entry in the stand out event. The issue has some flaws but those are minor compared to the entertainment.
Story: Donny Cates Art: Ryan Stegman
Ink: JP Mayer Color: Frank Martin Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Story: 7.75 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.75 Recommendation: Read
Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
“Absolute Carnage” is engulfing the Marvel Universe and it’s no surprise that Miles Morales is one of the victims. What will Miles do when Carnage’s army goes after the Scorpion?
Story: Saladin Ahmed
Art: Federico Vicentini
Color: Erick Arciniega
Letterer: Cory Petit
Get your copy in comic shops now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.
Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
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Wednesdays are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in!
Each week our contributors choose what they can’t wait to read this week or just sounds interesting. In other words, this is what we’re looking forward to and think you should be taking a look at!
Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this Wednesday.
Absolute Carnage #2/Absolute Carnage: Lethal Protectors #1/Absolute Carnage: Miles Morales #1/Venom #17 (Marvel) – Events often don’t live up to the hype but “Absolute Carnage” has delivered so far. There’s only been good to great so far so we’re all in until we see otherwise.
Batman/Superman #1 (DC Comics) – The Batman Who Laughs has poisoned superheroes and this classic team-up returns to deal with it. The next chapter in an epic tale.
Doctor Mirage #1 (Valiant) – How do you solve the case of your own death? That concept is too cool to not check out.
Grass (Drawn & Quarterly) – An anti-war graphic novel about a Korean girl forced into sexual slavery for the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II.
House of X #3 (Marvel) – The big picture is finally revealed and Hickman isn’t giving us a restart of the X-Universe but delivering the next major event.
Killers #2 (Valiant) – A deeper dive into Valiants “Ninja” world. It’s been cool so far adding a lot to this intriguing corner of the universe.
Knights Temporal #2 (Aftershock) – The first issue was really intriguing with a knight transported to modern times. The details are still a mystery but it’s a mystery we’re intrigued by.
Mall #1 (Vault Comics) – The Mall isn’t just a bunch of stores, this consumeristic mecca is filled with tribes and name brand gangs!
Manor Black #2 (Dark Horse) – If you read the first issue, you know why this is on the list. The comic is a mix of horror and superheroes and we’re intrigued to see where it all goes.
Marvel Comics #1000 (Marvel) – We’ve read this one and it’s an intriguing celebration of Marvel’s 80 years.
Mountainhead #1 (IDW Publishing) – A father and son are nomads who think the government is after them. A lone survivor of a climbing expedition is covered in blood. The two will collide in this intriguing debut.
Power Pack: Grow Up #1 (Marvel) – Louise Simonson and June Brigman return to the beloved characters to celebrate 80 years of Marvel.
Red Winter #2 (Scout Comics) – The first issue was solid gritty crime/noir and we’re all in for the second issue.
Stalingrad: Letters from the Volga (Dead Reckoning) – Exploring the bloodiest battle of World War II.
Tommy Gun Wizards #1 (Dark Horse) – An alternate history where Eliot Ness is after Al Capone who’s dealing in magic.
Venom #17
(W) Donny Cates (A) Iban Coello (CA) Kyle Hotz
Rated T+
In Shops: Aug 28, 2019
SRP: $3.99
ABSOLUTE CARNAGE TIE-IN!
• With CARNAGE on the loose, VENOM must protect his son Dylan – at all costs!
• But as longtime Venomaniacs know, VENOM AND CARNAGE aren’t the only symbiotes loose in New York!
Absolute Carnage: Miles Morales #1 (of 3)
(W) Saladin Ahmed (A) Federico Vincentini (CA) Clayton Crain
Rated T
In Shops: Aug 28, 2019
SRP: $3.99
TARGET: SCORPION!
It’s business as usual for Miles Morales as he finds himself squaring off with Mac Gargan, A.K.A. THE SCORPION! But as a cult of Carnage’s bloodthirsty acolytes swarms New York, Miles will learn the hard way that Scorpion has a history with Venom and the other symbiotes of the Marvel Universe! If he can survive this issue, that is.
Absolute Carnage: Lethal Protectors #1 (of 3)
(W) Frank Tieri (A) Flaviano Armentaro (CA) Bengal
Rated T+
In Shops: Aug 28, 2019
SRP: $3.99
THE CULT OF CARNAGE COMES TO NEW YORK CITY!
When he was last seen, John Jameson was being recovered from the scene of a massacre in Doverton, Colorado, by Misty Knight. Since then, they’ve both been MIA. So how, then, are they the only two people poised to prevent chaos as a mysterious foe of Spider-Man’s is RESURRECTED in the basements of RAVENCROFT INSTITUTE FOR THE CRIMINALLY INSANE?!
Absolute Carnage #2 (of 5)
(W) Donny Cates (A/CA) Ryan Stegman
Rated T+
In Shops: Aug 28, 2019
SRP: $4.99
• After the terrifying conclusion of ABSOLUTE CARNAGE #1, a new player is on the board, and it’s NOT who you’d expect!
• Barely able to escape with their lives, SPIDER-MAN and VENOM have no choice but to drag a slew of other heroes into Carnage’s crosshairs.
• Worse yet, Carnage’s rampage through New York City claims an unexpected piece of collateral damage…and there’s NOTHING Venom or anyone can do to stop it!
