Silver Surfer: Black #4 (of 5)
(W) Donny Cates (A/CA) Tradd Moore
Rated T+
In Shops: Sep 11, 2019
SRP: $3.99
• The darkness is spreading, and Knull is winning.
• But when the Surfer discovers something with the potential power to turn the tides, is he prepared to pay the terrible price for awakening it?
• With the cost of survival already taking its heavy toll on him, does he have any other choice?
Venom #18
(W) Donny Cates (A) Iban Coello (CA) Kyle Hotz
Rated T+
In Shops: Sep 11, 2019
SRP: $3.99
ABSOLUTE CARNAGE TIE-IN!
• Carnage’s unlikely and symbiotic allies swarm Venom and his family!
• As all hell continues to break loose as Carnage’s army swarms the streets of New York, Eddie Brock has his hands full at Rex’s Warehouse!
BABYTEETH #16
Writer: Donny Cates
Artist: Garry Brown
Colorist: Mark Englert
Letterer: Taylor Esposito
Cover Artist: Garry Brown
$3.99 / 32 pages / Full Color / ON SALE 9.11.2019
RESOLICITED
2 Corinthians 11:14
“And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”
From Donny Cates, the writer of Venom, Paybacks, Redneck and the breakout hit God Country, comes this pulse-pounding series with art from THE REVISIONIST’s Garry Brown!
Donny Cates and Mark Bagley take you to “Venom Island” in Venom #21 out December 2019.
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
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 #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!
Guardians of the Galaxy #8
(W) Donny Cates (A) Cory Smith (CA) Mike Henderson
Rated T+
In Shops: Aug 21, 2019
SRP: $3.99
THE DEATH OF ROCKET!
The death of Rocket continues here in “FAITHLESS” Part 2
• Rocket Raccoon is dying!
• But when the Universal Church of Truth rises again, he may have no choice but to fight.
• Being near death, and with only a few Guardians willing to stand beside him…the odds aren’t looking good.
Silver Surfer: Black #3 (of 5)
(W) Donny Cates (A/CA) Tradd Moore
Rated T+
In Shops: Aug 14, 2019
SRP: $3.99
• The Surfer’s power is fading!
• Is this the end of Norrin Radd as the all-consuming darkness descends upon him?
• Or will help come in the form of an unexpected ally?
