Cult of Carnage: Misery #2 (of 5)
(W) Sabir Pirzada (A) Francesco Mortarino (CA) Skan
Rated T+
In Shops: Jun 21, 2023
SRP: $3.99
THE MOTHER OF ALL SYMBIOTE STORIES!
The Life Foundation symbiotes, Toxin and the others, have been STOLEN! But by whom? And WHY?! Regardless, it’s up to Liz to save the symbiotes before they can fall into the wrong hands – and unleash untold havoc across New York!
This year’s Free Comic Book Day will be packed with new beginnings including a prelude to the X-Men’s next era, Fall ofF X; an introduction to Jonathan Hickman’s bold upcoming projects, G.O.D.S. with Valerio Schiti and Ultimate Invasion with Bryan Hitch; the debut of a new Venom villain, and so much more. In addition to these exciting lead-in stories for fans and newcomers alike, Marvel Comics will also spotlight creators and characters from different cultures and communities in a special installment of the Marvel’s Voices program, Free Comic Book Day: Marvel’s Voices, and deliver all-ages Spider-Man adventures in Free Comic Book Day 2023: Spidey & His Amazing Friends #1 so that even the youngest readers won’t go home empty handed!
It’s one of the biggest days for the comic book industry, and this year promises to be the greatest one yet! Here’s what fans can looking forward to:
FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2023: AVENGERS/X-MEN #1
Be the first to arrive at this year’s game-changing Hellfire Gala in a story by the current X-Men creative team: writer Gerry Duggan and artist Joshua Cassara. This year’s HELLFIRE GALA will be more dramatic than ever, and the tragic events of the night will lead mutantkind directly into FALL OF X.
Then join Duggan and superstar artist Javier Garrón as they reassemble the Avengers Unity Squad to navigate the dangers of FALL OF X and solve the mystery of the new Captain Krakoa in a prelude story to their upcoming run of UNCANNY AVENGERS. This action-packed story will also feature the debut of the STARK SENTINELS, a new line of mutant hunters who cause major havoc on the night of the Gala and in the pages of Duggan’s INVINCIBLE IRON MAN.
And score a sneak peek at one of the most talked about launches of the year, Jonathan Hickman and Valerio Schiti’s G.O.D.S., an extraordinary epic at the crossroads of magic and science where Marvel’s cosmic pantheon will be boldly reimagined.
Written by GERRY DUGGAN & JONATHAN HICKMAN
Art by JOSHUA CASSARA, JAVIER GARRÓN & VALERIO SCHITI
Colors by MARTE GRACIA & MORRY HOLLOWELL
Cover by JAVIER GARRÓN & MORRY HOLLOWELL
FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2023: SPIDER-MAN/VENOM #1
Dive into the next story arc of Zeb Wells’ run of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN with a story that sees the return of two classic Spidey villains! Featuring incredible art by Patrick Gleason, this thrilling story also unleashes the full potential Spider-Man’s new suit!
Then, web-swing over to the symbiote side of things with current VENOM masterminds, Al Ewing and Cafu! The pair will pull back the curtain on a secret chapter in symbiote history where an experiment went horribly wrong…. Say hello to new Venom villain, FLEXO!
And get a glimpse into Jonathan Hickman and Bryan Hitch’s ULTIMATE INVASION, a saga that begins with a daring mission to revive the Ultimate Universe but ends with the promise of something all-new and vastly different than anything that’s come before…
Written by ZEB WELLS, AL EWING & JONATHAN HICKMAN
Art by PATRICK GLEASON, CAFU, BRYAN HITCH & ANDREW CURRIE
Colors by MARCIO MENYZ, FRANK D’ARMATA & ALEX SINCLAIR
Cover by PATRICK GLEASON & BRYAN VALENZA
FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2023: MARVEL’S VOICES #1
Spotlighting creators and characters across Marvel’s diverse and ever-evolving universe, this book will include a range of stories from previous Marvel’s Voices issues that star Ms. Marvel, Luke Cage, Wave, and more! Plus a brand-new Ironheart adventure by writer John Jennings and Paris Alleyne that debuts her deadly new nemesis, KHEM!
Written by JOHN JENNINGS, NYLA INNUKSUK, SABIR PIRZADA, ALYSSA WONG & CODY ZIGLAR
Art by PARIS ALLEYNE, NATASHA DONOVAN, ERIC KODA, STEPHEN BYRNE, DIÓGENES NEVES & EDER MESSIAS
Colors by ERICK ARCINIEGA, RACHELLE ROSENBERG, BRIAN REBER, FRANK WILLIAM & DIJJO LIMA
Cover by CHRIS ALLEN & PARIS ALLEYNE
FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2023: SPIDEY & HIS AMAZING FRIENDS #1
Swing into adventure with Spidey, Ghost-Spider, and Miles as they face off against Green Goblin, Doc Ock and more in this spectacular special. Filled with easy-to-read comic stories based on the hit Disney Junior show, this book is perfect for the youngest readers aged 5-7. Young fans will even be able to test their wall-crawling skills with thrilling interactive activity pages! Kids will love this not-to-be-missed comic: the perfect primer for the newest generation of Spider-Fans!
Cult of Carnage: Misery #1 (of 5)
(W) Sabir Pirzada (A) Francesco Mortarino (CA) Skan
Rated T+
In Shops: May 03, 2023
SRP: $4.99
DEATH AND DESTRUCTION RETURN HOME!
Liz Allen is the mother of Normie Osborn, who she is blissfully unaware is the all-new and all-deadly RED GOBLIN! But what Liz DOES know is that the Red Goblin has been active and has been seen VERY close to her home. And after her late husband’s father, NORMAN OSBORN (maybe you’ve heard of him?), gets pulled into the chaos and violence swirling around Normie, Liz has no choice but to use the resources at her disposal as the head of ALCHEMAX to take matters into her own hands and become something the Marvel Universe has NEVER SEEN BEFORE!
At Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2) 2023, Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski and Venom editor Devin Lewis, along with David Pepose, Sabir Pirzada, and Zeb Wells, revealed what’s next for Spidey and the twisted symbiotic family tree of the Marvel Universe!
Fans can now witness the full scope of Summer of Symbiotes, a season’s worth of symbiote sagas to celebrate Venom’s 35th anniversary! The insanity kicks off in May with titles like Cult of Carnage: Misery, Extreme Venomverse, Carnage Reigns, and more. Here’s just some of what was revealed about what’s in store for Venom, Carnage, Red Goblin, Misery, and the rest of the Venomverse all summer long!
CARNAGE SEEKS TO INHERIT THE EARTH in Web of Carnage, a new series by Ram V, Francesco Manna, and more. In the aftermath of Carnage Reigns where Cletus Kasady exacted his vengeance on Miles Morales and the Marvel Universe, the Carnage symbiote remains left to its own devices, adrift among the stars. With its purpose renewed, Carnage has scant few hurdles between it and a glorious ascension to the throne of the King in Black…and the first is named Morlun.
Alex Paknadel and Jan Bazaldua begin a new arc “Nature Vs. Nuture” in Red Goblin #6! Carnage Reigns may be over, but Normie Osborn and the Rascal symbiote’s problems are only just beginning! For weeks, Normie’s pacified the symbiote and managed to keep the rabid killing machine inside it under control. But in this issue, Normie learns that you can’t fight nature…
It’s a fight against MADNESS in Sabir Pirzada and Francesco Mortarino’s Cult of Carnage: Misery! The new symbiotic monstrosity called Madness inadvertently forced Liz Allan to bond to the all-new MISERY symbiote, changing both her life and the future of symbitoes! Imbued with all the powers and personalities of the LIFE FOUNDATION SYMBIOTES (and more!), Madness is a symbiotic force unlike any other in the Marvel Universe. There is nowhere that Liz Allan can go that Madness cannot follow, no one she can ask for help that Madness cannot destroy, and nothing she can do to stop the brutality of its onslaught. Fans can see Madness in all his glory on the cover of CULT OF CARNAGE: MISERY #4 and concept art by Francesco Mortarino!
Behold a radical transformation of Eddie Brock as Venom in Al Ewing and Ramon F. Bachs’ Venom #22! For months, Eddie Brock’s consciousness has been displaced in time! You’ve seen what happens when he’s flung himself to the far future of the Marvel Universe – now see what happens when he tries to traverse its past! Face to face with the mysterious FLEXO in the past, Venom learns a shocking secret about the role symbiotes playing in Marvel history!
Then, Torunn Grønbekk and Ken Lashley create a new vision of TOXIN in Venom#23! Toxin is the offspring of the most dangerous symbiote in the history of the Marvel Universe: CARNAGE. But while Carnage and Cletus Kasady are separated and both devising machinations and plans of cosmic bloodshed and conquest, what has its progeny been doing? And will Dylan Brock or the Venom symbiote survive when they come face to face with this latest terrifying Toxin?! And Toxin isn’t the only symbiote in this story who’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen! The symbiote family is about to grow a little larger… and what’s coming will change the continuing saga of the symbiotes FOREVER!
The Summer of Symbiotes will also infect Marvel Unlimited in the Edge of Venomverse Unlimited Infinity Comic series! A new Venom has been unleashed upon an unsuspecting world in this saga by writer Clay McLeod Chapman and an exciting lineup of artists including Phillip Sevy, Gustavo Duarte, Dax Gordine, and Nathan Stockman. On a freezing, snow-covered night a Holy Man comes to the aid of a mother and father terrified to kiss their little girl goodnight. Will he offer salvation or the ultimate destruction? The series drops on Marvel Unlimited on Tuesday, June 13 and J. Holtham will be writing alternating stories, beginning with a special 4th of July address from President Venom.
And finally, the capstone to Summer of Symbiotes and spinning out of Extreme Venomverse comes THE DEATH OF THE VENOMVERSE! Symbiote hotshots Cullen Bunn and Gerardo Sandoval are reuniting to bring the symbiotic ax down on the VENOMVERSE! Carnage has been building his powers up, extracting unique abilities from many villains throughout the Marvel Universe to the point of traversing the Multiverse with a singular goal: KILL ANY AND ALL VENOMS! The limited series will also include a classic tale in the vein of Venom: Lethal Protector by Venom co-creator David Michelinie. All five issues will release in August and will be packed with more symbiote shakeups than you can wrap your head around!
Check out the covers now and stay tuned for more Summer of Symbiotes news!
Starting in May, the symbiote characters you know and love as well as exciting new symbiote stars will have their day in the sun! Dubbed the “Summer of Symbiotes,” this celebration of Venom’s 35th anniversary will include a host of ongoing series, limited series, and crossovers spotlighting Venom, Carnage, Red Goblin, and many more! Today, fans can vibe to the chaotic energy of this symbiote showcase in a new promotional image by Phillip Tan and Scott Williams! A venomous postcard of what’s in store, this outrageous image pays homage to the Marvel swimsuit pinups of the ‘90s, specifically Jim Lee, Scott Williams, and Joe Rosas’ iconic poolside pinup from 1991’s X-Men #1.
Here’s a rundown of the titles that will be hosting this upcoming era, including news about titles yet to be fully announced:
VENOM
Crafted by a mastermind team of Al Ewing and Cafu and others, Venom’s current ongoing series will continue to explore the transformative journeys of both Eddie Brock and Dylan Brock. A saga spanning time and space, Eddie has come face to face with the worst parts of himself in the form of new villain Bedlam while Dylan has followed in his father’s footsteps, embracing his own symbiote and becoming a new Marvel hero. And this summer, their symbiote family is about to grow even larger…
CARNAGE
The most terrifying villain in the Marvel Universe has returned! Cletus Kasady is back in Alex Paknadel and Francesco Manna’s Carnage ongoing series. With a renewed purpose, Venom’s psychotic offspring is ready to unleash his vengeance on an unsuspecting Marvel Universe and ascend to a glorious new role. After he takes care of Miles Morales, of course.
EXTREME VENOMVERSE
In the same spirit of Edge of Spider-Verse, this landmark new series will take readers to uncharted corners of the symbiote hive with brand-new stories by all-star creators! Witness jaw-dropping turning points for symbiote icons and see never-before-seen Venoms bear their fangs for the very first time including the debuts of a symbiote-hosting Felicia Hardy, a Venom samurai, a Venom spaceknight, and more!
RED GOBLIN
Spinning out the pages of Venom, a deadly new Goblin takes to the night sky in this ongoing series by writer Alex Pakandel and Jan Bazaldua. On stands now, the thrilling saga stars Normie Osborn who’s received his own symbiote and embraces his grandfather Norman’s legacy by becoming the Red Goblin! But will Normie fulfill his dark destiny as an Osborn – or will he and his symbiote strive to make a difference for the better?
CARNAGE REIGNS
A brutal crossover between Miles Morales: Spider-Man, Carnage, and Red Goblin pits Miles Morales against Carnage in what promises to be Miles’ darkest battle yet. With his soul trapped within the Extrembiote Armor created by Tony Stark during King in Black, Cletus has the means to level an untold amount of chaos on New York City. But like any good Tony Stark invention, the Extremis coursing through Cletus’ symbiotic veins needs POWER, and that means Cletus is HUNGRY. Good thing Brooklyn’s very own Spider-Man is there to stand in his way!
CULT OF CARNAGE: MISERY
The mother of all symbiote stories from writer Sabir Pirzada and artist Francesco Mortarino, starring Liz Allen as the new Misery! The limited series kicks off when the Life Foundation symbiotes, Toxin and the others, are mysteriously stolen! But by whom? And WHY?! Regardless, it’s up to Liz to save the symbiotes before they can fall into the wrong hands – and unleash untold havoc across the Marvel Universe!
EDGE OF VENOMVERSE INFINITY COMIC
Even Marvel Unlimited isn’t safe from the “Summer of Symbiotes”! Learn about an exciting upcoming symbiote series coming to Marvel Unlimited at the Marvel Comics: Spider-Man & the Venomverse Panel at C2E2 2023!
DEATH OF THE VENOMVERSE
It’s all leading to this! The epic adventures above are spiraling towards an explosive destination, and not all your favorite symbiotes will survive the journey. The Carnage symbiote is more bloodthirsty than ever and heads to the multiverse for its greatest killing spree yet. But what is it after? Find out more when this upcoming limited series is announced at the Marvel Comics: Spider-Man & the Venomverse Panel at C2E2 2023!
Dark Web: Ms. Marvel #2 wraps up the two issue tie-in series to Dark Web delivering a hell of a lot of fun and laughs. Demons have descended upon New York City as Chasm and the Goblin Queen are out for revenge in a follow up event to the classic story Inferno. In the previous issue, Ms. Marvel was sucked into limbo leaving readers to think she’d spend this issue battling her way out and then connecting with the other heroes. Well, if you did, you’d be wrong.
Writer Sabir Pirzada takes the series in an unexpected direction as Ms. Marvel’s time in Limbo is rather short. Instead the comic mostly has her battling a group of villains, The Inventors, who I have no idea about. But, you don’t really need to. What’s fantastic about these two issues are that they can be enjoyed by themselves with their tie-in to Dark Web tenuous at best. There’s all sorts of weirdness going on but Kamala’s interaction with the other heroes or event at large is minimal. Though, the issue delivers its best moments following the story of Kamala’s mosque which has come alive and now going… somwhere.
Pirzada delivers so much humor in the comic it’s hard to not constantly laugh or at least have a smile on your face. What’s presented is so absurd in a way the story just goes with the flow having fun with the possible this event presents. The mosque segment alone makes the issue worth it.
Some of the fun involves the art which pops. Francesco Mortarino‘s art style is awesome and it’s only made better by the colors from Dono Sanchez-Almara and Fernando Sifuentes and lettering by Ariana Maher. Though the comic event falls into the horror genre, the comic pops and never goes too dark. The colors fall on the dark side of things but they still glow off of the page like a night sky lit up. The design of everything is great and will have you lingering to see all of the details.
Dark Web: Ms. Marvel #2 is just a hell of a lot of fun. The comic could easily stand on its own, having little to do with the greater event. Even if you’re not interested in it, this is a two issue series that’s worth picking up to just sit back and enjoy.
Story: Sabir Pirzada Art: Francesco Mortarino
Color: Dono Sanchez-Almara, Fernando Sifuentes Letterer: Ariana Maher
Story: 8.4 Art: 8.6 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy
Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: Zeus Comics – comiXology/Kindle
For this year’s Free Comic Book Day, Marvel will have something for every fan, offering four separate titles packed with exciting entry points into the Marvel Comics mythos! In addition to lead-in stories to the biggest comic book sagas of 2023 including Fall of X and Jonathan Hickman and Valerio Schiti’s upcoming epic, 2023’s Free Comic Book Day titles will also spotlight creators and characters from different cultures, communities, and identities and provide the perfect first comic for new readers!
Free Comic Book Day 2023: Avengers/X-Men #1 features a pair of all-new stories that set the stage for the next evolution in mutant adventures, Fall of X! First, X-Men masterminds Gerry Duggan and Joshua Cassara give fans a peek at the drama to come at this year’s Hellfire Gala and reveal the surprising fate of Captain Krakoa. Then, superstar artist Javier Garrón joins Duggan for a story that features the rise of Stark Sentinels and lays the groundwork for an uncanny new team book launching later this year. Plus meet Jonathan Hickman and Valerio Schiti at the crossroads of science and magic with a sneak peek at their upcoming mystery project! Featuring a cover by Javier Garrón.
Free Comic Book Day 2023: Spider-Man/Venom #1 will web-sling readers into the exciting developments currently taking place in the world of Amazing Spider-Man and Venom! First, see Zeb Wells and Patrick Gleason unleash the full fury of Peter Parker’s new spidey suit and reveal the exciting plans for one of Spider-Man’s fiercest foes. Then witness a symbiote experiment gone horribly wrong and the creation of a terrifying new enemy for Venom in a story by writer Al Ewing and new Venom artist CAFU. Plus a surprising preview of new Marvel saga just on the horizon by two of Marvel’s top creators! Featuring a cover by Patrick Gleason.
Free Comic Book Day 2023: Marvel’s Voices #1 invites readers to the groundbreaking and critically acclaimed Marvel’s Voices series, which spotlights creators and characters across Marvel’s diverse and ever-evolving universe. The book will include a range of stories from previous Marvel’s Voices issues that star Ms. Marvel, Luke Cage, Wave, and more! Plus a brand-new Ironheart adventure by writer John Jennings and Paris Alleyne that debuts her deadly new nemesis, KHEM! Don’t miss stories written by Jennings, Nyla Innuksuk, Sabir Pirzada, Alyssa Wong, and Cody Ziglar and art by Alleyne, Natasha Donovan, Eric Koda, Stephen Byrne, Diógenes Neves, and Eder Messias. Plus, a cover by Chris Allen!
And last but certainly not least, Free Comic Book Day 2023: Spidey & His Amazing Friends #1 is back! Swing into adventure with Spidey, Ghost-Spider, and Miles as they face off against Green Goblin, Doc Ock and more in this spectacular special. Filled with easy-to-read comic stories based on the hit Disney Junior show, this book is perfect for the youngest readers aged 5-7. Young fans will even be able to test their wall-crawling skills with thrilling interactive activity pages! Kids will love this not-to-be-missed comic: the perfect primer for the newest generation of Spider-Fans!
Check with your local comic shop regarding availability and don’t miss the chance to pick up these extraordinary one-shots when they arrive in May!
Dark Web: Ms. Marvel #2 (of 2)
(W) Sabir Pirzada (A) Francesco Mortarino (CA) Marco Checchetto
Rated T+
In Shops: Jan 11, 2023
SRP: $3.99
LOST IN LIMBO! Caught in the explosive events unfolding across New York – including a face-to-face confrontation with CHASM himself – Kamala Khan finds herself teleported to Limbo, the domain of the Goblin Queen Madelyne Pryor! As the city descends into chaos that threatens everything and everyone Kamala holds dear, she’s left with no choice but to call on MILES MORALES for a helping hand!
Dark Web: Ms. Marvel #1 (of 2)
(W) Sabir Pirzada (A) Francesco Mortarino (CA) Marco Checchetto
Rated T+
In Shops: Dec 21, 2022
SRP: $3.99
You know her, you love her! But this time, Kamala Khan may be in over her head. Fresh off her first few weeks working as an intern at Oscorp, MS. MARVEL finds herself as the last line of defense against a bunch of deadly and dangerous experiments going HAYWIRE thanks to the Spider-Epic DARK WEB! Things get even WORSE when Kamala finds herself in LIMBO, with no choice but to fight her way out! From SABIR PIRZADA (Marvel’s Voices, MS. MARVEL on Disney+) and your new favorite artist, Francesco Mortarino comes a bold and badass new vision of Ms. Marvel!
Dark Web: Ms. Marvel #1 (of 2)
(W) Sabir Pirzada (A) Francesco Mortarino (CA) Marco Checchetto
Rated T+
In Shops: Dec 21, 2022
SRP: $3.99
You know her, you love her! But this time, Kamala Khan may be in over her head. Fresh off her first few weeks working as an intern at Oscorp, MS. MARVEL finds herself as the last line of defense against a bunch of deadly and dangerous experiments going HAYWIRE thanks to the Spider-Epic DARK WEB! Things get even WORSE when Kamala finds herself in LIMBO, with no choice but to fight her way out! From SABIR PIRZADA (Marvel’s Voices, MS. MARVEL on Disney+) and your new favorite artist, Francesco Mortarino comes a bold and badass new vision of Ms. Marvel!
