The New, "Carnage," #1 is a Satisfyingly Creepy Read

I often don't like Carnage as a character. When they try to make him Marvel's symbiote-infused version of DC's Joker it just is awful. He's not, "Funny," he's a violent force of nature that is practically pure bloodlust due to a psychopathic killer having been bonded to an already violently vengeful symbiote. Carnage works when he is presented more as a horror character than as something funny. Therefore, when an ongoing, "Carnage," series was announced--not a one-shot, not a mini-series, but a theoretically long-term ongoing--I was concerned. Then I was Ram V was writing and relaxed a whole lot. I also saw Francesco Manna was doing the artwork and felt even more cautiously optimistic. Having read the first issue of, "Carnage," I will say I am pleased.

There was a, "Carnage Forever," one-shot that had a little backup story that helps set up some of this first issue (but you don't have to read it) and Ram V provides a story of a serial killer obsessed with Carnage and how good he is at killing. We see most of the story from the POV of detectives after the killer or the killer himself--but we never, "Hear," the thoughts of Carnage. He is presented as a terrifying and violent force that even a serial killer who admires him might not quite understand just what kind of risk he's in for summoning such being. Recent developments in Carnage's life are covered as well--recent comic events made him no longer, "Need," Cletus, apparently. Plus, Manna's artwork is perfect. It is incredibly gruesome and nasty when called for. This is a comic about dangerous people doing unpleasant things, and it excels at portraying that.

There is a backup story here too by David Michelinie (writing) and Ron Lim (on art) that brings a good scary vibe too. A young boy who wants the help of Carnage to get revenge discovers how Carnage is basically pure rage and rage is a dangerous thing to fully give into. It's a short but sweet little yarn with some skilled creators attached to it. A nice little back-up that fits the overall tone of this first issue, in other words.

"Carnage," #1 uses Carnage the best way it can--as something scary and violent. Ram V and Francesco Manna bring us a great first issue thanks to utilizing Carnage in the best way possible and the back-up by David Michelinie and Ron Lim serves as the perfect dessert to a delectably disgusting first issue. If you've been desiring a healthy dose of horror in your Marvel comics this should fit the bill.

5 out of 5 stars.

David Michelinie is Returning For a Venom Mini-Series With a Familiar Title

Lately, Marvel has been doing this thing where they tell generally in-continuity stories about their heroes at earlier points in time. They've done it with the, "Symbiote Spider-Man," minis, the, "X-Men Legends," ongoing series, and so forth. Now, one of the co-creators of Venom, David Michelinie (Todd McFarlane being the other main creator, but he's not involved this time), is returning to Marvel to write a mini-series about Venom's early days causing a ruckus. It has a familiar title as it is the same as the first Venom solo book--"Lethal Protector."

I'm intrigued about this series but have to admit it is a little confusing that Marvel wants to use, "Lethal Protector," again as the title, making this basically have to be noted as, "Lethal Protector (Volume 2)," even though it ostensibly takes place before even the first, "Lethal Protector," mini-series as its a prequel (before Venom even started sporting his infamous big tongue) and oh dear my brain hurts now. Anyways, as long as we don't think about the naming logistics too hard this should be fun as Michelinie revisits his co-creation with increasingly-popular artist Ivan Fiorelli as the illustrator (Paulo Siqueira is doing the cover). I'll be checking this out in late March when it hits the stands.