MARCO SPEAKS SPIDEY: EXTREME CARNAGE ALPHA #1 REVIEW

It appears that the symbiote reign of terror on the world is far from over. Although we just recently concluded the “King in Black” mega-event, Marvel is not one to drop the ball on the potential dangers of the violent alien race. As we see in this opening chapter, the threat of Carnage is still a very real thing on Earth. He is back with a vengeance, and now his plan to take over the world and unleash his unique brand of violence is more strategical and intricate as ever. This is not the Carnage that we are used to seeing, simply running loose and rampant, spilling blood like a plain old lunatic. This Carnage has big plans for America, and it is up to the likes of Iron Man and Agent Venom to put a stop to his sinister machinations. The problem is… it may just be a wee bit late for that to happen.

OFFICIAL MARVEL COMICS DESCRIPTION:

EXTREME CARNAGE ALPHA #1

STORY BY: Phillip Kennedy Johnson

ART BY: Manuel Garcia

COVER BY: Dave Rapoza

VARIANTS BY: Alan Quah, Gabriele Dell’Otto, InHyuk Lee, Jeff Johnson, Jonboy Meyers, Leinil Francis Yu, Mico Suayan, Skan Srisuwan, Skottie Young, Tyler Kirkham

VIOLENCE RUNS IN THE FAMILY!

As the dust continues to settle after the species-redefining KING IN BLACK saga, Eddie Brock and his son, Dylan, won’t be the only ones learning to adjust to a new normal. Collectively called the Life Foundation, symbiotes SCREAM, PHAGE, RIOT, LASHER and AGONY have tried to reconcile the sometimes-noble intentions of their hosts with their often-bloodthirsty impulses.

But the Life Foundation symbiotes aren’t the only ones with a part to play in this story, and they aren’t the only symbiotes who find themselves reinvented after KING IN BLACK. They have an older sibling who may be reinvented in its own right: CARNAGE.

ARE YOU A FRIEND OF HUMANITY?

PROS:

• What I appreciate the most about this issue is that it weaves the recently concluded “King in Black” event so seamlessly into a new arc for the symbiotes and the Spider-Man universe of characters. While, obviously, a book like this will definitely add exposure and hype for the upcoming movie appearances of Venom and Carnage, this next installment in the symbiote saga makes complete sense: with the world recovering from the symbiote invasion, it is on the surface perfectly logical for the more afraid, fearful and opportunistic in the human race to once again close its doors and protect itself from alien threats, while pushing their own selfish motives and agendas… a sad and tragic truth we see happen all the time in the real world, unfortunately. That is where the new villain of this book is staking his claim: Senator Krane and the Friends of Humanity are now once again launching a crusade against anything and everything alien… and this kind of movement does not bode well for many of the Marvel superheroes.
• The twist in the end was somewhat expected, but still a shocker, when Agent Venom makes the guess that Sentaor Krane is actually already Carnage, and that Iron Man’s wishes to monitor, watch closely, and even protect the senator were late in the game. Carnage has thought this invasion out very well, and it seems like he will unleash another symbiote attack on Earth, to push the world to accept the Friends of Humanity’s crusade… and perhaps even make Carnage the next President of America. Anything and everything that could go wrong is going wrong right now in the pages of Extreme Carnage. Agent Venom has a ton of work ahead of him to put a stop to this impending war between the human race and aliens.
• Can I just say: GORGEOUS. COVERS.

CONS:

• I would have also liked to see what role Venom will play in all this, on top of the Carnage versus Agent Venom fight that is about to erupt. But perhaps the creative team is saving that for the next, succeeding chapters.

FINAL GRADE: A ++

This was overall, a jolly good time to read, and it is a masterpiece introduction to the mayhem that is about to blow up in all our faces in the coming weeks and months. I could not be more excited to see everybody’s favorite otherworldly maniac serial killer take on the rest of his symbiote family as the Marvel Universe appears to be going full throttle already with household names like Venom and Carnage. Let me know what you guys think!