MARCO SPEAKS SPIDEY: Carnage (2022) #4 REVIEW

I have been following this latest volume in the Carnage library from the very start, and I continue to be amazed by this new, fresh twist on the character… or should I say characters. It truly is a wild hunt! It is pretty rejuvenating seeing the symbiote and host separated, living their own lives, pursuing their own dark, twisted goals… but at the same time, realizing that they are already so intertwined that they have no escape from each other, even if they wanted to do away with any connection. Now, we have a cosmic-level game of cat-and-mouse where Shayde is chasing Carnage, with his new disciple helping the alien along. And I am a huge fan of the dark fantasy genre, so some elf-killing is really right up the alley for readers like myself. But the stakes are being raised even further, as Carnage has been hunting down villains like Hydro- Man and Spot, not only to boost his own power level, but with god-killing intentions. Beware, anybody who gets in his way. Perhaps, only Cletus himself stands a chance against this crazy symbiote.

OFFICIAL MARVEL COMICS DESCRIPTION:

Published:

July 06, 2022

Writer:

Ram. V.

Penciler:

Francesco Manna

Cover Artist:

kunkka

SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES! The CARNAGE symbiote is stronger, more violent and more bloodthirsty than its brain-consuming progenitor, VENOM. In this issue, it PROVES IT!

PROS:

• The biggest joy that I get, reading this latest series of Carnage, is how he is operating in the big leagues. I remember, with some level of trauma, an issue ages ago where Sentry simply brought Carnage all the way up to space, and ripped him apart like it was nothing. I felt bad for Carnage as a character that time, because I always held him up to the highest standard. I always believed him to be one of the true great and evil forces in the Marvel Universe. So, it was painful to see him torn apart, literally, with such ease. But this series is proving how Carnage is a universal and cosmic danger, and his growing power means that all of fate and destiny will be determined by his savage and vicious actions, unless somebody can put a stop to his plans.
• The supporting cast for this series remains to be a major positive for this series, as Carnage and Cletus do not simply hog the spotlight. Whether it be a detective chasing Carnage to the ends of the universe, or Carnage’s own disciple trying to kill elves… everybody in this book has an important role to play. We are even greeted by another mysterious, and important member of the ever-growing Spider-Family. It will be interesting to see how the collaboration with Shayde will turn out.
• The art for this installment was spot-on, delivering a magical, fantastical yet gritty take on Carnage’s ongoing escapades.

CONS:

• Maybe Carnage could have already explained the entire plan to his disciple so that we, the readers, also fully comprehend why the killing of elves must ensue. We know what Carnage is after, but obviously there are deeper undercurrents beneath his grand schemes.

FINAL GRADE: A

You will surely get the high and intense level of action and violence as expected from any Carnage comic book around. But, at the same, time, you can rest assured that the creative team behind this title is preparing an adventure larger than life, larger than just our world, and larger than anything that Carnage has ever been a part of before. And it is for this very reason that I encourage fans to give this series a shot. And, if you just want to see how life is when the host and symbiote are separated, this is the perfect chance for you to experience the tragically broken relationship. Of course, something tells me that our dynamic duo will not be able to stay out of each other’s hair for much longer. I am excited to see more of the Spider-Man family get involved with this web of events and intrigue. Plus, I am actually hyped to see more of the elves clash with Carnage. That one elf who got killed first went down too easily, in my honest and humble opinion. RIP.