MARCO SPEAKS SPIDEY: Death of the Venomverse (2023) #2 REVIEW

In the first issue of the series a couple of weeks back, readers were treated to a quick background and an intense build-up, showing what Carnage has been up to recently, while also revealing his ultimate goal. He clearly has set his sights on killing all the Venoms, taking into himself whatever Venoms can make him stronger, all with the main mission being to take down the King in Black himself, once and for all. The result in the first installment was an instant collision with Venoms from various realities, and let’s just say that things are not going so well for their side. This second issue quickly picks up the pace and provides us with a slugfest for the ages. Don’t expect to read a lot of words in this one, folks! Expect pure, unbridled, violent mayhem in this follow-up chapter.

OFFICIAL MARVEL COMICS DESCRIPTION:

Published:

August 16, 2023

Writer:

T Taigami, Cullen Bunn, David Michelinie

Penciler:

Justin Mason, T Taigami, Gerardo Sandoval

Cover Artist:

Bjorn Barends

ENTER: THE SYMBIOTE SIX! Plus: DAVID MICHELINIE brings you a classic tale in the vein of LETHAL PROTECTOR…or is there more than meets the eye? AND THAT’S NOT ALL! Prepare yourself as Taigami introduces the world to…VENOM BOY!

PROS:

Both sides of the war are coming in vicious and ferocious, with beautiful art spread across panels and pages in this second issue. Carnage is pretty much a one-man show, though, so it is extra impressive how the art team depicts the strength in numbers on one side versus the sheer power and hatred of our main character. The Venoms didn’t even stand a chance, honestly, against this version of Carnage, who is laying it on very hot and heavy.
That last page got me really hyped for the next issues, because now the Venoms are bringing in the big guns. Now, they are forced to use Anti-Venom to level the playing field. And right now, this truly feels like the last, desperate option the good guys have up their sleeves, which can realistically put a halt or pause, at the very least, to Carnage’s plans.
The bonus stories that we get are an additional treat, and make the entire issue feel full, complete, and worth every penny. The short stories are paced well, scripted expertly, and they also look gorgeous, while noticeably standing out versus the previous main chapter.
It is fascinating to see Carnage try so hard to become omnipotent and invincible but realize at the end of the day that he will always be vulnerable to some kind of weakness or an Achilles’ Heel. The growing frustration for Carnage is simply boiling over, and as a reader or fan, you can’t help but feel a little bit sorry for the guy. But at the same time, it is a frightening sight to behold, as Carnage becomes more and more unhinged, especially without any human factor holding him back nowadays.

CONS:

Deaths don’t mean much in this comic book, because most of the characters, specifically the Venoms, that we meet in this title are not really “our” Venoms. So, the emotional impact of certain demises may be lessened by our lack of attachment. When one or two characters get brutally murdered in this chapter, you can’t help but get shocked by the images at first glance, and then eventually feel numb to the losses afterward.
The Symbiote Six did not really perform to the high standards that I was expecting from them, but I guess this was the only way to portray Carnage’s overall dominance and superiority in this one-sided clash of titans.

FINAL GRADE: A

This book has been delivering on its promise, which is basically an all-out war between Carnage and the Venoms of all realities, all universes. While it functions as a brainless and fun teaser to the eventual big finale where Carnage will unleash his rampage on the original Venom, the series has been able to stand on its own as an aggressive, intense narrative that does not indicate any slowdown any time soon. I am surely sticking around until the end of this gory and unapologetic bloodbath. Now, the fanboy in me is just really hoping and praying that Carnage makes a huge scene in the upcoming Playstation 5 video game, because that would make the experience even more epic and unforgettable for players around the world.