MARCO SPEAKS SPIDEY- Eddie Brock: Carnage (2025) #1

It was quite fitting that this first issue came out during Valentine’s week. The Marvel Universe officially has its newest, cutest, and definitely bloodiest couple in town: Eddie Brock and Carnage. It was about time these two finally got together. It started out as something they had to resort to in order to save their own lives. But now, they have to actually learn how to live with one another. And that is going to be messy and fun for readers both old and new. The first issue was a strong start for our dynamic duo, now hellbent on hunting down serial killers all across the universe. And it looks like they have a very interesting hit-list ahead of them, judging by the looks of things.

OFFICIAL MARVEL COMICS DESCRIPTION:

Published

February 12, 2025

Writer

Charles Soule

Penciller

Jesus Saiz

Cover Artist

Iban Coello

THE MOST LETHAL PROTECTOR OF ALL! He’s been VENOM, he’s been ANTI-VENOM, he’s been THE KING IN BLACK! Now Eddie Brock has made his darkest bond yet as he joins with the one and only CARNAGE! Can he control his new other’s endless bloodlust? Or will he be give himself over to madness and murder? Writer Charles Soule (DAREDEVIL, DARTH VADER) and artist Jesús Saiz (PUNISHER, DOCTOR STRANGE) lead us on a journey into the darkest parts of the Marvel Universe with bloody death as our only guide!

PROS:

• Being the first issue, the comic did an excellent job of setting up the new premise, which is basically Eddie Brock and Carnage are now teaming up to take down serial killers. It may seem straightforward or simple initially, but it’s this basic plot that makes the situation so awkward in the first place. You have a crazy, bloodthirsty symbiote basically sharing a body with Eddie Brock, who sincerely just wants to do some good in the world, while at the same time protecting the human race from Carnage, himself.
• The art in this one was superb. The symbiote Carnage just pops up out of the pages and feels real and tangible. The panels showing Carnage entering the minds of the airplane’s passengers captured the violent, intrusive nature of such an act. And when they finally pinpointed the pilot as the killer, the art got even wilder. It was bloody mayhem when Carnage took care of business, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Plus, that image showing Eddie Brock basically flying up in clouds while carrying all of the other passengers was a masterpiece. I never thought anything could look so scary, grotesque, yet glorious at the same time.
• The first issue was also very effective in the sense that it set up the next chapters very well. The last page shows us, the readers, the next potential targets for Eddie Brock and Carnage. And they are really looking at tracking down and killing the A-list powerhouses of the Marvel Universe. We see the likes of Silver Surfer, Galactus, Phoenix and even Venom on the wall. That kind of pipeline can last us a couple years at the very least, if we’re being honest. The book’s creative team obviously has a lot of material to work with, since it will be fresh seeing Eddie Brock and Carnage joining hand-in-hand to take down all these lethal names.

CONS:

• I was hoping for more of a struggle when Carnage was trying to take over Eddie Brock’s mind. But it was just too easy for him to shut the whole thing down and do his thing. I think the mental and psychological conflict could have been more visual and competitive.

OVERALL GRADE: A

I really want to see this new pairing go after all the faces that we see on the wall during the issue’s conclusion. I don’t know if they will stand much of a chance, but that is exactly what appears to excite Carnage. He’s really looking for a challenge. This is a good book to start off the new year, and it is very friendly for both newer and more experienced readers alike. Now I’m just wishing that they could have explored this concept for the next Venom movie. I think it could actually work and make for some quality storytelling.