The Carnage symbiote has found its way to ensnare me into reviewing its book once more (or maybe it’s just Brad?). We now return to the story of Cletus Kasady’s return and how he plans on wreaking havoc across the United States. Can the Avengers stop Kasady before a small town falls under his mass-murdering control? COMMENT OR CARNAGE WILL RIP YOU TO SHREDS!!
Whoa, I didn’t say that…
Carnage USA – Part One: This Land Is My Land
Writer: Zeb Wells
Artist: Clayton Crain
Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Cover: Clayton Crain
Variant: Ramos, Faucher & Delgado
The Plot
Everything is peaceful in the small town of Doverton, Colorado… that is of course until Cletus Kasady arrives and starts causing havoc to everyone living there. The U.S. Emergency Response Center alerts the Avengers to investigate the situation. When the team arrives they see the townsfolk just standing around chanting “Big Smiles Smiling” over and over again, even when they confront Kasady in the streets. After feeding off of dozens of cow meat earlier the Carnage symbiote is much bigger and stronger than before. With a failed attempt by the Thing’s sonic blaster to beat the symbiote, the alien organism manages to turn the Avengers (except Spidey) into symbiotic monsters and are now under Carnage’s control. The U.S. Emergency Response Center gets word of what has happened but already have a backup plan… five to be exact: Venom, Toxin, Hybrid, Scorn and Anti-Venom.
The Big Smiles
I quite enjoyed the last miniseries and this issue was no different as you have the two guys who made that book great. Zeb Wells and Clayton Crain are defiantly doing a great job depicting Cletus Kasady as the demented sociopath that he is. While reading the first few pages it just gave off this “horror movie” vibe that I couldn’t help but love about it (no, I’m not talking about what Hollywood is doing with their “first person camera flick/ “OMG, BIG NOISES! *camera starts shaking* type of film. I’m talking about the actual good kind.)
Despite the issue having a dark atmosphere to it, Wells manages to throw in his humorous witty remarks in some panels (notably the parts with Spidey, Hawkeye and the Thing) and they are pretty funny (Poor Ben… ha ha).
Clayton Crain does a tremendous job drawing in both the lighter and darker scenes throughout this issue. I swear he was made to draw symbiotes because he just gives Carnage a menacing/ terrifying look to him. I seriously get a kick out of seeing his artwork.
This mini is going to be a monthly whereas the previous one was a bi-monthly comic. It wasn’t so bad but when I was reviewing it then I’d have to go back and reread the last comic to remember what happened. Now that I can expect this to ship out on a regular basis I’ll actually be hooked on this book.
What really is worth talking about is seeing that this mini plans on shedding some light on the other symbiote characters in the Marvel Universe. Future solicits have already said that Venom (AKA Flash Thompson) will be coming face to face with Carnage. Um, yeah, that’s got me pretty stoked to read that. What else is there to mention? Well Scorn (AKA Tanis Nieves) will; I’m hoping at least; will make an appearance. For those who don’t remember her she first appeared in the last Carnage mini and is now wearing Carnage’s new offspring symbiote. Eddic Brock I don’t think will do much at all considering what happened to him at the end of Spider-Island so he’s going to seem pretty useless unless Wells proves me wrong.
Then you got Toxin and Hybrid. Let me say that again, you have TOXIN and HYBRID possibly going to layeth the smacketh down later on. If you still don’t plan on picking up the mini, stay tuned for the upcoming reviews for more on these five characters.
So far this mini has got me intrigued.
The Bloody Mess
I really didn’t have a lot to not like about this comic. The only thing that I could mention is how Hawkeye acts when Spider-Man brings up Ben Grimm and needing his help. It was funny, sure, but I didn’t understand the hate on Ben all of a sudden. Just a nitpick on that part but then again it is funny how the Thing has nothing new to say except “It’s Clobberin’ Time!” or anything about Yancy Street and something about his aunt.
The Amusing Laughter
Again, how Wells writes the Thing as a bit of a tool is funny and how Spidey just tries to tell Ben nicely to just stay quiet… in the best of his interests.
Rating
4.5 out of 5 killing sprees. This issue didn’t blow my mind but it was quite good. Zeb Wells and Clayton Crain are so far building up to something that can be quite fun to read.
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I think bringing Cletus Kassady back was a GREAT idea. I’m not even being sarcastic.
@#6
No interest.
@Sthernurus Scream? She was listed as unregistered during the Civil War but other than that? Nothing. Other than Venom, Carnage, Anti-Venom, Hybrid (and the four Symbiotes that make it up.), Toxin, Payback and Scorn the only other Symbiotes that are known are ZZZXX, Krobaa, and Dreadface.
A rather limited known number of a dangerous species.
~Lament~
@Enigma_2099: Read the first Carnage mini-series. All your question will be answer
To anyone who can answer me: What happened to Scream? why isnt she on the team ?
Allow me to throw around some logic here. Someone actually went through the trouble of saving Cletus Kassady? And having a cybernetic lower half, does that mean he really WAS ripped in half by the Sentry?
This is causing a slight pain between my eyes. And who was the idiot that actually thought saving him was a good idea?
great review and I love the fact that this is monthly
A monthly release? *Blink, blink* Well that’s a major improvement over the original mini-series. A major improvement.
But I’m curious on why no Payback. She’s still alive right? She would have made a nice addition to the team.
Hmm, anyone betting the other 4 Carnage offspring are coming out in this series?
~Lament~
@Sarcasmic – I am a bit strict when it comes to my rating system you know haha.
You know that’s what a comic is supposed to do right? Leave you hanging, wondering what will happen to your favorite super hero? As for him being on the run you’ll have to actually wait until the story develops itself. 🙂
I don’t know, considering that I haven’t been reading any of the Avengers titles my knowledge on the two characters may be outdated. But last I checked Hawkeye didn’t mind Ben that much so to me it just seemed to come out of no where but on the other hand Wells did turn it into something humorous.
You mean Clayton Crain? I can see what you mean as in the last mini his art might have been a bit too dark and a bit smudged at some parts but here you can see he’s gotten better.
Glad you liked it so much…. (4.5/5 isn’t a love worthy issue?)
My one nitpick was that we don’t know what happened to Pete at the end, it seems like he is taken out, but he’s mentioned as being on the run in later solicits… WTF?
And if anyone would voice complaints out loud, it would be Hawkeye. I feel like they could build a Hawkeye/THing relationship similar to Spider-Man/Wolverine, they got on each other’s nerves, but there is respect. Too bad they are taken out….
And Zeb Wells Thing/Symbiote Avengers…. GD, I wasn’t a fan of his art last time, but man I love it here.