Carnage Reigns Alpha #1: A Spider In The Attic

With Across the Spider-Verse on the horizon, what better time would there be to send young, charismatic Miles Morales swinging into the pages of Carnage? Although it is technically the next installment in the storyline kickstarted by Ram V and continued by Alex Paknadel, Alpha is more a surrogate issue of Spider-Man. Miles is the undisputed protagonist here, and the switch to his pure-hearted perspective is a merciful pitstop on this road trip to Hell.

Paknadel and co-writer Cody Ziglar flex their commitment to continuity, referencing the events of Absolute Carnage and using them as the basis for a serious exploration of PTSD. His symbiote-induced corruption forever changes miles, and his heroic sense of obligation barely outweighs his dread as he jumps into the free. The groundwork is laid for an underdog story, which this is, as Cletus Kasady has our hero up against the ropes for the majority of the issue.

There are certain subplots and characters whose presence will be off-putting for anyone who does not follow this corner of the Spider franchise. The Morales family is dealing with an emotional crisis, as Jefferson feels unable to protect his family or help his son bear the burden of a superhero. There is also a militarized police force that has taken a page out of Amanda Waller’s book, recruiting Scorpion as their muscle. The comic is not written assuming you’re familiar with these things; the missing context is meant to entice and leave readers’ minds sparking with curiosity rather than spinning in confusion.

Julius Ohta packs a punch with art that conveys psychological horror imagery well. He gets creative with what Cletus can do in his unhinged form, whether duplicating the serial killer or drawing him with a gaping, snake-like maw. A few irregularly grounded details make the violence more gruesome, such as Miles having to pry a jagged tooth out of his wound. Ohta’s spin on Cletus’ appearance makes the experimental Stark suit more visible underneath the tangled symbiotic veins. The flashy explosion of energy that caps off the issue is spectacularly drawn and serves as an efficient cliffhanger.

The back-up stories offer no hints at what comes next but flesh out the characters with events preceding this issue. The circumstances surrounding Scorpion’s new antihero status are explored, as are Miles’ trauma and relationship with his father. The various artists of these shorts do a swell job melding their styles with that of the main story while presenting some unique qualities.