Web of Venom: Carnage Born #1 Riding the Black Dragon!

This is the second one shot spinning out of Donny Cates’ hit Venom series, and for me the second issue he’s knocked out if the park! To me these additions to the series are brilliant as they save pages of exposition in the issues. I also really like them because brilliantly they aren’t required reading, but add a depth to the overarching story that might not be present otherwise, while also tying closely into the main series, rewarding prompt readers without punishing them.

The first half of the issue is an interesting perspective of Cletus’ childhood, and does a good job of bringing us up to speed on how he died and whatnot, which i good because i wasn’t reading much marvel at the time. The obvious impermanence of death in comics helps to move us right into position for Cletus to be exposed to a fragment of Knull and be revived.

Really interesting was the way Cletus reacted when exposed to the hive mind, whereas Eddie Brock was swept away in a wave within the hivemind, Carnage sprung to the attack and fought tooth and nail for control, eventually gaining it by giving in in a way that Venom did not and killing someone.

The art by Danilo Beyruth is excellent in many capacities, although i might have liked something more dark feeling and evil like a Sorrentino, but that’s nothing to mark the issue down for. I wasn’t completely sold on Carnage’s look, he looked like shards of glass made into a suit rather than a living being. Also he seemed really beefed up, almost to Venom size, Carnage has always been more slender ideally.

There is a pretty stellar visual retelling of Knull’s fall from heaven at the hands of Thor from earlier in the main series via cave sculpture, i really liked it.

In the interest of not spoiling the issue i won’t speak any further but rest assured Carnage will be making his way through the symbiote community with a vengeance! I’m really excited I’ve always liked Carnage ever since i was a kid and he was a hot new villain.