By Rebecca Gault — One of the hardest jobs in writing for one of the big two publishers in the comics industry is the weight of legacy. It’s something that Carnage feels in the weight of his ‘father’, Venom, and something that often plagues writers. Ram V handles these things elegantly. Carnage has always had so much going on that it has felt difficult to keep track of exactly what lore is relevant and, in the wake of King in Black and Extreme Carnage, a lot has changed. 

Separated from his host, Cletus Kasady, and alone for the first time in what feels like quite a long time, Carnage is seeking his own way. If this sounds like the opening to a coming-of-age film then maybe you’d be right. If that film was drenched in gore and the sort of horrific imagery that a symbiote series excels at.

The issue is a slower build than you might expect, with pages dedicated to establishing V’s control over the cast here. It’s a worthwhile endeavor. Shayde, the homicide detective we follow, might be a familiar archetype but one that is sketched out firmly enough that it offers a good foothold into the series and Kenneth, the serial killer who has came to be known as the Artist, has the relentlessly intimidating energy of a man who knows exactly what sort of purpose he wants to dedicate his life to. 

Murder. 

Carnage looms here as a specter, an inspiring figure for the horrific crimes the Artist commits - all of which are portrayed ruthlessly by Francesco Manna’s skillful art. There is a relentlessness even to the pencil work here and one stand out image featuring a flayed corpse and a horde of butterflies that has come to stick with me, even now. All of this is elevated by Diijo Lima’s coloring; the issue is drenched in red, from the blood of the Artist’s victims to the dark, sickening tones of Carnage’s skin. It’s vicious and brutal in a way we have to see early in a Carnage series in order to appropriately set the tone. 

Even Joe Sabino’s lettering serves to unsettle with the symbiote’s words coming in jagged letters and blood-red, crackling clouds. 

The issue serves as a brutal but beautiful celebration of the symbiote and sets up a solid, steady outing for this plot - the tee up for a murder mystery gone Lovecraftian. Carnage is certainly in good, capable hands with Ram V and the horrors within will no doubt come to the forefront without much encouragement. Carnage is, after all, the name of the game.

Overall: A strong first issue setting up the type of murder mystery that would find its home in the shelves of horror greats with sharp narrative instincts and arresting but terrifying art to boot.  9/10

REVIEW: Carnage #1

Carnage #1
Writer: Ram V
Artist: Francesco Manna
Colorist: Dijjo Lima
Letterer: VC’s Joe Sabino 
Publisher: Marvel Comics 
THE BLOODCURDLING CARNAGE SERIES YOU’VE BEEN WAITING FOR! Ram V. has carved a perfect home for himself in the symbiote corner of the Marvel U, and in this all-new ongoing series starring Venom’s most notorious offspring, that corner is about to get a little bit bigger…and bloodier! After the revelations of CARNAGE FOREVER, and in a year that’s set to be a celebration of all things CARNAGE, this is one symbiote story you cannot afford to miss!
Price: $4.99 
Buy It Here: Digital
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Rebecca is a literature student by day, a freelance writer by night, and a comics fan always. She is a big fan of everything superheroic and horrific. Right now, she can be found on Twitter at @phoenixfcrce.