Issues by Issue Weekend Review Round-up
Weekend Review Round-up
A brief personal note before the reviews: I apologize for the tardiness in posting and thank you for all the support.
Carnage Issues 1-5:
Carnage Issue 1:
Detective Jonathan Shayde is coming upon Carnage and chasing him into a portal of some kind before flashing back to an unspecified point in the recent past. Detective Shayde arrives at the scene of a grisly murder and tableau. Detective Booth tells Shayde the scene seems different because the signature of the killer is missing. Shayde seems to notice something is off warning everyone away from the corpse before explodes from within from a swarm of butterflies, the blood dropping down onto a panel creating a spiral. Shayde determines that the killer is trying to make contact with someone unknown.
Switching over to Kenneth Neely A.K.A. “The Artist”, he is speaking to a person bound and gagged on a hospital bed. He explains about his past and his fascination with what he perceives as beauty in death. He continues to explain that in doing what he is doing, speaking to the victim while using a scalpel on him, saying he is wanting to get in contact with Carnage. Tapping on his window gets Neely’s attention where he sees Carnage who asks if he is just using the spiral as a symbol or if he is a fan, switching back to Shayde in a hospital accompanied by Booth. Both Shayde and Booth enter the room of the patient and escaped victim on Neely. During the interview the victim tells them about Carnage and the conversation between them revealing Neely was auditioning to be Carnage’s next host and that Carnage took Neely with him.
Carnage and Neely arrive at the scene of Carnage’s most recent victim Hydro-Man. Hydro-Man is displayed in a similar yet more gory situation than the victim from the start and Carnage explains that he needs a specific part of Hydro-Man for a plan. Carnage uses the symbiote on a molecular level and rips a part of Hydro-Man away opening a portal. Meanwhile, Shayde is on the phone with Booth going over the case of “The Artist”, Shayde notices a pattern leading to a specific location. Upon arriving Shayde sees a red lightning storm at a building.
Side Story Second half
This story picks up with a kid on the run from juvie being confronted by Kasady as Carnage. The kid tells Kasady that he looks up to him and wants to be like him and asks him to kill someone for him. The kid tells him about some bullies in juvie that pick on him and terrible things to him, but Kasady is not interested. The kid counters by telling him that it would be completely unexpected and be real chaos which Kasady buys. Kasady shows up at the juvenile detention center and starts murdering the guards. He also brutally murders most of the other kids in juvie leaving one alive for the kid to kill personally. The kid refuses to horrified by what Carnage has done and no longer wants to hurt anyone, angry and confused Carnage leaves.
This issue was solid from start to finish of the main story. It has, in my opinion, a different and refreshing take on telling the story. It had my interest from the start and kept it the whole way through. This particular story has a Saw movie feel and the obsessed detective getting in over their head is a great vehicle for the plot. I personally enjoyed it more than expected and the story being unique and interesting to a Carnage main character story. I would recommend this story to those that may be looking for something a little different and little more on the mature side of Marvel stories currently. The gritty detective feel also adds some appeal for fans of Saw and similar movies. Ram V’s writing is gripping and intense with a fast pace and a near palpable drive for more. Ram V is able to write a dark and captivating story that I cannot wait to get more of.
Carnage Issue 2:
In the opening pages Carnage and Neely are discussing what has happened to Hydro-Man and why Carnage ripped apart Hydro-Man. Upon consuming a special piece of Hydro-Man, Carnage is able to open a portal of some kind. Carnage and Neely enter the portal followed by Detective Shayde. Neely and Carnage are unaffected by the portal, but Shayde is not so fortunate. It seems that the energy of the portal is pulling Shayde apart, but Carnage intervenes pulling the detective together and challenging him.
Shayde wakes in hospital and is greeted by Detective Booth who informs Shayde about how he was found and that he has questions about the case. Shayde lies saying he did not remember what happened. Driven by desire and now a part of the symbiote Carnage, Shayde disappears from hospital and decides that only he can truly stop what is happening. He accepts Carnages challenge.
Briefly seeing Neely Carnage, they are at a current scene of a murder perpetrated by Neely discussing what Carnage said to Shayde. Carnage explains his reasoning to Neely, who is seemingly jealous of the personal attention that Shayde received from Carnage. Switching back to Booth who walks into his apartment to find Shayde going over the files from the case. Shayde informs Booth about some of the missing details in the case and that a symbiote is involved. Shortly switching back to Carnage and Neely they are approaching Doctor Ohnn A.K.A. Spot.
I found this issue just as enjoyable as the first. The writing and pacing of the story are, as far as I’m concerned, nearly perfect. The mature of the story along with the slightly greyer moral standing than normal personalities are a nice change of pace as well. Ram V’s writing had me gripped from cover to cover.
Carnage Issue 3:
Opening with Carnage and Spot in battle, Spot tries to reason with Carnage to see why he is attacking him. Carnage is after something that only Spot has and Carnage agrees that Spot could just help him Carnage wants carnage though. Neely grabs Spot surprising him and giving the opening to rip Spot apart. Spot tells Carnage that he cannot die because of the Spotted Dimension and that he would return to which Carnage replies with “I am counting on it.” Neely however has lost a hand in the attack from Carnage and begs him to fix to which Carnage does not.
Shayde back at work at the police department is dealing with the residual part of the symbiote that Carnage used to keep him from dying earlier. The piece tries to drive him to commit violence against everyone Shayde speaks to which he resists. Shayde is informed of another murder scene by “The Artist” and makes his way there. Booth tells Shayde that the Chief did not want him on the case. Shayde notices one piece of evidence before leaving the scene and with help from the symbiote piece he makes his way to where Carnage and Neely already are.
This issue went fast, for me. The pacing was intense and almost with a sense of urgency. Ram V’s writing continues to impress. This is the first story I’ve read from them, and it keeps me wanting more from issue to issue. The story of Detective Shayde, Neely the killer, and Carnage is headed for a plan of Cletus Cassidy, has me confident that I can say this story is a fantastic read so far and look forward to following along the journey of Shayde and Carnage.
Carnage Issue 4:
Shayde has caught up with Carnage and Neely just as they began to go through another portal. This time Shayde is able to grab ahold of Neely’s leg and be dragged along with them. Neely discharges Shayde from his leg by kicking him forcing him to float in space somewhere. Meanwhile Carnage and Neely arrive in Svartaltheim home of the elves.
The elves have gathered for a quest to tame a Nyazen wolf pup like Malekith once did. The Black Bile order hold this quest once every sixteen cycles and choose six of their greatest to partake in it. while only one can return victorious. The six chosen they set out on their search, they spread out and begin running into Carnage one by one. Carnage gives Neely a specific target to kill for a challenge.
Shayde, still floating in space, is having a discussion with the symbiote piece inside him and is rescued by Spiderling, The Pattern Maker. Spiderling informs Shayde about the importance of the Web of Life and Destiny and the ripples she has felt. She shows him part of the Web has become like the Carnage symbiote and it is in his hands to fix.
I had a bit of hype from the previous issue going into this one and it did not disappoint. The evolution of the Carnage symbiote as a standalone character is spectacularly done. Ram V continues to deliver with another issue that leaves the pallet wet for more morsels of Carnage.
Carnage issue 5:
Neely is being held by his own target of assassination and together they work out a plan to try and kill Carnage. Carnage in the meantime is hunting each of the other six he has not already found. As he seemingly wipes them out one by one Carnage comes upon an elf who momentarily stalls him only to be taken out by a group of Carnage-ized elves.
Neely’s captor explains his past and how he, as a one-handed cripple, rose through the ranks only to stall so far in. The elf decided that he would by sheer force of will overcome all obstacles in his path, including Carnage. The elf leads Neely away saying it is time for whatever will happen to happen.
Neely meets with Carnage and begins complaining about his situation and not understanding the plan. Carnage reveals he conquered the mythical wolf pup and took control of it by Carnage-izing it like the warriors. Neely reveals at Carnage’s request that he did in fact deal with his challenge before they depart to Hel.
Shayde arrives in Niffleheim to the corpses of elves on pike like protrusions. The symbiote informs Shayde of way to skip ahead of Carnage and Neely, to find and kill Malekith.
Ram V’s writing in this issue is top notch. The way the story unfolds from all the different perspectives to focus in one outcome is awesome. I was unsure if the story would hold up involving locations and characters not commonly seen in stories of this type, but it just adds to the charm of the story. I cannot wait for the new issue to come out soon.
Godzilla Rivals: Vs. King Ghidorah
The Xiliaians are attacking Earth and they seem unstopable. All of Japan’s best fighter pilots and military stand no chance against the might of the Xiliaian attack. Godzilla arriving out from the harbor makes short work of the Xiliaians that try to attack him. However, with the aid of their superior technology the Xiliaians capture Godzilla and take him back with them.
On Earth, Doctor Hu and what is left of the world leaders meet in an underground secret laboratory, discussing their plans and actions for the war with Xilians. Doctor Hu reveals he built a machine man used him to interface with Xiliaian technology to build a special jet. The P-1 X capable of flying to Mars and back will act as a surpise attack.
On Mars, Godzilla is collerd and fighting for its life in an arena. The Xilians call him Monster 1999 and have him up against a group of Kamacuras, giant praying mantis like creatures. During his fight a group of Xiliaian leaders decide it is time to pit Monster 1999 against Monster 0.
On Earth, Xilia attacks the secret lab of Doctor Hu forcing the machine man Hoshi and Captain Daitan Matsushita to take flight in the jet. On Mars, Godzilla and King Ghidorah face off in the arena. On approach Hoshi is taken over by Xilia and forces Matsushita to detonate the bomb in the arena in front of Ghidorah super charging him and his breath attack blackening Godzilla.
Ghidorah begins attakcing Matsushita and the half of Hoshi. Godzilla’s controll collar however lays fried on the ground and something is happening to him. Just as Ghidorah is about to attack Godzilla stands bigger and supercharged from the radiation. Godzilla now more than an equal to Ghidorah goes on rampage destroying everything forcing Matsushita to escape in a flying saucer.
This issue felt like watching a Godzilla movie in a way. The story as told by Adam Gorham is a little convoluted but true to form for a Godzilla story. The might and majesty of Godzilla is captured nicely in this issue. If you like Godzilla it is almost guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.
Amazing Fantasy #1000
The shorts in this book are too varied to do a fair review and cover of each as some are only there for slice of life or filler. I enjoyed the book overall and only found two of the shorts to be not enjoyable to read as the story was either to short for the attempted content or to dry to read. There were several shorts that I read more than once because they were just that enjoyable. My favorite short is where Spider-Man meets all the other Spider-Men and they give him a hard time as the new guy. For Spider-Man fans this book is nearly a must have and for the average reader I think they would enjoy it for the most part.