Absolute Carnage #1

If for some reason you've missed out on all the hype about Cates and Stegman's Venom relaunch, you'd do well to get started with Absolute Carnage, a series that certainly doesn't take any prisoners. Read Full Review

New and old fans rejoice: Absolute Carnage is Carnage, absolutely. Bleeding care, craft, and serious dread out of its very pores, this is a new and seriously good Venom story wholly, wonderfully, and horrifically realized. Read Full Review

As he has done many times in recent years, Cates is able to find the delicate balance between a story that's just off-the-rails mental, and one that earnestly and wholeheartedly connects to its readers. It's as jaw-dropping as it is thoughtful and compelling. You don't find that often. Read Full Review

A nail-biting and terrifying beginning to one of Marvel's boldest events, filled with incredible art, writing, and character moments that keep you on the edge of your seat and begging for the next issue. Read Full Review

I could spend hours singing the praises of Absolute Carnage and still wouldn't get to them all. This book is absolute dream for any Venom or Carnage fan. If you haven't been following Venom since its relaunch, shame on you, but this is a great way to jump in and quickly get up to speed. Absolute Carnage is hands down the best horror I've seen in super hero comics. Read Full Review

This is easily the best #1 to an event comic I've ever read, and if Cates and Stegman can keep this up with the rest of the series, this will easily become the best event comic I've ever read. Read Full Review

Honestly if you're iffy on this event for whatever reason I would recommend this issue as a trial I know 8 bucks is a bit steep but it's a nice long issue i think i got my moneys worth. Read Full Review

Absolute Carnage #1 is an absolute must read. This is a creative team firing on all cylinders. I dare you to find a single panel in this book that isn't teeming with thought and care. Read Full Review

Absolute Carnage #1 is a rip-roaring adventure, a lot of fun to read. It might have been better served as an issue of Cates and Stegmans Venom. Particularly if that title hadnt been interrupted for the just-ended War of the Realms crossover. It will be interesting to see if the crossover can maintain its focus and momentum with its countless spinoffs and tie-ins over the next few months. Read Full Review

The issue is a hell of a start and how you do an event. There's more than enough there to be inviting to new and old readers and it delivers a hell of a punch. Read Full Review

Absolute Carnage looks on its way to becoming a big deal in the Spidey universe and a "must buy" book for fans. Read Full Review

This is a good start to what promises to be an unforgiving massacre of an event. Stegman and Cates' opening act to Absolute Carnage feels like both a natural continuation of the Venom book and a proper Marvel event. Read Full Review

Absolute Carnage #1 gives you all you can ask for in the first chapter of a crossover and it also raises expectations for future events. Read Full Review

It's not hard to see that this summer event is going to be a winner for Marvel. This is a hell of a lot easier to follow than the recent War of the Realms mess. You don't need a scorecard to keep track of the cast, and at the heart of the story is Eddie Brock who just wants to be left alone. He doesn't want to be a hero or a father, and it will be those moments of growth throughout the mini-series that will make this character interesting and fresh in a way that Venom hasn't been in a very long time. It's a chance to add more to Venom than just the anti-hero with the fangs and the long tongue. Read Full Review

When something comes along that makes a character like Venom nervous, you should be very afraid...and look forward to some great art and a great story for one of Marvel's most extreme characters. Read Full Review

Absolute Carnage #1 is a slow but haunting start to Marvel's latest crossover event. Read Full Review

Absolute Carnage #1 gives Marvel's latest big event a kick ass start. The chemistry between Spider-Man and Venom along with the haunting nature of Carnage's character was on point throughout this issue. By the time this first chapter wrapped up Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman established a strong foundation for future issues of Absolute Carnage to build on top of. Read Full Review

Somehow, I didn't hate this. I probably won't keep reading it, but this is probably the best Venom Vs. Carnage story ever. Read Full Review

At the very least, I can say that Absolute Carnage very much reads like it was created by people who have a deep love and understanding of Venom. (Cates is a very big fan of the character, and has stated that writing Venom was a lifetime career goal of his.) Penciller Ryan Stegman is a great fit for this kind of material, since his art has always had a frenetic, spindly quality to it that really suits the visual representation of symbiotes. Ill have to admit Im never been crazy about colorist Frank Martins work in general, which always looks sickly to me, but considering the assignment it does the job here fine. Read Full Review

There's some really exciting visuals and solid storytelling throughout, even if the mid-section of the issue drops off a bit, and I'm interested to see how what appears to be Marvel's first horror event plays out. At eight bucks for 60 pages of story, this book's a big commitment both financially and time-wise, especially if you're even a little bit on the fence about it. Read Full Review

allenquanobi

Aug 07, 2019

Cates quickly became one of my favorite writers after his Thanos run and his current Venom run. This opening to the event doesn't disappoint. It's accessible to new readers because of the refresher in the first act. The second act shows off a good relationship between Spidey and Eddie. Side note, I love Cates's writing of the symbiote and Eddie, it really gives the symbiote a character, something that's not shown a lot. The third act is spectacular, very evocative of horror books. The art by Stegman might be my favorite that he has done so far for Venom. The details are so pretty to look at, and I really liked the way he draws Spider-Man. Overall fantastic, if Marvel events in the future are gonna be like this, War of the Realms, an d House of X/Powers of X; Marvel might just get me to be a regular reader again. more

Anotherfan

Aug 07, 2019

Damnit. If every comic could be half as good as this one. Fantastic read and maybe more metal than Metal. The stakes are high and as it is said : everybody is a target

Linkush

Aug 07, 2019

WOW! Cates and Stegman are back together and it's just beautiful. I'm speechless! this was so much fun, from start to end. Every single page was entertaining and a blast to read. Read this!

EDiakota

Aug 07, 2019

"And then we all die. Any question ?

Psycamorean

Aug 07, 2019

This was so dope, man. My expectations for this were so high and I was still blown away. I probably looked insane whilst reading this book, as a large, toothy grin spread on my face 5 pages in and kept through till the very end. And I feel like that is only fitting for a book called Absolute Carnage.

Toonstrack

Aug 07, 2019

Absolute Quality.

Grifter

Aug 09, 2019

Wow, Marvel are having really good times.

Afre

Aug 16, 2019

Truly blast. The best Spidey/Venom -teamup. Art and writing is awesome.

A7sus420

Aug 16, 2019

This thing is incredible. A total blast from front to back.

Spacey Medicine

Sep 03, 2019

Wow.

gaijin00

Oct 16, 2019

ART - hmm... 10.0. Thoroughly enjoyed the art. I'm not an artist so i can't really give EXACT reasons why but the art felt appropriate, it looked "bad ass" STORY - 10.0 it hooked me. and i'm not even a venom/spidey/carnage fan. like, AT ALL. But like Venom's character, Parker was amusing, Carnage appropriately terrifying, and the dialogue between them very interesting. Conclusion If this manages to pull a non fan into wanting to read what else happens after, I think it did it's job very well. FInal rating - 10.0!

cincyfan

Nov 01, 2019

just a phenomenal book in every way!!

+ Like • Comments (1)

cincyfan - Nov 1, 2019

absolutely brilliant!

Venom

Nov 02, 2019

This is automatic must start for collection . the whole thing is Great! and the rest of series also. Don't want to spoil it.

M1sf1r3

Jan 09, 2020

Prelude: Absolute Carnage is here! Let's see what Cates and Stegman have in store for us. The Good: Carnage looks absolutely amazing. Love him in this issue. Love the Venom parts. The whole Spider-Man scene was great. Interesting pick up from Red Goblin. Stegman's art is great. The issue is so long and I love it. Each chapter feels unique. The Bad: Nothing. Conclusion: Cates and Stegman instantly knock it out of the park with this first issue. Sets up the event and gets the ball rolling in such a perfect fashion. The perfect first issue for an event.

Hislight

Feb 20, 2020

I have been waiting a long time for this event and to get around to reading it. Let me tell you your boy was not disappointed. Every page is gold. I love everything above this issue. Art is incredible and a horror vibe is consistent through this issue both in pacing and imagery. If your a Venom Head this is what you have been waiting for.

Bill Blaze

Aug 07, 2019

Massive issue!

CrazyforRAMU

Feb 27, 2020

Venom + Carnage + body horror isn't in the same hemisphere as my wheelhouse, but the world-class storytelling talent on display here compels me to file it on the "next door to perfect" shelf. The True Comic Book Geek in me loves the way this issue puts Thunderbolt Ross on the continuity police's most wanted list. By "Immortal Hulk" rules, as a gamma mutate, he should be unkillable. But by "Absolute Carnage" rules, as a former symbiote host, he's super dead.

Patadu94

Jul 19, 2022

I first read this issue, and all the Venom run from Cates, online but when I found a copy of it in my LCS I could't not grab it. I read it again and oh boy, I love Absolute Carnage so much. The plot and the art are phenomenals. Stegman panels are great and how Venom, Carnage, and Spidey are drawn is great. At the moment I am also reading Carnage from Ram V, but this one is so much better, so much fun, so much dark, so much Carnage. Hope I can get the other four issues as well. Let there be Carnage!

thecomiccookebook

Aug 07, 2019

Wow, Ryan Stegman has some of the most detailed and beautifully terrifying art I've seen all year. It's insane every page of his 60 page monster is near perfect. The story is primarily recapping the Venom series thus far which is understandable. I'm loving the way Cates displays the Parker / Brock relationship and hope to see more of that in the later issues. My only gripe would be that I wish it was comparable in price to a DC book of the same size. The new horror direction that Marvel is taking with books like this and Immortal Hulk is great and I look forward to seeing more in that vein.

Br'er Lapin AKA 20-Ish Ceiln

Aug 08, 2019

It was very pretty. Worth the wait.

Kalaoui

Aug 09, 2019

Great start and absolute joy to read. Really liked the Eddie and Spidey pages. Never been a fan of Carnage but with Cates and Stegman, I'm willing to give a shot. Also JP Mayer and Martin Jr. did an outstanding job too!

DDJamesB

Aug 12, 2019

A really good start to this event. If you've been reading venom and all the tie ins since cates took over its definitely very rewarding. The art is just fantastic.

CaptnAmerca

Aug 14, 2019

I was prepared to hate this, or at the very least be seriously disappointed. I like Venom, but Carnage has been played out for a good twenty years now. He's one of those characters Marvel should have permanently killed off. He was a one-note "extreme!" psycho back in the 90s, and has only gotten more overpowered and ridiculous since then. But this was an incredible beginning for this event. Even if the whole thing fizzles out like 90% of Marvel's big crossovers, this issue was fantastic.

Silver Rocket

Sep 02, 2019

Insanity.

rayonymous

Sep 07, 2019

Awesome artwork for an exceptional script. Never thought I'd enjoy Absolute CARNAGE, it's terrifying, funny and adventurous. Brilliant inking and colouring I'm glad this is over 60 pages, thoroughly enjoyable read. Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman are rocking Marvel universe.

Deadlybeavis

Aug 08, 2019

Cool stuff.

Full Spread

Aug 14, 2019

Despite my resistance to Donny Cates's obsession with bringing back the '90s...this is a scrappy horror-show with some surprisingly good dialog and a helluva lot of story. Can't believe I'm saying this, but this is worth the $8.

ohhaimark

Aug 07, 2019

THE GOOD: -This was just good old fashioned fun. It's been a while since a comic has felt that way. -Ryan Stegman has put out a lot of good art in his time, and is sure to put out a lot more, but this feels like career-best work from him. Seriously, every panel is given so much detail and thought. It's remarkable. -Act 1 was pretty traditional event-stuff, Act 2 didn't interest me as much. But oh god, Act 3. That was a masterpiece. I'm even willing to forgive the first two parts' short comings just because of how f***ing incredible that last act was. I'd recommend this 7.99 book just for the last 20 pages alone. -I really hope this book goes full horror for the next issues, because given this issues ending, that would be incr edible and would make this an event to remember. -Spider-Man was rather annoying here, but that moment talking about fathership with Eddie just hit so damn hard. -Norman Osborn is just fantastic. He's a better, creepier villain than Carnage if I'm being frank. -I can't wait to see where this goes. The final page was great. THE BAD: -Spider-Man's humor was really annoying me. He had some great moments here, but overall succumbed to the common problem of comics with Spidey as a side character- too much time being the comic relief, where the comedy falters. This just reminds me how incredible his appearance in Daredevil #5 was. -I don't know how I feel about Carnage as a villain. He has some great moments, like the final page, but overall, didn't feel that memorable, unlike Osborn. Surprising considering his name's on the cover. more

ooo

Aug 06, 2019

This rubbish at the expense of great titles. Retire Venom and Carnage along with the Hulk and the world will be a much happier place

+ Like • Comments (11)

Show all comments

drwasheewashee - Aug 7, 2019

Nani??? You consider the hulk a bad title???

Anotherfan - Aug 7, 2019

What'z the problem with those two titles ?

Herptydoo - Aug 7, 2019

Shut the fuck up.

MKW69 - Aug 7, 2019

Nessuno può sfuggire al destino scelto, rimane solo il risultato che voi sarete distrutti. L'eterna cima esiste solo per me. Puoi cantare canzoni di tristezza nel mondo senza tempo

Soul Assassin - Aug 8, 2019

Fuck u Rupert Blumpkin

ooo - Aug 29, 2019

The truth hurts Asswipe

ooo - Aug 29, 2019

In English

ooo - Aug 29, 2019

Yes the Hulk is BORING

ooo - Aug 29, 2019

Why enjoy such a horrible character? I don't get it

Herptydoo - Aug 29, 2019

The world is overpopulated. Do us all a favor and kill yourself. Imagine living in 2019 and regressing into levels of 1997 telling. It sucked then. It sucks now. Give up, like your entire extended family the moment they counted your 12 toes.

Anotherfan - Aug 29, 2019

Could you please named the great titles ?