Gwenom vs Carnage
Creators: Seanan McGuire, Flaviano, Rico Renzi, VCs Ariana Maher
Story: Marvel couldn’t resist putting their favorite Spider darling in a King in Black tie-in. And who is Carnage? And what is the Jackal up to?
Steve: Most of this issue is devoted to Gwen fighting through symbiote goo and trying to rescue others who have been enveloped by a symbiote. She doesn’t have much luck, and in an effort to lead the symbiote monsters away from her roommates, she fails. They are all overcome by symbiotes. In a strange turn, MJ bursts forth from Gwen in free fall, causing Gwen to save her. It seems, Miles Warren, the Jackal, is responsible after subjecting her to the same spiders that give Gwen her suit. MJ is then overcome by symbiote goo and becomes Carnage. Let the fight begin. How does this fit with Knull? At this point, Knull becomes aware of Gwen. Her suit is not a typical symbiote, so he does not control it as he does the others…..at least for now.
This was an enjoyable issue but was a bit light on story, focused more on action. Having read all of the other Venom/King in Black issues, I don’t need panel after panel of fighting symbiotes. Hopefully, in issue two McGuire will deliver more backstory to the Miles Warren bit. Otherwise, we are in for a huge Gwenom v Carnage fight. Not always bad, but in an event like this, something more cerebral would be nice.
Glenn: It’s the return of Spider-Gwen, kinda-sort of as the writer of her previous series Seanon McGuire returns for a King In Black enabled look at how this alternate reality version of Gwen is handling the Symbiote invasion. The majority of the issue is fast paced and action packed with Gwen stuck in the middle of the Symbiote infested New York and having to fight creatures that she has no context or (as far as I’m aware) knowledge of. Lots of great action scenes here with Gwen trying her best until she has to retreat home, but thanks to some Star Trek transporter logic, she ends up back where she started and we don’t get the main villain of this three issue mini until the end. I liked the majority of the writing here, but found the origin of this version of Carnage a bit clunky.It seems it’s just to get us to the point where we need to be for the main purpose of this story to actually happen. I’m not too high on MJ’s Carnage design (I much preferred some of the sketches in the back) but it’ll be interesting to see how this fight progresses. Spider-Fans have been waiting decades to see MJ vs Gwen and now we have it with added Symbiotes! I liked the back material that explained this was a story McGuire wanted to get to eventually so it’s cool that King In Black is letting her do that. It’s also nice to see Gwen written as more herself than just a cardboard cutout version as we’ve seen in recent issues of Amazing Spider-Man.
Art:
Glenn: Art here is very nice, this is the first time I’ve seen Flaviano Armentaro’s work, but it seems to match the style we’ve grown accustomed to in Gwen’s various books since her debut. There’s been remarkable consistency in the art style of Gwen’s books and that’s likely because the same colourist, Rico Renzi has been here from the start. There’s some big set pieces here that Armentaro pulls off well, and although I’m not a big fan of his design for MJ/Carnage I do like how he draws Gwen and her Gwenom variant. It’s good to see Gwen back in her own title, even if it’s ever so brief and things will no doubt really kick off next issue for her and the book.
Steve: If I’m not mistaken, this is my first time experiencing Flaviano art. He does a nice job with movement here. His poses, movement and action are rendered well. He draws menace well too, especially the symbiote monsters. If I had one quibble with the art, it is the drawing of Gwen’s hood. Her costume design is excellent and fresh. Flaviano puts too much emphasis on showing the inside of the hood. It flairs too much and looks unnatural. Just like character movement, the hood should flow and not be rigidly in place to show the interior webbing at the amount it was. Minor issue though.
Grade:
Glenn: B-
Steve: C+