Absolute Carnage #1

Event\Storyline: Absolute Carnage Writer: Donny Cates Artist: Ryan Stegman Publisher: Marvel Comics Release Date: August 7, 2019 Cover Price: $7.99 Critic Reviews: 20 User Reviews: 85
8.9Critic Rating
9.0User Rating

After turning Venom's world upside down a year ago, DONNY CATES and RYAN STEGMAN are about to put the Sinister Symbiote through hell again, only this time CARNAGE has come calling, and everyone who's ever worn a symbiote is dead in his sights! He's skirted the periphery of the Marvel Universe for months, but Cletus Kasady at last stands poised to make his grand return to New York in a blistering 60-PAGE story... and he wants to paint the town red!
Rated T+

  • 10
    On Comics Ground - Alec Thorn Aug 7, 2019

    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

  • 10
    AIPT - Forrest Hollingsworth Aug 7, 2019

    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

  • 10
    ComicBook.com - Charlie Ridgely Aug 7, 2019

    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

  • 10
    Horror DNA - James Ferguson Aug 15, 2019

    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

  • 10
    Newsarama - David Pepose Aug 6, 2019

    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

  • 9.7
    Sequential Planet - Ryan Easby Aug 13, 2019

    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

  • 9.5
    Comic Watch - John Jack Aug 8, 2019

    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

  • 9.0
    Comics: The Gathering - Harlan Ivester Aug 7, 2019

    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

  • 9.0
    411Mania - John Pumpernickel Aug 8, 2019

    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

  • 9.0
    You Don't Read Comics - Jason A. Fleece Aug 7, 2019

    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

  • 9.0
    Graphic Policy - Brett Aug 7, 2019

    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

  • 8.9
    Weird Science Marvel Comics - wolfcypher Aug 7, 2019

    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

  • 8.8
    Monkeys Fighting Robots - Colin Tessier Aug 6, 2019

    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

  • 8.5
    Multiversity Comics - Matthew Blair Aug 9, 2019

    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

  • 8.5
    GWW - Dusty Good Aug 7, 2019

    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

  • 8.4
    IGN - Jesse Schedeen Aug 7, 2019

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

  • 8.0
    Comic Book Revolution - Kevin Lainez Aug 8, 2019

    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

  • 8.0
    Kabooooom - Matt Morrison Aug 9, 2019

    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

  • 7.1
    Geek'd Out - Nico Sprezzatura Aug 7, 2019

    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

  • 6.0
    The Beat - Joe Grunenwald Aug 7, 2019

    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

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