Rocking onto the scene from Cullen Bunn, Gerardo Sandoval, and Jim Campbell, Death of the Venomverse picks up where the previous volume of Carnage, follow-up one-shot Web of Carnage, and the Edge of Venomverse anthology series left off. However, this first issue feels very much like its own distinct animal in a lot of ways, following the Carnage Symbiote as it carves a bloody path through the multiverse. The creature has made it a mission to kill and absorb every variant of Venom in an effort to grow its godlike power, which means this first issue acts as a tour of multiple realities. As such, there are a ton of Easter eggs in both visuals and dialogue that longtime Venom fans will no doubt enjoy. But the issue doesn’t just bank on nerd nostalgia; it’s a hell of a fun ride in its own right.
Though this opening issue very much has a run-and-gun vibe through most of it — feeling almost like a cosmic slasher film in which Venom is the Final Girl — the character work gives the reader enough to grab onto. Carnage itself is particularly verbose here, carrying on its demeanor from the previous solo series, but with a new kind of edge to it. The Symbiote is still fond of pontificating about the nature of its growing abilities, but it’s much more direct in its dialogue with other characters. Basically, you know you’re not long for this world if Carnage begins addressing you.
Though Edge of the Venomverse certainly gave Anne Weying/Agent Venom some fun cameo appearances, this is the first time in a while that we’ve gotten to really catch up with her and her fellow Sym-Soldiers. Much of this issue puts Anne and the team one step behind Carnage, but it also offers an introduction to new members with clever designs, as well as gives us a a bit of insight as to how Anne’s holding up after all this time. She’s clearly feeling the pressure as Carnage steals one incredible ability after another, and it’s compelling to see her having to play it cool for her comrades and to get a few hints at how far she’s willing to go for victory.
Speaking of which, the fights in this issue are a sight to behold. Each Venom here displays a wildly different power set, meaning no two scraps are quite the same. There are Venoms who command the elements, Venoms who had mutant abilities before they joined the Hive, and even Venoms who rely on their own tech to bolster their impressive powers. It’s all goopy and frenetic when we get to see the action, but Sandoval also offers us some chilling visuals when showing the aftermath of a fight Anne was too late to prevent. The sight of a tiny skeleton in our heroine’s palm has stuck with me for a few days now.
Page layouts are inventive, as well. In many scenes involving Carnage, his tendrils will reach out and form the borders of different panels, or even just cut across a page and separate different bits of action. Things can get a bit hectic when Carnage is acting as the panel border and hopping through the edges of said panel, but for the most part, this is a neat concept that makes it feel like the villain is ever-present.
Overall, this is an impressive opening shot from the latest war between Carnage and Venom. It’s already going to some unexpected and audacious places, particularly thanks to solid characterization, gnarly artwork, and an opening scene that made my jaw drop, only for the rug to be pulled out from under me again. As much as I enjoyed Carnage Reigns, it finally feels like this storyline is truly back on track (but also still totally bonkers). I can already tell this is one crossover that isn’t going to play by the rules, much like the villain at its center.
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