REVIEW: Scarlet Spider #11

Minimum Carnage has been taking place in both Scarlet Spider and Venom. Part four arrives this month in Scarlet Spider #11 and Major Spoilers looks to see if this event is still a solid read.

SCARLET SPIDER #11
Writer: Chris Yost
Artists: Reilly Brown, Khoi Pham
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Colorist: Edgar Delgado
Editor: Tom Brennan
Publisher: Marvel
Cover Price: $2.99

Previously in Minimum Carnage: Carnage, Venom and Scarlet Spider have all traveled to the Microverse. Venom assists the Enigma Force in fighting off Marquis Radu’s army while Scarlet Spider meets the Redeemer. Carnage interrupts their meeting, ready to continue killing…

AND THE PLOT THICKENS

After a slow start, this event is finally picking up speed, starting with the last issue of Venom and continuing in this issue of Scarlet Spider. The plot is moving forward and all our characters are finally brought together. This issue consists of a fight between Scarlet Spider and Carnage. We meet Marquis Radu and learn why he has brought Carnage to the Microverse.

The story continues to surprise me because I have no idea where it’s headed. Marquis Radu is introduced as a real threat in that he wants to kill god in order to become the new one of the Microverse. He’s also someone that kicks Carnage’s ass and shuts him up. And in this story, that’s usually a good thing. It’s part four of the event and the writers needed to get to the point quickly. I’ve said before that this feels like a story that could be told in four parts rather than six, and I stand by that statement. Yost has the task of bringing all the pieces together and he does so successfully. Everything is setup to provide, what I hope is, an epic conclusion. I was glad to learn that Carnage was brought to the Microverse in order to create an army of symbiotes. And while it’s a little obvious that Carnage will take over that army, it’s still an engaging story. That’s not to say that there aren’t some flaws. Carnage’s dialogue continues to be rather awful in some parts. (We get it. He likes killing.) Katy Kiernan continues to have no reason for being present other than to provide Yost with a means to get information to the reader. Still, things are building as the end is approaches. A big conflict looks to be coming and I can’t wait to see it.

A SEAMLESS BLEND

Two artists handle the penciling this issue, Reilly Brown and Khoi Pham. A lot of times when there are multiple artists on a book their styles are very different and even clash. In this issue, I was honestly unable to tell where one started and the other began. They blended so seamlessly that I wasn’t taken out of the story and, until I checked, didn’t even know there were two artists. It’s so hard for me to tell which artist did which section (though I have an idea) that it makes it difficult to discuss the art without talking about it as a whole. Both do a great job handling the action as well as moments involving dialogue. The symbiotes continue to look monstrous and their tongues continue to be long (which I love). Great work all around and a great improvement over part three of this story.

BOTTOM LINE: I’M READY, GIVE ME MORE

I’m ready and eager to see the end of this event. I was extremely skeptical at first but Minimum Carnage has continued to surprise and please me. I have little idea where this story is headed and while I think I can predict where it’s going, I wouldn’t be surprised if it does something completely different. For once, I actually want to see more of a Carnage story, something that I didn’t think would ever happen. Scarlet Spider #11 gets 3.5 out of 5 stars.

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