Minimum Carnage Alpha #1

Writers: Cullen Bunn, Chris Yost
Art: Lan Medina
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $3.99
Release Date: October 3rd, 2012

How would it not make sense for the two most unbalanced Spider-Heroes, Venom and Scarlet Spider, to take on one of the most violent villains in the Spidey-verse, Cletus Kasady: Carnage? This ingenious idea to bring Flash and Kaine together has finally come forth after my many months of waiting and spewing excitement everywhere. But the question remains...is it good?

So far I am still excited for what is to come. This issue was a complete set-up issue for getting Cletus out of jail and introducing his strange tiny companions and the contraption called the Prometheus Pit. Of course it can be assumed that the main story is going to take place around if not within the Prometheus Pit and that there is something inside of it that will benefit Cletus.

As for Venom and Scarlet Spider, it was easy enough to get them together. Have a massively murderous man escape jail, check. Has a government agent who is also an Avenger chase him down, Venom check. Have the Prometheus Pit reside in Texas, Scarlet Spider check. Of course Kaine will have issues with any symbiotic creature, Venom and Carnage alike and in reality they don't know one another.

The sad thing about this issue is we don't get a lot of interaction between Kaine and Flash. As most issues at the beginning of an arc, this was a building block for the issues to come. It wasn't anything phenomenal but it shows definite promise for the story that will trickle out in the next five issues. I am excited to read this and of course if you are a fan of Carnage, Venom or Scarlet Spider this is a worthwhile pickup because the next two months will be riddled with this storyline.