Eddie Brock: Carnage vol. 1 — Killing Me

In the aftermath of “Venom War,” Meridus was defeated, Venom was separated from Dylan Brock and disappeared, and Eddie Brock and Carnage were both grievously injured.  Sensing that Eddie had too much to live for, Carnage offered to bond with him so long as he’d provide victims for the symbiote every so often.  Eddie agreed and he’s been doing his level best to find bad people for Carnage to slaughter.  Serial murderers like the Hopscotch Killer who’s been leaving a trail of bodies across the country.  Eddie may think he’s doing the right thing by keeping this symbiote busy, but Carnage has never been known for his patience and now he thinks he’s found a way to get his new host to do whatever he wants.

God forbid anything ever gets better for Eddie Brock, after the last few years he’s had.  That said, writer Charles Soule does find an interesting new angle for his suffering as he tries – and actually succeeds – at keeping the worst symbiote of all in check.  This means there’s an actual back-and-forth between Eddie and Carnage throughout this volume which is engaging to watch unfold.  My only real gripe is that the symbiote comes off as just a bit too reserved here as he tries to match his host on the same level as opposed to just going completely crazy.  I realize it’s not Soule’s M.O. to let things fly completely off the handle (even when he’s writing for Ryan Browne), but I feel that some murderous insanity could liven things up.

It’d also make for an interesting challenge to have Jesus Saiz draw as his grounded and textured work matches the measured nature of the story.  Yes, even when he’s drawing a bulked-out Bushwhacker laying waste to a police station.  Juanan Ramirez’s wiry work in the final two issues feels like it’d be better served to deliver on any insanity even if he’s not a very detail-driven artist.  Regardless, I’m still interested in seeing where Eddie’s new partnership takes him, even if it’s only going to last until the end of the second (and concluding) volume of this series.