For those who still believe that comic books are only a male empowerment fantasy, Phillip Kennedy Johnson just rewrote the script on that with his induction “Homecoming” into this anthology.
Bleakly penciled by Erik Salazar, the story taked place outside of the ruins of the St. Este’s group home and shows the Carnage symbiote yet again bonding to a child who is the product of a broken home, giving a pre-teen girl the golden opportunity to exact vengeance on her neglectful parents.
Johnson’s short tale is written with a slant : the audience does not know how the girl who eventually becomes into possession of the symbiote ended up becoming squatters. But the cigarette burns on the girl’s body can only lead to the assumption that her parent’s had substance abuse issues that caused them to take out their economical frustrations with violence upon their child.
Based off these assumptions, Carnage pops up like a wraith as the anti-hero nobody asked for. Serving more justice than what social services ever could. Aside from the appearance of a symbiote, there are some elements to the tale even more unbelievable, such as a chronically homeless man having a conversation with a cop that wasn’t a result of condencension or accusation. Other than that, the tale is no more than a dream for those reader’s such as myself who grew up and witnessed the failings of the social service system firsthand. In any event, Johnson’s “Homecoming” is the welcome reminder that Carnage is arguably Marvel’s foster child champion, akin to DC’s Jason Todd, in red and all. The remainder of the anthology included a preview of what assumedly will be a new Carnage series spearheaded by DC’s master of macarbe, Ram V. The tale features Carnage breaking out of a cell while breaking down Hydro-Man to a science.
Though a majority of the dialogue went over my head (as most Ram V stories tend to for me), the legendary Salvador Larrocca (you know, that guy who would love to change Eminem’s area code from 313 to 616) more than succeeds in assisting to translate the horror’s that unfolded in V’s script. V and Larrocca are an appealing team. If this preview is any indication, a Carnage series from these two will be yet another excellent induction into the bibliography of the barbaric character. Closing the collection is some “Funnies” by Ty Templeton, a humorous insert that pulls from the type of dark comedy routines that could be found late night on Adult Swim. Like Mini-Marvel’s with a Parental Advisory sticker combined with the cuteness of a Skottie Young cover. I want a full book from Ty Templeton covering the entire Marvel Universe with the same mature humor. But if Ty decides to continue narrow his sights on just the Klyntarian’s, then a one-shot should definitely be in order for the next big symbiote-related event in the Marvel Universe.
Sure “Carnage Forever” isn’t exactly going to be rememorable, as it is the type of anthology that I could see years later in a omnibus – but “Carnage Forever” is important because it carries shades of what has the potential to be remarkable and sheds light on why the dark visage of Carnage will continue to be a formidable legacy character with a well full of stories covered in coagulation … forever.
Score : 4/5
(W) Philip Kennedy Johnson (A) Edgar Salazar (CA) Kendrick Lim
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