Comic Book Review - Extreme Carnage: Agony #1

Rob reviews Extreme Carnage: Agony #1...

Marvel's Extreme Carnage arc has so far been pretty good. It's certainly had its weaker issues, but overall the story has been consistent throughout. This week sees Carnage one step closer to "winning" as we not only head into Symbiote's endgame, we also catch up with the last Life Foundation Symbiote - Agony. 

The issue kicks off with a look at the life of Gemma Shin. Shin just happens to be the communication director for Senator Krane. She's underappreciated and is constantly degraded by the Senator's male staff. But away from this, Gemma hides a dark secret, she's also bonded to the Agony Symbiote. 

As the penultimate part in this 8-part series, Alyssa Wong starts to bring the plot threads together for their ultimate conclusion. Wong brings a much slower pace to proceedings as we learn about Gemma and what her connection to Carnage is, as well as Carnage's ultimate plan. On the other side of this jam-packed issue is the team: Anti-Venom, Silence, and Toxin. Their still none the wiser to what Carnage's true plan is, but through Flash Thompson's inside man - Hank - the screws are tightening. 

Agony is quite an interesting Symbiote and Wong writes both Agony and Gemma Shin incredibly well. To begin with, you're made to feel sorry for Shin as she's constantly degraded and diminished. Yet, Wong utilises a great shift as we suddenly see just how far the Carnage rabbit hole both Symbiote and host are. If any of the Life Foundation Symbiote's were truly the image of Carnage it would be Agony. It's a pretty terrifying reveal which changes the entire setup from the issue started. 

Art for Agony comes from Fran Galán and Danilo S. Beyruth. Both artists work well throughout and work wonders in showing the talents of Agony. There isn't a lot of action within this issue, but there doesn't need to be. Both Galán and Beuruth utilise the 'alien' aspects of the Symbiotes to symbolise just how dangerous these creatures are - and that's before the influence of Carnage. Carnage also features heavily as he attempts to convert Agony to his way of thinking. The scenes within the void are pretty psychedelic as Carnage twists and turn everything into his image. 

Jim Campbell also plays a part in this slow burner. The veteran brings plenty of looming shadows that play on the hypnotic power that Carnage holds within the void. Each Symbiote is represented with a great looking - and somewhat eerie -  bar scene which Campbell brings to life with a wash of colour variation.

All in all Extreme Carnage: Agony is the icing that binds the rest of the Extreme Carnage arc together. It's got one superb ending which throws everything out in s new direction. Whilst team Flash is still unaware of Carnage's true intentions, it's all built up to one Almighty showdown. 

Rating: 9/10 

Rob Lake - For more comic book and video game chat why not follow Geek Culture Reviews on Twitter and Facebook @GeekCultureRev