Writer: Daniel Way
Artist: Steve Dillon
I decided to go into this series with an open mind as prior to reading this issue there were things that I was looking forward to, like the characters and seeing Punisher and Deadpool two of my favourite underrated characters team up, whereas I wasn't too sure if I'd like Steve Dillon's art as I usually don't like it.
Plot
This issue sees Thunderbolt Ross A.K.A the Red Hulk putting the Thunderbolts together. He goes all around the world from Somalia, France and Afghanistan to recruit his Thunderbolts, Punisher, Deadpool, Venom, and Elektra.
Review
This was a good start and the issue wasn't as bad as I was dreading. It still wasn't as good as I hoped but considering what I feared it could be I'm happy enough with the outcome. Daniel Way has done a good job introducing the characters in this issue and I love how he's made Thunderbolt Ross the leader of this group. Due to this issue focusing on Ross assembling his group of killers it didn't give any time to explain what his overall goal is or show much action. Although this issue was slow Way has instilled more faith in me that this series can be good and I hope he delivers to that. I also liked how he handled all the different character and although besides Ross and the Punisher, they didn't get a lot of time you could notice they're unique characteristics. I'm also interested in seeing how Way writes Deadpool in this series as he had plenty of time writing him in the previous Deadpool series. The current Deadpool series is however a lot different and the unique inner voices style Way added whilst writing Deadpool has gone. This leaves the question if Way will write him with or without the voices, for continuity's sake I hope he writes him without.
The thing that put me off this series was Steve Dillon as artist. I've never really liked his art in the past and especially the way he draws women. In saying that I actually liked his art in this issue. It still wasn't as good as most other artists but it's a lot better than I've seen in the past. I particularly like how he draws Thunderbolt Ross and Venom, and how he showed of Venom's symbiote powers. I've never minded how Dillon's drawn Punisher in the past, and he's one of the better Marvel characters I've seen him draw. I would however have liked him to have drawn Punisher similar to the way he was drawn in the most recent The Punisher series as the newer skull shirt was better. I still wasn't to keen on how he draws women. When I first saw Elektra I thought this isn't that bad, and that it's better than he's done in the past, but when he drew a closer up version of her face or her face from the side she looked more like a man than a woman, which wasn't nice.
Seems not a lot happened besides the team coming together I will talk about each of the five character involved individually and say what I think they will bring to the team and what I expect from them. I will start with the leader of the group Thunderbolt Ross. He's a natural leader having served in the army, and has always shown a bad side. Another reason he's a good choice for this team besides his pedigree, and the fact he's a Hulk is that he's got Thunderbolt as his nickname so it makes sense him leading a team named Thunderbolts giving the name a dual meaning. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Thunderbolt Ross in this series as most other series have him in his Hulk form. I still however want to see him Hulked out a lot at the same time as it would be daft having this team of killers lead by a Hulk and not have him Hulked out. What I'm basically saying is that I'm hoping to see a more balanced view of Ross as both Red Hulk and Thunderbolt Ross.
I've always been Punisher fan and him being a part of this team is what mainly drew me towards buying this series. I was so disappointed when I heard that Punisher would no longer have a solo series once Punisher: War Zone finishes. I do however question the timing of this series in conjunction with the Punisher: War Zone series. I would have thought that Marvel would have waited until the end of the War Zone series till putting this series out, as it would have helped the continuity of both series'. I am however looking forward to seeing how Way handles Frank and what he will bring to the team. He's never really been a team player but with a team full of killers I think he'll fit in, it will just be a matter of whether the others keep to only killing those who deserve it. It will also be interesting to see how Punisher and Ross get along as they're both ex-army with the highest military training in Marvel apart from Captain America.
Deadpool's part in this team will also be interesting as the Merc with a Mouth has worked with various people in the past including Weapon X, Cable and most recently the X-Force. The way Ross went about recruiting Deapool was interesting asking for him to volunteer like he did with Weapon X. As I said earlier I'm mainly looking forward to seeing Deadpool fight alongside Punisher as both have been in my top 10 favourite characters for a few years, and I've felt that despite their loyal fan base they've been very underrated for to long. I'm looking forward to seeing Deadpool work in a team again as he was brilliant in Uncanny X-Force. It will also be interesting to see how Deadpool will react alongside the other members and if he will try and prove he's better with a blade than Elektra, or better with a gun than Punisher or Venom. I also hope that Deapool brings his funny banter to the series, and his jokes and I know that Way can do that if he wants to.
Venom is also an interesting addition to this team and seems to be in demand after joining the Secret Avengers. Since Flash Thompson has been Venom he has really brought some life back to the character and has made Venom into a more serious character as well as a decent hero. The way he reacted to Ross' visit was very good and I loved how he kept his proper army sense of respect, and how he considered Ross a legend. It will also be interesting to see three characters who have been army trained feature in this group as well as their different characteristics. I'm looking forward to seeing if Venom will be the cooler head in the group, if there is one, and how he will react in certain situations that he's less experienced than the others are.
Finally Elektra. She is probably the most unique addition to this group. Apart from being the only female member she is also the most mysterious usually working in the shadows. Although she's worked for and lead The Hand, and worked alongside Daredevil in the past, she hasn't been the best team player especially whilst working with people she's not ordering around. It will also be interesting to see how she reacts to all the different personalities throughout the group as she is usually a very serious character. I will however be looking forward to seeing her bring her ninja style to the group, and see her kicking but, which I haven't seen in a while.
Final Verdict
A good introduction to a brand new team. Although this issue wasn't brilliant, and a bit slow at times, it does show great promise that the series will be good in the next few issues, and I hope it is. I would recommend this series to people who are fans of any of the characters involved as it's too early in the series to determine if they are a good addition, or if the series does them justice. It's also a great issue to introduce newer readers to these characters as you don't need any prior knowledge of the characters to enjoy this issue.
Rating: 3.5/5
Writer: Christopher Yost
Artists: Khoi Pham & Reilly Brown
This series has been brilliant and I have enjoyed Yost's work on it as he has shown the transition of Kaine from the villain he was prior to anti-hero he is now perfectly. The art over the series has also been good and Pham along with Brown has done a great job on the last couple of issues. I did prefer Stegman's art but Brown and Pham's are still very good and not far off.
Plot
This issue starts with Scarlet Spider fighting Carnage. Meanwhile Flash is having trouble controlling the Venom symbiote and lands up fighting the Enigma Force. Also the person behind bringing Carnage to the Microverse is revealed and has plans for Carnage and Venom.
Review
This was a great issue and I'm starting to like Scarlet Spider even more. I love how Yost has shaped Kaine over this series taking him from a very selfish person to someone who is wanting to do good, whilst not wanting to admit he's a hero or anything like Spider-Man. I also like how Kain isn't afraid to do what's needed to be done like although he's trying even harder to be a good person this issue he makes it very clear he's wanting to kill Carnage. I have also enjoyed how Yost has introduced a lot of emotion to this series whilst keeping it very fun and entertaining.
Brown and Pham's art is simply amazing and they are brilliant at drawing the symbiotes. Although I said I prefer Stegman's art you can't fault Brown and Pham's and Stegman would have a hard time beating their art on this story. Although some of the art isn't brilliant and the faces in background sequences are terrible they put lot's of detail where it counts and although it would be better with the whole comic having brilliant art you can forgive them due to their detail in one on one fights and when the symbiotes are going crazy.
Another thing I loved about this issue was how we get to see Venom go crazy again. Carnage is always crazy has it's got a psycho controlling it but when I used to read the Venom series most of the time Flash was able to keep it in check due to his military training. It's also nice that both Venom and Carnage are getting tones of page time in this issue and the same for Scarlet Spider in the Venom issue whilst still keeping the title character the main focus. I did however feel this issue that Scarlet Spider didn't play has big a role as he should have and that this part of the story would have probably been better in Venom. It was also nice to see Flash fighting the symbiote inside as it was trying to get out and how he was thinking of Betty who to be honest he's neglected since becoming Venom.
I did however have mixed feelings when the person behind Carnages arrival to the Microverse was revealed and although it was a surprise there wasn't much build up to it and felt it came a bit too sudden. I did however like how he reacted to Venom being there as he only needed Carnage and am his plans for the two look like they will add fun to the remaining two issues of the crossover. The conversation between Carnage and Venom after being captured was also very fun and funny as it was nice seeing Carnage's reaction to Venom who was trying to be very serious.
I'm also interested to see how Scarlet Spider will react when he finds out about the plan involving Venom and Carnage. It will also be interesting to see if the Redeemer or Katy play a bigger role near the end as Katy hasn't been involved as much as she could have and I think the Redeemer's been holding back something.
Final Verdict
This was a brilliant issue and Scarlet Spider is shaping up to be a brilliant series with lots of fun. The Minimum Carnage crossover is also shaping up to be a brilliant story and I'm looking forward to reading the final two parts. I would highly recommend this issue, the entire Scarlet Spider series and this crossover story as they are all brilliant.
Rating: 4/5
