Fanboys Anonymous

Oh no, me again? What more could I possibly do to make your lives any more chock-full of symbiotes? Well, I can definitely talk to you about Marvel's Deadpool Vs. Carnage #3, if you'd like. But as you know, there's always a catch to these reviews—and that catch is a recap of the last issue in this frenetic tour de sang! Let's waste no more time!

In Deadpool Vs. Carnage #2, Cletus Kasady—aka our debonair symbiote, Carnage—proceeds to tear into Deadpool with the assistance of his fan-favorite squeeze, Shriek, after getting his own butt handed to him by the Merc with a Mouth in issue #1. Convinced that Deadpool won't be coming after him anymore, Carnage and Shriek put some miles between them and Deadpool to continue their cross-country murder spree. Deadpool, being Deadpool, pulls himself back together with the help of his mutant healing factor and continues to follow his divine muse through seemingly random signs pointing in Carnage's direction. He meets up with a large fellow named Doverton, who's wearing one of his spare costumes after winning a storage locker full of the Merc's gear in an auction. Together they ride their synchronized crazy wave to locate Carnage. Deadpool gets the drop on Carnage and Shriek on the highway with a large farming tractor, bumping Shriek into yet another coma (sort of… stay tuned) before recommencing his duel with the symbiotic psychopath.

Phew, where was I? Right! Cullen Bunn begins issue #3 by giving us an earful (er, eyeful?) of Deadpool's banter as he exchanges blows with Carnage, downplaying the existence of Carnage's own muse—Chaos—as nothing more than an imaginary friend. Throughout the past three issues, Deadpool has been showing up Carnage's ideals of chaos by literally locating him through order in the form of his divine road map. At every turn, Deadpool is right there waiting for Carnage, and it really shows in Cletus' reactions that this notion of organized chaos is getting to him.

Carnage escapes, dragging Shriek's unconscious body along in some sort of serial killer lover's relationship. (Aaaaw, Bunn finally did what Carnage's fandom has been asking for and shipped the lovely couple!). But none too soon, Deadpool receives another of his divinations, this time foreshadowing the appearance of a particular group of symbiotes that hasn't been seen since Carnage USA. I have to admit, half of the entertainment I get out of this limited series is just seeing how Bunn comes up with ways for Deadpool to get his messages.


Defeated by Deadpool's incessant tracking method, Carnage gives in and decides to ride this organized chaos wave. They end up in the same place together, at which point Deadpool receives a much-needed upgrade in his war with Carnage—which you'll have to find out about by picking up an issue or waiting until my next review! (Option A preferred.)

What more can I say about Bunn's work on this series than what's already been said? Bunn gets Deadpool and Carnage, and he knows what the fans want (at least, I think he does for symbiote fans). Hopefully, this organized chaos plot thread culminates in the next and final issue, and I speak for all of my fellow Venomaniacs when I say I hope we see one or two more special symbiote guests before the grand bloody finale.





Salvador Espin and Glenn Fabry continue to please hemophiliacs with gory and animated art to complement the dark humor Bunn churns out at an alarming rate. I also want to congratulate Espin for managing to make Shriek look like the sexy badass she really is. She hasn't had a great run with Marvel artists when it comes to her feminine charms, but Espin finally delivers Cletus his murderous beauty queen—born from the rags and musk of '90s grunge and metal, and blossoming as a goddess of tempered insanity. Bravo!

Deadpool Vs. Carnage #3 receives 4.5 out of 5 stars for Bunn's writing—which is reduced by half a star only for something that upset me and a few other symbiote fans but which you'll have to read about later—and 5 out of 5 stars for the superb art. Again, I urge you to pick up issues one, two, and three before the fourth comes out on June 4. Don't forget to follow Fanboys Anonymous for more comic reviews by yours truly, and The Venom Site for all of your symbiote news, reviews, and points of views!