Can Venom and Scarlet Spider muster the gumption to work together long enough to go after Carnage?  Read on to find out.

The official description from Marvel:

• It’s Venom vs. Scarlet Spider – while Carnage pulls the strings!

• Flash Thompson may not know who the Scarlet Spider is, but does the Venom symbiote?

• The secrets behind Carnage’s escape are revealed as Cletus Kasady finds a whole new world to terrorize

Carnage came to Houston and caused a mess, so it’s time for the Scarlet Spider and Venom to clean it up.  I’ll be honest, I never thought I’d write that sentence but truth be told, that’s exactly what makes this crossover so engrossing.  Trust me when I tell you fanboys: you will not regret this purchase.

Chris Yost absolutely nails the script, brilliantly balancing the perspective of Kaine Parker as he deals with these storied symbiotes.  How he characterizes the interactions between the two leads, speaks volumes of the strength of this team-up as instant tension gives way to an uneasy alliance that might just be doomed from the start.  From the beginning to the end our heroes step-up to the plate and seek to prove their mantel as they charge head first in a tale that requires some strong plot strings from here on out.  The end result is not a perfect issue, but it is an extremely entertaining one.

Khoi Pham and Reilly Brown deliver some rather solid art that simply meets the requirements of this insane but fun jaunt.  From the characters to the various backgrounds, everything is layered in splendidly executed pencil strokes that ultimately yield a visually engaging experience that will please vans of both Venom and Scarlet Spider.  My only minor gripes come from a few select scenes that look rather sparse in reference to their level of detail.

The big but tiny (pun intended) event continues in glorious fashion as Scarlet Spider #10 successfully builds on Minimum Carnage: Alpha‘s narrative momentum.  Recommended.

4/5