REVIEW: ‘Scream: Curse Of Carnage,’ #6

Warning: Discussions of CSA, and predators, with no depiction of physical acts.

Scream: Curse Of Carnage #6 “Suffer the Children” part 1 is published by Marvel, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, with art by Chris Mooneyham, inks by Le Beau Underwood (pages 12, 24, 26 – 28), colors by Rain Beredo, and letters by VC’s Cory Petit. After her re-introduction in Absolute Carnage: Scream, the symbiote is back to feature in her own series.

Previously, the yellow symbiote had been patrolling the streets of New York, taking on the role of the ‘Lethal Protector’ in the wake of the destruction left by Carnage. The offspring of Venom, Scream, now has a new host, Andi Benton, as the two vow to protect the innocent, and probably eat the criminals because you know, alien symbiotes. Scream: Curse Of Carnage #6 is a particularly sinister issue and wastes no time in setting its plot, and tone. The issue opens up showing homeless children being offered up shelter, and food, with an older married couple “The Creeps. Not at all foreboding.

Meanwhile, Scream has her eyes set on a despicable wealthy influencer that has the New York police force and judicial system in his back pocket. This is not what has attracted the daughter of Venom. He is also a devious sexual predator, and to that end, Scream believes he is the source responsible for the increased kidnappings of homeless children.

This man has also driven up other vigilantes as enemies, as The Punisher and Sandman also enter the arena trying to take out the suspect.

I mentioned at the top of the review that this issue is particularly sinister, and wow the creative team has aggressively sorted out this tone. Chapman has bagged himself a winner with leading a singular led symbiote series, and in reading issue six you can see why. Scream visually pops on the page, and has such a menacing appearance, and putting her in the ‘Lethal Protector’ role elevates this story. Chapman pits the anti-hero against a duo of her peers, Punisher and Sandman, as each wrestle with the best way to deal with an influential sexual predator. All the while these children continue to go missing, and you can sense a larger plot at work.

Mooneyham, Underwood, and Beredo smash the visuals within the issue. The action sequence in the sandpit is particularly tantalizing. Especially given the way these three characters fight, and act, it adds an extra element of tension and contrast. Also, the way in which the creative combine to capture the look and feel of Scream was too notch. The fluid nature of her hair, and the burning, lit up eyes. The action sequences are offset by the dark, and tense moments of the child prisoners kept in the house of the Creep family.

With all of the action taking place and the very nature of depicting a symbiote discussing items with her host, Petit is kept very busy with letters. The onomatopoeia is well used and doesn’t detract from the imagery or pull you away from the pacing of the plot. The dialogue is well placed, colored, and sized, again reinforcing the pace of the story.

Overall, this is a really intriguing take on a lesser-known and highly underutilized character. Chapman has dropped her right into the seedy underbelly of New York, Scream is kicking arse and taking names. Any fan of previous symbiote work will definitely enjoy this!

Scream: Curse Of Carnage #6 is available in stores now.