REVIEW: ‘Carnage Reigns: Omega,’ Issue #1

Carnage Reigns: Omega #1 is published by Marvel, written by Cody Ziglar, art by Julius Ohta and Rogê Antônio, colors by Erick Arciniega, and letters by Cory Petit. This is the final part of the Carnage Reigns crossover. Iron Man joins the part with an Iron Spider suit for Miles, launching a final attack on Cletus Kasady.

This issue wastes approximately zero seconds before taking off and launching itself at its intended target. A brief formulation of an idea is crafted before what’s left of the alliance is put to its ultimate test. The issue is an extended length but the intoxicating speed remains the same throughout. It’s a battle between a group of heroes and villains looking for reduced sentences and a giant robotic symbiote. The last issue of these crossovers may have similar tropes, but that specific set of circumstances is truly unique. What was borrowed from other current storylines continues into Carnage Reigns: Omega #1, but importantly it focuses on its own creations. It is the Carnage elements, including the technical absence of Carnage, that gets concluded. 

What sets this crossover apart is those that have headlined it. Miles has been the spearhead, the person to keep fighting Kasady every step of the way. There is something incredibly powerful about Spider-Man being the predominant hero of a crossover. It hasn’t been all A-listers, but that has increased the sense of peril and drama, elevating some of those lesser known. This last issue has even fewer, with just four on the ground at the beginning of the comic. The biggest surprises have been Scorpion and Hightail and their brilliance continues into this chapter.

The biggest inclusion in this issue is Iron Man, and the impact Ziglar brings with him is huge. He is a relief and a problem solver, whilst also being another heavy hitter with connections to everything Kasady has been using. He and Miles take point for most of this issue. They strategise together, work around one another, and the partnership they instantly spark up fuels the energy of the comic. Whilst Stark came to the rescue, the respect is on an equal level. 

The art is terrific, capturing the chaos of the situation in almost every panel. What began in the previous issue but takes centre stage here is the new designs for three of the primary characters. Iron Man comes in looking like a knight in shining armor. It’s incredibly angular and layered. The helmet, in particular, is something very different from almost every Iron Man armor that has come before. The knight design is to counteract Kasady’s dragon-like form. The wings increase his size and the construction of the face is even more monstrous than usual. But neither of those new looks match that of Miles’ Iron Spider suit, an homage to Peter’s. It is a sleek tribute that stands out on its own at the same time. The battle is intense and epic, with Kasady appearing to grow in size as the issue progresses.

The colors are brilliant. Most of the issue is submerged in a blend of red and gold, with both Kasady and Iron Man mirroring that in their own costumes. That being said, the shades on each character’s designs are enough to make them stand out and ensure that none of them disappear within the sheer insanity of the situation. The lettering features many custom word balloons which can get confusing to make sense of, but they do denote the voices of the individual characters.

Carnage Reigns: Omega #1 is an epic conclusion. Whilst this crossover has run through various titles, the figures that have been at the forefront of the whole storyline are those that are still standing in this finale. To keep this momentum going and stay fresh and energised is extremely impressive, aided by a new inclusion in every chapter. It has felt strange having a title named after Carnage when that Symbiote never features, but it is understandable given that it creates an umbrella term for a series of crossovers.

Carnage Reigns: Omega #1 is available where comics are sold.