Comics 'Maximum Carnage' re-do

[crivelliman]

Yeah, this is one of those "who would you pick" threads. Sorry.

I was thinking about House of M, Civil War, Secret War, and World War Hulk, and they caused me to consider how much the crossover comic phenomenon has changed in recent years. Plotted out, "star" writer, dedicated artist attached, wrapped up in a 4-8 issue mini.

Then I thought about this other story in the pantheon of crossovers, which is never, ever referred to (and barely referenced after its initial damage was done): Maximum Carnage. Fourteen parts, spanning all the Spider-Titles, in-continuity, utilizing random characters who weren't busy in their own events making up a hodgepodge-y, melting pot of heroes, more or less run by Spider-Man. On the flip side, a ragtag group of murderous psychopaths from Spidey's 90's rogue's gallery, destroying New York City.

Kind of a cool concept, if you look at it on paper. Objectively, it's reminiscent of the better parts of The Stand (if you squint hard).

So my prompt is: Maximum Carnage was a mini published within the last five years, who would you see...

Writer
Artist
# of issues
What would you change/keep?

 

[kguillou]

5 issue mini-series with Dan Slott writing and JRJR drawing or maybe possibly even mark bagley, no one draws symbiotes like Bagley after all. I think it would be pretty cool, have the new avengers guest star and maybe even the FF4. I dont think it needs to be longer than 5 issues though, the original maximum carnage was too long i think.

 

[JerseyJoker]

In the sense how MC would be done now in todays atmosphere or how it would be done under those circumstance back in the 90's?

 

[crivelliman]

5 issue mini-series with Dan Slott writing and JRJR drawing or maybe possibly even mark bagley, no one draws symbiotes like Bagley after all. I think it would be pretty cool, have the new avengers guest star and maybe even the FF4. I dont think it needs to be longer than 5 issues though, the original maximum carnage was too long i think.

Agreed on length. I'd even go as far as 8 issues, but that's exactly what I was looking for.

In the sense how MC would be done now in todays atmosphere or how it would be done under those circumstance back in the 90's?

I mean how would MC be done by today's standards and expectations.

 

[Alastor]

This reminds me of when I got the Maximum Carnage with the red cartridge edition for my birthday. Looking back, even though I loved it, the game was pretty lame. And hard.

As for the comic book, it should be: 7 issues by Warren Ellis and...hmm, I'm having trouble thinking of a good artist. Maybe Mario Alberti, his work was awesome on the recent Spidey/X-men mini.

With the story, when I think of "Maximum Carnage", I get the image of Manhattan being cutoff, with Carnage symbiote-infected super villains running amok. Somehow, which is for more creative people to figure out, the Carnage symbiote is altered to where the main part worn by Cletus can split off pieces of itself to infect an individual, who is in controlled by Carnage, only physically, like with Skull in Earth X.

So I would pretty much just redo MC in current continuity, keep the same basic Spider-man/Venom/random heroes vs. Carnage and co., but change most everything else.

Anyway, with Manhattan overwhelmed by Carnage and his super villain army, Venom (or Anti-Venom, whatever) and Spider-Man both feel responsible, so they each decide to go after Cletus, with many villains/normal citizens between them. There would be a group of civilians leading a resistance against the villians, featuring non hero characters, like Willie Lumpkin and Amadeus Cho).

Peter, along with a few characters who remained uninfected due to the nature of their powers, such as Iron Man, and Shocker meet up with Venom at some point and decide to work together, then theres a battle against Cletus. After he is downed, everyone is freed from his control, and the symbiotes retreat and merge with the most powerful of the non-infected heroes, Sentry, who then proceeds to kills himself to prevent the massive damage he could do, as Carnage, and a character. Oh, and the result of him dying and releasing the "power of one million exploding suns", creates an official Marvel Multiverse, that at the end, Reed Richards becomes aware of.

After the dust settles, things rebuild and go on as usual. Peter is changing though, after his recent stint as an active Avenger, and his leadership during this ordeal, he decides he likes being part of a group in certain instances, but decides his place isn't with the Avengers. Peter then recruits different associates to form a new team that, instead of going after ninjas or sitting around, focuses mostly on street level, organized crime or in current continuity, the government/Osborn. Running across big threats every now and then. I think an interesting team could be Spider-Man, Sandman, Bucky Cap, Carol Danvers, Daredevil, Prowler and Kaine.

Wow, that got away from me.

 

[Doc_OCK_4MUGEN]

wait is this a reimagining of Maximum carnage or creating a new event similar to Maximum Carnage within current continuity. If its the second one here's kinda how I'd do it.
We know that the Sentry broke Carnage into pieces in space. What if The symbiote pieces fell back to Earth and started possessing living beings across the globe. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of people acting as Cletus Kassady (The symbiote supposedly had bonded with him fully so having the symbiote mimicking his hosts psyche wouldn't be that far fetched.) These Carnage-lites start gathering in New York to complete what the First Carnage couldn't do. The biggest killing Frenzy ever. Now Spidey and a few heroes/villains who aren't affected by the symbiotes are Humanity's last stand... Kinda want to see a Spidey/Venom/Anti Venom team up against Hundreds of Carnages...

 

[bryanss3]

I'd say never do a carnage story cause carnage is an awful character.

 

[Alastor]

I would agree with that statement. But I think any character, no matter how awful or lame, has potential.

 

[bryanss3]

except carnage. j/k I'm sure something good could have been done with him, but he is very 1 dimensional. He would need a lot of character development for us to get something new from him if the character ever returns.

 

[shinlyle]

I'd say never do a carnage story cause carnage is an awful character.

Quoted for Truth!


Honestly, I think I could respect Carnage is he had been used once (his first appearance) and then been left alone and forgotten. I think the first three issues were great. Just seeing what would happen if a maniac were given a symbiote that had none of Eddie's standards.

IF I had to redo another Maximum Carnage (which was a total crap story, by the way), I'd have it written by Mark Millar, drawn by Steve McNiven, Terry Dodson, or John Romita Jr. It would be 6 issues max, and it would be completeky different.

 

[Doc_OCK_4MUGEN]

Why the Carnage hate? He sucks, is a one note character who's done nothing worthy of excistance. But that doesn't mean that he's useless. He's an important part of Spidey lore and comics... We can't ignore that... It's like we can't ignore the Watson-Parker ma... What was I talking about? Oh yeah! WHEATCAKES!!

 

[Alastor]

I agree, they shouldnt ignore MJ, but just officially divorce already! In this day in age, it really isnt that unusual for a straight couple to get married young, realize how dumb they are, and get divorced.

 

[Shockdingo]

I'm really loving the ideas of the global invasion as well as Alastor's vision, though I'm not sure of the multiverse thing. I agree, given the right stuff Carnage could be interesting, though he is quite 1 dimensional.

 

[Hobgoblin]

Writer: JM DeMatties
Artist: Mark Bagely

Six issues would be more than enough. Its not a bad idea for a story but it needed to be scaled down and stream lined. It went on for far too long and had too many characters. If it were a story based on "How do we quickly stop these maniacs without resorting to their methods" type of ethics story, it would have been great. (Yes, I know thats what the original story set out to do, but this wouldnt be so cumbersome.)

I liked that you had a sort of battle of ethics between Venom and Spider-Man. Shriek was an important part of the puzzle, as she was able to control the populace's minds with her empathic ablities. The question for Venom and Spidey is: would they use the same methods to regain the population's sanity?

 

[bryanss3]

I've always liked Shriek I'm not even sure why.

 

[Hobgoblin]

I've always liked Shriek I'm not even sure why.

Cause she's hot?

 

[shinlyle]

Wel, the global invasion wa spretty much done in the video game, Spider-Man:Web of Shadows, but its done with Venom. The symbiote begins multiplying at an incredible rate, and infecting all of New York, so Spidey and his allies, with the aide of SHIEL, have to stop it.

 

[Doc_OCK_4MUGEN]

Kinda where I got the inspiration, Besides Matrvel loves to rehash ideas... SYMBIOTE ANIMALS!!! everyone loves symbiote animals... not really but Marvel would say they do... Add superheroes/villains with Carnage symbiote... (another WoS influence, nah... I'd say the first PS N64 Spidey game... Monster Ock!) And having Anti-Venom cleansing the souls from the symbiotes and Venom Killing both symbiotes and hosts... would be nice to see? 42 issues of pure mayhem... Biggest Spidey centric event in ALL history... Clone what? There have been no clones in Spider-Man EVER!!! But they should do something with the carnage bits floating on space...

 

[moraldeficiency]

Hmmm, good one, I'm going with the premise the original act did not happen. Personally I like carnage (I don't think there's any other spree killer supervillians out there actually so he's more unique then you guys are giving him credit for).

Writer: Ellis (he does psychos and minor characters very well)
Artist: Kaare Andrews (something along reigns' feel)
Issues: 8 first and last double sized

Premise: since we're what ifing I'm gonna go all out and make this an actual event by getting rid of the Break Out and making this that event. (Screams in the background, almost pitch black just the eyes, teeth and fingernails have color) a mysterious being is torturing a someone muttering "five pieces left", then a big smile, "first comes madness.....". The X-Men recieve a call from the Shiar, a violent outbreak of the brood is waging war against them, they require any help possible. This means the FF, X-Men, and any former avenger is pulled off into space. Doctor Strange goes as well saying something is horribly wrong with this. (I hate when something major happens in NY and even though there are tons of metas only one person responds) As they're distracted the being is seen in cleatus' cell whispering, cleatus laughs hysterically. Carnage slaughters the guards and releases the inmates mostly normal psychos with the exception of Shriek, Carrion, Blackout, Hyde, Bullseye, Vermin, the Corrupter, Scarecrow and the Rhino they quickly escape but not before releasing all the inmates into the streets (now with guard and shrink clothes and weapons). The corruptor touches and scarecrow gasses the Rhino distorting him. He charges off in a rage to open the rest of the prisons in the city (breakout like but with normal prisons as well. Spider-Man one of the only heroes left battles the group but is overwhelmed and nearly beaten to death. The city is in a massive panic as the killers run free. Worst yet, the corruptor touches pete and NY's greatest hero is sent out on a killing spree.

The Plot: No one's left and NY watches a killer spider-man running wild desperately warning everyone to stay away as he can't control himself. Watching we see a man who kicks the tv over and gets up saying, "it's time we all paid him back". That man turns out to be Hobie Brown (the prowler one of my favorite characters) and he suits up first calling his old teammates the outlaws (sandman, puma and the rocket racer). They track down pete using puma and find him about to kill MJ, hysterically begging for help. Despite not wanting to Spider-Man savagely attacks and during the battle the group are joined by Black Cat and Cloak and Dagger the later using her powers to free pete. Across the city other forgotten Z list heroes (we're talking guys like razorback here) are emerging to hold back the stem of chaos (All with a spider-man connection). Big fights all over, pete barely alive at this point but never giving up. MJ and his loved ones holding up at the bugle with JJJ is field marshal defending the building (ala inferno). Peter vs. Cleatus in the final issue, with pete winning finally.

Epilogue: The city begins to return to normal still unhinged though with the breakout of every prison in NY meta and normal as the hero's return. Strange is very upset saying the brood were "tampered with". He see's a pattern mystically, something created the brood to go wild and attempted to destroy everything the heroes loved back on earth and drive them mad. Something nasty is happening... The heroes visit pete in the hospital, and captian america asks him to become an avenger. Back to the mysterious being, he's torturing someone badly but you can't see how, speaking softly, "if not madness then prehaps you'll prefer pain" pan out to see Dr. Strange is the man being tortured...

^I know that's a bit much, but I can get carried away.

 

[WOLVERINE25TH]

Let's see...by today's standards it'd be...

A 6-issue mini-series which contributes abo****ely nothing outside of the tie-ins in every single book on the shelf for 3-4 months apiece, including 3-5 mini-series that will spawn from it.
Written by Bendis.
Drawn by Hitch

Which would then lead into Symbiote Invasion, which will run at the same time as The Mutants Take Manhattan.

Through it all, 3 books will continue to do their own thing.

 

[crivelliman]

I like the contributions that include take on story. Nice!

Let's see...by today's standards it'd be...

A 6-issue mini-series which contributes abo****ely nothing outside of the tie-ins in every single book on the shelf for 3-4 months apiece, including 3-5 mini-series that will spawn from it.
Written by Bendis.
Drawn by Hitch

Which would then lead into Symbiote Invasion, which will run at the same time as The Mutants Take Manhattan.

Through it all, 3 books will continue to do their own thing.

Of course all low-selling titles would tie-in directly to the story of Manhattan being demolished by C, D-listers.

"Quirky" writers would portray Spider-Man as a hapless sap who refuses to do the right thing, or allow others to do the right thing.

And it would still feel, in spite of being half the number of issues it took the original series, really long.

 

[stextc]

I'm thinking 7 issues would be enough to cover it.

It's a relatively straight forward plot . . the Heroes having to deal with a murderous bunch of psychopaths with one of the able to incite hate and violence (Shriek).

I would start the story prior to the final fight scene and keep flashing back to various characters and how everyone ended up in the current position.

Anyway . . just my 2 cents.