Absolute Carnage vs Deadpool #3 Review

by Nick Devonald on October 17, 2019

Writer: Frank Tieri
Pencilers: Marcelo Ferreira & Jack Jadson
Inkers: Roberto Poggi & Jack Jadson
Colorist: Rachelle Rosenberg
Letterer: VC’s Joe Sabino
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Tie-ins are a funny business, as I mentioned in my Absolute Carnage: Avengers #1 review. If you’re here because you’ve read the first two Absolute Carnage vs Deadpool you’re probably going to get this one to finish the story. If you’re on the fence after reading the first one there’s nothing in this issue which is going to persuade you otherwise.

It makes sense for Carnage to be after Deadpool, after all at one-point (In Deadpool Vs. Carnage (2014)) Deadpool was bonded to four of the Life Foundation Guardian symbiotes. Containing four codices made him an ideal target for Carnage. However, the tone of Absolute Carnage wouldn’t naturally fit Deadpool in, so what to do? A tie-in miniseries of course.

Does it add anything to the main event? No, not really. But unlike the Avengers tie-in it doesn’t pretend that it is either. It’s an excuse for a Deadpool vs Carnage rematch. Does it live up to the previous match? Not quite, but it’s by no means a bad thing.

By this point in Absolute Carnage Norman Osborn feels done to death. His presence in the main event was fine, but since then he’s popped up in nearly all of the tie-ins, and there’s been a lot of repeating of “I’m Cletus Kasady” “No, you’re Norman Osborn” “No, I’m not.” and it’s gotten quite old by this point.

Having said that for Deadpool fans this is more Deadpool, which is no bad thing, and I quite liked the extended intro and conclusion to this tie-in series. There’s plenty of typical Merc-with-a-mouth humour.

One of the complaints about the first issue in this series was a lack of violence which is associated with Deadpool, that’s mostly remedied in this issue.

Not a bad tie-in issue, or series, for that matter, but one for Deadpool fans and completionists only. Those here for the main event can quite happily miss this one.

Our Score:

5/10

A Look Inside