Betrayed by his colleague at Alchemax, genius geneticist Miguel O'Hara was lucky to not only to survive 50% of his genetic code being overwritten by spider DNA, but also to gain superhuman powers. Now as Spider-Man 2099, he swings through Nueva York dismantling the established hierarchy of the city's elite that forces the common folk from availing basic services. However, defeating Norman Osborn and his Black Card holders has left a vacuum and plunged the city into a new round of protests. Written by Steve Orlando with artwork from Justin Mason and Jordan Boyd, and lettering from VC's Cory Petit, Spider-Man 2099: Dark Genesis #1 from Marvel Comics births carnage out of the chaos.
Spider-Man 2099: Dark Genesis #1 shows the aftermath of the events of Spider-Man 2099: Exodus as the situation in Nueva York remains in constant flux. With the Black Card holders now disavowed, the Platinum Card holders are aggressively lobbying to take the top spot, while the unfortunate takes out their anger on the rich by invading their houses. During one such incident, Michael Erick, an Alchemax executive, bonds with the Carnage symbiote in a desperate attempt to save himself. Now transformed, Erick starts killing people, gutting them and drinking their blood to quench his thirst. Spider-Man refuses to have such atrocities mar his already troubled city.
Writer Steve Orlando opens the show with the right amount of exposition and the right amount of horror, establishing the ruthlessness of this new iteration of Carnage early in the tale. Spider-Man 2099: Dark Genesis #1 flows linearly from then on, moving through crowds of angry mobs chanting for justice as the volatile atmosphere becomes the backdrop for the entire issue. With the stakes now stacked against Miguel, the story explodes into action-packed sequences as Carnage lives up to his name in the most damning ways. While the issue picks up pace, characters from around the 2099 universe start to get pulled into the tussle as the fomenting situation endangers everyone in the city. Orlando does a good job of assimilating all the cameos into the story naturally, as things get too hot for Spider-Man to handle alone.
Justin Mason's line work brings out the homicidal nature of Carnage, with his amorphous form charging and piercing through people like slabs of meat, almost reminiscent of the Xenomorphs. He specializes in contorting every inch of the muscle of the characters and then releasing them into dynamic poses for some swashbuckling panels. This style fits well with Spider-Man 2099's temperament, as Miguel's physique exudes much of his aggression into his body language. Meanwhile, colorist Jordan Boyd amps up much of the gore with heavy splashes of crimson. The bright background makes the webslinger's black and red costume stand out in the heavy inking. However, with the lack of neon-lined streets, the issue does not give off the futuristic look that Earth-2099 is known for. To emphasize someone yelling or being emotional, letterer Cory Petit borders the entire speech balloon in a red border, giving Carnage his own jagged outline.
Spider-Man 2099: Dark Genesis #1 doesn't stop to smell the roses -- because there are no roses to smell. Everyone in Nueva York is on their toes as the situation gets more and more dire. Luckily, Miguel has Spider-Woman by his side to help him out of a pinch. Tthe rest of the city isn't as lucky, and it shows in the attitude of the people towards the various institutions around the city. However, it is not all doom and gloom, as the artwork somewhat mellows down the tone. Still, Spider-Man 2099: Dark Genesis #1 feels like a powder keg waiting for something to light the match.