This issue is fantastic. Seriously, I think Bunn does some of the best work that I've ever seen him do. This cross-over event started with a pretty significant "WTF?" factor, since I don't think anyone was really clamoring for a "Kaine and Venom go to the Microverse" story. But, Bunn moves us past that question by telling an action-packed story that also delivers essential background information in a pretty fluid way. By the end of this issue, we understand who all the players are and Bunn has set up the second half of this event nicely.
First, let's discuss the backstory part. We quickly learn, in the form of one of the Microns giving an arrival briefing of sorts to Cletus, that the Microverse has things called "flesh factories" that churn out "perfect beasts and killing machines." We also learn that this group has brought Cletus to Microverse to kill the Redeemer, who Kaine met at the end of last issue. But, justifying Katy's inclusion from a story perspective, Bunn has Katy realize that they want Cletus to kill the Redeemer not as an assassin, but as the source an army of Carnages manufactured by the factories. (Shudder.) Bunn conveys all this information over a two-page spread in a way that that makes it feel like a believable conversation and not just forced expository. For that accomplishment alone, I'd give him a gold star, since it's been a while since I've seen anyone pull of that much exposition so effortlessly.
However, the plot, as they say, also thickens. Venom, as we saw last issue, has been saved by a rag-tag band of rebels called the Enigma Force. (I loved Flash commenting how Peter would love "this science fiction mumbo jumbo." It was a nice way to remind us who's in that suit.) The Enigma Force is apparently working for the aforementioned Redeemer (popular guy), who wants to see Flash. We also learn that members of the Force fear the symbiote, believing that it has the potential to corrupt the entire Microverse. When agents of Marquis Radu, the guy who wants the Redeemer dead, attack the Force, Bunn shows them carrying sonic weapons. It makes you wonder whether the Force because the Microverse has experience in battling it. I wonder where we're going with that thought. Bunn also uses this scene to get in some character work, having the Force's seamless teamwork remind Flash of the days when he used to fight for something that meant something to him. It's a poignant moment, reminding us again how alone and isolated Flash is, even as he tries to make it work with the Secret Avengers. It's hard to work in these moments in these sorts of events, so I salute Bunn for putting in the effort and managing it so well.
Bunn is equally adept at the Kaine part of the story. After fighting off the monster that attacked him at the end of the last installment of this mini-series, Kaine chats with the Redeemer, learning that he's a former conqueror set on healing the Microverse. Bunn also gets in some character work on Kaine, having him express skepticism that the Redeemer is ever going to purge all the murderous instincts from the Microverse, since, after all, Kaine knows from whence he speaks. The Redeemer informs him that he's brought Kaine to this planet to "heal" the Marquis. However, before they can infiltrate the Marquis' base, Carnage arrives. Having previously killed most of the team that brought him to the Microverse, he had one of them bring him to the Marquis, conveniently running into Kaine and the Redeemer on the way.
The issue ends with everyone on a collision course. Flash should arrive in time to help Kaine fight Carnage and then the group is likely to make its way with Marquis. It actually seems possible at this point that Carnage could JOIN with Flash and Kaine, which is a team-up moment that I would really love to see. To get through the entire missing backstory in a way that also delivered a great "Star Wars" space epic is quite an accomplishment and, for all the criticism I usually have for Bunn, I really applaud him for it. As I mentioned in a previous review, I didn't really need a Microverse adventure involving Kaine and Venom. But, you can't always get what you want. Sometimes you get what you need.
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