Carnage's Family
Astonishing Avengers‡R1R‡
Frightful Four
Goblin Nation
New Avengers
partners
Shriek
Chthon
Knull
Maker
Magneto
aliases
Spider-Carnage, Carnage Cosmic, Superior Carnage, Red Goblin, The Red Slayer, Goblin Childe, The Crimson Leviathan
powers
* All powers of the predecessor's first human host, Spider-Man
* Limited shapeshifting and camouflage
* Symbiote's autonomous defense capabilities
* Undetectable by Spider-Man's spider-sense
Carnage is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, usually as an adversary of Spider-Man and the archenemy of Carnage's father Venom, in particular the Eddie Brock incarnation of the character, although Carnage and Venom have joined forces when their goals have aligned.The character made its first full appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #361 (April 1992),[2] and was created by writer David Michelinie and artist Mark Bagley, although the first published artwork of Carnage was penciled by Chris Marrinan.Stan Lee would also have some input in the character's name and attributes, pushing for a character who would be far darker and more vicious than Venom, due to the latter's more scrupulous character development.
Carnage belongs to a race of amorphous parasitic extraterrestrial organisms known as Symbiotes, which form a symbiotic bond with their hosts and give them super-human abilities. Originating as an offspring of Venom, Carnage is much more powerful than its parent symbiote because of the symbiotes' biology, and is in many ways a darker version of him. Like Venom, Carnage has had multiple hosts over the years, but its most infamous one remains its first – killer Cletus Kasady, whose sadistic personality perfectly matches that of the symbiote.Other notable hosts include Ben Reilly, Karl Malus, and Norman Osborn, as well as Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane Watson in the alternate Ultimate Marvel (Earth-1610) and Spider-Gwen (Earth-65) continuities.The Carnage symbiote gave birth to its first significant offspring, Toxin, in 2004.
Since its original introduction in comics, the character has been adapted into other forms of media, such as television series and video games. Woody Harrelson voiced Carnage in its first live-action appearance in the film Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021), set in Sony's Spider-Man Universe (SSU), as well as portraying Cletus Kasady, reprising his cameo role from Venom (2018).In 2009, the Cletus Kasady version of Carnage was ranked as IGN's 90th Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time.[3]
Conception and creation
The Carnage symbiote was derived by writer David Michelinie while Mark Bagley designed the character.The symbiote was perceived to be a darker version of Venom, and was created due to the writers not wanting a replacement for Eddie Brock as Venom. Carnage was in part only created due to Venom's immense popularity with fans. The character was originally meant to be named "Chaos",[4] until a different company came out with a character with the same name.Then "Ravage" was considered before Michelinie discovered Ravage 2099 was soon to be released. Finally, assistant editor Eric Fein suggested "Carnage". Marvel co-founder and chairman Stan Lee would also have some input for the human host, having come up with the name "Cletus Kasady", with the idea of Carnage's host being a remorseless psychopath whose bond with his Symbiote was far more complete than Eddie Brock and Venom Symbiote's, and therefore would refer to himself as "I" instead of Venom's "we", signifying his Symbiote had little agency of its own and acted more as a weapon and extension of Kasady's will, maximizing his ability to murder people in creative and gruesome ways.[5]
Hosts
Cletus Kasady
When Eddie Brock's Venomsymbiote soon returned to be bonded again, allowing Venom to escape prison, the symbiote left its offspring in the cell; due to its alien mindset, the symbiote felt no emotional attachment to its offspring, regarding it as insignificant, and thus never communicated its existence to Brock via their telepathic link.The new symbiote then bonded with Cletus Kasady through a cut on his hand, transforming him into Carnage.[6][7] The bond between the Carnage symbiote and Kasady was not as strong as the bond between Brock and the Venom symbiote. However, Cletus Kasady was also a serial killer and thought of as insane. As a result, Carnage is far more violent, powerful, and deadly than Venom.[8] Kasady and the symbiote would then be the main antagonist in "Maximum Carnage" and Kasady would continually be the most recurring character to use the Carnage symbiote in many publications.
Powers and abilities
As Eddie Brock explained,[28] the Carnage symbiote was born with abilities even more singular than those of its progenitor due to the fact that it gestated in an environment alien to it: Earth.Carnage endows Cletus Kasady with physical strength greater than that of Spider-Man and the Venom symbiote combined[28] and shape-shifting abilities, allows it to project a web-like substance from any part of his body including the formation of weapons, and enables it to plant thoughts into a person's head using a symbiote tendril.[29] Much like Spider-Man, Carnage has the ability to cling to virtually any surface, and has a version of Spider-Man's spider-sense, as the symbiote can relay information to him from any angle and grants Kasady the ability to "see" in any direction, warning him of incoming threats.[30][31]
Reception
In 2020, CBR.com ranked Carnage 2nd in their "Marvel: Dark Spider-Man Villains, Ranked From Lamest To Coolest" list.[40]
In 2022, Screen Rant included Carnage in their "10 Spider-Man Villains That Are Smarter Than They Seem" list.[41]
In 2022, CBR.com ranked Carnage 1st in their "10 Most Violent Spider-Man Villains" list.[42]
Other versions
Many alternate versions of Carnage have appeared throughout the character's publication history. In the Amalgam Comics universe, Bizarnage is a composite character based on Carnage and DC Comics character Bizarro.[43][44] On Earth-65, home universe of Spider-Woman, Mary Jane Watson was forcibly bonded with Carnage, drawing power from her secret love-hate and envy for Spider-Gwen Stacy/Spider-Woman.On Earth-15, Carnage bonded with Spider-Man and went on to join Weapon X, a counterpart to the Exiles.[45] In the unified Marvel 2099 reality of Earth-2099, Carnage is a modified version of the Venom symbiote.[46]
In other media
Television
The Cletus Kasady incarnation of Carnage and an alternate reality incarnation of Spider-Carnage appear in Spider-Man: The Animated Series, voiced by Scott Cleverdon and Christopher Daniel Barnes respectively.[50] This version of the Carnage symbiote split off from the Venom symbiote after the latter returned to Earth. In the episodes "Venom Returns" and "Carnage", Baron Mordo takes possession of the former and gives it to Kasady in exchange for serving Dormammu, but Eddie Brock and Venom sacrifice themselves to pull Kasady and Carnage into Dormammu's realm. In the two-part series finale "Spider-Wars", the Carnage symbiote emerges from an interdimensional portal and bonds to a clone of Spider-Man from an alternate universe, turning him into Spider-Carnage before attempting to destroy the multiverse. However, the Beyonder and Madame Web summon a group of multiversal Spider-Men to stop Spider-Carnage.
The Cletus Kasady incarnation of Carnage appears in Spider-Man Unlimited, voiced by
2.Tom DeFalco, Peter Sanderson, Tom Brevoort, Michael Teitelbaum, Daniel Wallace, Andrew Darling, Matt Forbeck, Alan Cowsill. The Marvel Encyclopedia DK Publishing, 2019^
The Carnage symbiote briefly managed to escape Kasady by traveling through the plumbing in his cell. It briefly used John Jameson as its host, but eventually transferred itself to Spider-Man— Ben Reilly at the time— when Ben bonded with it to prevent it from hurting any innocent people, creating Spider-Carnage.Ben's willpower held out against the symbiote's murderous desires long enough for him to return it to Ravencroft.Reilly subsequently attempted to destroy the symbiote by subjecting himself to a potentially lethal blast of microwaves, but it escaped back to Kasady after the microwaves forced it to separate from Reilly.[11]
Superior Carnage (Karl Malus)
After Kasady was lobotomized, he was broken out of prison by Wizard and Klaw, who intended to recruit him into the Frightful Four and turn him into their version of Venom.After a failed attempt to control Kasady, Wizard transferred the Symbiote to Dr. Karl Malus.Malus was enraged and under the influence of the Symbiote tried to kill his teammates, but he was subdued by Klaw and controlled by Wizard, who renamed him "Superior Carnage" and equipped him with weapons.[12]
The trio are confronted by the Superior Spider-Man and during their battle Wizard loses his control over Carnage and he is fatally injured once Spider-Man accidentally drops him due to the shock of finding out Wizard read his mind and knows about Otto Octavius. Carnage, now free, goes on a rampage and starts to kill anyone in front of him. Klaw tries to stop him, but due to his weapon being damaged, he fails and realizes that the only way is for Wizard to take back control. Both Carnage and Klaw make their way outside. Carnage fights the Superior Spider-Man and admits that although he liked using weapons, for him ripping and slashing the bodies is better. Klaw tries to get Wizard to control Carnage again but is killed by Carnage and the explosion separates the Symbiote from its host, only to bond with the injured Wizard.[12]
Red Goblin (Norman Osborn)
Following the events of Secret Empire, the Carnage symbiote was stolen from an old S.H.I.E.L.D. storehouse by the then-powerless Norman Osborn.[13] He initially found himself overwhelmed by the symbiote's desire for mindless slaughter when he allowed it to merge with him,[14] but he has been able to 'persuade' the symbiote to let him take control of Carnage's powers to show it something other than 'boring' mindless slaughter.[15] Part of Carnage is later transferred to Normie Osborn, turning him into a miniature version of Red Goblin.[16] The Carnage symbiote is seemingly destroyed by Spider-Man when he hits it with an exploding gas tank, however, because the symbiote was attached to Norman when Peter destroyed it, he wonders what sort of effect that might have had on his old foe's mind. Later as Spider-Man visits Norman in Ravencroft, it is revealed that Norman's mind appears to have been completely fried and now believes that Spider-Man is Norman Osborn and he is Cletus Kasady. Meanwhile, Harry manages to remove the Carnage symbiote from Normie.[17]
Eddie Brock
Following the defeat of Cletus Kasady, the Carnage and Grendel symbiotes were absorbed by Eddie Brock, who is later given an offer to join the Avengers. However, in the middle of his big day, Carnage can overcome Venom and take over. Eddie leaves before things get out of hand, leaving the Avengers with strange reactions. Eddie returns home and tries to quiet the Carnage in a way he has done before with Venom, heavy medication. Eddie passes out and has a vision of Knull. This causes Eddie to take off and head towards the island where he long ago had thought he had killed Spider-Man and where he remained until the emergence of Carnage. However, Carnage catches on to Eddie's thoughts and causes the plane to crash land. Separated from the Carnage symbiote, Eddie is ready to face it off.[18] After a narrow escape that cost him his left hand,[19] Eddie was eventually rescued by the Avengers, who promptly nuked the island to finally eradicate the symbiotes still on it.[20] Eddie Brock's son Dylan discovers the ability to track and control symbiotes, which he uses to find Eddie, and learns a terrible truth: Eddie never left the island at all.Instead, he has been bonded against his will to Carnage.[21] Using the Venom symbiote and taking the form of a Tyrannosaurus, Dylan tries to separate his father from Carnage but only allows the Carnage symbiote to take Dylan to his father's mindscape. There, Dylan is able to finally free himself and Eddie from Carnage's control. However, the symbiote survives the ordeal, and is also able to leave the island by bonding with a shark.[22]
Following the confrontation with the new King in Black, a piece of the symbiote survived and chooses a fish for a host and then attacks a shark. It eventually moves up the food chain and arrives on a fishing boat and begins again a killing spree. Inspired by what Eddie had done, Carnage formulated a new plan to make a comeback using the power Knull had bequeathed to create a rival Hive with itself as its nexus. Carnage slowly made its way back to New York – restoring itself by devouring everyone it came across en route. Once back in Manhattan, Carnage bonded to Senator Arthur Krane who was running a campaign to rid Earth of aliens. Carnage also began to infect many of the symbiotes left behind on Earth with its will, including Phage, Lasher, Riot, and Agony.However, Carnage's failed attempt to corrupt the Anti-Venom symbiote alerted Flash Thompson and Iron Man.[23]
Other hosts
There have been other, shorter-term hosts for the symbiote.
John Jameson
Though bonded to Kasady's bloodstream the symbiote found a way to abandon its host by travelling through the Ravencroft Institute's water pipes overwhelming Ravencroft's chief, John Jameson. Carnage used him to commit further murders before eventually bonding with Spider-Man (who was Ben Reilly at the time).[11]
Carnage Cosmic (Norrin Radd)
During a subsequent rampage, the Carnage symbiote briefly attempted to take control of the Silver Surfer, who was visiting Earth at the time to welcome the Fantastic Four after their return to life following the battle with Onslaught.As it turned out, Galactus had consumed a planet that many Symbiotes lived on, and the species had made it a race memory so that each future Symbiote could remember it, as well as the Surfer who had been Galactus's herald at the time. Upon seeing the Silver Surfer, the Carnage Symbiote abandoned Kasady and bonded with the Silver Surfer, becoming the Carnage Cosmic. Spider-Man and the Surfer managed to return the Symbiote to Kasady, who was dying from stomach cancer, and then the Silver Surfer proceeded to seal both host and Symbiote in an unbreakable prison in an attempt to force them both to reflect on their sins for eternity.[24]
Scorn (Tanis Nieves)
After Carnage was ripped in half by the Sentry outside the Earth atmosphere,[25] it is later discovered that, although the host was presumably killed, the symbiote survived by becoming dormant and returned to Earth, where it was discovered by Michael Hall, a competitor of Tony Stark.He brought Shriek and her doctor, Tanis Nieves, so he could use Shriek to keep the symbiote alive to use the properties of the symbiote, to create prosthetic limbs and exo-suits which respond in the same ways as a symbiote.Nieves is outfitted with one of these prosthetic arms after she is caught in an attack by Doppelganger, who tried to rescue Shriek.[10] When near the symbiote, her arm goes wild and forces her to kill several scientists before the symbiote forcefully bonds to her, becoming the new Carnage.[10] After the symbiote uses Nieves to break into a Hall Corporation facility, it is revealed that Kasady is alive (although both of his legs have been severed), his body preserved by the symbiote and repaired by Hall's prosthetics.[10] Kasady reclaims the symbiote and becomes Carnage once more, attempting to avenge his captivity while Spider-Man and Iron Man struggle to stop him. It is then revealed that Carnage is once again pregnant, and the suit's spawn briefly bonds to Nieves, but she removes it from herself and the symbiote bonds to Shriek before being torn from her.
Wizard (Bentley Wittman)
Ultimately, Spider-Man brings out Kasady's body to successfully draw the symbiote into it, which immediately devours Karl Malus and then prepares to finish off Wizard. However, Klaw's ephemeral spirit focuses his sound manipulation powers one last time for a split second to create a powerful sonic blast that disables Carnage, allowing the symbiote to be recaptured. In the epilogue it is shown that the symbiote has managed to repair Wizard's and Kasady's brain damage.[12]
Carla Unger
After the symbiote had died in captivity, a sample of the symbiote was examined by Dr. Carla Unger, until the sample entered her body. When she went home, the symbiote formed around her and then she with the symbiote killed her abusive husband. After that, the symbiote consumed her and went to other hosts to get back to Kasady. When the symbiote arrived at an injured Kasady, a scientist, who wanted the symbiote for himself tried to kill Kasady, but the symbiote rebonded to Cletus.[26]
Goblin Child (Normie Osborn)
The Crimson Leviathan
Carnage bonded to a great white shark to escape from the Isla de Huesos, and prowled the ocean for several months as the "red king of darkness". Eventually it stumbled upon a boat full of whalers and seizing the opportunity, Carnage caught one of the whalers and bonds to him, climbed aboard and prepared to slaughter the crew, intent on taking its place as the Red Right Hand of the King in Black. At that exact moment however, Knull is killed by Eddie Brock, causing the symbiote dome encasing the Earth to shatter into countless symbiotes. Through the symbiote hive mind, Eddie, now the new god of the symbiotes, calls out to Carnage, who snarls for his nemesis to get out of his head. As symbiotes rain from the sky onto the ship and into the ocean, they bond to the crew of the ship and state that they are Venom, leaving Carnage shocked and incredulous. Manifesting an arm-blade, Carnage snarls that he'll kill them all but is unceremoniously booted overboard. Interjecting, the Venom symbiote states that Knull is dead and that Eddie is the new King in Black, making Carnage now one of his subjects. As Carnage sinks back into the ocean, Eddie says he is not welcome in his reformed Hive and sentences him to execution. Countless symbiote-controlled sharks began swarming Carnage and devouring him in a feeding frenzy until the symbiote completely disappeared in the darkness of the ocean.[27]
John Jameson
Though bonded to Kasady's bloodstream the symbiote found a way to abandon its host by travelling through the Ravencroft Institute's water pipes overwhelming Ravencroft's chief, John Jameson. Carnage used him to commit further murders before eventually bonding with Spider-Man (who was Ben Reilly at the time).[11]
Carnage Cosmic (Norrin Radd)
During a subsequent rampage, the Carnage symbiote briefly attempted to take control of the Silver Surfer, who was visiting Earth at the time to welcome the Fantastic Four after their return to life following the battle with Onslaught.As it turned out, Galactus had consumed a planet that many Symbiotes lived on, and the species had made it a race memory so that each future Symbiote could remember it, as well as the Surfer who had been Galactus's herald at the time. Upon seeing the Silver Surfer, the Carnage Symbiote abandoned Kasady and bonded with the Silver Surfer, becoming the Carnage Cosmic. Spider-Man and the Surfer managed to return the Symbiote to Kasady, who was dying from stomach cancer, and then the Silver Surfer proceeded to seal both host and Symbiote in an unbreakable prison in an attempt to force them both to reflect on their sins for eternity.[24]
Scorn (Tanis Nieves)
After Carnage was ripped in half by the Sentry outside the Earth atmosphere,[25] it is later discovered that, although the host was presumably killed, the symbiote survived by becoming dormant and returned to Earth, where it was discovered by Michael Hall, a competitor of Tony Stark.He brought Shriek and her doctor, Tanis Nieves, so he could use Shriek to keep the symbiote alive to use the properties of the symbiote, to create prosthetic limbs and exo-suits which respond in the same ways as a symbiote.Nieves is outfitted with one of these prosthetic arms after she is caught in an attack by Doppelganger, who tried to rescue Shriek.[10] When near the symbiote, her arm goes wild and forces her to kill several scientists before the symbiote forcefully bonds to her, becoming the new Carnage.[10] After the symbiote uses Nieves to break into a Hall Corporation facility, it is revealed that Kasady is alive (although both of his legs have been severed), his body preserved by the symbiote and repaired by Hall's prosthetics.[10] Kasady reclaims the symbiote and becomes Carnage once more, attempting to avenge his captivity while Spider-Man and Iron Man struggle to stop him. It is then revealed that Carnage is once again pregnant, and the suit's spawn briefly bonds to Nieves, but she removes it from herself and the symbiote bonds to Shriek before being torn from her. Scared of Shriek's malice, the symbiote arm then rebounds to Nieves, creating Scorn.[10]
Wizard (Bentley Wittman)
Ultimately, Spider-Man brings out Kasady's body to successfully draw the symbiote into it, which immediately devours Karl Malus and then prepares to finish off Wizard. However, Klaw's ephemeral spirit focuses his sound manipulation powers one last time for a split second to create a powerful sonic blast that disables Carnage, allowing the symbiote to be recaptured. In the epilogue it is shown that the symbiote has managed to repair Wizard's and Kasady's brain damage.[12]
Carla Unger
After the symbiote had died in captivity, a sample of the symbiote was examined by Dr. Carla Unger, until the sample entered her body. When she went home, the symbiote formed around her and then she with the symbiote killed her abusive husband. After that, the symbiote consumed her and went to other hosts to get back to Kasady. When the symbiote arrived at an injured Kasady, a scientist, who wanted the symbiote for himself tried to kill Kasady, but the symbiote rebonded to Cletus.[26]
Goblin Child (Normie Osborn)
The Crimson Leviathan
Carnage bonded to a great white shark to escape from the Isla de Huesos, and prowled the ocean for several months as the "red king of darkness". Eventually it stumbled upon a boat full of whalers and seizing the opportunity, Carnage caught one of the whalers and bonds to him, climbed aboard and prepared to slaughter the crew, intent on taking its place as the Red Right Hand of the King in Black. At that exact moment however, Knull is killed by Eddie Brock, causing the symbiote dome encasing the Earth to shatter into countless symbiotes. Through the symbiote hive mind, Eddie, now the new god of the symbiotes, calls out to Carnage, who snarls for his nemesis to get out of his head. As symbiotes rain from the sky onto the ship and into the ocean, they bond to the crew of the ship and state that they are Venom, leaving Carnage shocked and incredulous. Manifesting an arm-blade, Carnage snarls that he'll kill them all but is unceremoniously booted overboard. Interjecting, the Venom symbiote states that Knull is dead and that Eddie is the new King in Black, making Carnage now one of his subjects. As Carnage sinks back into the ocean, Eddie says he is not welcome in his reformed Hive and sentences him to execution. Countless symbiote-controlled sharks began swarming Carnage and devouring him in a feeding frenzy until the symbiote completely disappeared in the darkness of the ocean.[27]
As a result, Carnage can rapidly crawl, walk, or run across even slick surfaces.
Carnage has abilities similar to those of Spider-Man as a direct result of Venom bonding to Peter Parker who transferred some of Spider-Man's power into the symbiote.
Kasady is able to regenerate damaged body tissues much faster and more extensively than that of an ordinary human. This has been shown as powerful enough to allow him to regenerate from losing any part of body, from head to feet.[32][33] However, after being torn in half by the Sentry, he was fitted with artificial legs, but this occurred while he was separated from the symbiote.[10] Kasady is also immune to the effects of all Earthly diseases and infections as long as he remains bonded with the symbiote.Like Venom, Carnage is vulnerable to sound (to a much smaller degree than Venom) and heat (to a much larger degree than Venom),[34] and is undetectable to Spider-Man's spider-sense.Unlike Venom, Carnage can launch parts of itself at enemies in the form of solid weapons such as darts, spears, knives, axes, etc., although they disintegrate into dust within ten seconds of leaving Carnage's body.[30] Carnage also has the unique ability to warp its appendages into different arms, legs, and even wings. This is shown on several occasions when Carnage mutates fingers and arms into what look like large swords.
Kasady has full control over the size, shape, color (usually red and black), texture, and hardness of the symbiote (and any part thereof). Like Venom, he can make the symbiote look like normal clothing (which he has done on rare occasion), or act as "camouflage" to an extent. With the symbiote bonded to his bloodstream, he can "regenerate" his costume from scratch simply by bleeding. The symbiote has the peculiar ability to block its parent Venom's ability to sense and track it.[34] The symbiote is also able to rapidly adapt to new environments: when Kasady was taken into space by the Sentry,[35] the symbiote was able to save his life by growing small sacks around his mouth that converted carbon dioxide into oxygen, allowing Kasady to stay alive long enough to be recovered.[10]
In some interpretations, the Carnage symbiote is vampiric, feeding on and thus endangering its victims by only a mere touch.[35] The symbiote has also shown the ability to call parts of itself back to the main symbiote, reintegrating them. It can also send irresistible commands to parts of itself that are in technology; these were used to break the bones of the Iron Rangers when they challenged Carnage while wearing symbiote-enhanced technological exo-suits. Using these last two abilities, Carnage absorbed the five Iron Rangers, grew to an enormous size, and became blue.[10]
Finally, Carnage's powers have always been abnormally enhanced from the maniacal will and insane worldview that Kasady has had from the age of 8 years old.[36] Kasady sees chaos and random, undirected violence as reality, and considers order and virtue to be illusions.[37] He takes an almost artistic pride in his mayhem,[24] likes to leave a trail for others to follow (usually leaving the phrase "Carnage Rules" written in his blood), and is recklessly willing to take on the most dangerous and powerful opponents and victims.[37] On rare occasions, however, he has deliberately spared individuals to serve as witnesses for others: for instance, Joe Robertson's wife Martha during Savage Rebirth.[38] Kasady is essentially taking revenge on the whole world for the torments, both real and imagined, of his childhood.[36][39]
When the Carnage symbiote was joined with Norman Osborn, the resulting combination was immune to traditional symbiote weaknesses of sound and fire, although Anti-Venom's touch was still dangerous.
This version of the Carnage symbiote evolved into a more powerful form, gaining full control of its host's body as well as gaining elastic powers instead of webs and the ability to change into a liquid-like form. He and Venom travel to
Counter-Earth
to join the Synoptic, a hive mind of symbiotes, and ally themselves with the
High Evolutionary
while secretly helping the Synoptic grow powerful enough to infect the planet's population with symbiotes. In the series finale, the two symbiotes succeed in unleashing the Synoptic on Counter-Earth.
Cletus Kasady makes a non-speaking appearance in The Spectacular Spider-Man episode "Reinforcement" as a patient of Ravencroft. Had the series continued, he would have become Carnage.[52]
Multiple incarnations of Carnage appear in Ultimate Spider-Man,[53][54] voiced again by Dee Bradley Baker.[50]
The first version is a mutated form of the Venom symbiote that appears in a self-titled second season episode and is created by the Green Goblin after injecting Peter Parker with a symbiote sample to turn him into the perfect symbiote. However, Peter's cells create Carnage, an unstable organism that can generate spikes all over its body. Carnage ultimately leaves Peter's body and is re-absorbed by Harry Osborn, who turns into Venom.
The second version appears in the fourth season, Ultimate Spider-Man vs. The Sinister Six, as a similar creature. Introduced in the three-part episode "The Symbiote Saga", Hydra scientist Dr. Michael Morbius attacks by surprise to Spider-Man and Agent Venom, and steals a sample of the Venom symbiote to creates a weaponized symbiote that first envelops Doctor Octopus before Spider-Man and Agent Venom arrive to separate them. However, Carnage attains sentience and fights the heroes, resulting in it becoming a bomb and spreading all over New York, infecting multiple hosts, such as the Hulk and Shriek, until the Anti-Venom symbiote neutralizes Carnage's swarm. Despite this, Carnage regenerates into a giant form which turns into an evolving hive of spiders and wasps led by Mary Jane Watson as the Carnage Queen. Spider-Man, Agent Venom, and the Patrioteer manage to separate them and seemingly destroy the symbiote. However, Watson retains traces of it, which she later uses to become Spider-Woman.
Carnage appears in Guardians of the Galaxy.[50] This version was created by Thanos during an experiment with symbiotes, genetically modified to be obedient to Thanos, and can control all other symbiotes and their hosts.
Film
The Cletus Kasady incarnation of Carnage appears in Venom: Let There Be Carnage, voiced by Woody Harrelson.[55][50] This version of the symbiote was created when Cletus Kasady bit Eddie Brock's hand and absorbed part of the Venom symbiote. After saving Kasady from being executed by lethal injection and escaping from San Quentin State Prison, Carnage allies with him to kill Brock and Venom, in exchange for also releasing his lover, Frances Barrison. Together, they cause a violent rampage through San Francisco and capture Detective Patrick Mulligan and Brock's ex, Anne Weying, to lure them both out. After defeating Venom, Carnage is weakened by Daniel Lewis, Anne's fiancé, who sprayed him with flaming gasoline, before almost being killed by him and being saved by Venom, who takes the opportunity to attack him. Due to their bond being incomplete however, Carnage and Kasady are defeated, with the former being eaten by Venom.
In Venom: The Last Dance, a symbiote based on the Ultimate Marvel version of Carnage, nicknamed "Lava" by the film's visual effects supervisors, helps Venom and other symbiotes fight against a Xenophage until being devoured by it.[56]
Video games
The Cletus Kasady incarnation of Carnage appears as a boss in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (1992), Spider-Man and the X-Men: Arcade's Revenge, The Amazing Spider-Man: Lethal Foes, Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage, and Venom/Spider-Man: Separation Anxiety.
The Cletus Kasady incarnation of Carnage appears in Spider-Man (2000), voiced by Dee Bradley Baker.[50] While helping Doctor Octopus infect New York with symbiotes cloned from itself, the Carnage symbiote separates from Kasady and merges with Doc Ock, turning him into Monster Ock, only to be defeated by Spider-Man. The symbiote later sacrifices itself to save Doc Ock from his exploding lab.
The Ultimate Marvel incarnation of the Carnage symbiote appears as a boss in Ultimate Spider-Man (2005). Unlike its comics counterpart, this version requires a host to survive and was created by Trask Industries using a sample of the Venom symbiote. After Adrian Toomes injects Peter Parker with a makeshift symbiote sample, he transforms into Carnage and breaks free, going on a rampage throughout the Trask building until he is defeated by Venom, who absorbs the symbiote from Peter's body.
The Cletus Kasady incarnation of Carnage appears as a playable character in the PSP version of Spider-Man: Friend or Foe voiced by Fred Tatasciore.
The Cletus Kasady incarnation of Carnage appears as a playable character in the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC versions of Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2.[57][50] He also appears as a DLC character for the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions.
The Ultimate Marvel incarnation of Carnage appears as a boss in Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, voiced again by Fred Tatasciore.[58][50] Prior to the game, it was captured by S.H.I.E.L.D. and brought to the Triskelion along with a fragment of the Tablet of Order and Chaos for study. However, their scientists brought the two together, inadvertently increasing the symbiote's power. It escaped confinement and used its newly enhanced powers to drain the life from numerous S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and reanimate them as its zombie-like minions. After receiving a distress call, Spider-Man arrives and pursues Carnage throughout the base's burning ruins. Cornering Carnage in its nest, Spider-Man fights it and its spawns with help from several of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Spider-Slayers and defeats the symbiote before claiming the tablet fragment.
The Cletus Kasady incarnation of Carnage appears as a playable character in Marvel Super Hero Squad Online.[50]
The Cletus Kasady incarnation of Carnage appears as the final boss of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014), voiced by David Agranov.[50] This version of the Carnage symbiote, code-named "Venom", was a set of nanite-based regenerating armor created by Oscorp as a means of curing Norman Osborn.
The Carnage Symbiote, via Cletus Kasady as Carnage, Ben Reilly as Spider-Carnage, Karl Malus as Superior Carnage, Norman Osborn as the Red Goblin, and the Venomverse incarnation of Carnage, all appear as playable characters in Spider-Man Unlimited (2014). Additionally, Kasady / Carnage serves as a boss in the "Symbiote Dimension" limited time event.
The Cletus Kasady incarnation of Carnage appears as a playable character in Marvel: Contest of Champions.[61]
The Cletus Kasady incarnation of Carnage appears as a playable character in Marvel: Future Fight.
The Cletus Kasady incarnation of Carnage appears as a playable character in Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2.[62][63] In the story mode, Green Goblin 2099 uses a shard of the Nexus of All Realities to fuse Venom and Carnage into a new creature he can control that Spider-Man dubs "Carnom".
The Cletus Kasady incarnation of Carnage appears as a playable character in Marvel Strike Force.
The Cletus Kasady incarnation of Carnage, along with Carnage-themed cosmetics, appear in Fortnite as part of a tie-in update for Venom: Let There Be Carnage.
The comedy rock group Green Jellÿ released a song called "Carnage Rules" for their album 333, which focuses on Carnage. It would later be used as the theme song for the video game Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage in 1994.
During the 2002 Halloween Horror Nights, Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure featured a haunted maze entitled "Maximum Carnage". The maze was designed to be a trip through Carnage's hideout and contained all of his henchmen and the bloody remains of various Marvel superheroes. The house was located at Marvel Super Hero Island under the scare zone "Island Under Siege". Carnage was also the icon chosen to represent that specific island for the event, as he killed all of the superheroes and took over the "island", allowing criminals, gangbangers, and villains to roam free with no regard for law and order. The event's main icon, "The Caretaker", chose him based on his disregard for life and desire to see total chaos.[65][66]
The Cletus Kasady incarnation of Carnage appears in Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, played by Collin Baja. This version was an Oscorp scientist before the Green Goblin manipulated him into becoming a member of his Sinister Six.[67]
50.A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information. Carnage Voices (Spider-Man) Behind The Voice Actors, retrieved August 5, 2025^
