TOP 5 VENOM/CARNAGE BATTLES
Venom may be the “parent” to Carnage, but that hasn’t stopped the aliens’ human hosts from having intense dustups over the years. The Carnage symbiote amplifies killer Cletus Kasady’s already violent nature. And first Venom host Eddie Brock has struggled with the knowledge that he’s one of the few who can end Carnage’s reign. Start with THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1963) #361-363, then dive in here.
Like Father, Like Symbiote
Maximum Carnage
In Spider-Man Unlimited (1993) #2
Try the complete event! Mania meets mayhem when Carnage assembles a “family” of likeminded murderers, including Shriek, Demogoblin and Carrion, to unleash anarchy throughout New York. The event’s finale has Venom at their most desperate—there’s a brutal clawing, smacking and scratching as he tries to rip the symbiote straight off Kasady’s skin.
A Child is Born
In Venom Vs. Carnage (2004) #1
Artist Clayton Crain is perfectly suited for this symbiotic skirmish, a dark, pulpy thriller that devolves into a three-way battle between Venom, Carnage, and a newly spawned symbiote “baby” that proves to be deadlier than both its parents combined.
Carnage U.S.A.
In Carnage, U.S.A. (2011) #5
Try the series in full! Here, Venom: Flash Thompson is Carnage’s combatant, and he’s armed to the teeth with sonic weaponry and cybernetics! In one of his most twisted turns to date, Carnage bonds an entire Colorado town to copies of his symbiote, kids included. An army of heroes like Captain America and Spider-Man are called in for reinforcements, but it’s Venom who gets the big blows in the series finale.
Venomized
In Venomized (2018) #1
Try the Venomverse Saga Reading List! In the event finale, Eddie Brock is buoyed by X-Men backup as he viciously takes “Poison” Carnage to task. The Poisons, an insidious species of alien that hungers for super-powered symbiotes, have given Cletus Kasady a second life with their takeover… which extends to the entire Marvel Universe!
Absolute Carnage
In Absolute Carnage (2019) #1
After he’s resurrected by a symbiote god-worshipping cult, Carnage creates a kill list for everyone who’s ever worn a symbiote… meaning there’s a whole ton of beings with targets on their back. And at the top of Kasady’s list? “Symbiote Dad” Venom, along with Eddie Brock’s kid son, Dylan. This triple-sized event opener is a real nail biter, and the first round goes to Carnage after an impossibly savage showdown.