This past year, Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman brought new and horrific life to one of the most underrated Spider-Man villains out there. Everybody knows and loves the sinister symbiote Venom, but there doesn't seem to be enough love surrounding Carnage. Over the years, there's been plenty of brilliant Carnage storylines to go alongside Cates and Stegman's Absolute Carnage.
Along with the good, there is plenty of bad as well. From appearances in Spider-Man stories to stand-alone mini-series to full-blown epics, let's take a look at five of the best Carnage storylines as well as five of the worst.
10 Worst: Axis: Carnage
Let's preface this by stating that the Axis storyline is far from bad. The Carnage tie-in, however, isn't really what a traditional Carnage fan would look for. This story follows Carnage learning to use his abilities for good after being inverted into a hero.
The tie-in completely flips the character on his head, which for the purpose of the overall storyline works as it shows one of the most gruesome and savage villains trying to be a hero. However, if you're a fan of the more traditional version and tendencies of Carnage, this story isn't for you. It also doesn't add too much to the overall development of the character, but rather just serves the specific storyline.
9 Best: Venom vs. Carnage
Just because Carnage is a byproduct of Spider-Man doesn't mean he can't develop his own storylines. Well, here we find one that pins Carnage against a longtime nemesis that he shares with Peter Parker: Venom.
This four-part mini-series from Peter Milligan and Clayton Crain not only shows us a long-awaited villain battle but also brings Carnage's son to the surface. That's right, Carnage actually has his own offspring just as he is the offspring of Venom. The introduction of Toxin adds another element to the story, making this a three-way fight between three enraged symbiotes. It's a story that any Spider-Man, Venom, or Carnage fan will love and one that jumps into action right from the start.
8 Worst: Deadpool vs Carnage
You might find this slightly surprising, but the clash of Carnage and Wade Wilson isn't as great as it sounds. In another four-part series, this time from Cullen Bunn, Salva Espin, and Veronica Gandini, we're definitely provided plenty of laughs and action as the two insane characters go toe-to-toe.
Regardless of all that, though, this really isn't that great of a Carnage piece. Obviously, he shares the title with one of Marvel's most popular characters, but this feels much more like a Deadpool story with Carnage simply serving as the villain. All we're given is the typical Carnage escaping from prison and going on a killing spree narrative, which doesn't really do anything for him but make him look like a deranged murderer. Although that assessment isn't far off from what Carnage actually is, Deadpool vs Carnage doesn't really feel like it every truly focuses or adds anything to Cletus Kasady's character.
7 Best: Carnage, U.S.A.
Ever wondered what would happen if the Avengers were the hosts for the symbiote? Well, wonder no more. In the very appropriately titled Carnage U.S.A. from Zeb Wells and Clayton Crain, we see what happens when Carnage takes control of every person in a small Colorado town.
Answering the call, the Avengers (this time composed of Captain America, Spider-Man, Hawkeye, Wolverine, and the Thing) rush into Carnage's trap and are quickly consumed by the symbiote. This mini-series is great on a number of levels. To start, Wells does an incredible job of portraying just how powerful Carnage can be. It also reignites the rivalry between Spider-Man and Carnage, and later on as we find out Venom. Lastly, each of the five issues provides some incredible covers that are, without a doubt, some of the best in Carnage's history.
6 Worst: Carnage: It's A Wonderful Life
Way back in 1996, David Quinn told us a brand new and wildly fascinating story about the red symbiote Carnage. Carnage: It's A Wonderful Life showed us Cletus Kasady locked up in the Ravencroft Institute, constantly taunting the doctors around him. Eventually, as part of a plan to run tests on Carnage, two doctors enter his cell where he waits for them. The rest of the story follows how Carnage controls the two doctors in his own mind, tormenting them before they find a way into his memory.
The ideas in the story are fresh for Carnage's character, but unfortunately, the storyline only lasted one issue. While this can just be written off as a one-shot, there was plenty of potential to explore this aspect of Carnage as well as his past to be stretched over several issues. While the storyline delivers in its singular issue, it's equally as damaged by the brevity of its existence. Unfortunately as well, this would turn out to be the only time Quinn wrote a Carnage story as well.
5 Best: Carnage (2010)
Anytime a Carnage storyline is attached to Zeb Wells or Clayton Crain, it's bound to be a success. That pattern certainly follows suit with his five-issue Carnage mini-series, where we see Carnage pinned up against Iron Man and Spider-Man.
Not only are we given a creative new take on Carnage, with appearances from both Cletus Kasady and Dr. Tanis Nieves, but were given a look at the reach of the symbiote in the form of fellow symbiotes Scorn and Shriek. Plus, anyone can get on board with a Peter Parker-Tony Stark team-up. On top of all of that, Crain provides us with yet another set of incredible covers inspired by the symbiote monster.
4 Worst: Amazing Spider-Man #430
One of the more bizarre Carnage storylines brings Cletus Kasady into contact with not just Spider-Man, but a very popular Fantastic Four character. In an attempt to help Peter Parker stop Carnage, the Silver Surfer comes to Earth and bonds with the symbiote.
While the idea of a Cosmic Carnage is interesting, it's not really a classic version of Carnage. Also, the character doesn't really have many stand-alone qualities and instead is used at the benefit of other villains. The character definitely has plenty of potential, but not really in the way of a solid and complex Carnage story.
3 Best: Maximum Carnage
Until this past year, the premier Carnage storyline was the 14-part, 1993 epic Maximum Carnage. This story is one of the first Carnage-focused works we were ever introduced to and along with it, we learned so much about the character outside of his relationship with Spider-Man and Venom.
Not only is this one of the best stories that beautifully connects and expands Carnage to the rest of the Marvel Universe, but it also leaves a lasting legacy for the character. With Maximum Carnage came a newfound love and interest for Carnage and a desire to create more stories focused on him. This terrific storyline is easily the most important piece of work to feature Carnage and a definite highlight in Marvel Comic's history.
2 Worst: Carnage: Mind Bomb
Carnage: Mind Bomb is another one-shot Carnage story produced in the late 1990s, extremely similar to Carnage: It's A Wonderful Life. The two one-shots, although written by different authors, both feature most of the same characters and surrounds a story with Cletus Kasady being held in the Ravencroft Institute.
Just like It's A Wonderful Life, the fact this story only lasts one issue robs it of all the potential it had. Unfortunately for these one-shots, while the stories are solid, they could and should really be more spread out than they are.
1 Best: Absolute Carnage
Finally, we've come to what is arguably the best piece of Carnage work we've ever seen. From the brilliant combination of Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman comes Absolute Carnage. The five-part epic covers the return of the serial killer Cletus Kasady as he looks to hunt anyone that's ever bonded with the symbiote. In his way stand two of his longest-standing enemies: Venom and Spider-Man.
Absolute Carnage is complete with a series of tie-ins that brings some of your favorite Marvel heroes face-to-face with the mad symbiote. The story brings new and refreshing life to Carnage and showcases the magnificent things Cates and Stegman can do with the symbiote monsters.