Out of all the Spider-Man villains, Carnage is by far the deadliest. Cletus Kasady is the evil and unforgiving serial killer who just so happened to get attached to the same alien symbiote as Venom, turning into something just as strong but far more despicable.
For cosplayers, Carnage is the perfect challenge. With tendrils sticking out of his limbs and back, the symbiotic goo encompassing his body, and a hideous face filled with sharp teeth, there're plenty of features to craft into the perfect costume. Let's take a look at 10 different cosplays that not only look realistic but highlight just how scary Carnage can be.
10 A Deadly Victory
The reason many fans love Carnage is that Marvel doesn't always hold back when showing off his bloody and deadly side. In a string of cosplay photos by The Awesome Spin, Carnage is shown having a battle with Black Cat, leaving her for dead as he revels in his victory.
The slimy sheen of the symbiote is reflected in the suit, while the hideous teeth on Carnage's mask can even give Spider-man chills. The photoshoot's subsequent entries even include a great deal of blood, further adding to the situation that involves the murder of a beloved Marvel character. The environment is also a great backdrop for the shoot, giving the cosplay a great sense of authenticity.
9 A Moment's Respite
One of the greatest Carnage cosplayers is Symbiote-X. Not only can he create an amazing Venom, but his Carnage cosplays are also out of this world. The amount of detail in every aspect of his costume is incredible, taking his inspiration from perhaps the best Cletus Kasady story ever, Maximum Carnage.
The coolest thing about the cosplay has to be the two big symbiotic spikes protruding from his back. Carnage is rarely seen having a moment of reflection, but in this photo, he is either plotting his next move against the web-slinger or recovering from a fight he probably won.
8 Portrait of a Madman
There're some highly detailed Carnage cosplays out there, but sometimes simplicity wins out. Mnemonicon's efforts provide nuance to the chaos, while also highlighting just how much detail went into the actual suit he's wearing, one featuring prominent muscles and excellent definition.
The paintwork must've taken quite a while, with each section of the cosplay showcasing plenty of detail. Even though the mouth has been left void of those deadly fangs, it's still an impressive attempt at bringing the serial killer to life. Also, the white eyes give the overall cosplay its cherry on top.
7 Evil Beauty
What makes this Carnage cosplay so unique is the mix of the evil that exudes from it, and the beauty of Shanna, the cosplayer. Shedevilshanna has plenty of amazing photos on her Instagram, including many from this set of photos taken by the talented Alex Valderana.
The mask is repulsive and terrifying in equal measure, and the lengths Shanna went to in order to make it fit the repulsive nature of the character is impressive. In one of the images on her Instagram, Shanna somehow managed to use a light to shine through his mouth, making it both creepy and stunning.
6 Smoke & The Symbiote
Freddie Novack, aka Freddie Nova, is a gifted cosplayer, and before this photo was taken by Dave Kelley, she'd already portrayed another famous symbiote-fused character in the form of Venom. Her "Venom Symbiote Attack" shoots were stunning, but there's something about her Carnage that stands out even more.
The liquid latex highlights her beauty, but the torn mask and intense look mean nobody in their right mind would want to mess with her. She portrays the sinister side of Carnage effortlessly, and the smoke in the background and excellent lighting make this a scary sight to behold.
5 Superior Carnage
Once again, we return to the stunning work of Symbiote-X. This time, he has taken inspiration from Kevin Shinick and Stephen Jorge Segovia's 2013 story, Superior Carnage. It's a continuation of the first SC Project, mainly because – in his own words – the bio armor sculpting is "time-consuming."
Still, the effort gone into recreating the iconic look from the comics is unparalleled. Check out Symbiote-X's Facebook to see tons of variants on Carnage, as well as Venom and the entire symbiote family. Alex Brenot (his real name) is the gift that keeps on giving, but this specific take is truly terrifying.
4 Devil In The Detail
No Limit Designs is a company that creates specialist costumes for purchase. They are able to source specialist movie grade materials due to their contacts within the movie industry, giving their products the highest level of quality and realism.
Whilst some of their costumes are expensive (this special edition Carnage suit costs $2,999), the craftsmanship really helps to bring out the scary nature of the character. The mouth alone is intricately crafted to provide an overwhelming sense of authenticity, while the muscles and claws make the cost of the suit well worth the purchase.
3 Blood Is Thicker
What's better than a superb Carnage cosplay? A superb Carnage cosplay surrounded by a healthy amount of other superheroes attached to the alien symbiote! This gruesome and terrifying cosplay sees Carnage (portrayed by Fabian Pulgar) holding Spider-Man's head, as other superheroes surround the victorious serial killer.
These Edge of Venomverse-inspired cosplays highlight just how dangerous the alien can be. With heroes like Ghost Rider, Wolverine, and Deadpool have all bonded with it, the end result is truly chilling. Carnage looks incredible, with disgusting tendrils and a deadly ax formed on his left arm.
2 The Transformation
Adam Jay of Superhero Photography created a photography set called "The Release featuring the stunning Lucy Challenger that shows an unsuspecting woman as she bonds with the symbiote. It's a pretty shocking transformation, and Lucy manages to capture the fear perfectly.
Shot in a prison, the full set sees an inmate slowly transform into Carnage, and by the end of it, Lucy is in a full-body outfit, created by using liquid latex to make it look as realistic as possible. When the full mask is worn, it's easily one of the scariest and best versions of a Carnage cosplay to have ever been done.
1 Infamous
At Wondercon 2016, cosplayer Duane Coldren, aka Infamous Duane, showcased his stunning Carnage cosplay, and quite frankly, the level of detail is insane. Not only does the costume have tendrils sticking out of its back, but they're also so realistic and defined that it must have taken countless hours just to make them.
The mask, which is divided into two parts so that mouth gapes open like in the comics, is also a thing of beauty. Infamous Duane has been responsible for plenty of scary cosplays (such as Pyramid Head from Silent Hill 2), but this one could send many superheroes running to the bathroom to hide.