WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Scream: Curse of Carnage #5 by Clay McLeod Chapman, Gary Brown, Chris Mooneyham, Rain Beredo and VC's Cory Petit, on sale now.
Following Eddie Brock's disappearance, Andi Benton -- aka the new Scream -- is lost and without direction. She has no family and she is still reeling from the death of Flash Thompson at the hands of the Red Goblin. In Scream: Curse of Carnage, Scream was targeted by Big Mother, the ancient symbiote who was guardian to the Grendel dragon that once served Knull until its defeat. Big Mother wanted the Scream symbiote as its new child, so Andi and Scream were forced to solidify their connection as they fought to remain together and free of her control.
After a long battle that ended with Big Mother's temporary defeat, Scream: Curse of Carnage #5 shows Andi Mack returning to the only safe place she knows -- and landing in the arms of Spider-Man's Aunt May.
This embrace between Andi and May is no surprise. As Andi adjusted to her new world, she found herself completely alone with no place to go. When she was wandering the streets, Andi occasionally found shelter at F.E.A.S.T. Charity Center. While others looked at Andi with suspicion, May welcomed her and attempted to offer her some much needed comfort.
Unfortunately, the others' worries were confirmed when they were attacked by Big Mother's minions and Scream lashed out in response. After everything Aunt May has seen and encountered, it didn't take long for her to realize Andi's situation. Instead of forcing her to move on, May makes the choice to reaffirm Andi's connection to the shelter by telling her she will always be welcome there. In return, Andi and Scream must work to protect her new home.
Aunt May has had her own experience in protecting the F.E.A.S.T. Center since she began to volunteer there. After it was revealed that its founder Martin Li was actually the crime boss Mr. Negative, May worked to hold the shelter together in light of its dubious past. Throughout the years, the center has also been the location of several attacks by supervillains. Even with all of these hardships, the center has become a source of hope for those who need a helping hand.
Just as May has served as a rock for Peter Parker during his darkest days, this connection should encourage Andi in her own journey. With Big Mother still out there, Scream will have to fight for independence and her new home. Scream: Curse of Carnage has dealt with Andi's past and the trauma of her mother's departure -- now, it seems Aunt May could become a surrogate mother for the wayward teen. In another reality, May is even more directly connected to the symbiotes, but in this one, she can at the very least provide a source of comfort and safety.
Regardless of her family issues, Scream has plenty battles ahead of her with the coming arrival of Knull and a new symbiote appearing in New York.