#jon shayde

[why-i-love-comics]

Extreme Venomverse #2 - "Masque of Red Death" (2023)

written by Clay McLeod Chapman art by Paul Davidson & Alex Guimaraes

[comicwaren]

From Web of Carnage #001, “A Tangled Web We Weave”

Art by Francesco Manna, Zé Carlos and Erick Arciniega

Written by Ram V and Christos Gage

[doomed-jester]

Okay so you guys know I'm a huge Venom fan, and probably that I adore Carnage too. They're two of my favorite fictional characters of all time. But the current situation for Carnage is... Really convoluted.

The new Carnage run seems to be working to rectify this but honestly this description alone exemplifies part of the problem.

There are too many Carnages right now. So here's a quick rundown of the Carnage situation and how I would fix it. Keep in mind these are just my takes.

So, to clarify, I will be considering it a separate incarnation or Carnage only if they've demonstrated an independent will (otherwise they're an offshoot like the Carnage doppelgangers in Absolute Carnage) and have not used a new identity (Scorn isn't Carnage because she's used a different name and clearly sees herself as a different entity)

So, caveats out of the way, the list:

> Carnage IV (Grendel): this is the Carnage that's been focused on for the duration of the current run. It has inherited the memories of the original Carnage from its time with Cletus, along with the abilities granted to Carnage II by the Darkhold, so you could make a strong argument that this is Carnage Prime now, though it's also the same Grendel symbiote that appeared on Earth in ancient times, battled Thor and later became the foundation of the Sym-Soldier program.

> Extrembiote/Carnage V (Cletus Kasady): after fusing with Carnage IV during the events of Extreme Carnage, Tony Stark's 'Extrembiote' became the primary host for Cletus Kasady's codex. While official material suggests that the Extrembiote is NOT operating under the Carnage identity, it's definitely operating as Cletus. Given that Carnage II, III and IV all existed as different symbiotes before bonding to Cletus, it's fairly safe to call the Extrembiote 'Carnage V.' This version considers itself the original Cletus and operates out of the ruins of St Estes, the orphanage Cletus grew up in. Also a strong contender for Carnage Prime.

> Carnage... IV and a half... ("Cletus"): while technically an offshoot of Grendel/Carnage IV, this symbiote is bonded to detective Jon Shayde, protagonist of the ongoing Carnage series. It's evident from its behavior that it's an independent offshoot, and has adopted the persona and mannerisms of Cletus Kasady.

> Hybrid Carnage (Renesmee): the newest iteration, but one I don't see sticking around. This Carnage was created by recently introduced villain The Harrower at the beginning of the current Deadpool run. It was created through her biofusion/biofission abilities from the remains of a Carnage doppelganger, making it a Grendel offshoot. Renesmee was then forcibly bonded with Deadpool, as his regenerative powers gave it the best chance of maturing before killing its host. Hybrid Carnage is definitely the most parasitic incarnation so far, entirely consuming its host. Due to its recent introduction, there's not much else to say about this iteration.

So, how do we fix this fucking MESS? Well, the first thing I'd do is have Carnage IV drop the name and return to the Grendel identity, or a new name entirely. It's clearly working towards some kind of transcendental goal, a rebranding could work for that.

Carnage V/The Extrembiote should fully take over the Carnage identity again. Cletus IS Carnage, I think that's what makes him the logical Carnage Prime.

Shayde's offshoot should just die or get forcibly reabsorbed by Grendel, or The Extrembiote since it seems to consider itself to be Cletus.

There's actually some serious potential for Renesmee/The Hybrid Carnage. I would have it take on a new name and become a side character in Deadpool's series. It just doesn't make sense for it to use the Carnage name.

Or hey, maybe everything I've said is way out of line and you have better ideas. Idk, I'm not the writers, nothing I say actually matters.

[why-i-love-comics]

Extreme Venomverse #2 - "Masque of Red Death" (2023)

written by Clay McLeod Chapman art by Paul Davidson & Alex Guimaraes

[comicwaren]

“You followed a thread... a thread, red from all who bled and here you were led.” -- Morlun

Cover art for Web of Carnage #001, “A Tangled Web We Weave”

Art by Kendrick “Kunkka” Lim

[comicwaren]

From Carnage Vol. 3 #013

Art by Fran Galán and Erick Arciniega

Written by Alex Paknadel

[comicwaren]

From Carnage Vol. 3 #011

Art by Francesco Manna and Erick Arciniega

Written by Alex Paknadel

[comicwaren]

From Carnage Vol. 3 #010, “Godbreaker”

Art by Francesco Manna and Erick Arciniega

Written by Ram V