Marvel Announces ‘Absolute Carnage’

Absolute Carnage is about to run rampant throughout the Marvel Universe in the pages of Venom, Spider-Man and issues of Absolute Carnage. Venom and Carnage prepare to collide in the publisher’s big summer event book in an announcement made by Marvel at C2E2 on Friday. Marvel revealed that writer Donny Cates and artist Ryan Stegman have been building toward with their ongoing Venom series for some time. Now, things are actually official, and Carnage is on his way.

While the plot threads of “Absolute Carnage” go back a ways in the recent runs of Venom, the first real taste of the event will arrive on Free Comic Book Day, May 5th. Things will kick off in Spider-Man/Venom #1, which will be one of the free offerings from Marvel Comics. Following that debut, the event itself will arrive in full force in August. Cates will be writing the official, named series, with Stegman providing the art, and Frank Martin serving as colorist.

Marvel made the announcement with a video at C2E2, where Cates introduces the new series and teases what fans will be able to expect when Venom and Carnage collide.

“Cletus Kasady is back, and he is deadlier than he’s ever been,” Cates says in the video. “ABSOLUTE CARNAGE encompasses every single character who has ever worn a Symbiote and every Symbiote that has ever been, going all the way back to when Peter found the black suit. Going from there to MAXIMUM CARNAGE to VENOMIZED to everything… everyone is a target.”

The showdown between Carnage and Venom has been teased throughout Cates and Stegman’s current run of Venom comics. The introduction of the Symbiote god Knull has played a massive part in the trajectories of both characters, and a couple of one-shots and minis have revealed the return of Cletus Kasady, who has become a god-like figure himself.

Are you looking forward to the “Absolute Carnage” event? Let us know in the comments!

—–

Have you subscribed to ComicBook Nation, the official Podcast of ComicBook.com, yet? Check it out by clicking here or listen below.

In this latest episode, we talk about the new Toy Story 4 trailer, break down James Gunn’s return to Marvel Studios, and more! Make sure to subscribe now and never miss an episode!