In issue 257 of Venom, within the Death Spiral crossover, Charles Soule and Javier Pina push Eddie Brock to a new extreme as Carnage. The symbiote recruits the killer Torment to carry out its macabre plan: three chosen victims. The surprise comes when Spider-Man is forced to team up with his most lethal villain to stop the massacre, creating a tense and dangerous dynamic.
The narrative mechanics of the symbiote as a plot driver 🕸️
Soule structures the script around the symbiote's ability to influence Eddie Brock and control multiple titles. The choice of Torment as a pawn is no coincidence: his serial killer profile allows for exploring the predator's psychology. Pina uses panels with dense shadows and exaggerated facial expressions to mark the symbiotic possession. The pace alternates between direct action and Eddie's internal dialogues, as he struggles to maintain his identity against alien control. The alliance with Spider-Man is presented as a narrative device to increase tension, not as a real solution.
When your worst enemy is your only roommate 😅
Imagine having to ask your nemesis not to kill anyone while you try to save the day. Spider-Man must negotiate with a symbiote that sees humans as snacks. The most ironic part is that Carnage acts almost like a toxic roommate: he helps you clean up the mess, but only because he made it himself. In the end, the alliance feels like a temporary truce, like when you stop fighting with the neighbor because there's a gas leak in the building.