Eddie Brock: Carnage, Vol. 1: Killing Me

Eddie Brock: Carnage (2025)

by Charles Soule, Jesus Saiz (Illustrator), Juanan Ramirez (Illustrator)

Eddie Brock bonds with a new symbiote to become the most lethal protector of all! He's been Venom, he's been Anti-Venom, he's been the King in Black! Now Eddie Brock has made his darkest bond yet - with the one and only Carnage! But can he control his new other's endless bloodlust? Or will Eddie end up giving himself over to madness and murder? When he walks into a police station and asks to be arrested, you know there's going to be some trouble. But when he does so while bonded to Carnage, it's going to be a bloody nightmare. Embarking on a hunt for other serial killers, they are led straight to the brutal cyborg Bushwacker - and then the homicidal artist known as Muse. It's time for Eddie to prove he's the biggest, baddest host a murderous symbiote could ask for - because Carnage is out for blood, and he doesn't care whose it is! But while he's searching for murderers, Misty Knight is closing in on him! Collecting EDDIE CARNAGE #1-5.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Spider Man

120 pages, Paperback

Published October 7, 2025

About the author

Charles Soule is a #1 New York Times-bestselling novelist, comics author, screenwriter, musician, and lapsed attorney. He has written some of the most prominent stories of the last decade for Marvel, DC and Lucasfilm in addition to his own work, such as his comics Curse Words, Letter 44 and Undiscovered Country, and his original novels Light of the Jedi, The Endless Vessel, The Oracle Year and Anyone. He lives in New York.

Reviews

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW! This is a ton of fun and honestly, kind of genius, especially after Venom has been a mess of a comic for the last few years. The premise of Eddie Brock having to use Carnage is so dumb at times, but also so very, very entertaining. The plot is great, the idea of hunting killers is an awesome plot idea that provides a perfect excuse for the carnage. Eddie becomes a fascinating, interesting character struggling for control, constantly battling Carnage as a sick killer. This dynamic is everything I want in a dumb but very fun comic, delivering on that high action, bloody good time promise.

Carnage is also very brutal, which I loved. The volume fully embraces the gore, and some of the deaths, like popping someone's head like a grape, are wonderful to see on display. As Eddie hunts down specific targets like Bushwacker and Muse, the action is non-stop and the stakes are high, with law enforcement like Misty Knight closing in. This comic is a visceral, bloody thrill ride that finally injects some much-needed chaos and entertainment back into the symbiote corner of the Marvel Universe. A 4 out of 5!

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7 stars

I loved the first three issues; great art, great introduction to the new status quo; thrilling, scary stuff.

Issues four and five? Not so much. New, not so great, artist ALREADY? Writer’s old character from Daredevil brought back from the dead… sigh…

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun take on two old faves unwillingly teamed up.

There's a fun mystery that Eddie has to solve, while he and Carnage constantly threaten one another while working together to kill bad guys.

I do like a little vengeance so this worked well for me, and I really enjoy Soule's writing.

This was a fun series that I read in singles, and will happily read again

[Nunya · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I think we're gonna have to kill this guy, Eddie."

"Shut up, CARNAGE."

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25
This is excellent. Way better than I thought it would be.

[Keegan Schueler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eddie and Carnage is the perfect combo with a character dynamic between the two of them that really is creating an interesting story.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A better, or at least more compelling, read than All-New Venom. After the events of Venom War, Eddie Brock is bonded with Carnage. He's doing his best to only murder those who deserve it, which mostly seems to be holding off Carnage's serial killer tendencies. Then a targeted murder goes weird and Brock is forced into detective mode, trying to figure out exactly what Carnage is hiding from him.

Cameos from Bushwhacker and Misty Knight add to the fun. The conclusion isn't all that surprising (Eddie saves the passengers who were hidden from him by Carnage), but the cat and mouse between the leads keeps affairs electric. Intrigued by the next arc with Muse, another sadistic villain.

[Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

art and colours are great.
the story is pretty good and makes comic sense. sick of carnage and Eddie saying you control me but... no I control you.
carnage needs a host abd Eddie either defeats serial killers or carnage takes them as host.

[Emmett Spain · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast-moving, inventive approach to Eddie Brock bonding with Carnage, this one was bloody, clever, and fun to read. Rounding it up from 4.5 stars just because of how well Soule is exploring the concept and central dynamic—it feels fresh for this reader, especially after the long, confusing, convoluted, and often silly Venom run that preceded it.

[Justin Biondo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still the biggest surprise from last year for me. Loved both volumes of it but desperately wish we had at least one more. Such an underrated book for both Eddie and Carnage. Would love to see what else Soule would do with these characters either together or separately

[Etienne Kulik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charles Soule never disappoints! love the dynamic on these two, the mix between funny and serious and how the inevitable slowly unfolds. can't wait for the next one!
Also the drawings and general style is amazing to my mind

[Jonathan Waugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly solid! I am very tired of the way Marvel plays “musical chairs” with the symbiote characters but this one had a lot of fun interplay between Eddie and Carnage to make it worth the read.

[Fazun · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Daniel Butcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

For someone with venom fatigue I thought this take was pretty good with Eddie and Carnage fighting for control in a Dexter like book.

[Juan Guillen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleasantly surprised. Before picking it up, I only really knew that Carnage was dripped out in this. Holy cow, drip is an understatement. Good read!!

[Michael Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eddie Brock as Carnage? This I have to read!!
Well...don't get too excited now...

One of the best things to come out of Venom War was Eddie's ending with him having to make a literal deal with the devil in order to stay alive. The possibilities here were amazing! Just as Eddie realized how his hubris was his greatest downfall in Meridius, we could see how this new, more raw, dethroned Eddie Brock would act with Carnage. And more importantly, we could see what a desperate, classic Carnage could do with Eddie Brock.

Sadly...it's a bit underwhelming. There is still the classic cat and mouse between both Carnage and Eddie that provide some really interesting interactions. When Eddie visits Carnage in the 'below', it's fun to see each character size the other up and 'play' with each other.

But in the end, that becomes a bit old as it feels as though nothing really moves forward. Carnage doesn't feel desperate, only biding their time while they try to break into Eddie's mind. Eddie on the other hand doesn't feel as torn between keeping Carnage sedated with killings. I was hoping there would be more of a grey moral dilemma facing Eddie for the killings and his bloodlust, but instead we get this strange story about victims from a plain crash that ultimately leads nowhere.

The art from Jesus Saiz was gorgeous (as it usually is) and really fit the tone and vibe of the first couple of issues. It felt unique for the style this series was aiming for, making it both very fluid while also being quite raw (something Saiz is a master at). Sadly, once Juanan Ramirez took over as lead illustrator, it just felt...generic and flat.

So yeah, in the end, the premise of this book was much better than the actual story. Hopefully vol 2 will pick up and we'll see a very satisfying conclusion.

[Subham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun read its basically like the Dexter version of symbiotes like Eddie forced to work with the carnage symbiote and knowing their nature its a wild thing and you get to see like he has to satisfy the kill count of the symbiote and they are going after serial killers and I love how it happens, showing the dark side of super heroics and how he is going after them and like the story with Bushwacker was neat and so bloody and the highlight of this volume. There is also the plot with missing passengers of an airline that Carnage had hidden away and he is not gonna give Eddie the info and he will use the info to get what he wants and Misty Knight onto the detective thing and I love the whole chase of it and this is where Soule shines with his writing.

I like the character drama and conflicts and the gray lines of the super heroics. The choices Eddie makes are haunting him obviosly but this is the sadistic nature ofthe symbiote too and the author writes it really well. Really loved it. And next arc: Muse!

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isn't it horrible when you HAVE to work with someone even though you hate each other's guts? Welcome to Eddie Brock's world. With no one to turn to after the events of Venom War, choosing to bond with the Carnage symbiote is the only way to keep them both alive. The catch? Carnage wants Eddie to murder people, or it's going to murder him instead.

Great concept, taken in some interesting directions by Charles Soule's able pen. Eddie's still the grumpy guy we know and love, even when he's doing less-than-savoury things, and Soule's take on the Carnage symbiote's sadistic nature is low key hilarious even when it's not meant to be. This is hardly a match made in heaven, but it's a lot of fun for the reader.

On art we have Jesus Saiz, though not as often as I'd like as he only manages the first 3 issues before ceding to Juanan Ramirez, who does a fine job, but really doesn't capture the same style as Saiz.

A bold experiment for Eddie and Carnage - let's hope they both survive.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, imagine that--a symbiote book that's actually pretty good. This first volume features Eddie Brock, now bonded with Carnage after the events of Venom War, and they're trying to figure out how to coexist while hunting down serial killers. Carnage is awful and demands that Eddie kill regularly, or else he'll pull the switch and go hunting for another host. So Eddie decides to hunt serial killers. But, unfortunately, there's a lot of collateral damage. The art was very strong throughout this, even with two very different artists. The story is interesting so far and a real step up from what came before.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eddie Brock and Carnage got wrecked at the end of 'Venom War'...

Looks like only a deal with the devil can get them back to fighting shape. Brock misses the power he once had and Carnage misses all the killing that could come. This feels like the story of an addict, with Eddie at the wheel. He's using people and lying to himself so he can face the next day.

This is a pretty graphic comic. I don't know how long these dark themes can continue. It's a touchy subject to try and jam an anti-hero into.

[Sam Whale · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books at marvel right now. the dynamic Eddie has with Carnage; the mx of ego and self hate that would lead to him merging his soul with a psychopaths, his quest to try and find people who deserve to be murdered to sate his other halfs darkest urges, the mind games the two play against each other, its all incredibly compelling stuff and well well worth a read.

[Gaspar Machado · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eddieeeeeeeee, you want to go to Hungry Jacks sooooo bad, Eddieeeeeeeeeeeee. You want a Double Cheese Whopper so baaaaaad.

[Oscar · Rating 3 out of 5]

🔥🔥🔥

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected this to be the worst Carnage ongoing & I don't love Misty Knight being an FBI profiler, but this short ongoing is pretty good stuff

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

What if Eddie's symbiote was an a'hole to him at all times? Alright Charlie, you got my attention, and you're a pretty damn good writer, so I'll go along for the ride.

[Nathanael Saylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fucked up but good. And Misty is there so that it’s not just symbiote goo drama.