Should Carnage & Venom Both Be In Marvel's Spider-Man 2
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 plans to introduce Venom to the in-game universe, but fans can make many arguments to include Carnage as well. Insomniac Games already confirmed a sizable cast of Marvel's Spider-Man 2 villains, featuring threats like Kraven the Hunter to defeat New York’s web-slinger. However, confirming Venom opens many new opportunities for the in-game universe to explore Symbiote storylines in Spider-Man’s mythos. While Venom is extremely powerful, the most terrifying Symbiote is Carnage, and there are arguments for and against his inclusion in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.
Venom and Spider-Man frequently interact in Marvel's comics, featuring shared series, crossovers, battles, and team-ups in many continuities. However, these characters have not always shared the same outlook, with earlier depictions of Venom becoming a more villainous opponent for heroes like Spider-Man. Recent character iterations have moved towards an antihero style, with Venom using lethal force against criminals and villains. It’s currently unknown if Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 features a playable Venom or a fierce Symbiote boss fight.
Carnage is a bit trickier, as the villain (usually) only faces Venom. Carnage is one of the most well-known Venom villains, recently featured in Venom 2: Let There Be Carnage. While the film may have brought attention to the villain, Carnage existed long before the film industry noticed him. Carnage is one of Venom’s offspring, though far more bloodthirsty and violent than its siblings. The red Symbiote frequently threatens Venom, Spider-Man, and its own siblings, wreaking chaos and bringing death with every appearance. There’s no doubt Carnage would be a formidable threat for Marvel's Spider-Man 2's heroes.
Including Venom and Carnage in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 would emphasize Venom's story in Spider-Man’s universe but could also be a way to redeem Venom quickly and give players access to a playable version of a fan-favorite character. Venom and Spider-Man frequently clash, and given the tense confrontation between Miles Morales, Peter Parker, and Venom in a New York alleyway, it can be assumed their first introduction won’t go smoothly. However, the antihero version of the character has gained some momentum thanks to the Venom films and recent comic storylines, meaning Insomniac may want to use this version of the character. There are few enough ways to unite Venom and Spider-Man without introducing a common enemy.
Carnage needs few reasons to commit mass murder and mayhem, thriving off the inherent bloodlust of his serial killer host. Instead of killing for a purpose like most Symbiotes, Carnage often kills for pleasure or fun. While Venom and Carnage frequently clash in the comics, the outcome is never certain, and Carnage has overpowered his creator many times. Forcing Spider-Man and Venom to work together to defeat Carnage could craft a teamwork story comparable to Spider-Man: Miles Morales’ team up with Prowler. Miles’ missions with Prowler crafted a unique narrative of a former villain working towards the same goal and created an excellent narrative for Spider-Man’s development. Venom and Spider-Man teaming up to take down Carnage could mirror that development.
Introducing Venom in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is a big step for the franchise, especially as the in-game universe begins to expand. Venom always occupied a principal role in Spider-Man mythos, tempting Peter Parker’s darker urges or defeating him to prove himself. There are many ways Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 could pursue Venom’s character, but introducing Carnage so early could also run the risk of rushing important plotlines and character development. Restricting a Symbiote storyline to include only Venom and Spider-Man gives Venom ample time to develop into a more complex character.
If Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 brings Carnage into the game’s universe so soon after introducing Venom, the latter’s character development and the story could be rushed in favor of introducing a bigger and badder final boss. Since Venom is likely to begin as a villain given his appearance in the trailer for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, crowding two Symbiote villains into the same game might cheapen both characters. It’d be much better for Carnage to be kept in the wings for later DLC, or perhaps another game entirely. Insomniac confirmed that Marvel’s Wolverine and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 share a universe, and it’s possible Venom could receive his own title in later years.
Insomniac Games’ Marvel universe contains many villains usable in Spider-Man 2, and each has their history with Spider-Man. So far, Insomniac Games confirmed both Venom and Kraven the Hunter as potential antagonists for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. While Kraven seeks a challenge against either Miles Morales or Peter Parker, Venom’s goals are unknown. Other villains like Doc Oc, Scorpion, Taskmaster, and Kingpin could cause troubles for Spider-Man across New York. However, players have already faced many of these villains, and adding Carnage as a boss fight could make things more interesting.
Marvel’s Sinister Six consistently appear as a united front against Spider-Man, but the powers of Symbiotes are on another level from technologically advanced supervillains. Carnage is one of the most powerful and utilizes a substantial arsenal of attacks and weapons thanks to his species’ limited shapeshifting abilities. On a mechanical level, providing a boss fight with Carnage could use ranged, projectile, melee, and acrobatic attacks on par with Spider-Man. Carnage’s adaptive fighting style could challenge even Miles Morales’ electric attacks. Carnage would provide a challenging boss fight for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 that puts cumulative skills and gameplay mechanics to the test compared to other villains.
It’s always a thrill to see fan-favorite heroes and villains clashing in video games, but sometimes including too many bigger, badder villains can unnecessarily crowd a title’s cast. The Spider-Man mythos has many potential characters that could appear, and Spider-Man and Miles Morales have already utilized many of them. The addition of Kraven the Hunter and Venom offer exciting opportunities for unique, dedicated storylines and battles between Spider-Man and some of his deadliest foes. Juggling between two antagonists will likely be difficult enough, but adding a third to the mix doesn’t bode well for any aspect of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s storyline.
The threat Carnage poses isn’t to be taken lightly, as it frequently takes several super-powered individuals to subdue or kill him. Possessing the body of Cletus Kasady (though Carnage has possessed multiple hosts over the years), Carnage is a threat in both forms and thrives on mindless violence. As a significant threat in the Marvel universe, Carnage deserves his own dedicated storyline and should maintain a dominant presence throughout the entirety of the title. As such, Carnage should be hinted at throughout the Spider-Man 2 campaign or receive his own DLC or game.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is the latest addition to Insomniac Games’ ever-growing universe of Marvel video games. Sharing an Insomniac Games universe with Marvel’s Wolverine, Spider-Man's scope continues to grow. The addition of Venom and Kraven the Hunter carries this momentum and offers interesting opportunities for the title. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will be released at some point in 2023 for PlayStation systems.