Ken Lashley Provises Connecting Variant Covers for Venom-Carnage “Symbiosis Necrosis” Crossover

By Chad Burdette

on February 5, 2024

The family that stays together gets slayed together! Starting next month, enjoy a symbiote bloodbath for the ages as Marvel’s two ongoing symbiote titles, VENOM and CARNAGE, play host to a vicious new saga, “Symbiosis Necrosis. the four-part crossover will unfold across VENOM #31-32 and CARNAGE #5-6.

Written by current Venom and Carnage scribes Torunn Grønbekk and Al Ewing and drawn by Ken Lashley and Pere Pérez, “Symbiosis Necrosis” will deliver an action-packed, visceral family drama that kicks off when Carnage, fresh off his latest slaughter spree in Death of the Venomverse, targets Eddie Brock—and how better to get to his mortal enemy then going after Eddie’s son—and fellow Venom—Dylan?!

The Venom father/son pair are currently on interwoven journeys across space and time in the pages of Venom but their paths will collide dramatically when Dylan faces off against Cletus for the first time. The crossover will be packed with explosive developments including a new look for Carnage, a power up for Dylan, a shocking twist to Cletus and Carnage’s bond, and an epic showdown with the only symbiote Carnage truly fears—Anti-Venom!

Discussing the series with host Angélique Roché on This Week in Marvel, Grønbekk said,

“If Dylan sees the full extent of what Venom has done in this world, it might not be great. And Carnage being as sadist as he is, he doesn’t just want to kill Dylan, he wants Dylan to be aware of everything that Venom has done. And it turns into a sort of spectacular thing. And then it sort of it takes a turn. And I’m not going to say what kind of turn, but it doesn’t go the way you think it will.”

Today, fans can see all the major players on superstar artist Ken Lashley’s all-new connecting cover. Gracing all four issues of the crossover, this epic piece spotlights Venom (Eddie Brock) in his new look, Venom (Dylan Brock), Carnage, and the twisted Eddie Brock variant currently tormenting the Brock family—Meridius!

Check out Lashley’s full connecting piece now:

It all kicks off in VENOM #31 where, born anew in symbiote goo and blood, Cletus Kasady is more dangerous and violent than ever before – and has his sights dead set on the unsuspecting Venom! Untested against the might of his symbiotic sibling without his father by his side, will Dylan Brock be able to hold the sadistic serial killer at bay? Or will Carnage live up to its namesake and leave another brutalized symbiote host in its wake?!

VENOM #31 “SYMBIOSIS NECROSIS” PART 1 – 75960620191403111

Written by TORUNN GRØNBEKK
Art by KEN LASHLEY
Cover by CAFU
On Sale March 6, 2024

— — —

Following the events of VENOM #31, Carnage has Dylan in his grasp his CARNAGE #5. But is Dylan just bait for Eddie, the King in Black himself? Time for some bloody brother bonding!

CARNAGE #5 “SYMBIOSIS NECROSIS” PART 2 – 75960620709100511

Written by TORUNN GRØNBEKK
Art by PERE PÉREZ
Cover by JUAN FERREYRA
On Sale March 13, 2024

— — —

Then in VENOM #32, the crossover takes readers to the greatest depths of space and at the end of existence, within the flowering fauna of the symbiotic Garden of Time. But some carnivorous new species has blossomed there. Something bloodred, with thorns…and an appetite!

VENOM #32 – “SYMBIOSIS NECROSIS” PART 3 – 75960620191403211

Written by AL EWING
Art by KEN LASHLEY
Cover by CAFU
On Sale April 3, 2024

— — —

As the dust settles on the final battle in CARNAGE #6, Carnage and Cletus discover they’re not as close as they once were. Meanwhile, there’s still one thing that can kill them…Anti-Venom.