Carnage #4: The Web Of Life And Destiny

Carnage #4 hits the ground running, whisking its main cast off into space and elevating what began as a somewhat grounded crime thriller into a cosmos-spanning quest. Carnage and his meek serial-killer sidekick’s destination is not one of the intergalactic empires or alien worlds that readers have become accustomed to exploring, but rather the mystical realm of Svartalfheim, home to the Dark Elves. As one of the Ten Realms of Asgardian Cosmology, it makes the perfect hunting ground for a symbiote driven by a newly ignited bloodlust for gods.

It was a pleasant surprise to find Ram V incorporate into his narrative a niche setting typically reserved for the adventures of Thor and adjacent characters. The science fiction and fantasy elements of Marvel’s multiverse tend to feel detached, so this unconventional pairing of characters and setting offers some needed interconnectivity. With Thor: Love and Thunder releasing in the U.S. this week, the conspiracy theorist within me cannot help but wonder if this is some subtle form of film synergy. The issue does feature a cameo by Malekith the Accursed after all, and Carnage’s vendetta against gods does bear resemblance to the motivation of Gorr the God Butcher.

After its rather quick opening, issue four slows down the pacing and leaves its villainous duo behind to follow the perspective of the Black Bile Clan. This small and exiled group of elves happens to engage in a ritualistic hunt for a creature who is somehow vital to the next step in Carnage’s grand plan. This subplot is clearly set-up for things to come, not having much to offer readers this week beyond lengthy exposition, with even the violence and action being scarce.

The more interesting part of the issue, undoubtedly, is the appearance of Annie May Parker, a.k.a. Spiderling, a.k.a. The Patternmaker, a.k.a. the alternate universe daughter of Spider-Man and Mary Jane Watson. Introduced in Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows, Annie quickly grew into a fan favorite character, and it was a genuine shock to see her appear in anything other than a Spider-Verse crossover story. Annie is there to offer an ominous warning to detective Jonathan Shayde, assuring that he still has an important role to play in stopping Carnage. While it is currently unclear whether Annie will now serve as a main player in this narrative or simply a guest appearance, one thing is certain: her presence indicates that there is much more at stake in this race against Carnage than most could possibly have imagined.