Carnage Reinvents His Bond with 1 Classic Host (& It’s Almost…Sweet?)

Spoilers for Venom War: Carnage #1 ahead!

On the precipice of Marvel Comics’ spacetime-spanning Venom War crossover event, Carnage has returned to Earth to prepare for the upcoming bloodshed, and has rebonded with his favorite host, Cletus Kasady, in the process. Realizing that there has only ever been one host for him, Carnage and Cletus’s reforged relationship is almost… romantic.

Venom War: Carnage #1 – written by Torunn Grønbekk, with art by Pere Pérez – is the first installment of Carnage’s quest for survival in the freshly ignited Venom War. However, this time Carnage isn’t just out for himself, because now he’s been reunited with Cletus Kasady and the two are together to take on the world.

Cletus was there for Carnage when the infant symbiote was born, giving him a home within his body, and now Carnage has done the same for Cletus, reincarnating a new Cletus Kasady to join him on his quest for godhood.

Amid The Bloodshed Carnage’s Reunion With Cletus Kasady is Actually….Kind Of Heartwarming

Venom War: Carnage #1 – Written By Torunn Grønbekk; Art By Pere Pérez; Color By Erick Arciniega; Lettering By Joe Sabino

In Carnage’s last solo series, Carnage (2023) – also by Torunn Grønbekk and Pere Pérez – the Carnage symbiote had just returned from a multiversal endeavor to become a King in Black. Having gained resistance to sonic damage and anti-symbiote antibodies, two major weaknesses of the Klyntar, Carnage consumed a variant of Knull, successfully reaching the power levels of a god. However, despite his immeasurable power, Carnage felt as if there were one more invisible blockade stopping his full ascension. The symbiote traveled to the Nexus of all gods where he learned that he would always be incomplete without his other half.

After Carnage’s return to Earth, back in the prison cell where he was first born, the Klyntar consumed a prisoner and reformatted their DNA, creating a perfect clone of Cletus Kasady, with all the serial killer’s memories made during his bond with Carnage. Since Cletus’s rebirth, the two seem to have kindled a significantly more intimate relationship than they had ever had before. Cletus and Carnage have always been close, arguably more of a brotherly relationship, but something about their mutual loss of the other has generated a passionate spark between the two.

The Romantic Overtones Of Carnage & Cletus’ New Dynamic Takes Their Iconic Partnership To The Next Level

An Enduring Bond Has Grown Into Genuine Love

Beginning in Carnage and now seen in Venom War: Carnage, the monstrous murderous duo frequently use phrases of affection towards each other. Both have referred to each other as “my love” on multiple occasions and Cletus tenderly calls his symbiotic other “sweetheart” while telling Carnage how proud he is of the Klyntar. Admittedly, it’s kind of shocking to see this level of compassion between two psychopathic murderers. Throughout their past, Carnage and Cletus have occasionally quarreled over power. Carnage was previously willing to leave Cletus behind to further his own goals, but now the thought wouldn’t ever cross his mind.

More than just a “bromance,” the deranged duo truly seem to love each other. With the language they prefer to use, their relationship is arguably less familial than it is romantic. Even the casual-nature of their conversations is new; yes, they still have their independent goals, but they also frequently check in with each other. Carnage, by all means, still maintains the powers of a god, to rival Venom, but without his host, his partner, his other half, and his love, godhood means nothing.