History ComicBook / MaximumCarnage

At its best, the story is a [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] [[{{Deconstruction}} self-critique]], forcing Spidey to face an implacable killer who -- as the prologue establishes -- is irredeemably evil and [[FromASingleCell can no longer be stripped of his alien symbiote]]. Coincidentally, it also served as a push for Venom, who butts heads with Peter over whether to bring Carnage in [[ARealManIsAKiller dead or alive]], and the villain consequently [[{{Padding}} eludes their grasp several times]].

* BlackAndWhiteMorality: Spider-Man, Captain America, and Firestar are good, Carnage and all are bad. Very bad. Period. Some BlackAndGrayMorality creeps in, since several of Spidey's allies are former villains and anti-heroes who come to loggerheads with him over their more violent methods (it was the [[UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks 90s after all]]), but the creators insist the story was really intended as a TakeThat against such material.

* DarkerAndEdgier: Many fans interpreted the story as an attempt to push Spider-Man in this direction. As a counterpoint, author J.M. [=DeMatteis=] insists that the purpose of the event was completely the opposite and that they were trying to tell a story about old-fashioned [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] morality butting heads with the violent 90s nihilism, with the story ultimately vindicating the former. Despite some blatantly {{Anvilicious}} moralizing, few interpreted it as such.

It was later adapted into a surprisingly popular beat 'em up game for the UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis and UsefulNotes/SuperNES ''VideoGame/SpiderManAndVenomMaximumCarnage'', published by Creator/{{LJN|Toys}}. The game allowed players to control either Spider-Man or Venom, and featured the rest of the hero cast as summonable power-ups. A surprising amount of attention was paid to accurately recreating the comic, including levels modeled after scenes from individual issues, and villains' vulnerabilities or resistances to certain attacks.

At its best, the story is a [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] [[{{Deconstruction}} self-critique]], forcing Spidey to face an implacable killer who -- as the prologue establishes -- is irredeemably evil and [[FromASingleCell can no longer be stripped of his alien symbiont]]. Coincidentally, it also served as a push for Venom, who butts heads with Peter over whether to bring Carnage in [[ARealManIsAKiller dead or alive]], and the villain consequently [[{{Padding}} eludes their grasp several times]].

It was later adapted into a surprisingly popular beat 'em up game for the UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis and UsefulNotes/SuperNES, published by Creator/{{LJN|Toys}}. The game allowed players to control either Spider-Man or Venom, and featured the rest of the hero cast as summonable power-ups. A surprising amount of attention was paid to accurately recreating the comic, including levels modeled after scenes from individual issues, and villains' vulnerabilities or resistances to certain attacks.

Carnage recruits C-list villains Shriek, Doppelganger, Carrion, and Demogoblin, while Spidey teams up with (deep breath) Comicbook/{{Venom}}, [[ComicBook/NewWarriors Firestar]], ComicBook/BlackCat, Comicbook/CloakAndDagger, Comicbook/IronFist, ComicBook/{{Deathlok}}, Nightwatch, ComicBook/{{Morbius}}, and ComicBook/CaptainAmerica.

* GrappleMove: both Franchise/SpiderMan and Comicbook/{{Venom}} can pick up certain objects and even enemies and throw them in the ''Maximum Carnage'' Videogame.

* SupermanStaysOutOfGotham: Carnage's gang is wreaking all sorts of havoc, Franchise/TheAvengers (save Captain America, who shows up towards the end), the ComicBook/XMen or other major heroes are conveniently not around. The ComicBook/FantasticFour are also no-shows, but their absence serves a minor plot-point: Spidey having to break into their headquarters to get their sonic weapon.

The event has received four semi-sequels, two miniseries titled ''Minimum Carnage'' and ''Carnage, U.S.A'' in 2012, a event series titled ''ComicBook/AbsoluteCarnage'' in 2019, and a series named Extreme Carnage in 2021. In 2023, an event running through ''ComicBook/{{Carnage 2022}}'' and ''ComicBook/MilesMoralesSpiderMan2022'' entitled ''ComicBook/CarnageReigns'' will launch as a MilestoneCelebration of the event.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[{{Tagline}} Paint the town red!]]]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/spider_man_maximum_carnage_trade_paperback.jpg]]

* KryptoniteFactor: Carnage is devastated by fire. Venom is vulnerable to both fire and sonic attacks.

The event has received four semi-sequels, two miniseries titled ''Minimum Carnage'' and ''Carnage, U.S.A'' in 2012, a event series titled ''ComicBook/AbsoluteCarnage'' in 2019, and a series named Extreme Carnage in 2021. In 2023, an event running through ''ComicBook/{{Carnage 2022}}'' and ''ComicBook/MilesMoralesSpiderMan'' entitled ''ComicBook/CarnageReigns'' will launch as a MilestoneCelebration of the event.

The event has received four semi-sequels, two miniseries titled Minimum Carnage and Carnage, U.S.A in 2012, a event series titled ''ComicBook/AbsoluteCarnage'' in 2019, and a series named Extreme Carnage in 2021.

** So they turned him into a demonic/psychotic take on Starscream?

In addition to the game, the event later went on to inspire a haunted house attraction at [[Ride/UniversalStudios Universal's]] Theatre/HalloweenHorrorNights in 2002 also titled ''Maximum Carnage''. The house, [[InNameOnly while not a direct adaptation of the comic]], similarly had a plot where Carnage assembled a team of villains and waged war against Spider-Man and the other heroes; the biggest difference being that this time [[TheBadGuyWins things didn't turn out so well]] [[KillEmAll for the heroes]].