2025 Topps Marvel Studios Chrome

(See previous post for process pix!) 😊

The cinematic debut of one of Spidey's most dangerous villains came in 2021 via Columbia Pictures (Sony)'s Venom: Let There Be Carnage.

As I've mentioned previously, I'm not really a fan of the Venom movies (though there's cool elements here and there, and I like Tom Hardy), nor any of the other Sony-produced live-action "Spider-man Universe" spin-offs, because for the most part they've just been really, really bad, and lacked the most important element: Spidey!

Despite all that, there's at least 2 good things I can say about this Venom sequel: firstly, I enjoyed Woody Harrelson as the deranged serial killer Cletus Kasady.

Secondly, I thought Carnage actually looked pretty awesome, and it was a lot of fun seeing him go nuts with his abilities on-screen in some comic-accurate ways, pretty different from Venom himself.

That being said, as a comics fan who was there for Amazing Spidey 361 when Carnage first debuted (and all the previous issues which lead to it), I'm just glad that no matter how dissapointing the movie was, we'll always have the comics!

To me, co-creator Mark Bagley is, now and always, the definitive Carnage artist and I love all of those stories!

* This was my 2nd Carnage sketch card! Since the first was a full body shot (in the Spidey Renditions set), I wanted this to be a close-up of his face!

* All sketch cards in this set are based on the Marvel comics versions of these characters (not the movie versions)

2025 Topps Marvel Studios Chrome

The cinematic debut of one of Spidey's most dangerous villains came in 2021 via Columbia Pictures (Sony)'s Venom: Let There Be Carnage.

As I've mentioned previously, I'm not really a fan of the Venom movies (though there's cool elements here and there, and I like Tom Hardy), nor any of the other Sony-produced live-action "Spider-man Universe" spin-offs, because for the most part they've just been really, really bad, and lacked the most important element: Spidey! (Cont.)

Despite all that, there's at least 2 good things I can say about this Venom sequel: firstly, I enjoyed Woody Harrelson as the deranged serial killer Cletus Kasady. Secondly, I thought Carnage actually looked pretty awesome, and it was a lot of fun seeing him go nuts with his abilities on-screen in some comic-accurate ways, pretty different from Venom himself. (Cont.)

That being said, as a comics fan who was there for Amazing Spidey 361 when Carnage first debuted (and all the previous issues which lead to it), I'm just glad that no matter how dissapointing the movie was, we'll always have the comics! To me, co-creator Mark Bagley is, now and always, the definitive Carnage artist and I love all of those stories!

* This was my 2nd Carnage sketch card! Since the first was a full body shot (in the Spidey Renditions set), I wanted this to be a close-up of his face!

* This set was my first time using watercolors on sketch cards!

* All sketch cards in this set are based on the Marvel comics versions of these characters (not the movie versions)

You know what would have been more interesting? Have things lead up to a scenario where Cletus must choose between them. Especially if it was a "you can only save one" type of scenario.

What would Cletus choose?

The woman he is in love with (according to movie canon) or the symbiote that basically grants him the power to turn all his murderous impulses into reality?

And so (if we had gotten a characterization more accurate to the comics) it would be all the more devastating - since it's been established that Shriek was the only person whom he appreciated throughout his life - when he realized that ultimately he cares more about the thrill of killing and cannot let go of the bond they created with Carnage.