MAXIMUM CARNAGE (1993)

Many nostalgic fans will recommend MAXIMUM CARNAGE as one of the greatest Spider-Man stories in the character's history. I'm a little older and it's more the '80s issues than defined Spidey for me and I found fourteen issues were too long for a one-trick story. But, to be fair, Carnage's rampage through New York City took place at a time when the Comics Code was still very much in force and the Spidey titles were still aimed at an all ages audience. By modern standards, MAXIMUM CARNAGE seems so incredibly tame. Each to their own!

Venom isn't the only one who shares the spotlight with Spider-Man. Guest-stars galore join forces with the web-slinger as he tries to take down the murderous Carnage. But the villain of the piece isn't alone, either, and is accompanied by a strange array of sidekicks. Just try not to wonder why the Avengers, Fantastic Four or any of the other gazillion super-teams don't step up to end the slaughter.

So get ready for a killing spree (with very little actual killing) as the carnage reaches its maximum! Allegedly...

Major Crossover: The sheer number of chapters pushes Maximum Carnage into the 'Major Crossover' category

• Spider-Man Unlimited #1[1/3]
• Web of Spider-Man #101
• Amazing Spider-Man #378
• Spider-Man #35
• Spectacular Spider-Man #201
• Web of Spider-Man #102
• Amazing Spider-Man #379
• Spider-Man #36
• Spectacular Spider-Man #202
• Web of Spider-Man #103
• Amazing Spider-Man #380
• Spider-Man #37
• Spectacular Spider-Man #203
• Spider-Man Unlimited #2[1/2]

Spider-Man Unlimited #1[1/3]
Harry Osborn died in the guise of the Green Goblin while trying to kill Spider-Man. After Harry's funeral, Mary Jane Parker asks her husband, Peter Parker, to take a break from being Spider-Man. Peter agrees, but almost immediately breaks his promise when Carnage escapes the Ravencroft Institute. Back in action, Spidey finds himself outnumbered when Carnage allies himself with his evil Doppelgänger (introduced during THE INFINITY WAR) and new villain, Shriek.

Web of Spider-Man #101

Cloak & Dagger save Spider-Man from a proper pounding, but Shriek absorbs Daggers light powers, apparently disintegrating her in the process. Over in San Francisco, Venom hears about Carnage's rampage and decides to return to New York...

Amazing Spider-Man #378
An injured Peter Parker returns home for a stern talking to from Mary Jane. Despite this, he heads back out and runs into Demogoblin. Failing to subdue him, Peter returns home. Venom goes after Carnage alone and is gets beaten so badly that he shows up at the Parkers' home looking for help...

Spider-Man #35
Spidey, Venom, Cloak and the Black Cat confront Carnage's crew who have allied with the Demogoblin. The fight doesn't go the heroes' way as the Black Cat is buried in rubble and the bad guys escape.

Spectacular Spider-Man #201

Black Cat and Venom argue the only way to stop Carnage is to kill him. Peter visits his father, the recently-returned Richard Parker, who believes that some people are no better than animals that need to be put down. Carnage's crew kills their way through New York, inciting regular people to riot. Sensing all the death, Carrion rises from the sewers...

Web of Spider-Man #102

Team Carnage start killing people on the dance floor of a club that Mary Jane happens to be, letting off steam. Morbius joins the heroes the fight against Carnage, but the bad guys escape (again) when the good guys focus on saving people from the burning club.

Amazing Spider-Man #379

Carrion joins Carnage's gang and the rioting continues. Richard and Mary Parker find themselves caught up in the riots, saving Aunt May from a mugger. Deathlok tries to kill Carnage but is defeated by Shriek and tied up. Cloak obtains a sonic disruptor and brings Firestar of the New Warriors onto Spidey's team.

Spider-Man #36

Team Spidey attacks Carnage and his crew and manage to defeat them. Venom uses the sonic disruptor on Carnage, but the psychotic villain recovers and reveals that the symbiote is now his bloodstream making him impossible to kill. Back on the streets, Iron Fist frees Deathlok...

Spectacular Spider-Man #202
Firestar contains Carnage. Venom and Spider-Man convince her to burn Carnage alive, until Spidey changes his mind and makes her stop. Spider-Man and Venom fight it out until Venom wins, turning his attention to Carnage. Shriek uses her sound powers to defeat Venom and she and Carnage take Eddie Brock prisoner. Captain America arrives to help the heroes to their feet...

Web of Spider-Man #103

Spider-Man's team add Cap, Iron Fist, Deathlok and Nightwatch to their numbers and work to contain the riots and try to take down Carnage's abandoned allies. Carnage and Shriek torture Venom...

Amazing Spider-Man #380

Captain America defeats Shriek, putting an end to the riots. Nightwatch and Morbius track down Carnage at the Statue of Liberty, but are overpowered by the Doppelgänger and Demogoblin. The demonic duo rescue Shriek who starts up the riots again, leaving the heroes surrounded while the villains escape... again!

Spider-Man #37

Venom breaks free and fends off Carnage long enough to escape. Carnage punishes Shriek for disobeying him, killing the Doppelgänger to teach her a lesson. The heroes catch up with the villains and Dagger returns...

Spectacular Spider-Man #203

Deathlok whips up an Alpha Magni-Illumizor which conveniently subdues Shriek, cures Carrion, knocks out the Demogoblin and kills Carnage. Spider-Man heads to Central Park to think over all that's happened, but Venom shows up and falls unconscious. Carnage rises from a nearby fountain...

Spider-Man Unlimited #2[1/2]

The three-way fight ends with Carnage escaping. Venom heads after the villain, while SPider-Man goes to hospital. Later, Peter confronts his father over his pessimistic advice and makes up with Mary Jane. As Spider-Man, he, Black Cat and Venom find Carnage at the ruins of the orphanage he grew up in. Venom throws himself and Carnage into a nearby generator. The explosion knocks Carnage out, leaving no trace of his symbiote. This time, the Avengers turn him up and take him away. Venom disappears completely and chooses to use the explosions to allow Spider-Man to believe he's dead.

Spider-Man #44 (1994) 

To repay Spider-Man for saving his son during Carnage's rampage, Detective Conner Trevane gives the wall-crawler information on a gun dealing racket.

Amazing Spider-Man #388 (1994) 

Peter Parker's parents are revealed to be simulacrums (or Life Model Decoys or 'replicoid duplicates') when the Vulture kills them.

Amazing Spider-Man #389 (1994) 

Spider-Man discovers Harry Osborn (or rather his Green Goblin persona) was behind the creation of Peter's fake parents during PURSUIT.

Amazing Spider-Man #390 (1994) 

Malcolm McBride returns as Carrion and allies himself with Shriek again during SHRIEKING.

Spider-Man #48 (1994) 

Demogoblin is killed by the Hobgoblin during THE ENEMY WITHIN.

Amazing Spider-Man #393 (1994) 

Shriek cures Carrion during SHRIEKING.

Venom: Carnage Unleashed #1-4 (1995) 

Venom and Carnage next clash when a computer game based on Carnage's New York rampage, 'Carnage Unleashed', is released during PLANET OF THE SYMBIOTES.

Spectacular Spider-Man #229 (1995) 

Peter Parker finally gives in to Mary Jane and has (what was intended to be) a permanent break from being Spider-Man at the end of THE GREATEST RESPONSIBILITY.

Spectacular Spider-Man #246 (1997) 

After numerous super-villain breakouts at Ravencroft, Dr Ashley Kafka and John Jameson are fired.

New Avengers #2 (2005) 

Carnage is killed when he's ripped in half by the Sentry during BREAKOUT.

Amazing Spider-Man #545 (2008) 

Harry Osborn is revealed to be alive and well during ONE MORE DAY.

Amazing Spider-Man #581 (2009) 

Harry's apparent resurrection is explained.

Carnage #1-5 (2010-2011) 

Carnage and the Doppelgänger are resurrected and reunited with Shriek.

Minimum Carnage: Alpha #1 (2012) 

A pseudo-sequel pits Carnage against the new Venom (Flash Thompson) and Scarlet Spider (Kaine) during MINIMUM CARNAGE.

See how this story fits into wider Marvel Universe continuity with these reading orders:

• CARNAGE: Cletus Kasady (1991-2015)
• HOBGOBLIN / DEMOGOBLIN: Jason Macendale (1987-1997)
• MORBIUS: The Living Vampire (1971-1993)
• VENOM: Eddie Brock (1988-2004)

Spider-Man: Maximum Carnage
Amazing Spider-Man #378-380

Spectacular Spider-Man #201-203

Spider-Man #35-37

Spider-Man Unlimited #1-2

Web of Spider-Man #101-103

Spider-Man Firsts
Spider-Man: With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility
Both include... 
Spider-Man Unlimited #1