Hulk’s New Carnage Form Just Created Marvel’s Ultimate Symbiote Monster

It seems that Carnage and the Hulk have combined to create the ultimate symbiote monster. This character can be found on a variant cover to Hulk #5. The issue inside was written by Donny Cates and illustrated by Ryan Ottley, but Jonboy Meyers is responsible for the Hulk/Carnage variant.

The character is a unique and original design made just for the variant cover and has nothing to do with the current Starship Hulk storyline of the series. The cover is actually a part of a series of variants that are set to celebrate Carnage’s 30th anniversary and a new series titled Carnage Forever, which is set for release this month. Other variant covers include a Carnage version of Spider-Man, Moon Knight, Doctor Strange, Spider Woman, and more, all releasing through the month of March.

The Carnage variant cover for Hulk #5 was revealed in a post by League of Comic Geeks. This Hulk version of Carnage appears to be unique and different from the others, however, as the symbiote doesn’t just wrap around Hulk’s body but changes his entire physiology. The Hulk grows claws, spikes, and horns that are not merely extensions of the symbiote but a whole new series of biological features. This is far different than Carnage merely mutating itself on a host to create constructs as has been seen in the past when it merged with powerful characters such as Silver Surfer and Green Goblin.

Although this is just a variant cover, the Hulk has merged with the Venom symbiote before as seen in the crossover event Absolute Carnage. This Venom Hulk was arguably the most powerful version of the symbiote bond yet. The Hulk’s body in this form is so massive the symbiote can’t even cover it completely, which appears to track in this Carnage version of the Hulk as well. Parts of the Hulk’s green skin can still be seen.

But the main differences are the physiological changes this Hulk Carnage has undergone. And even though it’s only a variant cover, this still tracks with canon within the Marvel universe. It’s well known that a gamma irradiated transformation is largely built on a series of psychological factors. This is how there are so many different types of Hulks walking around. And Carnage is not a typical symbiote, as seen repeatedly through its bond with Cletus Kasady. So it stands to reason that if a symbiote as psychotic as Carnage is bonded with a Hulk transformed through gamma rays that personal psychology will undoubtedly have an effect on their further transformation as well.

Source: League of Comic Geeks

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