Warning! Spoilers for Gwenom vs. Carnage #1 below! In stores now.
Marvel's King in Black event has reigned supreme in its ability to bring the shock value. The latest tie-in from Gwenom vs. Carnage: King in Black by Seanan McGuire, Flaviano, Rico Renzi, and VC's Ariana Maher adds to the epic occurrences. What begins with an out-of-place Ghost-Spider ends in an unforgettable confrontation between her and a new rival. This time, it's a bit more personal.
Gwenom vs. Carnage: King in Black #1 kicks off with a peek into a frightening reality. Nothing could have prepared Gwen for the Earth to which she has traveled. This other-Earthly replica of her own world is covered in symbiote goo and displays a sky full of dragons. While she claimed to be determined not to suit up in this world, the circumstances seem drastic enough to call for such measures. Both her spider powers and symbiotic side have kept her safe in the past, but with her senses seemingly blocked, she may be vulnerable to new threats.
As foreshadowed, Gwen finds herself confronted by monsters. All seems to be running smoothly (well, about as smooth as a fight on a foreign planet with terrifying monsters can go) until Gwen recognizes Mary Jane. She appears to have bonded with a symbiote, transforming her into a barely recognizable version of herself. Gwen stares in shock as her friend announces herself as the infamous symbiotic villain, Carnage.
The ending of this issue can't help but remind symbiote fans of the 2004 series, Venom vs. Carnage. The previous series followed the face-off between two dueling symbiotes. Fast forward to the King in Black event, and readers are seeing exactly this with two fan-favorite characters affected by symbiotic beings. Though tragic, the callback to Venom vs. Carnage can excite fans for a similar dynamic in upcoming issues. Mary Jane may have been the least expected body for Carnage to inhabit, but it provides for an interesting plot development for King in Black.
Often, heroes and villains are able to fight against each other without holding back due to the limited amount of care for each other's wellbeing. Rivalries become more complicated with the addition of personal attachment (think Spider-Man vs. Green Goblin or Anakin vs. Obi-Wan). Gwen clearly has love for Mary Jane, but she may have no choice but to fight the version of her friend overtaken by Carnage. Gwen barely expected to suit up once coming to this new Earth, never mind doing so to face-off against someone she cares about. This situation poses one obvious question; can she find a peaceful way to free her friend, or will she have no choice but to fight? King in Black: Gwenom vs Carnage #1 is in stores now.