The symbiote known as Carnage has been most commonly associated with the serial killer Cletus Kasady. The combination of these two forces has led to heinous acts of brutality and destruction across the Marvel Universe. Carnage could bond with a new host and the murderer known as The Artist was one such candidate in the comics.
However, there are plenty of other heroes and villains in Marvel Comics who could pose as great potential hosts for Carnage. Whether they give in to the bloodlust or attempt to control it will depend on each individual personality. But it's important to look at how interesting these narratives would be if the Disney-owned company followed the concepts.
10 Curt Connors
Curt Connors had spent his life exploring the healing abilities of the animal kingdom. His obsession with reptiles ended in his transformation into the Lizard. Connor thus understands what it's like to have a monstrous creature living within and how to give in to those impulses.
Connors' transformation into the Lizard isn't too dissimilar to the concept of bonding with Carnage. The symbiote would also offer Connors the kind of power and healing capabilities he had dreamed of. Doctor Curt Connors is easily influenced by the idea of evolution and this corrupt meeting of minds would be a natural next step in the Lizard's life.
9 Bullseye
Bullseye isn't afraid to embark on his own rampages of senseless violence and has the same bloodlust that Carnage boasts. But Bullseye has a set of skills that Cletus Kasady could never replicate.
Bullseye and Carnage's abilities could be combined to create an even more lethal cocktail. While some other villains may feel a pang of guilt and could even be shocked by the mercilessness of the Carnage symbiote, Bullseye wouldn't be phased. He is the most natural fit to replace Cletus Kasady, and Poindexter certainly shares Carnage's hatred of Spider-Man.
8 Whitney Frost
Whitney Frost is very different from Cletus Kasady. She doesn't kill because she has a taste for brutality. Frost is a businesswoman and understands the need for a bit of fear and muscle in the criminal underworld. Frost has also managed to control monsters in her own right, overseeing the supernaturally corrupted Hood and his heinous gang during the Dark Reign.
Frost thus has all the tools needed to control Carnage in a way Kasady never could. She could find plenty of uses for the symbiote as well, taking advantage of his power and terror to make moves as a new kingpin. Madame Masque's strong will and fortitude would make her a completely different host from Kasady and that makes for a fascinating dynamic between the two villains.
7 Miles Morales
Of course, Miles Morales and Carnage absolutely hate what the other stands for. But bonding Carnage to Miles long-term could parallel Peter Parker's black suit saga that introduced readers to Venom. The relationship would be totally different, with Morales struggling every day to sedate Carnage's wrath.
But giving Miles a slightly darker edge and a few symbiotic powers would help to freshen up his narrative with a familiar and popular arc. While Kasady and Carnage were always more entertaining when completely let loose, the meat of the story would be found in the conflict between Morales and the symbiote.
6 Mac Gargan
The relationship between Mac Gargan and the villainous symbiotes has always been toxic. Gargan has a long history with Venom and has even masqueraded as a black-suit Spider-Man as part of the Dark Avengers. But Gargan's violence could be taken to the next level with Carnage.
Gargan was incredibly dangerous as Venom and now has the necessary experience as a host. While other potential Kasady replacements might try to focus or manipulate Carnage, Gargan is more likely to allow the symbiote to take the reins. The unpredictability of these two forces together replicates the relationship Cletus and Carnage had. This makes Gargan a great replacement as he moves away from his Scorpion origins.
5 White Rabbit
Lorina Dodson is the villain White Rabbit. She's certainly not anyone's first choice when thinking about the horrific nature of Carnage. But White Rabbit has been featured more and more in recent years and has demonstrated that she is capable of shocking acts despite no one taking her seriously.
There's an inner rage in White Rabbit that Carnage could certainly tap into. Carnage isn't often depicted as whimsical, but bonding with Dodson could create a unique character combo. The edge of Carnage plus the silliness of Dodson could form a Red Rabbit. A villain that maximizes Dodson's potential.
4 Elektra
Elektra's recent history in Marvel Comics has added huge depth to the character. Her relationship with good and evil is certainly shadowy. Audiences have seen Elektra go on a redemptive arc while trying to remove herself from the bloodshed of her past. Carnage could complicate that equation.
Bringing Carnage into Elektra's life now would make for the biggest test of her career yet. The assassin has the strength and experience to resist the control of the symbiote, but there's always the potential that she gives into its violent ways. Perhaps Elektra and Carnage could make for an unlikely anti-hero combo and reinvent the Klyntar offspring.
3 Crossbones
Although Carnage is Spider-Man's most violent villain, Crossbones knows a fair bit about brutality on the battlefield. Crossbones is a mercenary who seems to have very few limits to the missions he will carry out. This is a man who has come to know warfare as a way of life.
Agent Venom was a fantastically designed character that took advantage of Flash Thompson's military background. Brock Rumlow could prove to be the antithesis of that. An Agent Carnage of sorts. Crossbones could certainly increase his fees with a symbiote on his side and Carnage would definitely be thrilled by the absurdity of getting paid to kill. It's somehow a natural partnership.
2 Mary Walker
Mary Walker has dissociative identity disorder. Her range of violence is very much dependent on her personality. Adding Carnage to that mix would compel Walker to find a way to take advantage of everything the symbiote has to offer. Carnage meanwhile would get to play with Mary's psionic powers.
Narratively, the concept of Mary Walker and Carnage bonding would ultimately speak to the strength of the villain. She would find that the additional fear factor that Carnage brings, can be incredibly useful in her career and would thus further boost her. If Mary was to become Weapon X or Bloody Mary again, Carnage would only up the ante. The partnership between the two would be more complex than with Kasady but would prove to be a great step for the character.
1 Otto Octavius
Otto Octavius has been a thorn in Spider-Man's side for years. But Doctor Octopus also briefly suited up as Superior Spider-Man and lived the anti-hero lifestyle. Otto's interest in scientific breakthroughs and experimentation would make him a natural fit for Carnage.
Otto would certainly be interested in how the symbiote might bond with his body, but would also want to ensure maximum control over the beast. How Octavius would use Carnage is up in the air as it's possible he could push toward an anti-hero stance once more. The unpredictability of how Otto would behave with Carnage is what makes this concept so interesting. Ock actually did bond with Carnage in the Spider-Man PS1 video game to become "Monster Ock."