The following contains major spoilers for Red Goblin #5, on sale now from Marvel Comics.
Over the past few years, the prominence of symbiotes in the Marvel Universe has only grown, opening the door for both Cletus Kasady and the Carnage to terrorize it. Thankfully, the latest of Marvel's symbiote superheroes has just revealed one power that might be exactly what they need to stop both villains in their tracks, even if it does paint a massive target on the Red Goblin's back.
Cletus Kasady is able to implant himself in the minds and bodies of anyone and everyone unlucky enough to hear his siren call. As seen in the pages of Red Goblin #5 (by Alex Paknadel, Jan Bazaldua, David Curiel, and VC's Joe Caramagna), it doesn't take long for this to result in a full-blown riot comprised of those caught in Cletus' thrall and their soon-to-be unwitting victims. Of course, there are plenty who are willing to put their lives on the line to save others, and the Red Goblin is no exception. Although Normie Osborn and the Rascal symbiote aren't all that experienced, they prove to be more than capable of holding their own, especially once they figure out how easy it is to erase the stains Cletus left behind.
Red Goblin is One of Marvel's Strongest Symbiote Heroes
When Rascal was first seen in Ram V, Al Ewing, and Stefano Raffaele's "Seven Seals" from the pages of Free Comic Book Day 2022: Spider-Man/Venom #1, it wasn't clear exactly what role they would play. As the hybrid spawn of Carnage and at least one other symbiote, presumably, the hulking, rage-filled Bedlam, Rascal seemed destined to end up as either a violent villain or a footnote in another character's history. Luckily, that hasn't proven to be the case, and stepping into its predecessors' shoes as the next Red Goblin is surprising.
Rather than following in Carnage or Norman Osborn's footsteps, Rascal and Normie have done everything they could to separate themselves from the expectations set previously. To that end, they have embraced the Red Goblin as a heroic persona, one which has recently revealed itself as capable of absorbing and exorcising the latent symbiotes Cletus has used in possessing his victims. Much like Anti-Venom and Dylan Brock's innately anti-symbiotic properties, this makes Rascal one of the few individuals who can genuinely stand in the way of what would otherwise be an unstoppable threat.
Rascal's Powers Can Change its Future in the Marvel Universe
Much like Eddie, Dylan, and other symbiote figures in the Marvel Universe, there simply isn't going to be any escaping whatever fights are ahead. Apart from having been teased as a key character in Marvel's Summer of the Symbiotes event, the fact that Rascal poses so much of a threat to the likes of Carnage is simply too big of a development to be ignored.
Though that will certainly make the Red Goblin a target for the worst symbiotes the universe has to offer, it also gives them an immediate edge over whatever competition comes their way. Hopefully, the more experienced allies they have made so far will provide the foundation Red Goblin needs to stand on their own. If not, Normie and Rascal may not last long enough to figure out just what other powers they have yet to uncover.