Genre: Superhero | Author: David Michelinie | Release Date: 1995
Publisher: Berkley
The story follows Spider-Man who has to stop Carnage, who’s brought to New York to neutralize his powers, but escapes with a vial filled with a serum that can cause a mental breakdown and make a person go insane with just one drop.
Plot
Spider-Man: Carnage in New York, written by David Michelinie, delivers a faithful adaptation of a classic Marvel formula: a deranged supervillain escapes custody, and it’s up to the Web-Head to stop him before the city bleeds. In this case, the maniac in question is Cletus Kasady—Carnage—whose rampage once again threatens the citizens of New York. The story follows Spider-Man’s attempt to stop Carnage while also navigating the ever-familiar personal struggles of Peter Parker, including Aunt May’s financial issues and the ongoing tension in his marriage with Mary Jane.
There’s nothing particularly groundbreaking in the plot. It sticks close to standard superhero beats—hero hears of villain’s return, tries to stop him, suffers emotional and physical setbacks, and eventually prevails—but it’s well-written and efficiently paced. The story gets inside the heads of both Peter and Cletus, and that’s where it becomes a little more interesting. Carnage, in particular, is portrayed with a chilling sense of menace and unpredictability. His chaotic nature contrasts with Peter’s sense of responsibility, making for a decent character dynamic even if it doesn’t reinvent the wheel.
Where the book falls short is in ambition. It’s a safe story, mostly predictable, and doesn’t take many risks. Some moments—like Spider-Man's Spider Sense reacting to Carnage when it supposedly shouldn’t—feel like small inconsistencies that could’ve been better addressed. More exploration of Carnage’s reign of terror and its effect on the public would have added depth. Still, the insight into his psychotic worldview helps elevate the story beyond just another villain-of-the-week outing.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Production
David Michelinie, best known for co-creating Venom and writing significant runs on The Amazing Spider-Man, brings that same understanding of the character to this novel. His writing remains consistent with the comics, capturing Peter’s internal conflicts and the grim nature of Carnage’s character. The narrative leans heavily into action, with numerous violent and intense fight scenes, which Michelinie translates effectively to prose. The fights are easy to visualize, and the pacing ensures that action sequences never overstay their welcome.
Michelinie’s greatest strength in Carnage in New York is how well he captures the “voices” of the characters. Peter sounds like Peter—introspective, sarcastic, guilt-ridden—and Mary Jane is more than just a love interest; she’s a source of stability and frustration in Peter’s chaotic world. Their relationship is one of the highlights of the novel, adding emotional weight to an otherwise straightforward action plot.
While the writing is competent, it doesn’t push any creative boundaries. There’s little in the way of stylized narration, and the structure is fairly linear. The book also misses an opportunity to delve more deeply into the psychological trauma caused by Carnage’s rampage on the public. Some characters from Spider-Man’s supporting cast appear and help ground the narrative, but they don’t add much beyond context. That said, the book does deliver what it promises: a violent, action-packed, faithful Spider-Man story.
Michelinie’s direction is clearly geared toward comic fans looking for an extended universe tale that stays true to its roots—and on that front, it succeeds.
Rating: 3 out of 5
The Verdict
In the end, Spider-Man: Carnage in New York is a solid, if predictable, superhero novel. With intense action, faithful character portrayals, and strong insight into Carnage’s mind, it’s a good read for Spidey fans. Spider-Man: Carnage in New York earns 3 out of 5.
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