The Amazing Spider-Man #361

The Amazing Spider-Man #361, published in April 1992, holds a significant place in Marvel history as the first full appearance of the character Carnage. Created by writer David Michelinie and artist Mark Bagley, the issue arrived during a period of high popularity for the Spider-Man franchise, as the publisher looked to expand the mythology surrounding the Venom symbiote. Michelinie conceptualized the villain as a chaotic foil to Venom, intending for the character to be a purely lethal force devoid of the complex moral code that eventually developed for Eddie Brock.

The issue is highly regarded for Mark Bagley’s visceral, kinetic illustrations, which helped define the visual language of the 1990s comic aesthetic. Bagley leaned into the grotesque and fluid nature of the symbiote, creating a design that resonated strongly with readers at the time. Upon its release, the issue became a focal point for collectors of the modern era, marking a definitive shift toward darker, anti-hero-driven narratives that dominated Marvel's output throughout the decade.