Carrion is a supervillain in American comic books from Marvel Comics. He is often shown as an enemy of Spider-Man.

Publication history

The Miles Warren clone version of Carrion first appeared in The Spectacular Spider-Man #25. It was created by Bill Mantlo, Jim Mooney, and Frank Springer. Carrion was part of a story that followed the original Clone Saga. Because of this, he has one of the most complex histories among Spider-Man villains.

According to Jenny Blake Isabella, Bill Mantlo originally planned for Carrion to be revealed as the Peter Parker clone, using old equipment from the Green Goblin, who had died. However, Marv Wolfman, who wrote The Amazing Spider-Man at the time, changed his mind. He did not want another Spider-Man in the story, so Bill Mantlo was asked to revise the story’s details, even though the first part had already been published.

Over time, the character’s history has been changed multiple times as different writers altered the roles of the clones, Miles Warren’s plans, and other story details. These changes often happened in stories not directly involving Carrion, leading to later stories trying to fix inconsistencies. Three different versions of the character have appeared in comics.

William Allen first appeared in Spider-Man: Dead Man's Hand #1 (April 1997). He was created by Roger Stern and Dan Lawlis. McBride was created by Sal Buscema and Gerry Conway in The Spectacular Spider-Man #149 (April 1989).

Fictional character biography

The original Carrion first appears, trying to destroy Spider-Man. He somehow knows Spider-Man's secret identity as Peter Parker. He approaches the Maggia with a plan to kill Spider-Man, but the plan fails. Carrion attacks Peter Parker, blaming him for the death of Gwen Stacy.

Carrion tries to destroy Spider-Man multiple times. He eventually captures Spider-Man and reveals he is a decayed clone of Miles Warren, also known as the Jackal. Warren had created the clone and placed it in a capsule to grow fully. However, Warren died, and the clone was left alone in the capsule. Something went wrong, and the clone's body became like a living corpse. Carrion blamed Spider-Man for the deaths of both Warren and Gwen Stacy. He sought to bring Spider-Man to justice with the help of Randy Vale, a student he manipulated into assisting him. Carrion captures Peter Parker and prepares to kill him using a giant "Spider-Amoeba" made from Peter's genetic material. During the fight, a fire breaks out in the laboratory. The Spider-Amoeba suffocates Carrion to death before dying in the fire.

Many years later, Spider-Man learns from the High Evolutionary that Miles Warren had not created clones but instead made a genetic virus that could transform humans into genetic copies of others. Spider-Man searches Warren's laboratory and is followed by his university research student rival, Malcolm McBride, who finds a test tube containing a strange substance. The substance consumes McBride, turning him into a second version of Carrion who has the knowledge and powers of the first Carrion.

Initially, Carrion believes he is another clone of Warren. However, McBride's memories and personality begin to return to him. Carrion joins forces with the Hobgoblin against Spider-Man and later sacrifices himself to save McBride's mother. Carrion returns to life and works with Carnage, Doppelganger, Demogoblin, and Shriek on a killing spree across New York City. The mentally unstable Shriek sees Carrion and the others as her and Carnage's "sons." The villains are defeated and sent to the Ravencroft mental institution.

Shriek tries to control Carrion further and encourages him to destroy all aspects of Malcolm McBride's life. However, McBride's mother is able to reach her son's true identity. Carrion becomes desperate and attempts to use the Carrion virus on himself. Shriek stops him, and McBride is returned to Ravencroft.

After the death of Jackal, his body is examined by S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. Dr. William Allen ignores safety rules and is infected by a stronger version of the Carrion virus, turning him into the third Carrion. He gains the ability to use a "zombie plague" to control others' minds but is troubled by Miles Warren's mind, which tries to take over his body. As Carrion tries to spread the Red Dust plague, Spider-Man confronts the High Evolutionary, who admits he faked evidence to make it seem Warren never achieved real cloning. Spider-Man finds Warren's old notes, which help create a cure for the Red Dust. It is revealed the original Carrion was a clone of Warren designed to spread a virus to destroy humanity but failed because it was released too early. Spider-Man defeats the new Carrion, who is taken into S.H.I.E.L.D. custody and placed in stasis.

Carrion later appears as a member of the Shadow Council's version of the Masters of Evil.

A new version of Carrion, created by Jackal, causes chaos in New York by moving between host bodies. After being chased by Superior Spider-Man (Doctor Octopus's mind in Peter Parker's body), the Carrion virus takes control of Hyperion's body. After a brief battle with the Avengers, the virus seems destroyed but regenerates and returns to its creator.

During the "Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy" storyline, Kaine Parker and Spider-Woman of Earth-65 rescue Spider-Man from Jackal. Kaine tells Spider-Man they came to help because alliances with Jackal on other worlds caused disasters from the Carrion virus. Doctor Octopus activates the Carrion virus in all clones, causing them to decay rapidly. Spider-Man uses the Webware Emergency System to send a signal that stops some clones from decaying.

Powers and abilities

The creature known as Carrion is formed when a virus that copies genes, taken from the changed DNA of Professor Miles Warren, enters a human body. The first Carrion had strength and toughness far greater than normal humans. He could make his body so light it was almost invisible. He could turn organic materials into ash by touching them. He also had the ability to read minds, float in the air, and move organic objects with his thoughts. Carrion also created a chemical called Red Dust, which could either make someone unconscious or act as a strong acid that could burn through flesh, metal, and other materials. Carrion had access to the scientific tools used by Miles Warren during his "cloning" experiments.

Malcolm McBride, who became Carrion, had the same abilities as the original but had not yet fully learned or practiced them. He had not shown the ability to make himself invisible or move objects with his mind. Instead, he had a feeling similar to telepathy.

The Carrion virus is aware and can infect and control people without changing their bodies, allowing it to stay hidden inside them. If the virus stays in one body for a long time, it becomes permanently attached to that body. The virus is strong enough to rebuild itself after being nearly destroyed. It can take on a physical form similar to previous Carrions. In this form, it can create a vapor that, when inhaled, allows it to control the minds of others.