Bushwacker: The One Marvel Villain Even Venom Fears More Than Carnage

Eddie Brock has seen things—things that would make even the toughest Marvel heroes flinch. He’s been Venom. He’s tangled with Carnage. He’s fought literal gods of darkness. So, when Eddie Brock says Bushwacker is scarier than any symbiote, you sit up and pay attention.

In the newly teased Eddie Brock: Carnage #3, the one-time Lethal Protector teams up (reluctantly) with the Carnage symbiote. The job? Feed Carnage enough bad guys to keep it from turning on him. But when they encounter Bushwacker, Eddie doesn’t just hesitate—he straight-up freaks out. And that’s not something you see often from a guy who used to bite off heads for fun.

Who Is Bushwacker & Why Is He So Terrifying?

Carl Burbank, aka Bushwacker, isn’t new to Marvel Comics. He’s been lurking in the shadows since Daredevil #248 (1987), and he’s evolved from an obscure villain to one of the most spine-chilling threats in Marvel’s street-level roster.

Originally a Catholic priest, Carl watched his community fall apart due to the drug epidemic. That tragedy pushed him into the CIA, where he received a horrific upgrade: a cybernetic arm that morphs into any gun he imagines, hidden beneath his own flesh. Think T-1000, but with a vendetta and zero remorse.

But Bushwacker didn’t stay in the service of the government for long. Once he got a taste for killing, there was no turning back. Unlike Eddie, who operates under the twisted but somewhat noble code of a “lethal protector”—Bushwacker kills for the sheer thrill of it. No mission. No justice. Just violence.

Scarier Than Carnage? Here’s Why Eddie Thinks So

Carnage is scary, sure. It’s an alien symbiote bonded with a psychopath. But Eddie makes a chilling distinction: he’s a killer… Bushwacker is a monster. Let’s break that down. Carnage, as deadly as he is, still follows a kind of alien instinct. He’s chaos incarnate. But Bushwacker is a human, fully aware of his actions, who chooses murder again and again, with precision, creativity, and cold detachment. And now, in Eddie Brock: Carnage, Carnage is considering Bushwacker as a new host. Imagine a walking arsenal powered by a bloodthirsty alien. Yeah, that’s nightmare fuel.

Bushwacker isn’t some upstart killer who just got lucky. He’s got a résumé of violence that spans decades:

• He’s been hunted by Punisher, survived gunfights with the X-Men, and even gone toe-to-toe with the Hulk.
• He’s battled Daredevil, who originally tried (and failed) to take him down.
• He’s clashed with Wolverine, with one of their bloodiest encounters taking place in Wolverine Vol. 2 #41.

And yet, he’s somehow remained under the radar—until now.

Why Marvel’s Pushing Bushwacker Into the Spotlight

With the Carnage symbiote eyeing him as a potential host, Marvel may finally be setting up Bushwacker as a top-tier villain. It’s a bold move, but a brilliant one. Superpowered aliens and gods are fun, but Bushwacker is horror rooted in reality. He’s the guy who reminds you that evil doesn’t always come from outer space. Sometimes it walks among us… with a shotgun for an arm. The fear in Eddie’s eyes in Carnage #3 preview panels isn’t just a cool moment—it’s a rebranding. It tells fans: “Hey, this guy you overlooked for years? He’s worse than anyone you’ve ever met.”

Where to Start Reading Bushwacker’s Dark Legacy

If you’re just diving into the grim world of Bushwacker, here’s where to begin:

• Eddie Brock: Carnage #1-3 – The latest evolution of his character and the terrifying Carnage tease.
• Daredevil #248-249 – His origin story and first real brush with Marvel’s heroes.
• Wolverine Vol. 2 #41 – An unforgettable showdown that turns violent fast.
• Punisher War Journal #14-17 – Urban warfare at its grittiest.

If Bushwacker becomes Carnage’s next host, the Marvel Universe is in for serious trouble. Eddie might be a killer with a conscience, but Bushwacker? He’d turn Carnage into a tactical weapon of mass destruction. And Eddie knows it. Marvel might be grooming him to be more than just another rogue with a gun arm. This could be the villain arc that finally pushes Bushwacker into the main stage—where his twisted ideology and brutal methods won’t just haunt Eddie… but everyone else, too.