With “Death Spiral” fully launched, Amazing Spider-Man #23 drops part two today in the nine-part series. There’s a lot to unpack for Spider-Man as he’s only just arrived back on Earth after being away for quite some time. So long was he gone, Ben Reilly took over his job, and Norman Osborn took over as Spider-Man. Now befuddled and unsure of what is going on in his city, Spider-Man gets clarity via meet-ups with Venom and Aunt May.
Amazing Spider-Man #23 balances Peter’s life with Spider-Man’s while progressing the crossover event well. The story opens with an excellent full-page splash by Ed McGuinness, complete with a funny anxiety-med billboard to inform us of Spider-Man’s own anxiety. The story then cuts to Peter in Aunt May’s new living room, or is it her boyfriend’s, trying to make amends for how he treated her when it wasn’t even him interacting with her! Classic Parker luck.
This scene has all the elements of a good Peter and Aunt May scene, from the awkwardness of her dropping a “whoopee” bomb to the realization he hurt her once again. Throw in an excellent transition to Peter needing to run off as Venom and Lady Octopus fight outside the window, and it’s a great scene.
Intense page!
Credit: Marvel
From there, the issue dives into action, continuing Spider-Man’s awkwardness. Peter doesn’t know Venom is Mary Jane, which leads to a shocking revelation for Peter, all the while they fight in incredibly visual moments. Joe Kelly also weaves in a hint or two at what may be going on with these villains, and throws in a shocking bit of info for Peter after Shocker reveals what Spider-Man (Norman) last did to him.
Closing out the issue are two scenes: one with Eddie Brock and Carnage, and the final with Torment, the titular serial-killer antagonist. These scenes work well together, informing us that Carnage can act without Eddie’s permission, tying back to the cliffhanger from the last issue, and establishing that Torment is going after everyone. The mystery of who Torment is continues, although I’d wager most will assume the scrawled-in-blood message to close the issue is a dead giveaway. But maybe it’s a red herring?
Fans expecting some valuable MJ and Peter interactions won’t be disappointed either. Between them working out stuff and Venom’s more bouncy and kooky demeanor, the scene works quite well. It feels like Marvel is opening up MJ and Peter a bit more, especially with Paul out of the picture, while keeping things serious and non-flirty, for now.
Amazing Spider-Man #23 keeps Death Spiral moving with confidence, blending character-driven moments with high-impact action. Joe Kelly leans into Peter’s disorientation in a city that changed while he was gone, grounding the crossover in emotional fallout rather than spectacle alone. The Aunt May exchange lands with classic awkward Parker energy, while the Venom confrontation injects both humor and genuine shock. McGuinness brings dynamic layouts and expressive character work that elevate every beat, from rooftop chaos to quiet living room tension. The mystery around Torment continues to simmer, even if some readers may think they have it figured out. With strong momentum and meaningful character movement, this chapter feels like a crucial step forward in the larger arc.
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