Happy Death Spiral penultimate issue eve, readers, as Amazing Spider-Man #26 brings us to part 7, out today! In a somewhat enlightening issue, Torment’s personality and powers get fleshed out a touch, Carnage can’t stop yapping, and the consequences of Eddie Brock seriously piss off Spider-Man and Venom. The heroes are on their back feet, and the serial killer is more powerful than ever!
Confirmed here, and noted by Nick Lowe in Venom Unleashed, this issue further proves that Torment’s ability to seek out family members of his target is a superpower. In the very first page, we see how he sees, and witness some twisted moments from his past. Not quite vilifying since he is a serial killer, it does humanize his experience ever so slightly. That comes at the right time, since Carnage has bonded with him, making him far from human-looking. After the one-page flashback, well written as Carnage sees these moments commenting via captions, the issue dives into a double-page splash of Carnage/Torment attacking Spider-Man.
Speaking of this new bonding, writer Joe Kelly adds a bit of Spidey humor concerning that name, albeit after some dangerous blows taken by Carnage. The idea that anyone called Spider-Man and Black Cat’s relationship “Spat” gave me a chuckle. With Spider-Man fighting mostly solo this issue, Kelly gets to pluck at how Torment is unfamiliar with fighting Spider-Man, while Carnage is seasoned, knowing about his quips and the like.
A little taste of Torment.
Credit: Marvel
While the fight rages, Dylan and Venom are still in the sewers, allowing for some pointed conversation about Eddie. A central point of this issue, Venom, with MJ inside it, is pretty peeved with Eddie and blames him for Paul’s death and the danger all three families have been put in. It’s unclear how Venom truly feels about Eddie, though it doesn’t seem great.
With only two more issues of this crossover, this issue does enough to push the pieces in place for a showdown that is quickly closing in on Aunt May’s well being. Given the separation of Eddie and Venom from the main fight, it does feel more like a solo Spider-Man focus for a crossover. By giving us the opening page on Torment’s internal thoughts, getting Eddie off the board, and positioning Carnage/Torment’s next threat, there’s a lot here to enjoy.
Art is shared by Francesco Manna and Ed McGuinness, with inks by Manna and Mark Farmer, and colors by Marcio Menyz and Erick Arciniega. Given the accelerated schedule, it makes sense to have so many artists on this one, with McGuinness drawing the last six pages and Manna drawing the rest. The art throughout is great, and while McGuinness tends to have a far more dynamic, superhero-friendly style, Manna crushes on the action scenes. In one panel, Spider-Man is barely dodging Torment’s whip, with a blur effect that makes it look extra dangerous. The tendrils of Carnage wrapping around Spider-Man’s punching arm in one panel, or the symbiote pulling off Torment in another, to aggressively argue they should kill Spider-Man, are just two examples of the symbiote looking great in movement.
Amazing Spider-Man #26 keeps the Death Spiral moving with strong action and added clarity around its central villain. The focus on Torment and Spider-Man gives the issue a tighter perspective, even if it sidelines some of the crossover’s bigger emotional threads. With the end in sight, this chapter does its job well, setting the stage for a final confrontation that feels close and dangerous.
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