The nine-part event Death Spiral wraps up this week, and Spider-Man isn’t even in control of his own body! No, instead Carnage has taken over, and with Torment capable of slaying Aunt May and Aunt Anna, the danger level is higher than ever. It’s a situation where Spider-Man must escape the clutches of Carnage and stop a killer, and at the start, he’s all alone with no help from his allies, Venom, or Eddie Brock!
Written by Joe Kelly, this issue does a good job of repositioning the main antagonist as Carnage, who has his thumb on Peter’s ability to control his body. Sure, it’s a bit of a bummer that Torment is more of a side character, but his threat level is still present due to the aunts being unguarded. It’s also a battle not just of brawn but heart, and you know when it comes to Peter Parker, he has an edge in the latter.
Amazing Spider-Man #27 opens inside Spider-Man’s mind. He’s literally drowning in demonic-looking souls, all of which are Carnage in some form. He’s losing the battle, but is injured enough that he needs Carnage’s help to stay alive. Meanwhile, Carnage and Spider-Man do have something in common: they want to stop Torment. Carnage wants to kill; however, the next few moments are tense for Peter.
Epic double-page splash.
Credit: Marvel
Thankfully, Spider-Man has friends, with Venom popping in to prevent a murder at Peter’s hands. This is where the symbiote fun gets interesting, like Carnage attacking Venom with sharp needles from a band of spiders hiding above. There’s also red razor webs shooting from Carnage in another scene, reminding us that this melding of Spidey and Carnage comes with its own bag of tricks.
Fans of Venom and MJ have plenty to stew on once this issue is over. From MJ/Venom’s final act against Torment, to subtle hints that there are still feelings between her and Peter, fans will be talking around the water cooler for sure. While we’ve seen Peter overcome obstacles because of his goodness, the Venom bits give this finale bite with long-lasting ramifications to keep track of.
This issue is split between three pencilers, five inkers, and two color artists. That’s a lot for a single issue, but given the weekly release schedule, it’s understandable. Ed McGuinness opens the issue, delivering a great full-page splash and two-page splash back to back. That epic art helps give this issue a triple-A feel. Tagging in are Carlos Gomez and Francesco Manna, with Gomez taking over when Venom takes center stage, and Manna delivering the final page. All three artists bring their detailed styles to a high level, with Gomez delivering a shocking moment for Venom that many will be talking about later.
Amazing Spider-Man #27 closes out Death Spiral with intensity and strong character work. It is not just about Spider-Man fighting for control of his body, it is about Peter Parker fighting to hold onto who he is. Joe Kelly leans into that internal struggle while still delivering symbiote chaos and high-stakes action. The shifting focus away from Torment may disappoint some, but the emotional core and lasting consequences help this finale land with impact.
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