The ‘Death Spiral‘ storyline that ran through issues of Amazing Spider-Man, Venom, and Eddie Brock: Carnage had Peter Parker, Mary Jane Watson, and Eddie Brock working together to protect their families from the mysterious serial killer Torment. In the process, Peter learned that MJ was bonded to the Venom symbiote, and in turn, Carnage learned Peter was Spider-Man. Yet one question remains: who is Torment? Amazing Spider-Man/Venom: Death Spiral – Body Count #1 winds back the clock to reveal the events that shaped Torment into who he is.
Body Count #1 packs a, if you’ll pardon the term, murderer’s row of talent. Charles Soule is no stranger to crafting compelling or creepy villains, having introduced the Inhuman serial killer known as Muse during his Daredevil run and delivering enough moments in his Star Wars: Darth Vader run to match — and even outstrip — Vader’s hallway massacre in Rogue One. Kev Walker’s become an artist known for his gnarly sketches, particularly on Venom War: Wolverine and Radioactive Spider-Man. And while Torment met his end at Venom’s hand, his backstory could prove to be the coda on one of the more intriguing Spider-Man stories of the modern era.
Those hopes were half met. While Soule continues to paint Torment as a truly creepy figure, and reveals what drives him, his motives feel half-hearted at best. The best Marvel villains often have some sense of purpose driving them, even those who are serial killers. Take Carnage, for example; he’s a nihilist who believes the only joy in life is spreading chaos and bloodshed. Torment lacks that magnetic presence, no matter how deep Soule dives into his backstory.
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Soule brings two great ideas to the table when it comes to Torment. The first concerns the framing device, which finds him talking to a priest about his life’s story. Spilling your soul out to a priest makes sense, as people will often turn to religion as one of the few things that can give them a path in life. The second is to showcase that the legacy of Torment might continue, especially in a chilling set of final pages. Within said pages, Soule brings new meaning to the phrase “it runs in the family” – “it” being evil.
Walker also continues to make Torment into one of the creepiest villains who’s ever graced the pages of a Marvel comic. While he still has his signature white suit and spiral mask, Walker draws that spiral in a way that resembles a jagged grin. It makes for a disturbing match with Torment’s laid-back, almost nonchalant personality, and leads to a truly masterful two-page spread that highlights the “spiral” that Torment attempted to drag Spidey, MJ, and Eddie into.
Walker’s art really pops thanks to Matt Hollingsworth’s color work. Hollingsworth works in plenty of dark shadows and hues, creating a rather ominous mood from the jump. It’s made even more ominous by the pure white of Torment’s suit, as it immediately draws the reader’s eye to him. And that white is broken up by Torment’s signature blood red spiral, completing the unsettling picture.
Amazing Spider-Man/Venom: Death Spiral – Body Count #1 attempts to peel back the layers behind the web-slinger’s newest foe, but only ends up with more of a mystery. If the ending’s any indication, Spider-Man fans haven’t seen the last of Torment.
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