The Death Spiral crossover between Amazing Spider-Man and Venom has been full of twists and turns. It has also been filled with a number of deaths, including one major Marvel villain. The thrilling finale ends with another villain dying, but the real shock lies in how it happened.
The sudden death came in Amazing Spider-Man #27 by Joe Kelly, Carlos Gomez, Francesco Manna, and Ed McGuinness. The crossover centered around Peter Parker, Eddie Brock, Mary Jane Watson, and a new serial killer called Torment. The conflict between them was arranged by the Carnage symbiote, who sought Torment out as a new partner. It should be noted that, in recent months, Brock became bonded to Carnage, while Venom bonded to Watson.
However, when Torment proved to be more methodical than the chaotic Carnage liked, it decided to try to corrupt a weakened Peter Parker instead. This left Venom and Mary Jane alone to pursue Torment, as he targeted Peter’s Aunt May and MJ’s Aunt Anna. The twin conflicts ultimately ended in the shocking death of a villain.
What Spider-Man villain was killed?
When Venom subdued Torment, the serial killer was unrepentant and unterrified. He said that he would escape from prison sooner or later and come after Mary Jane, Peter, and everyone they loved. Suddenly, Venom released its grip on Torment, allowing it to fall several stories off the side of a building.
In the aftermath, the Venom symbiote was unsure whether he had committed to the action or if it had been Mary Jane’s will pushing him. In either case, they lied when Spider-Man caught up with them and asked how Torment died, saying that he fell. Peter seemed to sense the lie, however, and asked Mary Jane if she was sure that’s what happened as they checked in on each other days later.
The question of Torment’s death seems designed to be another wedge between Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson. Things were tense between them even before MJ became the new Venom host. The idea that the symbiote may be corrupting the woman he loves is sure to torment Spider-Man. Even more worrying is the possibility that the symbiote had nothing to do with it, and Torment’s death was all MJ.
Amazing Spider-Man #27 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
