TEAM VENOM versus CARNAGE FAMILY

Team Venom: Maximum Carnage, Chapter Four (Marvel)
Where: Spider-Man #35 When: June 1993
Why: David Michelinie How: Tom Lyle

The Story So Far...
Cletus Kasady has escaped Ravencroft maximum security and re-bonded with the Carnage symbiote!

The massacre of innocents unfolds into a city-wide tour of mayhem when Carnage is joined by Shriek, and their adopted pet, the clawed Spider-Doppelganger!

A failed attempt to stop the Carnage Family in Central Park leads a badly injured Venom to seek refuge at the apartment of his old nemesis: Peter Parker. He wants to form an alliance to take Carnage down just like they did last time he was loose.

While Venom & Spidey are out of action -- Cloak goes on a manhunt to avenge the death of Dagger by scouring the city. The odds are already against him, but when he finds Carnage and his allies hiding in an old rock band's storage warehouse they'll have another killer to introduce him to!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Venom 5 (Super-Human)
Intelligence: Spider-Man 5 (Professor)
Speed: Spider-Man 4 (Olympian)
Stamina: Carnage 5 (Marathoner)
Agility: Cloak 7 (Intangible)
Fighting: Spider-Man 3 (Street Wise)
Energy: Shriek 5 (Lasers)
Total: Spider-Man 29 (Metahuman)

Team Venom is: Venom, Black Cat and Spider-Man, with Cloak.

Venom first learned of the trouble in Manhattan during Part 2, making the trek to confront today's foes alone in the previous issue.

We didn't get to see any of the fight itself, but Eddie Brock showed up on Peter Parker's doorstep on the verge of passing out, with his symbiote in tatters. That was enough to convince Spider-Man to let his former arch-nemesis bunk on the couch while he recovered -- much to the objections of his wife, Mary-Jane.

When Mary-Jane storms out Spidey turns to Felicia Hardy for advice -- but she insists on tagging along as Black Cat. The threat is too great for her to ignore -- even though she has her own bad blood with Venom!

The Carnage Family is: Carnage, Shriek, Doppelganger, and Demogoblin.

After Carnage slaughtered his way out of Ravencroft, he hooked up with Shriek & Doppelganger, who did a number on Spidey in Spider-Man Unlimited #1. Efforts by Cloak & Dagger to help even the sides turned sour when Dagger was seemingly killed by Shriek in Web of Spider-Man #101.

After their skirmish with Venom; the makeshift family of psycho-killers picked up another likeminded ally who thrashed Spidey in Amazing Spider-Man #378! Demogoblin's war against sinners at first turned him against the Carnage Family earlier in Spider-Man #35, but they soon found mutual interests.

The addition of the demonic zealot makes a four-on-one handicap when Cloak catches up with them. In his grief, Cloak's gone on a vengeful one-man quest to bring the bad guys down -- and it could get him killed!

Venom and Black Cat are willing to do whatever it takes to stop Carnage, but Spidey only agrees to team-up on the proviso he'll stop anyone on either side who tries to kill. Will that save Cloak and stop the bad guys? Let's find out!

The Tape: Team Venom Ranking: Spider-Man (#2)

What Went Down...

Just as Carnage is about to lead his demented family on a fresh killing spree through the city -- Cloak appears in the shadows to divert their attentions!

Ever since the demise of Dagger, the hero has used his dark force powers to teleport into dives across the city. Paying special attention to those once frequented by Shriek has paid dividends, but his strategy failed to take into account the horrible mismatch he faces against four killers!

A powerful sonic blast escapes the warehouse as Cloak is besieged by Shriek!

He doubles over in pain from the blow, but remains defiant as his Cloak easily absorbs a stream of hellfire sent forth by Demogoblin. Its absorbed into the abyss of the Dark Dimension. Not so another sound blast from behind by Shriek!

The sound and fury knocks Cloak to the ground. Carnage orders Doppelganger to move in to finish him -- but Shriek's earlier attacks caught the attention of Spider-Man and a cadre of allies who arrives to come to Cloak's aid!

The cavalry streams into the warehouse through a hole in the roof, Spidey dropping in with a web swinging fly kick that knocks Demogoblin from his glider!

Black Cat sets her sights on Shriek, but the scream queen summons her loyal pet Demogoblin to catch the kitty by the ankle with his razor webbing.

The sharp substance starts to cut through Black Cat's boot, but the "polarized mesh claws" in her gloves make light work of slicing the webbing away.

Meanwhile, Venom only has eyes for his loathsome offspring.

He confronts Carnage, who boasts about beating both Venom and Spider-Man even before he found a family to help him. A factor soon mitigated when Venom's arm spews forward to push Carnage into the waiting folds of Cloak's cape!

Carnage throws out his own symbiote extensions, tethering himself to the other side of the warehouse. Before he escapes, he projects stabbing prods that poke violently at Cloak's inner shadows seeking to do damage to the wounded hero.

Spider-Man sees the counter-attack unfold, but turns his attentions to wrapping Shriek up in webs so she can't unleash her powers on a recovering Black Cat!

Carnage calls time on the skirmish, asking Demogoblin and Shriek to bring the house down. Demogoblin gets to work filling the warehouse with hellfire, while Shriek blasts herself free of webs and finishes the roof with violent sonic blasts!

Cloak is able to teleport out of the building, but its up to the other heroes to scrambled clear of the demolition as the building begins to collapse in flames all around them!

Spider-Man and Venom race to swing to safety, but the flames have weakened Venom too greatly. Not only can he not pursue the escaping villains -- he slips into unconsciousness and falls back towards the burning building!

Spidey also notices Black Cat did not escape in time. Her limp hand pokes out of the wreckage as flames threaten to engulf both of Spider-Man's helpless allies! He must now make a choice to save their lives, or the lives of those Carnage will kill.

The Hammer...
It looked like it was coming down to a stalemate, but the last minute gambit for escape proved to be a winning strategy for Carnage!

The flaming destruction unleashed by Demogoblin and Shriek not only helped the bad guys get away -- it also endangered the lives of Venom and Black Cat!

It's worth noting that we established hellfire doesn't harm the Venom symbiote in the earlier published Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance #6. It might appear as though this was a contradiction of that, but there were bound to be a lot of flammable goods stored in the warehouse that could've ignited to harm Venom.

Spider-Man #35 leaves us with Spidey wrestling with divided responsibilities to protect the public -- whom Carnage & company threaten to slaughter -- and his immediately imperiled allies. No prizes for guessing he'll abandon chase in the next issue to double-back to save his allies.

As noted in The Tape: Venom technically entered the struggle with an off-camera skirmish in the previous issue, but this is the first time he's united with Spidey & friends, and actually appeared in the fight.

It would be tempting to feature the prior Central Park battle, but there's really nothing to speak of. It's three pages: Venom arriving, Shriek & Doppelganger dramatically sneaking up on him, and Eddie arriving at the Parker apartment with his symbiote in tatters. He probably lost, but we have no way of knowing how, or if he actually managed to hold his own and escape an inconclusive result.

Today's featured fight from Part 4 is the one that really fulfills the promise of that kickass Mark Bagley cover from the previous issue! His official arrival and the four-hero team-up is when Maximum Carnage feels like it really kicks into gear.

I always found the moment when Venom and Cloak double-team Carnage to be a particularly arresting image. I don't think they've had a lot to do with each other, before or since, but the intuitive union of their power and disdain is a particularly thrilling part of the fight. Especially after Cloak was in such bad shape.

Why didn't Cloak just teleport everyone to safety when it all 'hit the fan'?

For one: If things were that simple we wouldn't have a dramatic cliffhanger leading to Part 5! It's also worth remembering Cloak's state of mind since the apparent death of Dagger in Web of Spider-Man #101.

He was rash enough to rush into a four-on-one beating. Suffering from the injuries of that decision, Cloak might not have been clear-headed, or strong enough, to rescue his allies from the heat of battle. Not at all hard to believe.

Things look pretty grim for Black Cat, whose hand appears sticking out of rubble in an exciting tease for the next issue. The torn glove is a superb image. One of many created by late artist Tom Lyle, particularly is this back half of the issue.

Lyle pulls out some top shelf action shots in this battle, the second of the issue, but some of his best just feature characters dropping in to a scene.

The fight starts with a particularly nice vertical panel showing Venom gleefully leading the charge, dropping into the warehouse in foreground with his tongue hanging between closed teeth and a simple "Yum!" in dialogue. Classic!

I don't like to infringe on issues with too many images. I like to inform, but leave you with plenty to discover for yourselves should you hunt down the issues. I had to include a few extra panels from this one, though. Just look at that cityscape above with the villains fleeing into the night. Good stuff!

There's something about Lyle's human figures I really enjoy. They're very tight and solid. His Spidey and Venom are particular favourites. Cloak looks awesome, too.

The lines are solid, but fluid. Some of that credit has to go to inker Scott Hanna, whose finishes are beautiful. Colorists Kevin Tinsley and Ericka Moran also contribute to the premium feel of the finished art. I'm sorry my scans don't fully honor their work. I hope newer reprints are able to live up to the original better.

Scrambling to find issues on newsstands back in 1993 was very exciting and I truly wondered what would happen next. These early chapters are my favourites, but you won't have to wait to get answers if you check out the Epic Collection Amazing Spider-Man Maximum Carnage collection!

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Winners: Shriek, Demogoblin & Carnage (w/ Doppelganger)
#85 (+67) Shriek
#120 (+227) Carnage (Cletus Kasady)
#401 (+537) Demogoblin
#97 (+14) Doppelganger [+1 assist]
#2 (--) Spider-Man
#16 (--) Venom (Symbiote)
#48 (-3) Venom (Eddie Brock)
#134 (-15) Black Cat
#985 (-4) Cloak

DEMOGOBLIN versus CARNAGE, SHRIEK & DOPPELGANGER

Team Venom: Maximum Carnage, Chapter Four (Marvel)
Where: Spider-Man #35 When: June 1993
Why: David Michelinie How: Tom Lyle

The Story So Far...
The escape of Carnage & Shriek from the Ravencroft Institute has turned Manhattan into a killing field!

The best efforts of Spider-Man, Cloak, and Dagger ended with the apparent death of the latter heroine, and brutal physical and mental injuries for the surviving pair. Even the arrival of Venom from across the country couldn't slow the murderous rampage of Carnage, Shriek, and Doppelganger through Central Park!

The first line of defense may have failed, but an unlikely predator has caught the scent of these sinful killers. Having already waylaid an injured Spider-Man; the deadly Demogoblin has picked up the trail of Doppelganger and intends to reclaim his former ally while claiming the lives of his sinful companions!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Carnage 5 (Super-Human)
Intelligence: Draw 2 (Average)
Speed: Doppelganger 4 (Olympian)
Stamina: Demogoblin 5 (Marathoner)
Agility: Doppelganger 4 (Gymnast)
Fighting: Draw 3 (Street Wise)
Energy: Shriek 5 (Lasers)
Total: Demogoblin 24 (Champion)

Demogoblin owes most of his modus operandi to time spent possessing Jason Macendale, but he's more than a mere clone of the mercenary Hobgoblin! His ultimate motivation is a quest to cleanse the world of sinners to redeem himself.

His twisted perspective has led Demogoblin to target heroes like Spider-Man and Moon Knight, but his goals make him a potential threat to villains, as well!

The serial killer Cletus Kasady was bathed in sin long before he received the alien symbiote that turned him into Carnage! His escape from the Ravencroft Institute alone was a bloodbath, but he took a particular shine to fellow inmate Shriek, who helped spread the murder and mayhem across Manhattan.

Shriek picked up the six-armed Doppelganger shortly after her escape, and together they sent Spider-Man flying off a building in Spider-Man Unlimited #1! This led to a subsequent battle in Web of Spider-Man #101, where Shriek seemingly ended the life of the heroine Dagger!

Demogoblin clearly has his work cut out for him if he's to take on this trio, but there are a few mitigating circumstances to consider. For one: it was his dark magic that kept Doppelganger alive beyond the Infinity War that first spawned him. That could mean a potential ally, if the bond Doppelganger has formed with Shriek isn't greater than that with his lapsed former-partner.

Carnage's symbiote is vulnerable to fire, but earlier in '93, Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance #6 raised doubts about the effects of hellfire. Venom was similarly unfazed by Demogoblin's flame in Venom: The Enemy Within #3. That might be okay though, because in Amazing Spider-Man #378 he revealed a new pumpkin bomb capable of engulfing an opponent in darkness and despair!

Carnage and Shriek may be remorseless killers, but behind their murderous impulses lies a wealth of inner turmoil and troubled pasts. If Demogoblin could unlock that, he may have the keys to scoring an upset. Let's see if he did...

The Tape: Carnage Family Ranking: Doppelganger (#105)

What Went Down...
Drawn by the psychic link he shares with Doppelganger -- Demogoblin discovers Carnage and his adopted family of killers contemplating new victims by the Waterfront. The smell of sulfur betrays the demon as he hovers above and targets them for purification. Shriek attacks!

A focused blast of sonic energy collides with Demogoblin's body, but the blow fails to even knock him from his flaming glider! Sound and fury signifying nothing!

The demon returns fire - hurling an exploding pumpkin bomb! Shriek only narrowly avoids detonation when Doppelganger fails to heed her cries for help!

The bug-eyed Doppelganger remains motionless as he watches the battle between former and current caregivers with divided loyalty. The mindless creature cannot decide which one to help. Carnage has no such ambivalence!

He mounts an unattended trunk to close the gap with Demogoblin and throws his arm into the air -- sending it extending like deadly red taffy!

Long, thin tendrils stab at Demogoblin and his flaming goblin glider, but fail to cause any significant damage. The grinning demon speaks of hellfire and burning sinners to bone & ash, but his heat doesn't send the symbiote running.

In fact, Carnage is delighted by the macabre picture Demogoblin paints with his words. The vision of torture and death isn't so different from Carnage's dreams of dismemberment. So he offers Demogoblin assistance in his quest against sinners!

Considering the possibility to expedite his mission, Demogoblin accepts the offer of an alliance -- even as Carnage confides in Shriek he knows the demon will turn on them eventually. A worry for another day as he relishes the lethal potential of their newest comrade.

The Hammer...
Chapter 4 keeps the danger building as Demogoblin makes his surprise decision to join Carnage and his surrogate family! This is essentially the end of Act I for the thirteen part maxi-series, not that traditional structure is much of a priority.

The abruptness of Demogoblin's acceptance makes it a bit of a dubious turn for the sin-obsessed demon, but at least there's some acknowledgment that he should be expected to turn on them eventually, if the opportunity presents.

Demogoblin's willingness to forge unlikely alliances in the pursuit of other sinners actually became a bit of a consistent trait. At his own peril he pursued a partnership with Blade in Ghost Rider #40. He later took command of a cursed horde of goblins in Venom: The Enemy Within #3. It might make sense that he's a natural collaborator, given his start possessing a human host.

Well conceived or not: I quite enjoy that Demogoblin gets in on the act here -- especially with the added context of the previous chapter, and his existing ties to Doppelganger. Keeping the six-armed creature torn between loyalties was a nice bit of nuance for a character that doesn't necessarily demand much.

A steady accumulation of strange bedfellows is at the heart of the frenzied fun of Maximum Carnage. The two halves of Spider-Man #35 remain focused on developing early battle lines between the more expected players, starting with the bad guys in today's featured fight, and the heroes in the second half.

There are many more unlikely characters to become involved later in the saga!

I wasn't planning to return to Maximum Carnage quite so soon, but I've had this issue on my desk for a while now, and felt compelled to dive right in after learning the sad news of the passing of artist Tom Lyle.

I'd specifically been looking forward to talking about Lyle and his artistic collaborators in this issue. The select panels scanned for this entry don't really do justice to the finished product. This is arguably a comic best read in print, and maybe even the original issue, over reprinted trades.

The visual standards for Maximum Carnage had already been set very high with Ron Lim, Alex Saviuk, and Mark Bagley penciling previous chapters in their respective series. In 1993, Spider-Man #35 immediately felt special.

Some of the credit has to go to inker Scott Hanna, and colorists Kevin Tinsley & Ericka Moran. The finish on this issue is rich and clean, giving it a premium feel with a balance of tight lines over thin pencils, and inky embellishments on layouts and borders. The colours are superb, and one of the best reason to seek out this and other back issues from the same creative team!

Lyle's work has great sense of anatomy and really makes the most of it in surprising panels. Some of those "premium" moments are subtle, like a panel of Peter Parker helping Eddie Brock onto a couch with the damaged symbiote dripping off him. When Venom's recovered, Lyle draws him firm and clean, with a thin tongue and tight, straight teeth. Not for everyone, but I like it.

The issue really announces itself with a big first page splash! Carnage is coming right at the reader [above], ripping his way through a building with his hands in trademarked axe and scythe formations. Shriek and Doppelganger are lurking in the waterfront background, with Doppelganger holding a couple of victims under his arms while he sticks to a wall. A nice subversion of a classic Spidey pose.

I didn't have any personal experiences with Tom Lyle, but I knew him as a fan of his work on Spider-Man. I'm grateful for that and sad to hear of his passing.

As noted, I think it's well worth seeking this one out in back issue, but if you'd like to experience Tom Lyle's Spider-Man in context, you can find it collected with the rest of Maximum Carnage.

You can also contribute to a GoFundMe to help Tom's wife Sue cover costs incurred by the difficult ordeal of his passing.

Discover more wonderful work in comics by following links throughout this post or exploring the Secret Archive. Like and share via Twitter and Facebook to keep the work alive.

Winner: Inconclusive (Draw)
#142 (+36) Shriek
#337 (+44) Carnage (Cletus Kasady)
#892 (--) Demogoblin
#105 (--) Doppelganger [no stat]

SPIDER-MAN versus DEMOGOBLIN

Demons on Broadway: Maximum Carnage Chapter 3 (Marvel)
Where: Amazing Spider-Man #378 When: June 1993
Why: David Michelinie How: Mark Bagley

The Story So Far...
Symbiote-wearing serial killer Cletus Kasady escaped from maximum security at the Ravencroft Institute, carving a bloody path as his alter-ego Carnage!

Having forged a twisted bond with Shriek and the razor-fanged Doppelganger; Carnage is set on painting the town red with Spider-man's blood -- and the innards of anyone else unfortunate enough to come across his killer family's path!

When Spider-Man was kicked from a high-rise rooftop during a skirmish with Shriek and Doppelganger, he inadvertently found his first allies in Cloak and Dagger. Alas, their intervention quickly came at the ultimate price when Dagger was seemingly destroyed in battle with the villains!

Nursing broken ribs and a crushing sense of responsibility, Spider-Man must return to the New York City skyline alone in order to hunt his out-of-control lethal foes. He'll stop at nothing to defeat them, but he didn't count on running in to another of his most dangerous enemies: Demogoblin!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Spider-Man 5 (Super-Human)
Intelligence: Spider-Man 5 (Professor)
Speed: Spider-Man 4 (Olympian)
Stamina: Draw 5 (Marathoner)
Agility: Spider-Man 5 (Cat-Like)
Fighting: Draw 3 (Street Wise)
Energy: Demogoblin 4 (Arsenal)
Total: Spider-Man 29 (Metahuman)

Spider-Man has faced more than his fair share of goblins over the years, but most of those were just guys in creepy costumes. Demogoblin is the genuine article: unleashed from Hell by N'Astirh, and the ambitions of Jason Macendale!

Macendale is best known for appropriating the identity of Hobgoblin, but when he attempted to add supernatural powers to his skills as a mercenary, he was possessed with a demonic spirit that eventually began to consume him. We saw the Demogoblin taking control in Marc Spector: Moon Knight #32, where his crusade against sinners led to an assault on Moon Knight's mansion.

Separated from Macendale the demon later attempted to team with a mystically corrupted Blade in Ghost Rider #40 - only to wind up dead on the end of a demogorge shish kebab! That was soon remedied and he was back causing mayhem in Venom: The Enemy Within #3, where Venom and Morbius teamed to stop Demogoblin in a loose sequel to their affiliation in Maximum Carnage.

That finally brings us to today's battle where Demogoblin hasn't yet made the acquaintance of Carnage and his twisted family of killers. He's just a formidable opponent at last facing his one true arch-nemesis - Spider-Man!

Demogoblin approximates his arsenal from his human host, and Hobgoblin's gear was already stolen from Green Goblin. That means Spidey's experience fighting other goblin-types is invaluable.

Determination and personal ties were vital to vexing Harry Osborn in Amazing Spider-Man #176. We saw how proper motivation could motivate Spidey to lay the smackdown in Marvel Knights: Spider-Man #1! The super-powered Menace flipped that script, using super-strength to secure a win in Amazing #585!

With her advanced super-human strength Menace is a near equivalent to Demogoblin, but we've seen Spider-Man overcome plenty of odds! Let's see...

The Tape: Spider-Man Ranking: Spider-Man (#2)

What Went Down...
Swinging through the Bowery skyline by night, an injured Spider-Man begins the solemn search for Carnage and his adopted family of crazed killers.

The last thing the web-slinger wanted was to run into another nemesis, but when he spots Demogoblin gliding above the city streets, he finds his best lead for tracking down the sinister Doppelganger -- Demogoblin's former pet!

Hoping to track the demon, Spider-Man hangs back to avoid detection, but his reflection in high-rise windows betrays him!

Demogoblin spots the web-swinging hero and accelerates around a corner, riding his flaming glider in an upward arc over the building to double-back and launch an ambush!

His danger-warning spider-senses sound the alarm at the last second, allowing Spider-Man to twist clear of a stream of hellfire shot from Demogoblin's finger!

The demon's arsenal is far from exhausted. While Spidey uses webs to keep the battle airborne and clear of civilians, Demogoblin produces a sinister black pumpkin bomb! He tosses it, forcing Spider-Man to use a street light to hand press himself clear of the blast -- but the bomb doesn't explode!

Instead, the grinning weapon suddenly erupts into a wave of darkness that engulfs the unsuspecting hero!

Spider-Man has no time to dodge the living black, which wraps around his body and sends him hurtling to the street below!

Nearby onlookers offer cheers of support, but Spider-Man cannot comply with their calls to victory. His body is overcome with a feeling of cold and despair. He curls into the foetal position, struggling to leave the pavement even as Demogoblin arrives at his feet!

Demogoblin grabs Spider-Man by the throat and hoists him up against a nearby building. The demon explains his new weapon's purpose to make all sinners taste the bleak and unending hopelessness of torment.

A passing priest hears Demogoblin's doctrine and attempts to intervene. The padre dubs the demon a blasphemous trickster and demands he release the hero by all that's holy. His zeal is met with another choke hold and the promise that he will be the next to burn. It's enough to rouse Spider-Man from the dark!

Inspired by a will to protect others from harm -- Spider-Man strikes!

The mighty blow sends Demogoblin flying through the air, his grip on the priest loosened as they're both launched! Despite the rough landing, the priest is grateful for Spider-Man's efforts. The web-head's rescue job isn't finished yet.

Recovering quickly, Demogoblin launches another pumpkin bomb at Spider-Man's back. Once again, his spider-senses save the day, allowing him to leap clear of the conventional bomb's blast with the priest in his arms!

The act of derring-do aggravates Spidey's injured ribs, but he's spared the need to hide his injury. The Demogoblin uses the moment to make his escape, leaving only a trail of flame as he glides away into the night!

The Hammer...

Spider-Man thinks about pursuing Demogoblin, but with pain radiating from his injured ribs, he's barely able to stand -- let alone commit to a second round!

The web-head will have his chance at a rematch in the next chapter of Maximum Carnage, but not before Demogoblin runs afoul of Cletus Kasady and his merry band of killers! A most interesting predicament given Demogoblin's quest to punish all sinners, but also his relationship with Doppelganger, who he nurtured and maintained after manifestation during the Infinity War.

The prospect of a team-up sounds like bad news for the good guys, who just lost Dagger last issue, but Demogoblin wasn't the only player to join the board during Chapter 3. As you may've noticed from the slightly misleading cover art, this is also the issue that officially brings Venom into the game!

The issue starts with a speciously dynamic three-page sequence of "Edward Brock" arriving at New York's LaGuardia Airport. He's incognito in jacket and jeans, but when he spots the day's headline with a front page picture of Carnage, rage boils over and the symbiote comes alive in full Venom mode!

He'll catch up with Carnage right at the end of the issue, ignoring the sounds of Spidey and Demogoblin's battle to follow a radio report of massacre in Central Park. It won't quite be the showdown the cover makes it seem. In fact, we really only get a panel of Venom's arrival, a leaping sneak attack by Shriek and Doppelganger, and then Eddie Brock showing up on Peter Parker and Mary-Jane's doorstep with his symbiote in tatters.

Not exactly feature fight material, but it's only Chapter 3, so what do you really want? We're still in the assembly period of this 14-part maxi-series event, and to be honest, I always really enjoyed that aspect of this issue.

To some extent, you can attribute the respect the Carnage character commands with fans to this issue. It's very effective at illustrating the supreme threat of Carnage and his crew, who are only building momentum, indiscriminately killing their way through New York City with nobody present to stop them.

Spider-Man's used to fighting from underneath, but he's already lost an ally, busted some ribs, and copped an earful from Mary-Jane. She's going out of her mind with worry having just consoled Liz Allen through the death of her costumed husband. Throw in an unannounced drop-in by the dirtbag who terrorized both their lives (Venom) and you've got serious pressure building!

Viewed in isolation as part of the Maximum Carnage story it's all great set-up, but as Amazing Spider-Man #378, it also reminds you that Spider-Man is always at risk of running in to another unexpected threat, or opponent. Demogoblin will have a role to play in this event, but the way he gets involved is just like any other issue, a chance encounter of happenstance.

Another reason to love this issue is the art. There have been many phenomenal artists to draw Spider-Man over the years, but it's moments like the opening that made Mark Bagley the definitive Spidey artist of 1993! Deliberately high praise when you remember guys like Sal Buscema and Tom Lyle were hitting it out of the park on Maximum Carnage as well!

There was just something about the way Bagley could draw and layout characters like Spider-Man and Venom that was second to none!

His lines were slick and clean, his poses dynamic, and his anatomy spot-on. There are elements of the contortions and style Todd McFarlane and Erik Larsen brought to Spider-Man, but they're channeled through a more refined pen, akin to a modern day John Romita. An exceptional talent I love revisiting!

Credit to inker Randy Emberlin and colorist Bob Sharen, too. They compliment his stuff so well. I recommend anyone seek out the original issues to get a better impression of the colours. I really need to lift my scan game.

If you'd rather read Maximum Carnage in one sitting you can find it in various collected editions. Use Amazon purchase links provided to find a good deal and help support Secret Wars on Infinite Earths at no extra cost!

Today's battle was a bonus bit of demonic Halloween horror. You can find this month's offerings and more by checking out a recap in Cover to Cover: Halloween Frights 'n' Fights!

You can also find battles from Maximum Carnage Parts 1, 2, and 14! Find more from the featured characters by checking out links throughout these posts, or dive into the Secret Archive for a complete index of battles by publisher and series. Follow on Twitter and Facebook for daily links to battles inspired by the topics of the day. Make sure to SMASH those like and share options!

Winner: Inconclusive (Draw)
#2 (--) Spider-Man
#892 (+6) Demogoblin

HOBGOBLIN versus MOON KNIGHT

Half Life (Marvel)
Where: Marc Spector: Moon Knight #32 When: November 1991 Why: JM DeMatteis & Howard Mackie How: Ron Garney

The Story So Far...
Before he became the avenging fist of Khonshu: Marc Spector lived the life of a soldier of fortune. In that career he made the acquaintance of Jason Macendale - the mercenary who would assume the identity of Hobgoblin.

In his pursuit for greater powers, Jason Macendale sought a deal with the demon N'Astirh. For his hubris he was infused with a demonic entity that greatly enhanced him, but also slowly began to assume control of his body. Now Macendale is helpless as the demon seeks vengeance against sinners starting with a list of mercenaries that has led him to the palatial estate of Marc Spector - Moon Knight!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Demogoblin 4 (Enhanced)
Intelligence: Moon Knight 3 (Straight A)
Speed: Draw 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Draw 5 (Marathoner)
Agility: Draw 3 (Acrobat)
Fighting: Moon Knight 5 (Martial Artist)
Energy: Demogoblin 4 (Arsenal)
Total: Draw 24 (Champion)

The name on the marquee says Hobgoblin, but Jason Macendale is now a mere passenger in his own body! The mercenary sought super-human powers from the demon N'Astirh and got more than he bargained for. Now his torturous possession is nearing its end as the Demogoblin begins to assume control!

This is the first time we've seen Demogoblin still bound to a mortal host. Soon after this battle he'll tear himself free from Macendale's body, embarking on a twisted quest with his own hellish equivalents of the Hobgoblin's arsenal.

Super-natural strength, a flaming glider, and occult pumpkin bombs make Demogoblin a formidable threat, but he hasn't always fared very well against adequately prepared opponents. We've seen Demogoblin fatally skewered on the end of Blade's sword during Ghost Rider #40. He was also out-muscled by the tactical tag team of Venom & Morbius in Venom: The Enemy Within #3.

Venom's victory was partly secured by exposing a subservient goblin horde to daylight. An interesting tactic, but not one that would do a whole lot of good for a man whose strength increases under the moon's light!

Before becoming Moon Knight: Marc Spector was a freelance mercenary. When his employer Raul Bushman left him for dead in the Egyptian desert, he was placed at the feet of an idol of Khonshu. There, the lunar deity chose him to become its avenger for justice by night.

Moon Knight is a highly skilled hand-to-hand combatant with an arsenal of silver weapons and high-tech vehicles. He's used these tools to combat supernatural threats and human mercenaries. At times, his methods can become quite brutal, as we saw when he dominated Taskmaster in Moon Knight (Vol.5) #6.

Moon Knight's methods and mindset can sometimes be erratic, but he definitely has the skills, tools, and propensity to take on a threat like Demogoblin. Here he has the benefit of home turf, but will that be enough? Let's find out!

The Tape: Draw Ranking: Moon Knight (#343)

What Went Down...
The sound of an explosion thundering through his estate interrupts a fleeting kiss between Marc Spector and Marlene Alraune. It is the signal of an intruder on the premises, who glides eerily through a gaping hole in the structure.

The Hobgoblin beckons to his target as his goblin-glider carries him through the manor on a night wind. If he notices the cloaked figure lurking behind him in the moonlight -- he is too slow to act. Moon Knight strikes!

A leaping fly kick connects with Hobgoblin's spine and knocks him off the glider!

The demonic goblin rolls to a knee and spitefully taunts his opponent's effortful tactics. Moon Knight answers his wicked tongue by tossing a boomerang straight at his sneering face!

Moon Knight clutches Hobgoblin by the throat and throws him against a nearby wall! For just a second the ghastly goblin's face reverts to that of the human mercenary Jason Macendale. He utters a strained cry for help -- enough for Moon Knight to loosen his grip and let his attacker drop hunched to the ground.

Macendale has the wherewithal to explain his demonic alter-ego's ultimate plan: to kill both of them and all their fellow mercenaries.

With his head in his hands, Macendale begs his former colleague to stop the demon hurting him again. A plea Moon Knight answers with a compassionate pledge to fix it all. He cannot see Macendale's fear turn to a demonic grin.

In control again, the demonic Hobgoblin spins around and unleashes a stinger blast from his finger! It sends the unprepared Moon Knight reeling back!

With the hero's white garb still smoldering, Hobgoblin looms with a razor-bat drawn and intent to kill! For the sin of being a mercenary he will seek to cut Moon Knight down once and for all!

The Hammer...
What a terrible time for a cliffhanger! Hobgoblin clearly has the upper hand as Marc Spector: Moon Knight #32 comes to a close, but to find out exactly how the battle concludes -- we'd need to continue to the next issue!

Per Secret Wars on Infinite Earths rules: we draw a line at the end of the issue. Occasionally conclusions can still be drawn from the information available, but in this instance, we're left with inconclusive data when the bell rings on Round 1.

The pair have been too evenly matched to call Hobgoblin's sudden reversal of fortune a true victory. This determination is partly influenced by the knowledge the battle directly continues. We'll return to see more from issue #33 at some point in the future. In the mean time, let us simply savor the anticipation and enjoyment that comes from one of Moon Knight's more intriguing rivalries!

Moon Knight may've borrowed from the Batman model of brooding caped crusader, but when it comes to villains, his bench isn't anywhere near as deep.

It's always nice when natural connective tissue can be used to expand the world and scope of two characters. Jason Macendale's history as a mercenary was well established during his reign as a Spider-Man villain. Why not acknowledge a professional past between he and former-mercenary Marc Spector?

The gimmick suited a concept that would come to define the Demogoblin once it separated from his human host. His righteous crusade against sinners meant a quick tour hunting mercenaries was a natural way for Moon Knight and Jason Macendale to meet and illuminate their secret past.

Making the meeting all the sweeter is Moon Knight's real publication history. He made his first appearance hunting The Werewolf in Werewolf By Night #32 and has remained connected with the realm of supernatural ever since. Macendale's demonic possession provides an extra tasty wrinkle to an already fun pairing.

It's for this reason I prefer when we aren't asked to question whether Khonshu is the figment of a disturbed mind. For some reason the 2000s seemed to place tremendous weight on fracturing the psyche of Marc Spector between different personalities.

I suppose it was a way to better differentiate the character from the strained, but unimpeachable perspective of Batman. I'm more inclined to think confirming Moon Knight's roots with the supernatural better service that goal. He's more interesting when he truly has ties with, and reasons to revisit that space.

I've been wanting to get back to Moon Knight for quite some time, but truth be told, what really brought me here was Hobgoblin. I've been on a real Jason Macendale kick lately! Hopefully some of those classic stories can find their way here sometime in the future.

It's always been tough to rate Macendale over the original Hobgoblin: Roderick Kingsley. The latter Hobgoblin's tenure lasted roughly the same amount of time as the first, but he was always slightly in the shadow of the original. A copy of a copy, having found the identity that Kingsley repurposed from Norman Osborn.

As much as I think the two goblins, (Hob & Demo), enhance Moon Knight's world, I think Moon Knight does something to improve Macendale, too. Between his demonic possession and hard mercenary past -- which included time as Jack O'Lantern -- he's actually a pretty decent villain. A shame Marvel scrapped him.

That's about all for now. If you'd like to find more from the characters discussed in this post be sure to explore links! It's a great way to discover exciting and new parts of comics! You can also dive into the Secret Archive for a complete index of every featured fight in order of publisher, series, and issue!

You can also get daily links to battles inspired by the day's topics by following Secret Wars on Infinite Earths on Twitter and Facebook! Make sure to like and share your favourite battles!

Winner: Inconclusive (Draw)
#331 (+12) Moon Knight
#897 (+9) Demogoblin
#564 (new) Hobgoblin (Jason Macendale) [+1 assist]

VENOM & MORBIUS versus DEMOGOBLIN

The Enemy Within Part 3: Blood Tide (Marvel)
Where: Venom: The Enemy Within #3 When: May 1994 Why: Bruce Jones How: Bob McLeod

The Story So Far...
San Francisco is caught in a grip of madness as demonic goblin hordes swarm the city! Emerging on Halloween night, the creatures bring chaos and death that is soon met with fear and fire at the behest of Mayor Palentine!

While the city burns, its lethal protector Venom finds an unlikely ally in the living vampire Morbius!

Resolving suspicions, they work together to uncover the occult curse behind the goblin's rise. As the chase leads them to Alcatraz, they ready for a showdown with the wicked creatures an their deadly new master: Demogoblin!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Venom 5 (Super-Human)
Intelligence: Morbius 5 (Professor)
Speed: Draw 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Demogoblin 5 (Marathoner)
Agility: Venom 4 (Gymnast)
Fighting: Venom 3 (Street Wise)
Energy: Demogoblin 4 (Arsenal)
Total: Venom/Demogoblin 24 (Champion)

It's a 2-on-1 face-off between misfits of science and magic, but the battle lines aren't exactly as they seem! Technically there are three entities on the side of lethal protection -- and a whole army of darkness fighting against them!

Venom is the walking, talking twofer of man & living costume! The alien symbiote was originally brought to Earth as Spider-man's black costume, but he rejected it upon learning of its true parasitic nature. The symbiote then found a willing recipient in Eddie Brock, who shared its scorn for Peter Parker!

Because of its time spent with Spider-man the symbiote emulates his speed, agility, reflexes, and web-slinging, while also enhancing Brock's bodybuilder muscle. His strength has stretched to a peak of fighting Iron Man [Iron Man #302] and even Superman [DC/Marvel: All Access #1]! Neither foe was aware of the symbiote's natural vulnerability to sound or fire.

Despite a few homicidal tendencies -- Venom follows a skewed sense of justice. He even team with Spider-man against his symbiote-offspring Carnage in Spider-man Unlimited #2 -- but not before making the acquaintance of a few other unlikely allies, including Morbius The Living Vampire!

Dr. Michael Morbius is another Spider-man frenemy, whose vampiric tendencies developed after attempts to cure himself of a rare blood disease. As a living vampire he gained characteristic super-human strength, speed, durability, but also sensitivity toward sunlight -- and a need to consume blood.

His thirst saw Morbius walk a moral tightrope that often drew him towards creatures of darkness. Though not mystical like a true vampire, Morbius has battled the likes of Jack Russell, The Werewolf [Marvel Premiere #28], The Night Shift [Marvel Zombies 4 #2], and even Doctor Strange [Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #10]! He also came into conflict with Demogoblin while assisting Venom during the Maximum Carnage saga!

Demogoblin is a demonic entity once bound to Hobgoblin by the demon N'astirh. Jason Macendale sold his soul for enhanced powers, but eventually expelled his demonic half, regretting the deal. The resulting separation unleashed a demonic imitation of his costumed alter-ego!

Demogoblin made horrific reality of an arsenal Macendale acquired from the Green Goblin's original designs. He rides a winged glider of hellfire, and conjures pumpkin bombs with various mystic properties. He does so in the name of a righteous crusade against those he perceives as sinners, such as Spider-man, and Ghost Rider & Frank Drake [see; Ghost Rider #40].

Typically hellfire burns the soul more than flesh, which means Venom won't be uniquely vulnerable to Demogoblin's attacks. That said, the demon has taken command of an army of goblins that drastically outnumber Venom and Morbius!

The Tape: Venom & Morbius Ranking: Morbius (#63)

What Went Down...
Tiny goblins claw and scratch, bubbling up from the depths of Alcatraz like a living flood that threatens to overwhelm Venom & Morbius! Above them streaks the flame of Demogoblin, riding his glider with gleeful greetings!

The hulking Venom tosses a few goblins aside, escaping to the ceiling on a strand of webbing! His escape leaves Morbius struggling with the hordes, but Venom rejects his offer for noble sacrifice. Instead, Venom covers the living vampire with a protective coating of web that catches a few goblins, as well.

Demogoblin swoops in to blast Venom with untold occult energies!

Venom is blown back by the blast, but the black symbiote spits out a tendril that fixes to Demogoblin's chest like tar. It yanks him completely off his glider!

Alas; dismounting this goblin doesn't separate him from his deadly arsenal. The Demogoblin is grounded, but immediately back on the attack when he conjures a pumpkin bomb and hurls it! Venom only narrowly avoids its blast!

The explosion blows a hole in the exterior wall that floods Alcatraz with sunlight!

The evening glow is enough to drive the goblin hordes back towards the darkness of the lower depths. It also sears the pallid complexion of Morbius!

Distracted by his ally's peril, Venom doesn't notice a line of goblins forming for a parting attack -- a united sonic cry that drives the alien symbiote to agony!

Though effective against their target, the intense sound waves also do further damage to the prison wall -- bathing the goblins in yet more evening light!

With his army burning, Demogoblin is shocked to find Venom recovered from the sonic assault so quickly. Venom takes great pleasure in demonstrating his strength with an uppercut that sends the demon hurtling out of the building!

Venom checks on Morbius, who was badly weakened by the intense exposure to sunlight. As the San Francisco sun sets, he assures Venom that he will soon heal from his wounds. More than can be said for the scorched goblins, whose master blazes away from the prison atop his flaming goblin glider!

The Hammer...
Demogoblin flees to fight another day, but he and his goblin horde were clearly defeated by Venom! Chalk Morbius up for an assist. He helped keep the terror at bay, but remained in a support role.

The outcome of the battle loosely alludes to the unusual pairing of Venom and Morbius. By this point, Eddie Brock had relocated to sunny San Francisco. Sure, they have nights in California, but Venom is a character of visual excess. He rarely remains in the shadows that nocturnal, vampire-types typically prefer. So why bring them together?

Venom: The Enemy Within plays in the loosest of ways as a three-issue follow-up to Maximum Carnage. It doesn't address any of the concerns of the 1992-93 crossover in the slightest, but does capitalize on its visual iconography, and appeal of its oddball assembly of heroes who disbanded less than a year prior.

Venom had extra beef with Demogoblin via another '92 crossover: the four-issue Spirits of Venom. Morbius developed his issues during Maximum Carnage itself, with a particularly memorable battle in the Statue of Liberty, where he sought to rescue a tortured Venom. All of this addresses the surface connections that might enhance The Enemy Within, but it doesn't pay them much mind.

The real appeal of bringing Venom, Morbius, and Demogoblin together should lie in their thematic similarities. Each has explored common themes of duality and moral ambiguity, representing them from slightly different perspectives.

Venom is the self-styled lethal protector, enforcing a skewed view of justice with action-movie violence and flippancy. He is the man embracing his "dark passenger", accepting the symbiote's negative influence in service of what sometimes appears to be good.

Morbius too does good, but is an unintended instrument of death, compelled to drink blood to survive. His evil is of his own making - a responsibility he cannot ultimately expel as a living entity the way Jason Macendale expelled Demogoblin. Morbius did briefly deal in demonic possession around this time, but nothing as interesting as Demogoblin himself. He is the dark passenger personified, roaming untethered in pursuit of what he believes is a righteous crusade.

Somewhere among these thematic variations lies a very interesting thesis, but The Enemy Within is a Venom mini-series from the mid-nineties, with no such concern or aspiration. Action movie one-liners and disjointed, oversized panels tell a story of thinly motivated mayhem.

As you can probably guess, I was never one to follow Venom solo comics too closely. It wasn't for lack of interest in the character. The basics of design and concept were as exciting to me most wide-eyed fanboys who're still drawn into the character's web. The books were usually just a little too pricy, hard to find, and ultimately unsatisfying to read.

I always thought it was surprising Marvel didn't lock down an on-going series given Venom's popularity, but if you've read The Enemy Within #3, you know there's minimal distinction. There's a second showdown ending with Demogoblin's defeat and departure later in the issue. Then Venom: The Mace is teased in an open-ended coda.

The wrap really reads like any other monthly issue of a regular series. The only obvious difference: inconsistent creative teams, mixed prospects for follow-up stories, and a whole lot of new #1s for the speculator market to jump on. If you've ever looked into back issues, you know quality comics still don't dictate sale price. I like these characters, but I still don't have the set. I have my limits.

Want to get a bunch Venom #1s without chasing them all? The Enemy Within is collected with several accompanying mini-series and on sale now! Using the Amazon link provided will not only get you a decent deal - but also help support Secret Wars on Infinite Earths at no extra cost! That's symbiosis!

Hollywood will finally attempt their own Venom spin-off this October when Tom Hardy takes the role in a more faithful direction than past incarnations. It's the first in an ambitious slate of Sony spin-offs that will attempt to tell stories with Spider-man's friends -- but not Spider-man!

No doubt we'll be talking more about Venom and Morbius in the future. Find more battles with both by diving into the Secret Index where every featured fight is catalogued by publisher, series, and issue! You can also follow and subscribe on Twitter and Facebook to get daily links to fights inspired by the topics of the day. A like and share is a great way to show your support!

Winner: Venom (w/ Morbius)
#17 (+2) Venom (Symbiote)
#68 (+50) Venom (Eddie Brock)
#63 (--) Morbius [+1 assist]
#869 (-191) Demogoblin