VENOM versus SPIDER-MAN

Maximum Carnage, Part Five: Over The Line! (Marvel)
Where: Spectacular Spider-Man #201 When: June 1993 Why: JM DeMatteis How: Sal Buscema

The Story So Far...
Cletus Kasady has re-bonded with the Carnage symbiote and escaped the Ravencroft maximum security facility in a violent slaughter that spills into New York City! There he finds an adopted family of killers to take the massacre city-wide: Shriek, Doppelganger, and the Demogoblin!

After failing to stop them alone: Venom sought to rekindle a desperate alliance with his old enemy, Spider-Man -- but not even a team-up with Black Cat and the vengeful Cloak could stop the destruction! Now the heroes are fighting just to survive as a Manhattan Warehouse burns around them!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Venom 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: Venom 2 (Projectiles)
Total: Spider-Man 29 (Metahuman)

The fallout from Chapter Four has left our heroes worse for wear, and at each other's throats, as Maximum Carnage continues!

Carnage and his adopted family of demented killers have been left to continue unabated after triggering a dramatic warehouse explosion -- and that's enough to strain the unlikely alliance between Venom and Spider-Man!

Die hard fight fans might want to skip ahead to coverage of Chapter Six, because this isn't really a battle on the same level as their classic clash in Amazing Spider-Man #347, or even the more obscure Spider-Man Family #2.

Venom has been drastically weakened by the symbiote's vulnerability to fire, and Spidey's mind is on rescuing Black Cat from the burning warehouse wreckage.

For a self-professed "Lethal Protector" like Eddie Brock it's difficult to accept that Spider-Man would choose rescuing an ally over stopping the murder spree that could continue at the hands of Carnage and his crew.

Venom's skewed sense of justice has pitted him against various heroes and would-be allies over the years, such as Ghost Rider, Iron Man, and even DC's Superman. With an old enemy like Peter Parker an alliance is extra dicey, and his sense of responsibility for the creation of Carnage makes it all the more personal!

History: Spider-Man (1-0-1)

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

What Went Down...

The alien symbiote drips from Eddie Brock's body like a thick ooze as he struggles to crawl through the broken beams & boarding of an unknown rock band's burning storage warehouse.

The massive fire drastically weakens the living costume that supplies Venom with his powers, but still he furiously compels Spider-Man to leave the inferno and resume pursuit of Carnage and his cadre of killers.

Spidey feels confident enough to leave Venom to fend for himself, while he goes deeper into the wreckage to rescue Black Cat from certain immolation!

Brock crawls his way out of the burning building, desperately attempting not to save his own life but those of countless others who might be killed by Carnage.

The crawl becomes a stumble as Brock rises to his feet - only to collapse back down into near unconsciousness as the building behind him explodes!

With Black Cat safely under his arm, Spider-Man soon arrives upon Eddie Brock: face down and motionless with tar-like strips strewn across his body.

They slowly begin to thicken as the symbiote revivifies and Venom regains his strength.

Spidey gently helps a rattled Black Cat to the ground, while Venom rises to his feet, suddenly enveloped in his customary black costume. He asks about Spider-Man's success stopping Carnage -- and doesn't like the answer he gets.

Incensed by Spider-Man's refusal to leave Black Cat to "roast" -- Venom lunges at his temporary ally with talon-like claws narrowly missing his injured ribs!

They question each other's sanity and ethics, with Spider-Man deeming a decision to leave either of his allies to die tantamount to murder. It's a prospect that inspires violent ideas for reprisal in the dual minds of Venom.

Black Cat enters the fray to cool things down: "You're really a piece of work, Brock! You get mad at the spider for saving me -- then waste time trying to bash his head in, while those maniacs get farther and farther away!"

The wake-up call steers Venom's rage towards the Cat, but what bruises his ego most is that she's absolutely right. The real enemy is Carnage.

The Hammer...

The tension is ratcheting up, but I think it's fair to say this wasn't much of a fight. Venom threw the only actual punch, and the rest is verbal sparring and philosophical differences. A non-starter ended by everyone getting back on the same page -- kinda...

You might've expected Black Cat to be the hero who calls it quits after a building collapsed on her, but it's actually Spider-Man who decides the alliance isn't working out for him. He simply cannot reconcile with the cutthroat tactics Venom demands -- and Black Cat is agreeing with.

After berating her former squeeze for treating her like a lowly damsel needing rescue; Cat further chides him for choosing her life over the countless lives Carnage could already be taking elsewhere in the city.

It's a moral split that actually sees an irate Black Cat following Venom back into battle, despite a violent history together, and his total willingness to throw her life away.

The duo will reconvene with Cloak on Fifth Avenue, where arriving mere minutes after reports of Carnage's rampage will mean more lives lost to the senseless slaughter.

So far every chapter of Maximum Carnage has featured one or more big battles, but Part Five sadly scales back the serious superhero smackdown right as master of action Sal Buscema joins the party! What we're left with is a couple of short skirmishes and near misses, but there was no way I was going to skip this issue!

Spectacular Spider-Man #201 ignites the fire of the crossover by following up the explosive previous chapter with a heavy sense of consequence and drama.

The issue might see heroes and villains returning to their respective corners, but there's no shortage of action and excitement. In fact, this always struck me as one of the most impactful issues of the Maximum Carnage crossover.

It seemed like Venom and Black Cat were going to tip the scales back in favour of the good guys, but all they really did was accumulate more injuries.

The issue announces its drama with the very first page: A surprisingly cinematic opening, despite its use of a traditional 9 panel grid.

On either side of Page 1 is a column of three panels, each showing an intense close-up of a roaring inferno. They're interspersed with discrete narration boxes for creator credits. Buscema's inks generate a sense of violent animation, given blistering heat by colorist Bob Sharen's use of vivid yellows, orange, and white.

Down the centre of the page are three claustrophobic mugshots: our heroes -- each showing distinct signs of distress!

If the cliffhanger of Black Cat's torn glove poking out of warehouse wreckage got your mind racing at the end of the previous issue -- her wide-eyed grimace, face pouring with sweat, makes the danger all the more personal, and kicks the drama up a whole extra level right on Buscema's first page!

Below the cat is Venom: mouth agape, with symbiote bleeding away to reveal Eddie Brock's barely open right eye. The salivating, bulging monster responsible for so much terror in previous Spider-Man stories is gone -- reduced to a pathetic mortal barely able to act. The situation is real bad for the good guys.

Something about the destruction of that warehouse, and seeing our heroes in such a vulnerable and battered state was arresting. Spidey is already nursing busted ribs from Chapter One, which were aggravated in Chapter Two. That was also the battle that appeared to claim the life of Dagger, which we learn has left Cloak experiencing bouts of dizziness and weakness.

There's an obvious physical toll mounting throughout each issue, but the mental strain is showing, too. That will continue to permeate the story as the heroes endure further punishment, and New York City itself becomes engulfed in violent madness as Carnage's killing spree inspires a wave of likeminded acts.

When I was doing my best to cobble the event together from newsstands back in 1993 -- this was the issue that convinced me it was a story unlike most from Marvel. I didn't have the frame of reference back then, but it strikes me that the format is similar to the saga structures more common in Shonen Jump manga. There's a late era Dragon Ball Z vibe to the weight of temporary defeat, inter-personal drama, and city-wide destruction the heroes will later discover.

We love blockbuster superhero fights on Secret Wars on Infinite Earths, but to put it all into perspective, it helps to take stock of the little battles, as well. Today's skirmish provides context for future installments, while also reminding us that the classic Venom/Spidey rivalry doesn't always erupt into a fight to the death.

If you crave a more substantial struggle -- we've got you covered! You can find well over 600 featured fights in order of publisher, series, and issue number by diving in to the Secret Archive! Or follow links throughout this post to uncover key issues and specific topics relevant to your interests.

You can get ahead of the reading and see the whole thing for yourself by picking up a collected edition of the Maximum Carnage storyline. By using Amazon links provided to do any of your online shopping you'll not only get a convenient deal, but also be supporting the site at no extra cost!

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Winner: Inconclusive (Draw)
#2 (--) Spider-Man
#16 (--) Venom (Symbiote)
#50 (--) Venom (Eddie Brock)
#136 (+2) Black Cat [+1 assist]

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

DOPPELGANGER, SHRIEK & CARNAGE versus SPIDER-MAN, CLOAK & DAGGER

Darklight: Maximum Carnage, Part 2 (Marvel)
Where: Web of Spider-Man #101 When: June 1993 Why: Terry Kavanagh How: Alex Saviuk

The Story So Far...
Incarceration in the Ravencroft Institute's maximum security facility proved a temporary stay when serial killer Cletus Kasady was reunited with his alien symbiote.

Carnage's escape from Ravencroft was a total bloodbath, but not everyone who crossed his path that day was part of the massacre. He found a kindred spirit in the villainess Shriek, forging a homicidal relationship that soon became a family with the adoption of the six-armed, razor-fanged Doppelganger!

News of the escape prompts Spider-Man to take to the New York City skyline, but a chance encounter with Shriek & Doppelganger leaves the web-slinger worse for wear at the bottom of a building! Rescued by Cloak & Dagger, the web-slinger has much needed back-up as the villains close-in for Round 2!

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

The sides may be even at three-on-three, but the differences separating today's two forces makes this a match-up with many sides to consider!

Our Tape rates Spider-Man the strongest player thanks to his versatile skill set of strength, speed, agility, and intellect. However, he's already done this dance with Doppelganger & Shriek, and come off second-best in Spider-Man Unlimited #1! That means Spidey's coming in with a loss and some busted ribs!

Cloak & Dagger are guardian angels in Spidey's time of need. Old friends to the wallcrawler, they're Tyrone Johnson and Tandy Bowen: Teen runaways who were experimented on by Maggia scientists and gained incredible powers!

Cloak became a conduit for the Darkforce, creating an endless black void within the folds of his cloak. Those caught in its abyss will be drained of life and driven to terror or madness. This dark hunger can also be sated by the equal opposite Lightforce wielded by Dagger! The former dancer can channel her light into daggers for projectiles, purifying, or illumination.

We saw Cloak test his power against Thanos during a moment of hope in Infinity Gauntlet #4. We'll also learn of his history with Shriek through the course of this battle, which drove her insane. Spider-Man, Cloak & Dagger should be able to match the sonic shockwaves and savagery of Shriek & Doppelganger, but the late arriving third part of their trio could cause some problems!

Cletus Kasady is a homicidal maniac who happened to share a cell with Eddie Brock and received the seed of his alien symbiote's offspring. The resulting bond was Carnage: a deadly red counterpart to Venom with a penchant for forming sharp constructs with his suit, such as axes and spear-like tendrils!

Carnage shares a similar super-human strength to Venom, with a more agile frame. This, combined with his taste for serial killing, has made him a deadly enough villain to force Venom and Spider-Man to put their own issues aside. A necessity that will eventually bring Carnage down in Spider-Man Ulimited #2.

Carnage has the same vulnerability to intense sound and heat as Venom, which could make Dagger a difference maker in this battle. Shriek's sonic powers are a risk to Carnage as well, but without an unforeseen incident, her attack range can provide an invaluable defense. Let's jump in and see what happened.

The Tape: Spider-Man, Cloak & Dagger Ranking: Spider-Man (#2)

What Went Down...
Stars fill the Holy Ghost Church as the pain of two fractured ribs being reset ripples through Spider-Man's body. Cloak and Dagger tend to the webhead's injuries, but it's only a temporary measure. It'll have to do. Suddenly a blaring signal replaces the pain as Spider-Man's senses detect incoming danger!

Spidey springs to his feet, narrowly avoiding a stream of razor-barbed webbing as his Doppelganger smashes through the church window!

The web-slinger gives his allies a quick crash course in his evil duplicate's M.O. before the church is struck with a massive wave of sound! Beams topple around all four occupants as the roof partially collapses and Shriek arrives!

Doppelganger purrs as his surrogate mother strokes his head and plots the demise of the heroes -- but they aren't buried beneath the rubble as she thinks! Cloak was able to teleport them away at the last second thanks to another tip-off from friendly neighbourhood spider-senses!

Doppelganger grapples with Spidey, while Cloak reacquaints himself with the familiar one-time downtown drug dealer Shriek. She thanks him for introducing her to madness by unleashing her sonic powers against his great ebon void!

Dagger does her best to shackles the wild Doppelganger as he slams Spider-Man hard into the ground with his extra limbs, but Cloak's cries draw her attention! The eerie expanse of his cape magnifies Shriek's masterfully fired sonic blasts like an agony-inducing echo chamber!

Spidey takes care of himself, webbing up Doppelganger's slashing talons before socking him in the mouth with a stiff left jab! Meanwhile, Dagger draws Shriek's attention with a spray of light shots. Only one is on target, but Shriek's sound blasting hands absorb the blow. She re-directs her blast at Dagger!

The battle between light and sound stands at an effective stalemate. Cloak uses the opportunity to attack Doppelganger from behind, snaring him in the living folds of fabric that are his impressive namesake as Spidey hits an uppercut!

The momentary advantage pales as the church doors fly open and a nameless gangster's limp body announces the arrival of Carnage!

Jagged streams of alien symbiote extend from his hands in an effort to pull his sick "family" out of harm's way. Dagger persists in her attempts to fire light shards at Shriek, provoking a savage response from Doppelganger, who protectively fires razor-webbing at her. Cloak steps in to effortlessly absorb it.

Spider-Man attempts to pacify the situation by webbing Shriek's hands and her mouth, but it's for naught. Sonic waves blast the web away, while Carnage goes on the offensive once again, sending ever growing tendrils from his fingers to chase the scrambling wall-crawler!

Carnage sends his pointed fingers over Spider-Man and into the church wall,  trapping him against the church wall like a helpless bug in a cage!

Meanwhile, Shriek attacks the ground beneath Dagger's feet, and Doppelganger spews more razor-webbing at Cloak! The situation looks dire for the heroes, but Spider-Man leans into the situation -- plunging directly at Carnage with his fist extended! A devastating missile dive that stuns the symbiote!

Dagger intervenes to cut through Doppelganger's webbing, while Cloak again descends upon Shriek and engulfs her in his cape!

The trap is temporary. Shriek scrambles clear of the fabric-bound abyss, citing her past trip through insanity as a means to walk through it. Cloak never the less puts his impressive folds between the villains and Dagger again, while his soulmate burns away razor-webbing coiled around her ankle. The defense leaves Cloak vulnerable to another devastating blast of sonic energy!

Things soon turn sour for Spider-Man, too. He wails away with unrelenting left and right punches to the downed Carnage's face, but the living costume that covers his body soon comes to the fore. A huge, jagged prong launches from Carnage's torso -- smashing through Spider-Man's injured ribs!

With pain rippling through his body, Spider-Man desperately uses a flying kick to the face to try to put some distance between he and Carnage.

Distance is no barrier for Shriek, whose efforts to finish Cloak are only stopped by Dagger standing in her way. Light shields absorb the powerful stream of targeted sonic energy, but Shriek's madness only fuels her growing power! She aims to repay Cloak for driving her insane. As Dagger begins to weaken, Cloak is too weak to come to her aide. Inevitably, a killing blow is struck!

Dagger screams as unfiltered sonic blasts rip through her body! Spider-Man attempts to shield Cloak as the heroine explodes in a dazzling column of light!

The explosion of light is enough to knock Shriek and the heroes mutually off their feet, but Carnage still stands!

Unsympathetic, he slaps his would-be bride for daring to finish-off his nemesis Spider-Man. Forgiveness comes as soon as anger. The pair collect Doppelganger and make their exit through the roof to spread more murder across New York.

In the rubble of the church, Spider-Man slowly comes to. Cloak is already up, searching for Dagger when Spider-Man illuminates the devastating truth: Dagger is dead.

The Hammer...
There's good news, and there's bad news...

The good news is: Dagger isn't really dead! She was merely rattled so severely her body dissipated into pure particles of light. She'll pull herself together just in time to make a triumphant return towards the end of Maximum Carnage. Yay!

The bad news is: It doesn't much matter for the heroes in Part 2!

Shriek, Carnage, and Doppelganger gave the good guys a whooping that will keep 'em hurting throughout most of the 14-part crossover. A hurtin' that actually began with Part 1, in Spider-Man Unlimited #1, where Doppelganger kicked Spidey clean off a rooftop, and into a gang-infested alley!

For Cloak: the real pain is psychological. His anguish over Dagger's apparent death made Part 2 one of the most resonant for me over the intervening years. A lot of characters will come and go throughout this saga, but I would speculate none of them is as convincingly affected by events as Cloak (and Dagger).

At some point I hope to double-back to the start of the issue to highlight Cloak & Dagger's big entrance, as well. It's a pretty straight forward fight with the gang descending on injured Spidey, but it participates in a nice pair of bookends that make Web of Spider-Man #101 a memorable Cloak & Dagger read.

Artist Alex Saviuk deserves credit for getting the emotional core across with his pencils. Cloak howling his partner's name is a lasting image from the time. Right up there with the first time Wolverine popped his bone claws in Wolverine #75. There are quite a few iconic images in this issue. Some of them are included above, and you might remember a couple from the popular 16-bit video game.

Because Maximum Carnage was a crossover with the various Spider-Man titles of the time, there were several artists involved. Guys like Mark Bagley, Ron Lim, and the inimitable Sal Buscema contributed some very memorable scenes. Because of their varying legacies I think Saviuk is actually a little underrated.

I'm tempted to say an early issue like this is more essential than reading the entirety of  the Maximum Carnage saga. I'm aware that some of that might be downplaying the spectacle of it all, and come from the luxury of having lived with the story without examining its finer details in quite a while.

I have to admit to absorbing a little bit of the culture cringe that built up around Venom and Carnage, too. Their function can become base and uninspired, but I was certainly all-in when Maximum Carnage hit shelves back in 1993!

This was actually one of the first crossover events I made any real effort to acquire in its entirety as it was released. This was a time when comic purchases were made on a whim, grabbed from whatever assortment a nearby newsagent was carrying while out and about. Trips to the comic store proper were more infrequent, and with no real purpose, making assembling significant numbers of issues from a single run something of a feat of divining.

The lure of a Spider-Man event on stands was an easy sell. It was already a front runner for a casual pickup. The eventual accumulation of unusual allies proved an effective novelty worth pursuing.

Black Cat and Venom had history as friends & foes of Spidey, but it wasn't often you'd see the likes of Captain America, Morbius, Deathlok, and Iron Fist working together. It had a similar appeal to Acts of Vengeance a few years earlier, with a more pointed story like the similarly grim mini-crossover of Spirits of Venom.

I guess it was a renewed period for oddball crossovers at Marvel. That same year they would further challenge the notion of rigid divides with the cult series Secret Defenders. Slapdash team-ups can be a lot of fun, but go to that well too many times and it all starts to feel a little bit meaningless. Maximum Carnage walked a fine line of natural storytelling and weird mash-ups.

If you want to dive in and experience the entire story for yourself you can pick up the collected Amazing Spider-Man Epic: Maximum Carnage! By shopping using the Amazon link provided [embedded right] you'll help the site achieve symbiosis with Amazon's support program at no extra cost to you!

You can also track through more featured fights from the story by following relevant links throughout this post, or by diving into the Secret Archive! There you'll find a complete index of all past and present battles ordered by publisher, series, and issue.

You can also follow Secret Wars on Infinite Earths on Twitter and Facebook to get daily links to fights inspired by the topics of the day. Be sure to like and share your favourite face-offs!

Winners: Shriek, Carnage & Doppelganger
#176 (+286) Shriek
#105 (+99) Doppelganger
#380 (+269) Carnage (Cletus Kasady)
#2 (--) Spider-Man
#902 (-285) Dagger
#930 (-24) Cloak