The Amazing Spider-Man #24: Death Spiral Pt. 4 – Family is Blood

The past of Eddie Brock’s family comes back to haunt him. Torment takes advantage of that and sends Carnage into a spiral.

Creative Team

Charles Soule & Joe Kelly (Writers), Jesús Saíz (Artist), Matt Hollingsworth (Colorist),
VC’s Joe Caramagna (Letterer)

Giuseppe Camuncoli, Lorenzo Ruggiero & Dean White (Main Cover Artists)

Lee Bermejo / Iban Coello & Jesus Aburtov / Mark Bagley & Dean White / Mike Hawthorne & Edgar Delgado / Rod Reis (Variant Cover Artists)

Sarah Spadaccini (Designer), Kaitlyn Lindtvedt (Assistant Editor), Tom Groneman (Associate Editor),
Nick Lowe (Editor), C.B. Cebulski (Editor-in-Chief)

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Family is Blood

Issue twenty-four of The Amazing Spider-Man (ASM) happens to also be part four of this exceptional cross-over story, Death Spiral. This issue of ASM happens to focus on Eddie Brock and his personal issues from his childhood. Our villain for Death Spiral, Torment, is toying with Eddie and his family tree.

This issue starts off going back in time to when Eddie was a child. His father wasn’t the best to him, and he openly admits to it. Eddie and his father have multiple panels of dialogue that break down the entire scenario, and it is absolutely heartbreaking. Sure, this is happening within a comic book but that doesn’t negate the fact that children go through this sometimes daily within their family.

We also get to see a team up that may give readers mixed feelings: Spider-Man and Venom. If you’ve been reading this series of ASM you already know that MJ is bonded to Venom. And you should also know that this knowledge is still very fresh to the “real” Peter Parker. Watching Spider-Man and Venom work together as make-shift detectives is pure comedy. To the extent that they make an assumption on who did a certain crime, and they couldn’t be farther from the actual truth. They simply are going off of previous experiences with their suspect.

The end of this issue brings understanding to Spider-Man and Venom. They have tracked down Carnage and offer their services in helping Carnage find Torment. Once they find Torment, this story takes a spin on corkscrew, and you are left stunned with what just transpired till the next installment of Death Spiral.

The Writing

The team of Charles and Joe is beauty in emotion. These two produced a story for this issue that plays with your emotions from the very beginning. The dialogue and narration are scripted and delivered perfectly to administer the most effect to your feelings. Every panel flows so easily to the next. The amount of suspense in the ending of this issue leaves you yelling for it not to end this way.

The Artwork

Jesús Saíz & Matt Hollingsworth did such a good job with this issue! The pencil work is amazingly smooth! And the attention to detail is out of this world! The coloration continues to have this dark tone to it adding to the darkness of this story. Everything about the art in this issue is beautiful to look at! Especially when Carnage extends himself into extra limbs, the details in all the parts all at once are spectacular!

My Thoughts

This run of ASM has been a complete joy to read from Joe Kelly. With the addition of this side story of Death Spiral and the addition of Charles Soule, it has reached a new level for me. This is an amazing story full or action, mystery, suspense and emotional turmoil. Amazing Spider-Man continues to have amazing storytelling as well as impeccable art to support it! This is a cross over story spanning from ASM to Venom. Meaning there are other issues to collect to complete this Death Spiral story. I highly recommend you get your hands on the first four issues, as well as the next five to come. Amazing story!

Grade: 9.5/10

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