Comics You Should Read: Maximum Carnage

It is entirely possible that I should instead call this "in defense of Maximum Carnage".

Apparently, critics hated it. Reportedly, Marvel staffers quietly mocked it. But Maximum Carnage is one of my favorite Spider-Man stories of all time.

In my anecdotal experience, Spider-Man fans can be divided into two groups (usually by age): Those that think Venom is really cool...and those that think he is one of the worst things to ever happen to the Spider-Man mythos. Now, I'm not a die-hard Venom (or Carnage) fan, but I don't hate them...and I love this story.

I'm not going to be quite as picky with spoilers, because this story is almost 20 years old. If you don't know who Venom is, he's Eddie Brock, a newspaper reporter whose sensationalist journalism gets discredited by Spider-Man, and who bonds with the alien symbiote that forms Spider-Man's black suit. Carnage is Cletus Kasady, a serial killer who has bonded with a spawn of the Venom symbiote. As the story begins, Venom is becoming an anti-hero in San Francisco, Spider-Man is mourning the death of Harry Osborn and Kasady is locked in Ravencroft Asylum (the Arkham Asylum for the Spider-Man family of books in the early 90s). Oh, and Spider-Man's parents have seemingly returned from the dead, apparently spies who spent 20 years locked in a Soviet prison.

In Act One, we waste no time in discovering that Kasady's symbiote has mutated and now lives in his bloodstream...and he breaks out of Ravencroft, slaughtering the staff along the way. He joins forces with another inmate named Shriek, and the two set out into the city, wreaking havoc. Soon, they join forces with the Spider-Doppleganger from Infinity War and Spider-Man (who promised Mary Jane that he would give up being Spidey for two weeks - and broke that promise hours later), gets his ribs busted fighting Shriek and Doppleganger. Venom catches wind of Carnage's return and heads to New York...where Carnage lures HIM into trap. Cloak and Dagger join Spidey, but Dagger is seemingly killed by Shriek, and by the end of the first act, the city is rioting...Spidey is losing his grip, Dagger is dead, Cloak and Black Cat have joined Venom in a bloodhunt for Carnage and Carnage has added the Demogoblin to his twisted "family". In fact, part five (written by JM DeMatteis) ends in a powerful scene where Spider-Man fights off a mob and vows that he is done showing mercy.

In Act Two, Morbius joins Venom, Black Cat and Cloak and the four of them are nearly taken apart in a nightclub (where Mary Jane is also present) before Spider-Man saves the day. Spidey and Venom decide to break into Four Freedoms Plaza and steal a sonic gun while Morbius has to withdraw in the sunlight and Cloak goes searching for Firestar (Human Torch is off planet). Meanwhile, Deathlok attacks Carnage's crew (which has also added Carrion to the mix), and is taken down in a chilling juxtaposition as Spider-Man declares that Carnage's "family" will have to fall in the face of science. Deathlok is saved by Iron Fist, and Carnage proves resistant to the sonic gun...but not Firestar's microwaves. This builds, again, to another amazing high point in which Venom pushes Firestar to kill Carnage but she resists...until Spider-Man tells her it's the only way. Firestar, holding Spider-Man as an example of a real hero, agrees to do it...only pulling back when Spidey tells her to stop at the last second. Venom lashes out at Spider-Man, only to be captured by Shriek and Carnage for more torture. Spider-Man, physically crushed and emotionally suffocating, is left looking for another way...when Captain America offers him a hand.

In Act Three, Black Cat, Morbius, Nightwatch and Cloak have aligned with Venom (who is still captured by Carnage), while Spider-Man, Captain America, Deathlok, Iron Fist and Firestar have joined forces, seeking a better way to end things. They discover that Shriek is, literally, the source of the riots...she's been broadcasting hate ever since Carnage broke her out. Black Cat, injured, drops out of the fight, Morbius bails out with the rising sun, Nightwatch also pulls out and Venom goes missing after breaking away from Carnage, whose family is beginning to implode (what, psychopaths can't get along?!?). Cloak returns to his church seeking guidance...and discovers that Dagger is still alive, inside of him. Dagger, overloaded on "light" becomes the rallying point against Shriek, and her, Iron Fist and Deathlok rig together a "good bomb", which turns Carrion back human, redeems Shriek (at least temporarily) and seemingly kills Carnage. In the end, we find out Carnage is still alive, but even more unhinged, and the series ends in a three way brawl between Spider-Man, Carnage and Venom that results in Venom slipping away, Carnage being taken into custody by the Avengers and Black Cat performing an 11th hour save in a character moment showing her learning from Spider-Man over Venom.

While the story does get anvilicious at points, it is a great example of not only good over evil, but good over grey as well, with the antiheroes all either folding in the face of adversity, or being inspired by the heroes (Black Cat by Spider-Man, Cloak by Dagger, even Spider-Man by Captain America). Peter gets encouragement from Aunt May, in turn showing Mary Jane that what he does is really important, because he makes a difference every time he saves a life, causing her to go off on the cynical Richard Parker.

The story is criticized for having too many guest stars, but in a city wide massacre by supervillains, other characters SHOULD get involved, and the only truly superfluous hero guest stars are, arguably, Nightwatch and Deathlok.

The writing is noticeably done by multiple people (the regular writers for each book), with JM DeMatteis hitting the highest points of the series (especially in parts 5 and 9). At the time, I didn't appreciate Sal Buscema's art, but reading it now, he's a fantastic storyteller who makes the most of his every panel. Mark Bagley, as always, draws an amazing Spider-Man (pun intended), though his Mary Jane looks about like she should die any minute (and dear lord is she trotted around in skimpy outfits for the enjoyment of the fanboys).

Moments like "You'll get no more mercy from Spider-Man!", Spider-Man telling Firestar to NOT stoop to Carnage's level, Captain America's helping hand, Mary Jane telling off Richard Parker, Mary Jane telling Peter that she understands why he has to do what he does and Spider-Man explaining to Venom that he sees Venom the same way Venom sees Carnage are all tremendous highlights.

I've read various articles online that just trash the story out, overanalyzing it, accusing it of oversimplifying things...but forget that. Maximum Carnage is about heroes being heroes even when the rest of the world is going crazy. And that ain't bad.

The SAGA of Spider-Man Episode 2: Tag Team Part 2

Tag Team Part 1 - Spider-Man runs into trouble with Slyde and his partners, and makes friends with superhuman wrestler D-Man. Things take a turn for the worse when Peter falls asleep in class, Slyde repeatedly escapes and D-Man is horribly injured when Spider-Man fails to appear as his tag team partner.

Spider-Man sat clinging to the side of a building, pondering his recent troubles - and avoiding Aunt May - when he decided to head off to see D-Man in the hospital. His Spider-Sense gave him warning that something wasn't quite right...and he clung to the side of the building, listening in as Bonesaw McGraw, Crusher Hogan and a third man were in D-Man's room, telling him that next time he promises the Spider-Man, he better produce Spider-Man, or the next time Crusher and Bonesaw wouldn't stop their beatings.

As they departed, Spider-Man debated entering the building and talking to D-Man...before changing his mind and heading to the wrestling arena. Crusher Hogan and Bonesaw McGraw were scheduled to face a pair of jobbers, but as the lights went out for their entrance, Spider-Man zipped in and replaced their opponents. McGraw and Hogan were stunned to see the black-garbed Spider-Man in the middle of their ring! Spider-Man went after both men but were shocked to find that they were both a bit stronger than he remembered, and Crusher Hogan clamped him down in a bearhug! Spider-Man twisted free and used his Spider-Sense and agility to keep his stronger-than-expected opponents off-guard. When sheer brute force wasn't working, Spider-Man started using trickery to get the upperhand, sending Hogan tumbling over the top rope after dodging a charge, and hurling McGraw into the cheap seats.

The mysterious third man ordered Hogan and McGraw to stand down, and the crowd ooohed at his arrival in full armor, wielding a large chain...for the third man was Ares, God of War! Spider-Man webbed him, but Ares ripped free and smashed him with the chain, knocking him completely unconscious!

Peter Parker snapped his head up at his desk, staring at a math test, when a voice from under the desk kept calling to him: "Parker...Parker..." Peter looked under the desk and saw his black mask with a large, snarling mouth on it! The Spider-Mask was telling him to let go, join him and that Peter only needed the costume, not his friends and aunt...the mask kept saying that, together they could be the Spider-Man...

...when Spider-Man came to, chain wrapped around him, as Ares - McGraw and Hogan flanking him - was announcing to the crowd that tonight, he would unmask the Spider-Man! A loud voice demanded that Ares back off, and Spider-Man looked up to see D-Man standing in the entranceway of the arena! He told Ares that they would only unmask Spider-Man over D-Man's dead body! D-Man stormed the ring and Ares braced himself...as Spider-Man broke free from the chains, drawing a huge chant from the crowd! The brawl was on, three on two, and Spider-Man used some trickery to wear Ares down. D-Man took a beating, but Hogan and McGraw couldn't hold up to the onslaught of the heroes, leaving it two on one. As Ares had Spider-Man on the defensive, Spidey began to grow...and a snarling tongue erupted from his mask! D-Man smashed Ares' head, crushing his helmet and staggering the War God! Ares, enraged, batted D-Man down attacked Spider-Man...and Spidey sent him hurling end over end into the back of the arena!

Ares told Spider-Man and D-Man that they won this day...but that Ares would be back, and back for BLOOD. Ares disappeared in a flash of light...and Hogan and McGraw were covered in a light of their own for a moment...then looked at D-Man and Spider-Man in horror as they lost their enhanced power! D-Man tried to celebrate with Spider-Man, who was reverting back to normal, but Spidey zipped off out of the arena.

Spidey, adrenaline fueled, spotted Slyde and new partner Stilt-Man hard at work on yet another robbery...but slapped past Stilt-Man. Slyde never saw Spider-Man coming and Spider-Man tapped him on the shoulder, then knocked him across the building! Outside, as Stilt-Man began to react, he came crashing to the ground...with D-Man holding one of the mechanical legs! D-Man gave Spider-Man a wink and a thumbs up! Spidey dumped Slyde in the bank vault until the police could show, and D-Man told Spidey that maybe they could do that tag team partner thing for real someday.

Late that night, Spidey slipped into his bedroom window and Peter Parker collapsed in the bed, fast asleep. Late in the night, through the open window, screams of help drifted in...and the black suit slithered up on Peter's body...and Spider-Man burst out into the night once more...

Notes: This session didn't go nearly as well as the last one, presumably due to how sick I had been during the week between. I also grossly misjudged just what a rookie Spider-Man could handle, as McGraw and Hogan were each very much a match for him (though he was the one that opted to go after them two on one). I was actually going to milk the Slyde thing for a while, but my son got the idea to hunt him down and just try to knock him out, and when the cardplay went his way at the end, that seemed like a nice way to wrap things up (complete with the surprise D-Man assistance at the end). Not sure what'll be next on the docket...other than a face to face with Aunt May over his grades...but we're clearly building to a Peter-Symbiote stand-off.

The SAGA of Spider-Man Episode 1: Tag-Team Part 1

This is session 1 of the new Marvel SAGA game I'm running for my son, featuring a teenaged Spider-Man (in the black, alien suit). This is his first go with Marvel SAGA (and our first game in a long time), but it's all good, because I practically know the system inside and out. The Spider-Man we're using is a slightly modified "rookie" version. We're playing fast and loose with continuity, building it as we go.

Our tale opens with a restless Peter Parker studying for a Math test before deciding (at the urging of the symbiote), to head out into the night for a patrol. While looking for trouble, Spider-Man overhears police sirens and swings down to get close enough to listen in to the chatter on the police radio, overhearing that Shocker and another unidentified villain were in the midst of robbing a bank and became embroiled in an encounter with another superhuman. Spider-Man thinks it over and calculates a quicker route to the bank, beating the police by a good five minutes.

As he slips into the bank, he overhears Shocker and his partner talking about "never seein' a hero have a heart attack before". Spider-Man causes a diversion, drawing Shocker nearby, then rips a brick out of a wall with his webs and knocks Shocker out cold. Spider-Man is spotted sneaking up on Slyde, Shocker's partner, and immediately cracks "Why do they call you Slyde? Because you like to slide on the playground?" which was pretty groan-worthy and right up Spider-Man's alley. Slyde was unshaken and bolted for the door, Spider-Man's webs slipping right off of him and his Lightning Speed allowing him to get away. As Spider-Man started to give chase, the hero having a heart attack - pro wrestler/superhero D-Man - asked him to stay. Spider-Man stayed with him a few moments and D-Man - remembering Spider-Man did some wrestling a while back - asked him if we wanted to be tag team partners in Unlimited Class Wrestling Federation. Spider-Man agreed, then slipped out of the bank as the police arrived.

Returning home, Peter tried to cram for his test, despite the urging of the symbiote. The next day, he struggled to stay awake in the classroom, spacing out and then coming to only to see Mary Jane tapping her foot in front of him. MJ asked him if he wanted the good news or the bad news, to which he replied "Uh...both?" The Good News? Flash Thompson didn't get the lowest grade on the test. The Bad News? Peter Parker FELL ASLEEP in class! Mr. Simmons, Parker's teacher, was quite ticked. Peter, annoyed, bolted out of the building and left the school grounds, looking for Slyde.

Spider-Man had luck tracking Slyde down, finding out that he was working with a new partner - Spot. Spidey went looking for D-Man, asking him to help him take the villainous duo down but D-Man - fearing another episode like against Slyde and Shocker - said no, and asked Spider-Man if he would be back in time for their wrestling show that night. Spider-Man reassured him that he would be, then went after Spot and Slyde. Not playing around this time, Spidey went right after Slyde, trying to KO him, but Slyde managed to dodge. Spot attempted a sneak attack by punching through a portal, but Spider-Man knew it was coming. He tried to tackle Slyde - who was making a break for it - but Slyde slipped free and bolted out the door. Spider-Man, enraged, lashed out with the symbiote suit and knocked Spot through a wall...and realized he had hurt bystanders as well. Spider-Man, shaken, tore away from the building and the city...finally coming to later that evening as the symbiote was bringing him home. Exhausted and upset, he collapsed on his bed and flicked on the TV...hearing the news that Slyde was still at large, and the D-Man had been beaten into a coma on live TV by Crusher Hogan and Bonesaw McGraw after his supposed partner Spider-Man failed to attend. Spider-Man, saddened and angry, flicked off the TV.

Next Time: Slyde is still on the loose! D-Man is hurt, and Crusher Hogan and Bonesaw McGraw are bragging about it! Peter has to tell Aunt May that he got an F because he fell asleep in class!

NOTES: We used a lot of "Do you want to do this, or do you want to do this?" when approaching what Spider-Man could do at a given time. SAGA is also NOT a heavily structured system, so it was real easy to wing it if he wanted to do something out of the ordinary (which he did a time or two). He also seems to have a real interest in playing Peter Parker as well as Spider-Man, which is encouraging. I should also note that this is his first time playing with a character sheet in hand (I color coded it before we played), and he did a nice job of keeping track of all his skills and abilities and using them in play (being a Spider-Man fan helps). I have a thing for using really odd characters in Marvel SAGA games, so D-Man, Slyde and Spot showing up is about par for the course for me. Incidentally, the D-Man/wrestling hook was SUPPOSED to be the main story in this "episode", but the Slyde thing is quickly taking on a life of its own. We are planning on playing again, possibly as soon as this weekend.