Warning! Spoilers ahead forAmazing Spider-Man / Venom: Death Spiral #1!

Marvel has officially introduced its hardcore new Spider-Man villain: Torment. What’s the deal with this twisted new antagonist? The character is a big mystery for now, but Marvel promises there are answers coming soon. In the meantime, the real question is, will Torment’s targets, Spider-Man and Venom, live to find out who’s after them?

Amazing Spider-Man / Venom: Death Spiral #1 is co-written by Charles Soule, Al Ewing, and Joe Kelly. It features art by Jesús Saíz.

Fans have gotten a sneak peek at Torment’s monstrous character design before, but Death Spiral #1 finally brings him into the Marvel Universe proper and sets him up as a major big bad.

Spider-Man And Venom Are About To Fight Their Deadliest Foe Yet; Marvel Fans, Meet Torment

Amazing Spider-Man / Venom: Death Spiral #!, Written By Charles Soule, Al Ewing, & Joe Kelly; Art By Jesús Saíz; Available Now From Marvel Comics

Marvel has been hyping Death Spiral as a pivotal storyline for OG Spider-Man Peter Parker and “all-new” Venom Mary Jane Watson. That’s right, the former flames now have to try to navigate co-heroing in New York City. Add the Carnage symbiote to the mix, now worn by former Venom host Eddie Brock, and the plot gets even more complicated.

And then add Marvel’s newest serial killer into that mix, and Death Spiral has all the ingredients it needs to produce chaos. Death Spiral #1 patiently maneuvers its characters into place, ending with a story beat that will have major consequences. More on that in a minute. The issue also saves Torment’s first appearance for its closing frame.

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Marvel Comics’ Death Spiral event may be laying out all clues imaginable in the lead-up to a death in Spider-Man’s rogues’ gallery.

The villain appears in front of his wall of targets: a photo of Peter Parker at the center of an expanding spiral, with pictures of people now marked for death merely for being connected to him somehow. Clearly, Torment has a plan, but as readers learn, he’s not opposed to revising it. Which is very bad news for Mary Jane.

“Death Spiral” Kicks Off With A Major Betrayal And A First Look At Deadly New Big Bad Torment

Spider-Man Lore Is Messy; It Just Got Messier

Actually, Spider-Man isn’t Torment’s only primary target. Eddie Brock is at the center of his “death spiral” too. And as Death Spiral #1 reveals, his current symbiote, Carnage, knows he’s on a deadly killer’s hit list. We find this out when Carnage contacts Torment to suggest “another name for [Torment’s] spiral.” That is, Mary Jane Watson.

Important context for this moment: Eddie Brock and Carnage are ostensibly heroes right now. Though clearly they’re not on the same page. If you’re more familiar with both as baddies, just know that Eddie has been thoroughly redeemed in Marvel Comics lore. Carnage…it’s a long story, but Eddie has been keeping the symbiote’s worst impulses in check.

Or so he thinks. Death Spiral #1 reveals Carnage is aiding and abetting Torment. This levels up an already complicated dynamic. Ex-lovers Peter and MJ have to work together. Eddie Brock has to work with his ex-symbiote Venom. Venom has to work with its evil offspring Carnage. And Carnage is working with an unhinged serial killer to destroy them all.

Marvel Is Ready To Reveal Torment’s Origin, But Not Before He Makes His Mark On The Marvel Universe

Amazing Spider-Man / Venom: Death Spiral – Body Count #1 Arrives In May From Marvel Comics

If you want to know how the drama of Amazing Spider-Man / Venom: Death Spiral unfolds, you’ll have to pick up the series for yourself. Or, at least keep checking back with us. We can’t tell yet exactly how it will all go down, or who will be left standing, but we do know Marvel plans to reveal more about Torment soon.

Here’s the synopsis for Amazing Spider-Man / Venom: Death Spiral – Body Count #1, coming in May:

The scariest new villain in the Marvel Universe finally gets his story told! He’s hunted Peter Parker, Mary Jane Watson, and Eddie Brock, killing his way to their throats and wrapping his razor whip around them. What forged the deadliest serial killer since Cletus Kasady? Find out in this one shot that will define Torment’s past and his future!

One key takeaway there is the tease of a “future” for Torment. Suggesting that Death Spiral will be messy from start to finish. That the bloody storyline won’t have a tidy resolution. Torment will still be out there in the Marvel Universe when it’s all over.

It also gives a hint of the violence Torment is capable of. Readers haven’t witnessed it in action yet, but we can expect for Death Spiral to show the extent of Torment’s brutality in future issues. It’s the very beginning of a brutal new era for Spider-Man lore, as Marvel positions Torment as its next great villain.

Amazing Spider-Man / Venom: Death Spiral #1 is available now from Marvel Comics.

What do you think, readers? Does Torment have potential as the next big Spider-Man foe?

First Appearance

Amazing Fantasy

Alias

Peter Parker, Ben Reilly, Otto Octavius, Yu Komori, Kaine Parker, Pavitr Prabhakar, William Braddock, Miles Morales, Kurt Wagner

Alliance

Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men, Secret Defenders, Future Foundation, Heroes for Hire, Mighty Avengers, New Avengers, Web-Warriors

Race

Human