Amazing Spider-Man
Maximum Carnage
Well, what can I say about Maximum Carnage, other than it was bad. It should have been a five issue miniseries. This story certainly didn't need fourteen issue. The plot was dragged out so long that it was no longer believable. The cast of characters, on both sides, just continued to grow out of control which really didn't allow any of the characters to get the attention they needed. The Black Cat, Cloak, and Dagger were all short-changed as they should have been the focus, instead of bringing along other heroes like Iron Fist and Captain America. The other heroes seemed like cardboard cutouts.

However, my biggest complain is with the final battle against Team Carnage. Why couldn't someone step up (for example, Spider-Man) and do something critical to bring about the end of the battle. But instead, he tells his team to go pick up the "Alpha-Magni-Illuminizor". Well, now isn't that convenient. A "good bomb" that wins the day. Pathetic, disappointing, and certainly doesn't payoff any reader who made the mistake of picking up all fourteen issues.

May 1993
Spider-Man Unlimited # 1: "Carnage Rising"
Writer: Tom DeFalco
Penciller: Ron Lim
Inker: Jim Sanders III 
Jay's Rating:
JJJ

Synopsis:
Cletus Kasady somehow becomes Carnage once again and he goes on a rampage at the Ravencroft maximum security institution.  Carnage befriends  Shriek and escapes Ravencroft. They then have a run in with the Spider-Doppleganger and Shriek befriends it. Meanwhile, Peter and Mary Jane attend Harry Osborn's funeral and an emotionally distraught MJ asks Peter to take a break from being Spider-Man. Spidey learns of Carnage's escape and puts on his costume despite his promise to MJ. Spidey comes across Shriek and the Spider-Doppleganger and barely survives the encounter.

Jay's Notes:

  • Harry Osborn died in Spectacular Spider-Man #200.
  • Carnage last seen in Amazing Spider-Man #263.
  • First appearance of Shriek.

June 1993
Web of Spider-Man # 101: "Dark Light"
Writer: Terry Kavanagh
Penciller:  Alex Saviuk
Inker: Don Hudson
Jay's Rating:
JJ1/2

Synopsis:
Cloak and Dagger come to Spidey's rescue and drive off some thugs who were eager to take advantage of an injured Spider-Man.  They're then attacked by Carnage, Shriek, and the Spider-Doppleganger. Dagger is apparently killed by a sonic blast from Shriek.  The villains then make a hasty exit.

June 1993
Amazing Spider-Man # 378: "Demons on Broadway"
Writer: David Michelinie
Penciller: Mark Bagley
Inker: Randy Emberlin
Jay's Rating:
JJJ

Synopsis:
Venom learns that Carnage is back and sets out to destroy him. Spidey tries to console Cloak and then returns home to get an earful from MJ about his promise to quit being Spider-Man for awhile.  On the lookout for Carnage and company, Spider-Man comes across the Demogoblin and is almost killed if not for the intervention of a priest.  Venom catches up with Carnage and company and is overwhelmed.

June 1993
Spider-Man # 35: "Team Venom"
Writer: David Michelinie
Penciller: Tom Lyle
Inker: Scott Hanna
Jay's Rating:
JJ1/2

Synopsis:
A severely injured Venom turns up on Peter and MJ's doorway. Venom suggests and alliance and Spidey has a chat with the Black Cat who decides to join them. Meanwhile, the Demogoblin attacks Carnage and his motley crew, but they convince him to join their team. Cloak tries to take them all on by himself, but fortunately, Spidey and company come to his rescue. The warehouse they're fighting in can't take the strain of their battle and collapses.

June 1993
Spectacular Spider-Man # 201: "Over the Line!"
Writer: J.M. DeMatteis
Artist: Sal Buscema
Jay's Rating:
JJJ

Synopsis:
Spidey helps Venom and Black Cat free themselves of the warehouse rubble. Spidey refuses to continue his alliance with Venom as he means to kill Carnage. Venom and Black Cat go their own way. Peter seeks some advice from Aunt May and his parents on how he should proceed. Spidey comes across a riot and tries to reason with the mob. He fails and it's the final straw that breaks his moral concerns.

July 1993
Web of Spider-Man # 102: "Sinking Fast"
Writer: Terry Kavanagh
Penciller:  Alex Saviuk
Inker: Don Hudson
Jay's Rating:
JJ

Synopsis:
Venom, Black Cat, and Cloak recruit Morbius in their efforts to stop Carnage and his lackeys. Carnage and his lackeys are on full rampage in downtown New York City. Venom and his team engage Carnage and his team. Spidey joins the battle against Carnage, but Carnage decides to withdraw leaving Spidey and Venom's team to rescue a group of bystanders, which includes Mary Jane.

July 1993
Amazing Spider-Man # 379: "The Gathering Storm"
Writer: David Michelinie
Penciller: Mark Bagley
Inker: Randy Emberlin
Jay's Rating:
JJJ

Synopsis:
Spider-Man decides to rejoin team Venom and help them track down Carnage. Carnage and company recruit Carrion into their ranks. Drawn by Carnage's latest rampage, Deathlok does his best to take them on, but is defeated. Spidey and company get their hands on Reed Richard's sonic gun and add Firestar to their ranks.

July 1993
Spider-Man # 36: "Hate is in the Air"
Writer: Terry Kavanagh 
Penciller: Tom Lyle
Inker: Scott Hanna
Jay's Rating:
JJ1/2

Synopsis:
Spidey and his team get J. Jonah Jameson's help to lure Carnage and his lackeys to the Orphanage where Kasady grew up in. Team Spidey attacks and manages to keep Team Carnage busy long enough for Venom, using the sonic gun, and Firestar to take down Carnage. However, when Venom moves in for the kill, Spidey intervenes allow Carnage the time he needed to restore himself. Meanwhile, Iron Fist comes to the rescue of Deathlok who was left behind in the wake of Carnage's rampage.

July 1993
Spectacular Spider-Man # 202: "The Turning Point"
Writer: J.M. DeMatteis
Artist: Sal Buscema
Jay's Rating:
JJJ

Synopsis:
The battle continues between Team Spider-Man (Black Cat, Cloak, Firestar, Morbius, Venom, and Spider-Man)  and Team Carnage (Carnage, Carrion, Demogoblin, Shriek, and the Spider-Doppleganger).  Spidey continues to struggle with the morality of killing Carnage to prevent his rampage. Firestar turns the full affect of her microwave heat beams on Carnage, but can't go through with killing Kasady. Shriek and Carnage get the up hand on Venom and capture him.

August 1993
Web of Spider-Man # 103: "Sin City"
Writer: Terry Kavanagh
Penciller:  Alex Saviuk
Inker: Don Hudson
Jay's Rating:
JJ

Synopsis:
Carnage's lackeys continue their rampage across New York City while he and Shriek torture Venom. Black Cat, Cloak, and Morbius to their best to hold off Carnage's lackeys and are joined in their efforts by Nightwatch. Meanwhile, Spider-Man and Firestar have allied themselves with Captain America, Deathlok and Iron Fist.

August 1993
Amazing Spider-Man # 380: "Soldiers of Hope"
Writer: David Michelinie
Penciller: Mark Bagley
Inker: Randy Emberlin
Jay's Rating:
JJ

Synopsis:
Nightwatch and Morbius follow Demogoblin and Spider-Doppelganger back to their lair and engage Carnage and his lackeys. They do some damage, but eventually forced to withdraw. Spidey and his new companions take out Shriek and do their best to restore order to the city.  Shriek is rescued by Demogoblin and Spider-Doppelganger and she reveals that she has been transmitting her rage and hatred across the city. She steps it up a notch and incites the mob to attack our heroes.

August 1993
Spider-Man # 37: "The Light"
Writer: J.M. DeMatteis
Penciller: Tom Lyle
Inker: Scott Hanna/Al Milgrom
Jay's Rating:
JJ1/2

Synopsis:
Spidey and his companions do their best to fend off a mob that has turned against them. Carnage arrives on the scene and scolds his lackeys as their little rampage wasn't authorized by him. The heroes manage to get most of the bystanders off the streets and prepare to engage Carnage. Cloak rejoins the battle with Dagger who has been restored to life.

August 1993
Spectacular Spider-Man # 203: "War of the Heart!"
Writer: J.M. DeMatteis
Artist: Sal Buscema
Jay's Rating:
J1/2

Synopsis:
Dagger takes on Shriek but fails to purify her with her light. The time has come for Spidey to face off against Carnage and his lackeys alone. He hangs on long enough for the other heroes to return with the "Alpha-Magni-Illuminizor". They unleash its alpha waves and subdue Carnage and his lackeys. However, the alpha waves have apparently left Cletus Kasady dead. Spidey, taking some time out, is confronted by Venom who feels cheated that he wasn't able to kill Carnage. However, Carnage suddenly appears, alive and well, and is ready to take on both of them.

August 1993
Spider-Man Unlimited # 2: "The Hatred, the Horror, and the Hero"
Writer: Tom DeFalco 
Penciller: Mark Bagley/Ron Lim
Inkers: Sam DeLaRosa/Jim Sanders III
Jay's Rating:
JJ

Synopsis:
Venom and Carnage go head-to-head as an injured Spider-Man is forced onto the sidelines. Peter gets some medical attention, gets an inspirational boost from Mary Jane, and tries to persuade his father that there are still heroes in the world. Spider-Man catches up with Carnage and Venom who are still battling it out. Black Cat joins in and they give Venom the opportunity to knock Carnage into a series of power generators. The Avengers drop by to pick up Kasady and Venom escapes.
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