I’m on a quest to read all Spider-Man stories, one collection at a time. Today, I read Amazing Spider-Man by Nick Spencer vol. 6: Absolute Carnage. This arc is a tie-in to the Absolute Carnage event.
Reading Order
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (2018) #29-31
RED GOBLIN: RED DEATH #1
Plot
In issue #29, Mary Jane prepares to leave for California to film her new movie. On the day of her departure, Peter is summoned by his sister Teresa Parker to help rescue her partner. In typical Spider-Man fashion, Peter accepts this responsibility and misses seeing MJ before she leaves. A disappointed Peter returns home and sulks about not being able to give MJ her gift… an engagement ring! Issues #30-31 are a tie in to Absolute Carnage, telling the story from Kindred’s perspective. We learn that Kindred visited Norman Osborn before the events of Absolute Carnage, and that he is responsible for Norman’s defeat. Finally, Red Goblin: Red Death shows a flashback to Norman Osborn’s days as the Red Goblin, adding some context to Absolute Carnage.
Review
Issue #29 was exciting in many ways. Peter’s good-guy morality is on point, as usual, and Mary Jane’s subplot adds more to her character. I like that Nick Spencer has developed MJ to be a main character in the series. Issues #30-31 expand on the mystery of Kindred and reveal that he has some relationship to Norman Osborn. I’m frankly a bit disappointed and worried that the Kindred storyline will turn into yet another arc where Norman Osborn messes with Peter’s life, either directly or indirectly. They don’t add much to Spider-Man’s overall story, and they make Absolute Carnage seem less interesting. The violence in Red Death is gratuitous and doesn’t serve to expand the story.
Rating
3 (out of 5). Issue #29 was very well written. The rest could have been avoided or summarized in 1-2 panels in a future issue.
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