Well it seems I didn't read the comic very well. At least the part with Venom. Because he was in San Francisco at the time, it was only when I started reading volume 3 that I discovered that. Eddy Brock is at the airport coming into New York to deal with the Carnage situation. I'm sitting here thinking; ''What the hell is this guy doing at the airport''
We get to see Spiderman talking with dagger. Who's a bit distraught about the death of his former companion Cloak. And it's not that interesting because, ''who cares'' about dagger. Even Spider-Man tells them that calm down. And then just like that he disappears Into the Night. Like a crappy Phantom.
Now Spider-Man has to go home to he's biggest problem, trying to explain himself to a very unhappy Mary Jane. Who's taking up the habit of smoking. Mary Jane is understandably very upset at Peter. Telling him that he couldn't even keep a promise for one day. Peter tries to explain the situation, dealing with the most maddening of criminals. But Mary Jane's no idiot , she knows that no matter the criminal Spider-Man will always go after them. It's a fact of life, the two can never have true Peace (or security for that matter.)
This part got me thinking about the Sam Raimi films. A lot of people berate those movies because of their emphasis on the romantic subplot between Peter and MJ. And though I admit Sam Raimi's approaches is cornyer then it needs to be, It still serves an important purpose.
For at the end of the day Spider-Man isn't about punching the bad guy (at least that's not all there is to it.)
Imagine Spider-Man fighting his foes as the meat and potatoes of a meal. The drama, the character interaction, the character building between him and all his family is the seasoning.
You don't technically need it with your meal, but a steak unseasoned or unmerited* is a very unpleasing experience. Much like a potato with no butter.
The conflict between Peter and his wife makes for the greatest spice of all. It's the garlic of any meal, Not only does it represent the biggest conflicts for Spider-Man but it represents the greatest award. Spider-Man without emotional connection is just a shell. Another costumed crazy running about the streets with no Rhyme or Reason to his existence.
Now it works the other way too, too much seasoning can overpower the meal and make it Inedible.
We get that problem in this comic, Spider-Man swinging through the city and makes reference to his parents still being alive. I'm pretty sure it's a part of the bad subplot of Peter's parents secretly being spies or some other gibberish.
While Peter and MJ are having a little discussion, Carnage and his b-grade crew are running amok around the city (Mainly in New York Central Park). Killing random people and having a lot of fun of it. There's a little dialogue between Shriek and Carnage as she tries to warm up to him**, Carnage accepts this to a certain level insisting that she doesn't push it too far, less she ends up on the wrong end of Carnage's blood lust.
Spider-Man is searching for the group when he stumbles upon a different villain Demogoblin.
A villain I had never heard of (Starting to sound like a broken record.) I guess he's a Green Goblin look alike who's been possessed by a demon, or thinks he's a demon, or possibly fighting a demon. Either way he's not overly interesting. Just a Green Goblin clone who can throw strange black smoke bombs at Spider-Man to screw with his mind.
It's the closest Spider-Man has been to being killed in this story. The goblin pick him up and proclaims; ''Now you will suffer Eternal damnation for your sins Spider-Man'' It seems a priest who was amongst the onlookers comes up to the Goblin, calling his statement 'blasphemy' and trying to ward him off from killing Spider-Man. It's this little distraction that gives Spider-Man the opportunity he needs to break out of his mind trap . But before Webhead can do anything to the goblin, he has a pumpkin bomb thrown in his face explodeding on impact and leave Spider-Man more or less defenceless. Luckily for him the Goblin flies off. Peter decides to go home realising that he can't fight in his weakened condition.
Our next panel shows Venom about to attack Carnage. Carnage is taken by surprise a little bit and seems to be almost happy at seeing his 'pop'³ in the same city as him. Unfortunately Venom is outnumbered three-to-one with Carnage being a significant enough Force to beat him in the first place.
Peter and MJ are watching the news in their apartment, MJ goes gos to open the front door thinking that it's her landlord. Only to see Eddie Brock stumble into our house half dead . Now Peters upset that he won't be getting any sleep and that his life is just gotten more difficult.
That was Maximum Carnage issue 3, Overall it's better than issue 2, Spider-Man has more interesting dialogue, Carnage had something to actually do, Eddie Brock finally gets introduced proper and the art style is more visually appealing. It's only downside is introducing another sub par villain to an already clutter list of characters. But then they have 11 more issues to go.
And much like issue 2 it has a good hook at the end that makes you want to keep reading.
*I know there are people out there who think me crazy for marinating a steak. I might as well just smother it in ketchup is the thought.
**There's this weird romantic Chemistry Between shriek and Carnage . it reminded me a bit of the Joker and Harley Quinn , only more basic and even more dangerous. Part of me thought they ripped off Harley Quinn and the Joker, until I realised, this comic came out a few years before Harley Quinn even existed. Now I'm wondering if this romance was an inspiration for Harley Quinn's character in the first place. (That's pure speculation on my part , but it's entreating none the less.)
³Carnage often referred to Venom as a father. As Carnage is a piece of Symbiotes that separated from Venom in the first place. Becoming its own separate entity.
Maximum Carnage Part 2
Maximum Carnage Part 1
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