Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 11: Carnage (Ultimate Spider-Man (Graphic… (2004 original; edició 2006)

In the previous comic, Spider-Man is dismayed to learn that Sam Raimi is making a Spider-Man movie with Tobey Maguire in it. They even use actual footage of him flying through the air for the movie. And Spider-Man isn't getting paid one cent for this movie. Which is money he could use. Mary Jane is the only one who knows his identity but with Gwen Stacey living in the house it won't be long before she finds out his secret and she blames Spider-Man for her dad's death even though it was an imposter dressed like Spider-Man who killed her father. Doc Octavius broods in jail but not for long as someone opens the door where his arms are being held and he can still control them even with them not being attached to his body. It isn't long before he hunts down Spider-Man for revenge for putting him away in jail in the first place. Spider-Man captures Doctor Octavius and Gwen comes around and sees that Peter Parker wasn't to blame for her father's death.

In this comic, Doctor Conners is having nightmares about what he could possibly do to his family as the Lizard and desperately wants a cure. Meanwhile, Spider-Man is fighting a bad guy and gets hurt and turns to Doctor Conners to stitch him up. Doctor Conners looks at Spider-Man's blood under the microscope and sees possibilities there. So does his assistant. This could possibly fix his arm and cure him of being the Lizard. But first, he asks Peter for permission to use his blood to do tests and experiments. At first Peter is apprehensive, but in the end, he agrees.

Then one night the creature they have been growing in the lab based off of Peter's blood escapes and kills the school's night guard. It has Peter's memories and is searching for someone in Peter's circle of friends and family and when it sees one it kills them by puncturing a hole in their skin and draining the life out of them. Peter is devastated and he wants to destroy what killed the person who was close to him.

This is a dark comic in that someone dies and that Peter kills the thing that killed the person whom it killed. Peter had a mentor and friend in Doctor Connors and that is destroyed in this book. It's a really killing blow to Peter to lose this person and he feels responsible for not saving them even though he wasn't there. But that just shows you the type of person Peter is. Someone who feels the weight of the world on his shoulders. And he doesn't complain--much--only when it becomes overwhelming. This was a sad comic, but I loved it anyway and I give it five out of five stars. ( )

I read a few of the comics in this volume in comic form, thanks to a collection I found at a library used book sale. But I didn't remember the death in this issue. In fact, I thought this character survived the series, based on other comics I've read. I am confused. And I am sad. Even sadder that it was Doc Conners and Peter's DNA that lead to the death. I love the hurt!Peter scenes at the beginning so much. And I love the angst. But, man, can't Peter Parker catch a break? He was so darn happy at the end of Volume 10, lying in bed with MJ And Gwen and having these two support his Spider-Man exploits. And now, after this death, he's thinking of giving up being Spider-Man again? Oh, of course all it takes is one person in need to make him remember why he does what he does. But what a price this comes with. Poor Peter. I said that a lot while reading this volume. ( )

It's the eleventh trade in the Ultimate Spider-Man series, and Peter Parker still can't catch a break. Just when he starts trusting someone, it comes back and kicks him in the rear. Carnage, a creature that exists in the 616-verse but I've not read a thing about, is created.

I can't say whether it's like its 616-verse counterpart, but I thought that the story lagged a bit. This trade definitely wasn't on par with some of the earlier trades for this series, and I felt that the plot was rather weak.

Bagley, at least, seems to be back in fine form, and his artwork is as good as ever. I really like how he made Carnage look; the thing was downright creepy, especially as it skulked around in the dark. ( )