Amazing Spider-Man/Venom: Death Spiral - Body Count (2026) #1

by Charles Soule, Kev Walker (Artist), Cafu (Cover Art)

THE ORIGIN OF TORMENT! 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!

Kindle Edition

Published May 13, 2026

About the author

Charles Soule is a #1 New York Times-bestselling novelist, comics author, screenwriter, musician, and lapsed attorney. He has written some of the most prominent stories of the last decade for Marvel, DC and Lucasfilm in addition to his own work, such as his comics Curse Words, Letter 44 and Undiscovered Country, and his original novels Light of the Jedi, The Endless Vessel, The Oracle Year and Anyone. He lives in New York.

Reviews

[Norrin Shearer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like that Torment’s backstory wasn’t revealed during the main issues of the event. He was so scary in part because of the mystery around him. Having the cards laid out on the table like this is a great closing chapter, and I’m glad that was delivered to the readers and not the heroes.

[Raymond Paquette · Rating 4 out of 5]

He was a sick, sick person. I'm glad he's dead. He would work well as a Batman villain, not a Spider-Man one.

[Craig Schorling · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun way to get the backstory of Torment. It leaves things open to revisit this storybeat down the line if they choose to.

[Dean · Rating 1 out of 5]

I enjoyed the event, but this story took the wind out of my sails.
The back story to Torment. It wasnt worth getting. Skip this.

The exposition is handled really poorly. Tommy wiseau-esque

[Axx · Rating 2 out of 5]

"...You're just 163."

[Andy Waldron · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay.