There are few ways of introducing a new villain that are more tried and true than having them kill off an established villain. This is an easy way of conveying just how dangerous the newcomer is. Such is the case in Marvel‘s current Death Spiral event, where the serial killer Torment slaughtered a classic Spider-Man villain who was also adapted for the MCU.
The murder took place in the final pages of Amazing Spider-Man #23 by Joe Kelly and Ed McGuinness. The second chapter of Death Spiral, the issue largely centered around Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson. The former lovers caught up and clarified the confusion born of the past few months. Specifically, how Peter was lost in space and being impersonated by his clone, Ben Reilly, while Mary Jane became the latest host of the Venom symbiote.
At the same time, Torment was stalking his latest target. The costumed serial killer choses his victims through distant blood relations, creating a “death spiral” that is all but impossible to track. Working under the direction of Carnage, Torment was working his way toward Spider-Man, Eddie Brock, and Mary Jane Watson. This led him to a classic Marvel Comics villain, who is apparently a distant relative by marriage to Mary Jane.
What classic Spider-Man villain did Torment murder?
Torment’s latest victim was Herman Schultz, a.k.a. The Shocker. First appearing in 1967’s Amazing Spider-Man #46, Schultz was a self-taught engineer and safe-cracker who developed a pair of gauntlets that allowed him to generate intense sonic vibrations. Shocker was notable for being strictly mercenary, more concerned with getting paid than seeking revenge. However, he was frequently used by comic writers who needed a low-level jobber to add action otherwise chat-heavy comics. This has given Shocker a reputation as an easily defeated joke among some comic readers.
Shocker’s death took place off-panel, but was undeniably brutal. The final page reveals that Torment wrote the message “Carnage Ruled,” along with his trademark spiral emblem, in Schultz’s blood. To add insult to injury, he left Shocker’s mask pinned to the wall.
What makes Shocker’s death especially tragic was how he proved his skills just before his ignoble death. Earlier in the issue, Shocker held his own against Spider-Man and Venom simultaneously with his latest costume upgrades. There is some irony that Shocker finally developed into a threat only to be taken down by a common killer.
Amazing Spider-Man #23 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
