Venom (vol. 2) #26

The Madman & The Microverse

This story continues from Scarlet Spider (vol. 2) #10…

Carnage has been brought to one of the shut down Body Banks in the middle of Microverse. He is told by Veras how these facilities were once used to create perfect specimens before it was shut down, hence why Carnage has been brought to kill the Redeemer so they can reactivate the Body Banks. When Veras suggest they kill or mindwipe their prisoner, Katy Kiernan, Carnage refuses. He tells his allies that Katy is his official biographer and only he has the right to end her life, but not before she writes down his life story. Katy tries to get Carnage to see sense, pointing out that they only brought him to the Body Banks as raw material to create an army to go after Redeemer. Carnage comments her skills of deduction and tells her to wait and see what he does next.

Meanwhile, aboard the Endeavor, Agent Venom comes face-to-face with the members of the Engima Force. Their leader Arctrus Rann welcomes him but Sprite and Marionette are concerned that Venom will bring about the destruction of the Microverse. They want him to leave, but Venom refuses to go without his friend, Katy Kiernan. Regardless of this concern, Rann tells his crew that they are bringing Venom to meet with the Redeemer. That’s when the alarms go off signaling the arrival of the Marquis Radu’s armada.

While on an alien world, the Scarlet Spider is fighting for his life against a a massive crab-like creature. The battle is observed by a strange cloaked man wearing bandages who doesn’t assist the Spider in the battle. Ultimately, the Scarlet Spider slays the creature and the strange man offers to tend to his wounds. The mystery man says he goes by many names, and settles on Redeemer being a suitable one to go by now. When asked what he does, the Redeemer says he is a healer and places a hand on the Scarlet Spider.

Back at the Body Banks, Carnage has slaughtered most of Veras’ minions as punishment for trying to use him for raw materials to create an army to destroy the Redeemer. He is about to kill Katy as well for manipulating him into doing this when Veras and Xerxes try to stop him. He slaughters Xerxes and Veras with ease. He has kept Raidus so he can take them to their leader.

Meanwhile, the Endeavor has been boarded by their attackers. As they fight through the enemy armada, Agent Venom is shot in the face at point blank range. All this does is anger the Venom symbiote. It starts taking control and begins slaughtering the invaders, vowing to destroy the Microverse itself.

At that same moment, the Scarlet Spider follows the Redeemer, who tells him that the Microverse has been plagued by endless hostility. Before he used to fight until he opened himself up to the Enigma Force, the essence of the Microverse, and now he knows he can heal this troubled world. He leads the Scarlet Spider to the base of the current conqueror the Marquis Radu in order to heal him. However, before they can go down to the Marquis’ hideout they are ambushed by Carnage who vows to kill them both.

…This story continues in Scarlet Spider (vol. 2) #11.

Recurring Characters

Agent Venom, Scarlet Spider, Katy Kiernan, Enigma Force (Arctrus Rann, Marionette, Bug, Flare, Quark), Doctor Ketola, Carnage, Raidus, Veras, Centrivos, Xerxes, Krevius, Null-Tron