Dan Slott's Amazing Spider-Man run is close to wrapping up after what feels like forever and it will soon be up to the writer of the controversial Secret Empire storyline, Nick Spencer, to take the reigns of the wall-crawler's world. Amazing Spider-Man #800 went on sale today and it features an epic conclusion to Spidey's battle with Norman Osborn who has powered himself up with the Carnage symbiote.
Below, you'll find a breakdown of all the issue's biggest and most shocking moments and it's fair to say that there's a lot here which will not only prove to be controversial but will leave fans talking!
To check out the full list, all you guys need to do it hit the "View List" button below. It goes without saying that there are spoilers here but even if you've given up reading comic books (as seems to be the case for many fans these days), you'll still want to take a look to see what's on the way in this issue.
Spider-Man Dons The Venom Symbiote
The issue kicks off by dealing with the fallout from Amazing Spider-Man #799 and after Norman once again gains the upper hand during a battle at Stark Tower, Eddie Brock decides that the best possible way to stop him is to let Peter Parker wear the Venom symbiote again. It's only on loan, though!
An Unexpected Team-Up
With Normie Osborn also decked out in part of the Carnage symbiote, he goes after Aunt May but she gets some unexpected help in the form of Doctor Octopus and J. Jonah Jameson who, after inadvertently revealing Spider-Man's identity to Carnage, uses an old Spider-Slayer. Both are defeated by Norman! Surprisingly, this concludes with Peter forgiving Otto and giving him a "clean slate."
Normie Turns On Norman
After Carnage throws Liz (Normie's mother) through a window, the youngster sees Spider-Man save her and instantly turns on his grandfather. Enraged, the villain blames Peter for turning his family against him and a battle ensues. Normie, meanwhile, powers down and quickly reunites with his parents.
Carnage's Master Plan
It turns out that there was a very good reason Norman tracked down all of Peter's friends and family. He infected them with slivers of the symbiote which, at a moment's notice, he could send to their brain to kill them. However, it turns out that Flash Thompson - Anti-Venom - has figured out Spider-Man's secret identity too and went to Aunt May and MJ in order to remove those ticking time bombs.
The Death Of Flash Thompson
Anti-Venom takes the fight to Carnage and while it appears as if he's gaining the upper hand, it turns out that Norman still has some Green Goblin tech beneath his symbiote and he uses that to electrocute Flash. Sadly, his injuries prove to be fatal and after a touching goodbye with Spidey, he dies in his arms. This marks a shocking end of the character but his story has been running on fumes.
Spider-Man Becomes Venom
Enraged by Norman's attack on Flash, Peter gives in to his violent impulses and lets his rage infect the symbiote. As a result, he transforms into Venom and it's only his old friend's last words which help the hero resist those impulses and not be the reason the symbiote returns to its old, villainous ways.
The Final Battle
An epic battle between Spider-Man and Carnage kicks off and after Norman gains the upper hand, Peter manages to hold him off by pointing out that it's not Green Goblin killing the Spider...it's Carnage and Cletus Kassidy! The villain is enraged by this and when Peter removes Venom and challenges him to fight mano on mano, Norman takes off the symbiote to reveal his old Green Goblin persona.
The Green Goblin's Defeat
Spidey manages to take his foe down and when the villain begs the Carnage symbiote to help him, the wall-crawler seemingly destroys it by hitting it with an exploding gas tank. However, the symbiote was attached to Norman when Peter destroyed it, and he wonders what sort of effect that might have had on his old foe's mind. Watching all of this is J. Jonah Jameson and he makes a shock decision.
Spider-Man's Sacrifice
Deciding that the only way to make things right is to kill Norman Osborn, Jameson points a gun at the defeated villain and pulls the trigger. Shockingly, Spidey takes the bullet for the villain and makes it clear that it's not the right thing to do. After all, With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility!
Norman And Normie's Fates
Norman is behind bars in Ravencroft and believes that Spider-Man is Norman Osborn and he is Cletus Kassidy. His mind appears to have been completely fried but it's not clear whether or not he's faking it or if he's actually lost his mind. Harry, meanwhile, manages to remove the symbiote from Normie but we then see that not all of it has gone which leaves the door open to Carnage's return one day.
Peter Forgives Jonah
After some words of wisdom from his Aunt May at Flash's funeral, Peter decides to forgive Jonah for everything that's happened and a bond is seemingly formed between the two. However, their touching moment is interrupted by a police siren and the wall-crawler heads off to do what he does best.
The After-Credits Scene
In the final couple of pages, we're introduced to Dr. Elliot Tolliver, a character who has just started working at Horizon Labs. It's then revealed that this is actually Dr. Otto Octavius, a.k.a. the Superior Spider-Man! Where/when he'll turn up next remains to be seen but we know Dan Slott loves him.
What do you think about these Amazing Spider-Man #800 spoilers? Do you think Slott did the landmark issue justice? As always, be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments section.