The serial killer Torment is following the path of the Death Spiral, and it’s led straight to Dylan Brock. Now, the son of Venom is alone, injured and on the run, and Venom’s other child might be his only hope. But will Carnage choose to help Dylan, or kill him all over again? Because someone’s got to die. Venom #256 is written by Al Ewing, drawn by Carlos Gomez, colored by Frank D’Armata and lettered by Clayton Cowles.
Ask Spider-Man fans who their least favorite supporting character is, and you’re likely to get a variety of answers. However, you’re going to find a growing trend. One name that will pop up more than others. Yet this week, that’s all been resolved, as that character has unceremoniously met his end.
— Spoilers Follow —
In the past few issues of Amazing Spider-Man and Venom, Spidey, Venom and Carnage have been tied up by Torment, a serial killer with a unique pattern, creating spirals radiating out from his target, and killing his way through the loved ones who fall on those spirals. Right now, Eddie Brock, Mary Jane Watson and Peter Parker are his targets (yet Torment doesn’t know they’re the secret identities of our heroes — it’s a thing).
Well, now the spirals have tightened and Torment has nearly reached his quarries. Only Anna Watson, May Parker and Dylan Brock stand in their way. In Venom #256, Torment sets his sights on Dylan, who is currently living with MJ and her ex (who has yet to move out), Paul Rabin.
With MJ out trying to find Torment, Venom isn’t there to protect Paul or Dylan when Torment arrives. Paul does his best to stop the serial killer, but does so with the worst thing you can use against a stabby murderer: a knife.
So, just like that, Paul is gone. Not seriously wounded. Not “he could pull through!” Carnage confirms it.
Paul is dead.
And honestly, good riddance.
Paul first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #1. The previous volume of Amazing had ended with Peter and Mary Jane back together in a good place, but then a mysterious flash of light enveloped them as the issue ended. The following #1 found the duo six months later, Peter a pariah among his family and friends, and MJ living with Paul … and their two children.
Over the course of the volume, readers discovered that Paul was the son of a villain who was attempting to gain godlike math powers, the children were constructs and their whole relationship was a sham. Yet MJ stayed with him, apparently because editorial told the creative teams so.
Paul instantly became one of the most hated characters in comics. In most cases, it was because he was a barrier between Peter and MJ. But when you took a step back from that …
… well, he still sucked.
He gaslit MJ.
He was a condescending ass to Peter, after he was the cause of the majority of Peter’s current problems (both directly and indirectly).
He lied to everyone about his past.
He helped his evil father, then hid that fact and has yet to have been held accountable for it.
He gave MJ a weapon that gave her superpowers, that also had an instant death switch that could kill her.
When said weapon almost killed her, he, again, didn’t take any real accountability for it.
He was a try-hard surrogate father to Dylan, and didn’t understand why Dylan would push him away.
He dragged his feet moving out after MJ dumped him, probably in hopes of getting back together with her.
And he wore his hair in a topknot.
So goodbye, Paul. The only good thing you did was save Dylan’s life. I hope MJ can move on from you quickly. But she won’t. It’s comics.
Marvel-ous afterthoughts
- One of the best parts of last week’s Superman/Spider-Man one-shot was seeing Paul get butt-of-the-joke treatment in Gail Simone and Belen Ortega’s Power Girl/Punisher backup. You’re right, Karen, the pony is egregious. — Dan
Tony Thornley is a geek dad, blogger, Spider-Man and Superman aficionado, X-Men guru, autism daddy, amateur novelist and all around awesome guy. He’s also very humble. Follow him @brawl2099.bsky.social.
