Posted - June 18 & 19, 2014 | July 13 to 18, 2014 | Updated : August 27, 2015

Marvel Knights Spider-Man 11

Last issue we left Spider-Man and the Black Cat surrounded by, twelve, yes twelve, of Spider-Man's deadliest foes. It's like you got in trouble with a lot of bullies in your school, you and you're girlfriend are walking home after a movie and twelve bullies suddenly surround you. It's that bad.

Before the incredible action starts we have time to enjoy some of the details. Like, for example, the gorgeous Goblin Glider from artist Terry Dodson.

The Batman can actually sue the Green Goblin for copyright infringement here. Still, its minimistically elegant isn't it? It's basically a jet turbine with wings attached, the intentional pollution just makes the big bad Goblin that much worst.

Ok. Action time! First up: Spider-Man!

One flaw I can see in this panel is the expression on the Black Cat's face. That smile doesn't belong in this desperate situation.

Then the Black Cat!

Nice detail on the kind of footwear the Cat has on her costume - seems perfect for her parkour-like activities.

Spider-Man's speed and agility and strength gives him the upper hand even against such odds until . . .

At first I couldn't tell who hit Spider-Man. The costume is black so I initially thought it was the Vulture. Then I saw the distinctively styled dialogue balloon. Oh, it's Venom. Venom came in late and had a bird's eye view of the battle from an adjoining building - apparently he just zeroed in and leapt.

This little Venom speech just brings home how desperate the situation was for Spider-Man and the Black Cat from the beginning.

I'm reading this and I'm getting a sense of things being too overwhelming to be overcome. I'm not so much scared for Peter as I am for the gorgeous Black Cat - I can just see Gargan licking his lips under his Venom "suit".

Speaking of Venom, here is an oft-mentioned characteristic of the symbiote.

Venom gets stronger and bigger the more pain and resentment his host has. There is a New Age author named Eckhart Tolle who talks about the "pain body" - that part of ourselves that comes out when we have our bouts with self-pity or self-destructive activities. That out-of-control part of ourselves that actually enjoys being miserable in that sick way. Man, that's Venom. That's what Venom symbolizes - being taken over by the "pain body". The pity parties. The suicidal tendencies. That's Venom.

The situation we find in this issue is a study on what Peter Parker is like when things are hopeless. When there is no light at the end of the tunnel. To those who've been through horrendous life moments - becoming homeless, having your house taken by a storm, any situation where you have more month than money. You wish you could just give up, but you're still alive. You have to go on. A sort of fatalism takes hold - a morbid kind of acceptance. This is what happens to Peter.

Peter gives it everything. It's a joy to see the big, bad Venom go flying.

Terry Dodson gives us a very narrow panel that manages to pack in everybody against the Spider.

The claustrophobic narrowness of the panel just increases the desperation I feel for Spider-Man. He can't handle it. He needs help. Somebody call the Avengers.

Did I say call the Avengers? It turns out MJ does make a call. Not to the Avengers but to S.H.I.E.L.D. This is even better than the Avengers because S.H.I.E.L.D. has contact points on everybody. Avengers I said? How about this: Avengers + Fantastic Four + Daredevil. Woohoo!

God forbid a well-illustrated Thing panel appears in Spider-Man and I don't show it.

Things have gone from "hopeless" to "hopeless for the bad guys". Just when I can breathe a bit easier writer Mark Millar increases the tension levels again. The Green Goblin isn't in this fight, he skipped to the other side of town.

Oh shit.

So now Spider-Man is racing to MJ, trying to beat the clock. The distance is significant as this panel suggests.

I'm thinking, faster Pete, faster! Then this happens!

Venom is not an easy obstacle. He makes it clear that he's just here to delay Spider-Man so that the Green Goblin can have his way with MJ. This just ups the desperation. To make things worst, Venom plays on Peter's heroism by pulling apart the surrounding buildings to endanger civilians. Look at this catastrophe.

Spidey has no choice and weaves his web. Look at this amazing save.

Here's the best part of all! Spider-Man pulls a whole building down on Venom.

Finally, Peter can go on his way and the issue ends with this.

Whew! What an issue. I knew at the end of issue 10 that 11 was going to be a blockbuster and it was.

Wait a minute! Wait a minute! There is ONE more thing. The Sinister Twelve is obviously modelled after the Sinister Six. Do you remember the leader of the Sinister Six? That's right, he has four incredibly strong mechanical arms and he's probably smarter then Peter Parker. In this story arc he's also "programmed" to go after Norman Osborn. And, most importantly, he's loose!

Doctor Octopus is bound to make things very interesting.