The Spectacular Spider-Man, Vol. 1 #201 (Marvel Comics 1993) Direct Edition

The Spectacular Spider-Man, Vol. 1 #201 (Marvel Comics 1993) Direct Edition — “Over the Line!” — is Part 5 of 14 in the Maximum Carnage saga, delivering a mid‑arc turn in one compact 32‑page issue.

Script by J.M. DeMatteis with pencils and inks by Sal Buscema delivers a dense, action‑driven chapter that picks up from Spider-Man 35. Carnage and his murderous marauders have escaped the grasps of the Black Cat, Venom, and Spider‑Man, leaving the trio at odds on how to proceed. Venom and Felicia chase Carnage while Peter Parker stops by Aunt May’s house to rest and clear his head, as Carnage, Shriek, the Demogoblin, and Spider‑Doppelganger begin wreaking havoc across the city.

As the wall‑crawler regroups, the city descends into anarchy with civilians turned against each other, raising the stakes for the quartet of killers and the heroes who pursue them. Story continues in Web of Spider‑Man 102, with cameo appearances by Cloak and Carrion helping to weave this crossover event together.

This issue also features a full‑page ad for Doctor Strange and the Secret Defenders, a collectible detail for readers following the era. For collectors, note that the Maximum Carnage storyline was reprinted in 1994 as the Spider‑Man Maximum Carnage trade paperback.