Tanis Nievens has just been bonded to the Carnage symbiote and is now struggling to keep her memories as her mind is invaded with those of Cletus Kasady. She remembers how she convinced her family to let her adopt a three-legged one-eyed dog. This is followed by one of Kasady’s memories when he killed a dog at the same age. She tries to remember when she graduated in psychiatry at age 26. This memory is overpowered by a memory of Kasady’s where he set the headmaster at the Estes School For Boys on fire. She then focuses on how she treated Frances Barrison at Ravencroft Institute. She wanted to help the woman get well when everyone else had written her off. This leads to Kasady’s memories of his time with Shriek during the Maximum Carnage massacre. He had fallen in love with her because she would kill in his name. It was because of this love that Carnage was plotting to kill her.[1]

Throughout this mental struggle, the Carnage symbiote is using Tanis’ body to slaughter the security detail at Hall Industries. While elsewhere in the facility doctors are examining the body of the Spider-Doppelganger. They have been tasked by Michael Hall, their boss, to perform an autopsy to find if there is anything they can learn from the creature that can be patented.[2] That’s when the alarm starts going off, prompting the two scientists to abandon their work.

Outside, Spider-Man and Iron Man’s fight with the Iron Rangers has abruptly ended when they were warned of the trouble inside. The two Avengers decide to go and check it out when suddenly Royal Blue is sent crashing out the front door Hall Industries. That’s when Carnage emerges from the building. Spider-Man scolds Royal Blue for bringing Cletus Kasady back to Earth but is told that Kasady is actually dead and that it is Tanis Nieves inside the symbiote.

Back inside, some of the surviving security guards try to force Shrief to return to her room. She refuses to go without seeing her doctor and is knocked out. In the morgue, the sound of Shriek’s protests causes the Spider-Doppelganger to stur.

While outside, Iron Man tries to stop the Carnage symbiote before it can fully bond to Nieves but is easily knocked aside. Spider-Man tries to reach Tanis but the symbiote resists his attempt of reaching through to its new host. Growing wings, the Carnage symbiote escapes with Tanis. Inside, Shriek continues to fight with the guards when they are suddenly ambushed by the Spider-Doppelganger. Despite the creature’s best intentions, the two guards corner it and begin beating the creature with their clubs. Shriek tells them to stop and when they don’t she unleashes a sonic blast that turns the guards into bloody smears on the wall.

Meanwhile, the Carnage symbiote is on a rampage through New York City. With Iron Man, Spider-Man and the Iron Rangers on its heels, the symbiote decides to flee into the sewers. Still, Tony Stark is able to track the monster and determines it is heading for Times Square. This makes the Iron Rangers realize that Carnage is going after their boss, Michael Hall, who has an office there. The two Avengers race to the office where they force their way into Hall’s panic room. They tell Michael that the Carnage symbiote is coming for him. When Spider-Man scolds him from bringing it back from space after the death of Cletus Kasady, Hall informs them that Cletus isn’t dead.

At that moment, the Carnage symbiote is slaughtering its way into a holding room where Michael Hall has been keeping Kasady prisoner since they recovered his body. He stands up to greet his symbiote, standing on cybernetic legs made by Hall Industries.

Recurring Characters

Carnage, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Iron Rangers (Royal Blue, Firebrick, Paris Green, Burnt Orange, Gun Metal), Shriek, Spider-Doppelganger, Michael Hall, Cletus Kasady

Continuity Notes

1. Shriek was a member of Carnage’s entourage during the Maximum Carnage event. (Spider-Man Unlimited #1-2, Web of Spider-Man #101-103, Amazing Spider-Man #378-380, Spider-Man #35-37, Spectacular Spider-Man #201-203)

2. It is mentioned that Michael Hall recovered Carnage’s body from space. It was stuck in Earth orbit at the Sentry flew Cletus Kasady there and ripped him in half. See New Avengers #2.