Deadpool has succeeded in tracking Carnage down for the second time in so many days. Annoyed that the mercenary is able to find patterns in his random murder sprees, Carnage has decided to fight him to the death.

As the two fight, Deadpool points out the futility of trying to kill him, as Deadpool’s healing factor makes that literally impossible. Still, Carnage gores him over and over. Deadpool tries to shake his confidence by suggesting that Cletus’s love of chaos is nothing more than an imaginary friend. Carnage responds by throwing Deadpool across the highway and into an oncoming semi-truck. The force of the impact sends Deadpool under the vehicle where he is dragged under its tires.

The driver stops, horrified that he hit someone, and is shocked to discover that Deadpool is still alive despite sustaining a great deal of physical damage. By this time, a crowd has gathered to rubber-neck and take pictures. Listening to their random conversations, Deadpool picks up a message that tells him that the fight is not over yet and encourages him to get back into the fight. Unfortunately, Carnage and Shriek have escaped in the confusion. Looking around the area for clues as to where they went the only thing he can find is a cryptic message that simply says “Mercury Team”.

Meanwhile, Carnage has forced a family on vacation to take him and Shriek away from the scene of the battle. He threatens them all to keep quiet and do what he says. Recalling how Deadpool said he was able to find clues from his seemingly random actions. He then learns that the family was on a road trip and stopping at roadside attractions and small museums. Carnage is inspired by this and tells him to keep going on their original course. Their destinations are so random, Carnage would like to see Deadpool following him now.

Deadpool follows the trail to a nearby ghost town. Earlier, Carnage arrived and Shriek arrived and murdered the family before discovering that this ghost town also hid the secret hideout of Mercury Team, a Special Forces unit that Carnage had previously fought.[1] Catching the soldiers off guard, he slaughters them before they can get the symbiotes that they used to augment their abilities. When Deadpool searches the area, he is able to follow the clues down into the secret facility. There, Deadpool is ambushed and cut into pieces by Carnage who leaves him for dead. However, the symbiotes that lived here — Lasher, Riot, Phage, and Agony —- have gotten out of their containment units and bond with Deadpool, pulling him back together.

Bonded to these symbiotes, Deadpool discovers that they hate Carnage as well and looks forward to the fun he’ll have with four new personalities added to the mix.

Recurring Characters

Deadpool, Carnage, Shriek, Lasher, Riot, Phage, Agony, Marcus Simms, Howard Ogden, James Murphy, Rico Axelson

Continuity Notes

1. Carnage previously clashed with Mercury Team in Carnage USA #1-5