Superior Carnage #1
Ted Connelly was busted for insider trading. However, due to overcrowding in regular prisons, he has found himself in a super-villain containment facility as part of a pilot project. He has never been more afraid for his life than when he was transferred here. The other prisoners and guards take joy in how often Ted ends up shitting his pants in fear. Which happens more frequently since Cletus Kasady was put in the cell next to him a month ago. Even though Kasady has been in a catatonic state since his incarceration, Ted is horrified to have Carnage as a next-door neighbor.[1]
One day, one of the guards decides to have some fun by threatening to enter the code that will open Carnage’s cell. Suddenly, some external force takes mental control of the guard and makes him open Kasady’s cell. Cletus instantly transforms into Carnage and begins slaughtering guards and prisoners alike. Ted Connelly dies an undignified death, gored by Carange’s tendrils as he soils his pants on while cowering on the toilet.
This break out is the master plan of the Wizard, who watches the slaughter from the security room. He has taken the monitor guards prisoner and tells them about his scheme to win over the love of his son by reforming the Frightful Four.[2] He explains how he learned that the government tried to control the Venom symbiote and decided to copy this with Carnage.[3] When one of the guards mocks him for forming yet another version of the Frightful Four, the Wizard kills them all.[4] He then allows Carnage to enter the monitor room. As the symbiote lunges at him, the Wizard attempts to use his mind control helmet to enslave Carnage. However, he quickly discovers that Carnage no longer has a mind. Soon, the mass-murderer is attacking him. Luckily, Carnage is suddenly struck by sonic blast that knocks him out. The Wizard, as it turns out, had the forethought to recruit Klaw, the master of sound, before attempting to capture Carnage.
Recurring Characters
Carnage, the Wizard, Klaw, Man-Bull, Man-Ape, Agent Venom (flashback)
Continuity Notes
Carnage has been catatonic since his recent clash with Venom and the Scarlet Spider during the Minimum Carnage event. See Minimum Carnage: Alpha #1, Scarlet Spider (viol. 2) #10-11, Venom (vol. 2) #26-27, and Minimum Carnage: Omega #1
The Wizard’s “son” is actually a clone of himself named Bentley-23, first seen in Fantastic Four #570. The boy was adopted by the Fantastic Four and made a member of their Future Foundation. He mentions the last time he tried to recruit his son, this happened in FF (vol. 2) #5-6.
The US military recovered the Venom symbiote in Amazing Spider-Man #648 as part of Project Rebirth 2.0. It was given to Flash Thompson in Amazing Spider-Man #654. Mention is made how the government lost control of Venom. This was due to Flash leaving military service in Venom (vol. 2) #15.
One of the guards asks if this isn’t the sixteenth version of the Frightful Four so far. Not quite. Past teams have included:
The original team which consisted of the Wizard, Trapster, Sandman and Medusa was first formed back in Fantastic Four #36.
The earliest roster change had the Bettle taking Medusa place for a one-time caper, as seen in a flashback from Amazing Spider-Man #657.
The next roster included Blastaar in Medusa’s place in Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Comics Magazine #9-10.
Thunder was the next to fill the fourth spot on the team in Fantastic Four #129 until she betrayed the group in issue #148.
Next they attempted to recruit the Brute, aka Counter-Earth’s Reed Richards, but he ended up getting banished to the Negative Zone. See Fantastic Four #176-178.
Electro was another one-time member from Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #39-42 and Fantastic Four #218.
Another incarnation included Llyra in Amazing Spider-Man #213-214.
Next, the Wizard tried an entirely new team which included the Taskmaster, Constrictor, and Deadpool. As seen in a flashback from Deadpool #35.
Starting from scratch again, the Wizard formed a new team which included Hydro-Man, Titania and Klaw from Fantastic Four #326-333.
Another one-off team included the Wizard, Trapster, Dreadknight, and Man-Bull in Amazing Spider-Man: Chaos in Calgary #4.
Yet another failed incarnation included the Wizard, Klaw, Red Ghost, and She-Thing in Fantastic Four Unlimited #5.
The Wizard next tried to create a team that was the “opposite” of the Fantastic Four. It included himself, his ex-wife Salamandra, daughter Cole, and Hydro-Man. See Fantastic Four 514-516.
Another team featured the Wizard and past members the Trapster, Hydro-Man, and Titania in Fantastic Four #547-549.
Lyra, Thundra’s daughter, joined a team featuring the Wizard, Trapster, and Klaw in order to find the She-Hulk in Fall of the Hulks: The Savage She-Hulks #1-3.
He also tried forming a team that included himself, a mind-controlled Medusa, Blastaar, and Bently-23 in the aforementioned FF (vol. 2) #5-6
