Clone Saga - Spider-Man: The Clone Saga

Spider-Man: The Clone Saga

Ex-editor-in-chief Tom DeFalco said that under him, the Clone Saga would have been resolved in a different way: "Our plan was to structure the clone saga like a three-act play. Act One would climax at or around Amazing #400—when we revealed that Pete was the clone and Ben was the real guy. Act Two would last around three months and follow Ben's adventures. In Act Three, Peter would triumphantly return as the one, true Spider-Man. Mark and I was hoping the Spider-crew could make Ben a viable character during his turn in the spotlight, and we planned to star Ben in his own monthly title after Peter returned. It was kind of like what I had already done with Thor and Thunderstrike—two very different titles based on a single concept. Of course, our plan went into the trash the day I got fired."

In September 2009, a six-part mini-series based on the outline of the original Clone Saga came out, written by Tom DeFalco and Howard Mackie, and drawn by Todd Nauck.

Series Co-creator Howard Mackie, described how this project had a long, meandering origin which was born out of multiple conversations, over a period of years, with Editor Ralph Macchio. "Somewhere along the line I discovered a notebook which contained the original notes from the very first meeting at which the clone story was discussed. The original notes showed that the story was planned as a three month event spread across the four monthly Spider-Man titles. At some point Ralph talked to Joe Quesada, and I got a phone call from Ralph asking if I wanted to do a mini-series showing a version that was truer to what the writers originally imagined. Tom and I remember certain story points differently. The goal with this mini-series was get back to basics, to strip away the extraneous stuff that got layered onto the original story, and to present the cleanest possible version of what was a pretty simple story at heart. It was decided that it would be best if only two writers collaborated on this mini-series."

The first issue reintroduced Ben Reilly and Kaine, as well as addressed Mary-Jane's pregnancy and Aunt May's hospitalization, an infection that is seemingly incurable. Ben and Peter bond after Kaine attacks them, and Ben stays in New York as Peter's blond haired cousin so he can build a life of his own. He also adopts the identity of the Scarlet Spider and works at the Daily Grind.

Ben, Peter, and Kaine reach the lair of the shadowy figure responsible for infecting Aunt May and Mary Jane with a genetic virus. The villain is revealed to be Jackal, who captures all three and reveals that he plans to make an army of Spider-Clones and take over the world. Since Ben was the only clone to turn out stable, Jackal takes a sample of his blood to perfect his cloning technique of Peter, while noting mixing the two would be catastrophic. A mastermind over Jackal wants the blood sample as well, for the body of Norman Osborn.

Jackal intends to clone Gwen Stacy and another unknown figure, and Kaine breaks himself, Ben, and Peter free. During the subsequent fight, the clones desolve and Jackal suggests that Ben is the original Peter Parker. Kaine kills Jackal, Ben and Peter escape with the cure and save Aunt May and Mary Jane, who is revealed to be pregnant. Peter retires, saying Ben is the real one, so Ben creates a new costume.

Peter and MJ begin planning for their baby with the support of Aunt May (a radical departure from the original saga, where May died not long after her recovery, leaving Peter and MJ to prepare for the baby alone), while Peter focuses on acquiring a research grant (in the original saga, he was framed for murder and faced a long court battle). Ben battles Doctor Octopus, who escapes after knocking down debris. After Ben tracks Octavius down, the villain notes that the newly costumed Spider-Man seems to be an imposter. Kaine arrives and attempts to kill Octopus (a great retcon from the original Saga, where Kaine murders Octavius, who is later replaced with a female version) by asphyxiating him with some webbing and then escaping. Ben shreds the webbing off, saving his enemy's life.

MJ's water breaks at the Daily Grind while she is with May, so they inform Peter and Ben and rush to the hospital. Donning web shooters, Ben and Peter swing to the hospital in their respective Spider-Man costumes (another retcon departure, in the original, the two never appeared in costume together), coming into a short conflict with Kaine, who escapes and is chased by Ben as Peter goes to the hospital. At the hospital, nurse Allison Mongraine takes them to the delivery room (Originally, Mongraine induced labor using poisoned coffee with a doctor's help, but in the new storyline, she is working alone). The baby is born and named May Parker. Mongraine takes the baby to ready her for the parents, but actually hands the baby to Kaine at the docks (another departure as Mongraine exited without a meeting). Kaine tells the mastermind he has the baby, who remarks that it will be raised overseas.

The mastermind, now in control of a Parker blood sample, resurrects Norman, who is shocked by the identity of the man who has brought him to life. The mastermind, Harry Osborn, gives a Green Goblin mask to Norman and tells him there is work to be done. Moments later, Ben (as Spider-man) is attacked by a new Green Goblin, who identifies Spider-Man both as "Ben" and a clone. The Goblin impales Ben with his glider.

Ben is kept alive with the Goblin and captured as bait for Peter. After assaulting Ben, the Green Goblin reveals himself as Harry and reasserts that Ben is just a clone. Kaine speaks with the revived Norman, who is a clone, and discusses baby May's fate.

Kaine tells Norman he feels that May is his family in addition to Ben, Peter, Mary Jane, and the elder May, and she should not be held accountable for the sins of her father. Harry deploys a Goblin signal outside the building (OsCorp), which attracts Peter, who is still searching for his daughter.

Peter finds Ben and both are threatened to be killed by Harry, but he decides to give the honor to Norman, who blasts Harry and tells him that he cannot continue the cycle of violence, that Harry's madness is a product of Norman's sins. Peter frees Ben, and both help Norman. Peter's shoulder is dislocated, and Ben demands to know where baby May is, as Aunt May and Mary Jane wonder where Peter is. Kaine enters through a window with baby May and gives her to her family. May remarks that Kaine "seems familiar" and asks if they know one another. Kaine responds, "No, and that is my loss" and exits.

Back at OsCorp, Harry is restrained by Ben, so he activates his glider to impale Peter from behind. Ben prepares to leap in the path of the flying glider, but Norman jumps in the way, killing himself with it once more. Norman disintegrates due to cellular degeneration (in the original, it was Ben's body that melted).

Harry vows to get even. The scene cuts to Aunt May, Mary Jane, Peter, Ben and the baby outside May's home (another departure, as the baby was missing at the conclusion of the original), where it is revealed that Kaine is missing and Harry is in a sanitarium. Ben leaves the city, but says he will return from time to time. Peter tells Ben that both villains were liars, and it does not matter who is the clone, but they each have a life.

The final spread shows Ben riding away on his motorcycle and a giant mirage of the Scarlet Spider above him. In the distance MJ asks Peter if he thinks Ben will ever return and he remarks: "Trust me, MJ. We haven't seen the last of Ben Reilly-or the Scarlet Spider".