Spider-Man: The Clone Saga

[Skyknight]

SPIDER-MAN: THE CLONE SAGA #1 (of 6)
Written by HOWARD MACKIE & TOM DEFALCO
Penciled by TODD NAUCK
Cover by PASQUAL FERRY
You’ve been asking for it…and now it’s here: THE CLONE SAGA!!! Marvel’s most controversial event of all time returns with a vengeance, presenting the Clone Saga as it was originally intended to be told! From the minds behind the crossover that changed comics forever and the artist that introduced Spider-Man to President Obama, it’s six issues of twists and turns that will shock fans old and new alike! Be here as Peter Parker’s worst nightmare begins again…now with an ending you have to see to believe!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=273740

My only concern about this is Howard Mackie. He hasnt shown his face since 2001, the end of the infamous abortion known as the Chapter One era and arguably the worst creative period in Spider-Man history. Still, Mackie often got a raw deal because of creative burn-out and fan abuse (rightfully so at times), but I always liked his pre-1999 work...wasnt always the best, but he was a safe pair of hands when motivated. At least Tom is keeping things tight.

At least the good news is that Tom DeFalco is back, he's better known as the writer of the far superior Spectacular Spider-Girl these days, and hasnt written much Spider-Man since 1998 (with the exception of the much missed Mr and Mrs Spider-Man strips from ASMF)

There's no word yet on whenever or not this takes place in the BND continuity or a new continuity (and god Spidey has enough of them already)

 

[Skyknight]

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/060918-Clone-Saga.html#comments

Interview with Tom and Mackie, with some unfinished artwork

 

[Akiyama]

I ain't readin no Spider-man till that thar hamfisted **** story arc known as OMD is retconned out of existence....fucking asshole editors.

 

[Skyknight]

Oh hell yeah

Mackie just confirmed that if sales for this mini-series are good, we'll be getting a new Ben Reily-led Spider-Man title

 

[Skyknight]

For some reason, they've previewd Issue Three ahead of Issue Two

http://www.spidermanreviews.com/2009/10/spider-man-clone-saga-3-exclusive.html#comments

...Maybe it has something to do with plugging The Mighty Morphin' Parker Rangers?

...God it's great to see The Jackle again

 

[Izzy]

I enjoyed issue #2, too bad the issue 3 previews spoiled what would have likely been a more impactful ending to the issue if not otherwise...

 

[MattComix]

I checked out the first issue. I enjoy Nauck's art a lot and while I'll never be a huge fan of the Clone Saga in any form I can say that so far I'm prefering this because it's just moving along a better clip and minus the endless padding and multiple title crossover baggage. So it might actually be within the realm of possibility to redeem this thing. ..maybe.

Also, extra points for the sweet mercy of having no Judas Traveller.

 

[Izzy]

I wonder if we'll get the Gwen clones with the low life-expectancy in this mini.

"Oh Peter, I-" *dissolves into a puddle of hairband*

That Jackal sure perfected cloning, mass produced Gwen Stacys that not only somehow knew that Peter was Spider-Man, but came out of their pods wearing nothing but hairband...

Now that I think about it, I hope that gets left out. Joyce Delaney Shenanigans are fine, no dissolving puddles of hairband though...

 

[Skyknight]

What's fascinating, as well as reflective of just how much Marvel is run by it's inmates, is that The Clone Saga, like X-Men Forever, is deliberatly trolling 616 continuity by being set in the present day and setting up a "backdoor pilot" for Ben. The gaps between months enable a complete retcon of the last two years of BND if it comes to that.

Sadly, with sales worse off than a lot of comics, that might not happen. I blame that on not making it a twelve-issue maxi-series (with which you could still afford the gaps and tell a lenghtier story that isnt rushed too much), fans not accepting that it's a tighter story because of The Clone Saga's history, or have been brainwashed by Marvel's insistence on "decompression" and have no respect or paitence for old-school storytelling (somebody tell them that decompresison ISNT storytelling, it simply allows insecure writers to have conversations they can easily have on message boards about thir philosophies and personal problems), and Marvel hacks like Wacker mouthing off that Ben "needs to stay dead" (why the hell are you putting down the guy your bosses are promoting and rewarding fans with? What a fucking insecure bitch, he knows under his watch, BND has completly flopped and he can't take it)

That Jackal sure perfected cloning, mass produced Gwen Stacys that not only somehow knew that Peter was Spider-Man, but came out of their pods wearing nothing but hairband...

That stems from an unconfirmed but bluntly itterated acknowledgement during the DeFalco era that Gwen knew the whole time anyway. I suspected it was what contributed to her breakdown after she left New York (combined with knowing Peter had always loved MJ, and not her), prior to marrying Warren's clone.

 

[VengeanceGOD]

Crap, these are out already? Argh...gotta buy.

Like Forever, this is an alternate universe, right?