Some comics define their eras. In Marvel Comics, Civil War defined the mid-2000s, Claremont’s X-Men run ruled the ’80s, and the early ’60s were ruled by anything Stan Lee worked on. They are renowned comics that have earned their fame, but they aren’t alone. In the ’90s, there was Spider-Man. In particular, there was the Clone Saga.
The Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection: The Clone Saga trade paperback captures the early days of The Clone Saga, as Peter Parker and Ben Reilly come face to face for the first time in years. With approximately 450 pages, it collects several arcs and provides some decisive conclusions, even as it plants the seeds for future stories. It includes Web of Spider-Man #117-119, Amazing Spider-Man #394-396, Spider-Man #51-53, Spectacular Spider-Man #217-219, and Spider-Man Unlimited #7.
There’s a lot to explore in this book. Peter, Ben, and even MJ get ample time on the page to explore their arcs. Peter grapples with the events of previous volumes, Ben wrestles with the existential crises that come with being a clone, and MJ reconnects with her family. All three arcs tie into the same fundamental themes: Family and identity.
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The earliest issues collected are an interesting read, but much of them depend on the suspense of readers not knowing that this shadowy figure is secretly Spider-Man’s clone. It’s a device that worked brilliantly in the ’90s. It doesn’t work quite as well in a book that has “The Clone Saga” written on the cover.
Regardless of the loss of suspense, the thesis of the story still feels well-developed. It’s easy to see where the story could go from the ending. Ben Reilly is desperate to live Peter’s life, and Peter is desperate to live the life of anyone else if it means not having to live his own. Even without knowing the direction of future issues in the Spider-Man books at the time, there is clearly a rewarding ending on the horizon. That thesis holds strong throughout the entire book, even if the execution is somewhat muddled.
After all, entire swaths of The Clone Saga fail to include both Spider-Men. Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection: Spider-Man or Spider-Clone? is a similar collection that works remarkably better, because it only has a single titular character to focus on. Every character has their asides, but the book rarely takes too much time away from Spider-Man.
The Clone Saga, meanwhile, struggles to find ways to capture the stories of both Ben and Peter earnestly. After all, when they were first released, there was no need to collect them into a single book. It’s, unfortunately, just a challenge that comes with collecting these stories in a single enormous trade.
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All the same, it’s impossible not to be enraptured by the character journeys in this book. Between Aunt May’s infirmity, Peter and Ben’s internal struggles, and MJ’s long-standing familial pain, there are so many emotional beats that the book is genuinely heartwrenching. In only a few chapters, it manages to make Ben a compelling and touching character. Rooting against him is practically impossible.
The villains also happen to be a major draw for this book. Every single one of them has personal narratives that tie into the themes of The Clone Saga. The Owl, Venom, and Cardiac each have their stories directly tie into the comic’s wider themes. The stories are often told from the villains’ perspectives, which helps to emphasize just how wrong Spider-Man and Ben can be when they make assumptions. At the same time, that allows readers to understand why their assumptions about one another are fundamentally wrong.
The book also takes pains to set up future plotlines. Kaine, Ellis, and Kraven each have moments that set them up for interesting directions. Unfortunately, the book itself can’t offer those resolutions. Readers will have to wait until the next volume comes out. Either that, or they can try combing through back issues.
The Clone Saga is an iconic part of Spider-Man history that defined an entire generation of his stories. While Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection: The Clone Saga doesn’t necessarily cover the entirety of the saga, it offers a clear beginning that sets up years of storytelling. The character work is often the most defined part, and the themes are just as impactful, even decades after these issues were first released. Any Spider-Man fan should check out this book, if only to see a more organized way of telling the story of The Clone Saga.
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