Ive been re-reading the Clone Saga; My observations

This post contains major spoilers for those who have not read the Clone Saga straight through. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * I know this was ultimately an ill-received storyline, but I did find interesting plot points during the Saga. In fact, I noticed sales were at an all-time high before Spectacular #226..

Please let me know what you all thought about some of the other storylines during the Saga. I'd love to open this up to discussion.

I've been re-reading the Clone Saga, beginning with Smoke and Mirrors 1-3. I'm currently up to The Lost Years #1-3, then the Scarlet Spider books.

After reading how everything fit togther in the Osborn Journal #1, I chose to go back and re-read the Saga. I should mention here that after seeing the Spiderman Movie, I put Willem Defo's voice to every scene with Norman in the comics.

Things make a lot more sense now after reading the Journal. Don't get me wrong, I was with everyone at the time when we were all thinking, 'God, how much LONGER will this thing go?' at the end of Blood Brothers 1-6. I must say, that's one of the best written segments of the CLone Saga. I thought it would end right then and there. I truly feel it WOULD have, if not for the all-Marvel crossover called Onslaught.

Some have said that Spiderman Unlimited felt very off-balance with the whole 'Mark of Kaine' storyline, but I disagree. After re-reading this too, it told you Kaine was a clone, particularly since he wore Peter's costume! In fact, Spiderman Ultd. #9 is one of my favorite chapters from the Saga. There were multiple aspects of many storylines converging here, and I quite enjoyed it.

I'm noticing things upon this re-reading of it that I didn't in previous reads before reading the Osborn Journal. Don't get me wrong about what Norman Osborn did in Revelations; I was very angry at Marvel for making Peter and MJ's baby seem to be a miscariage. I was so relieved when Spidergirl came out, and the issue of her kidnapping was address in #48-50 of her series.

The interactions tying Ben, Pete, and Kaine together always intrigued me. I felt sorry for Kaine and Ben once it was finally revealed how Kaine AND the Jackal both fell victim to Norman Osborn, whom both believed to be dead.

This double-manipulation of Norman to Jackal, then Jackal to Kaine, resulting in Kaine's treatment of Ben, was so complex it was brilliant. Kaine was a pivotal character during the Clone Saga, and was a favorite of mine. I'm glad he's still around in Spidergirl.

I used to like Seward, but during the first year of the Clone Saga, he said two things which made me think twice about him.

1. Trial of Peter Parker #4: 'Contrary to what you believe, I have NO vested interest in the final outcome.'

2. In the same issue, the machinery Seward has in his lab seems very similar to the Jackal's.

3. The Greatest Responsibility #3: Peter and Ben ask him why he did not give them vital information sooner. He responds: 'It would have served no purpose!' Question: 'WHO'S purpose?' immediately came to mind. I also always wondered exactly how he became known as an accomplished geneticist.

The final clue that raised my eyebrow was in Blood Brothers:

4. The 'GAUNT' character tells Seward to obey him, or Gaunt might be inclined to tell Ben Reilly things about Seward which he might find 'QUITE SHOCKING!'

Yes, I know there are some very minor errors in storytelling during the Clone Saga, but I put the level of storytelling along the same lines of 'A Tale of Two Cities'. I choose this story because Sydney Carton switches places with the main character, just as Ben Reilly does for Peter so Peter can find Kaine, and bring him to the courthouse where he confesses to the murders.

On a closing note, I liked Kaine's saving of Ben Reiily's son; Reilly Tyne, and having him around as May's 'cousin', Darkdevil even if nobody but Reilly Tyne and Kaine are the only ones who know.

Holy cow man. You think it's that good?

I think you're next project should be re-reading the Crossing, and then maybe give that Genesis mini-series a second chance.

I've never read those two.

Spoilers for an almost 10-year-old storyline?

Largely: bunk. There are some well-written individual parts, but the combined whole is a mess, since editorial/marketing kept dictating that the thing be drawn out as long as possible to reap the sales benefits.

It was supposed to. Bob Harras ordered the saga extended by six months at that point, to avoid competing with Onslaught. Gaunt was supposed to be revealed as Harry Osborn, but Harras also nixed that. Harras then ultimately decreed that it should be Norman Osborn behind the whole thing, much to everyone's dismay.

Another Harras edict.

Eh. They twisted it around so many times it was hard to tell where it was all supposed to be leading, and remember that Norman was never involved until Harras dictated that he be brought back. The Spider- writers had to scramble to retcon him in on the whole affair.

Yes, that Seward worked with Jackal on the original cloning experiments. Not all that shocking to me.

LOL! That ought to be somebody's .sig file .

Bottom line is, the Clone Saga was ultimately the best example on record of how *not* to do a 'Shock!Event' storyline in comics. See the 'Life of Reilly' columns at GrayHaven magazine for a much more in-depth dissection of the whole affair (if you can find them, that is; the site's EIC says they're back up, but I've had no luck locating them).

Genesis is possibly the worst crossover DC has ever put out. The Crossing was an Avengers-related mess.

It is apparently being reformatted - a work in progress as far as I can figure out. Still, it is probably worth visiting this jumping point:

Thank you so much!! It's not all of it, which is strange because i've read the entire thing, but it's definitely the beginning. I can finally get people to look at at least the beginning of it. Thanks for the link.

in order to access them. For example, there is no link to Part 4 from Part 3, but the address for Part 4 still works:
http://www.newcomicreviews.com/columns/2/LifeOfReilly/ 1.html

Justin Bacon