Spider-Man: Clone Saga #1
Reviewed by David O' Leary
Story
by: Tom DeFalco & Howard Mackie
Art by: Todd Nauck & Victor Olazaba
Colours by: Javier Tartaglia
Letters by: Dave Sharpe
Cover by: Pasqual Ferry
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Date: November 2009
Cover Price: $3.99
Book Summary:
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!
Reviewer's Comments:
"Chapter 1"
Fans a generation older than me who were more steeped in Marvel history probably still cringe at the mere mention of the Clone Saga but fans like myself who were just dipping their toes in the Marvel U when this story originally and eventually came out consider this as a pretty good story.
Originally perceived to be a six-issue story line and due to many different factors behind the scenes the story went beyond eighteen months and to this day remains one of the most controversial and dubious storylines ever printed.
Apparently, someone at Marvel thought that there remained a proper story to be told here and perhaps in an attempt to put things right two of the original writers returned to tell the Clone Saga as it was meant to be told.
Tom DeFalco has remained a staple Marvel writer ever since the original Saga and with him on this book is the first appearance at Marvel that I know of, of Howard Mackie since that whole Writer X debacle from earlier this decade.
Essentially after finishing this issue a couple of things were standing out at me. One, was how this issue seemed familiar. I haven't read the original story line in years but what they have appeared to have done here is weed out all the crap and give you not necessarily a condensed version but a more edited and streamlined version of what this story was supposed to be. Two was that I never realised how much I actually liked some of the characters that this arc introduced. The character of Ben Reilly when handled right was a great character and also I liked the character of Kaine who made an appearance in the shadows in this issue and finally I liked the sense of nostalgia this issue gave me. Many of the memorable bits of the opening of the original arc remain like Aunt May having her heart problems and the whole Peter/MJ possible pregnancy and of course the reveal of more than one Peter. I was actually surprised at how enjoyable this really was.
The art is provided by Todd Nauck who if I remember his work correctly on the likes of Teen Titans and F-N Spider-Man, he may have altered his style slightly to bring the style of the time to the book but still have enough of his modern style remain so that the book doesn't look dated. He is drawing here some of the most missed group panels of the last couple of years. There are some old school Spidey fans dreaming of having Peter, MJ and Aunt May in the same panel with the old status quo back and what they get here is a teaser of sorts but it looked nice. But I don't know if I can forgive Nauck for leaving MJ with that ridiculous 90's bombastic hairstyle. It looked preposterous then and looks preposterous now.
I am pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book and if you are a person who would dismiss this book out of hand and I know based on the subject matter there is, then get over it and give it a chance. If this is what the original arc is supposed to have been like then it can only be better than the original arc in theory, shouldn't it?
Rating the Issue
| Story Story: Overall 7.66 Concept - 7 out of 10 Plot - 8 out of 10 Dialogue - 8 out of 10 |
Art Art: Overall 7.33 Style - 7 out of 10 Storytelling - 7 out of 10 Colour/Tones - 8 out of 10 |
Importance Importance: Overall 7.33 To the Title - 8 out of 10 To the Company - 7 out of 10 To the Medium - 7 out of 10 |
Take a Look Inside
Reviewer Bio
Name: David O' Leary
email: idwfan@yahoo.co.uk
Been reading comics: for about 12 years now.
Review Bio: I am a 26-year-old Hotel Manager from the west coast of the Republic of Ireland and think this is a great way to talk to others about this cool medium. I am a husband to one wife and father to one girl (so far).
Favorites: ONI's Whiteout, Vertigo's Scalped and Garth Ennis Preacher and Punisher in Trades. In comic form I am reading a lot of Marvel and a bit of IDW, Dark Horse & WildStorm among others.
Website: Sorry, I don't have one!
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