Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 17: Clone Saga
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Mark Bagely
Send in the Clones!
Ranking: 5 stars
I was really shocked when I learned that the original clone saga story was very controversial, because I consider it a big turning point in Spidey's life and I'm a huge fan of superhero shocker stories (see "The Death of Superman" and my personal favorite, "Batman Knightfall")! But when I read the Ultimate version of the clone saga, I thought it was one of the greatest Ultimate Spider-Man stories ever! Brian Michael Bendis brings the clone saga into an even greater revolutionary turning point for our teenage web slinger! And many big changes occur in Peter's life in this one volume!
It begins where Peter and MJ are beginning to see each other again after Spider-Man's encounter with the undead vampire, Morbius, which begins to put a strain on his relationship with x-man Kitty Pryde. While the two were having lunch at the mall, the Scorpion attacks the mall. After Spider-Man defeats him, he finds out that the Scorpion has the face of Peter Parker! But Spidey is Peter Parker! Spider-Man then turns him over to the Fantastic Four for answers, while MJ is kidnapped by another clone (a disfigured version of Peter Parker)! Desprate to find Mary Jane, Peter runs into the Ultimate and original version of Spider-Woman (a female clone of Peter Parker), Gwen Stacy who has mysteriously returned from the dead, and an army of Spider-Slayers led by Nick Fury to take down Spider-Man! Also, Ultimate Carnage returns, Aunt May figures out that Peter is Spider-Man, and you'll be surprised who the creator of the clones is!
This is definitely a must read USM story and an even cooler version of the Clone Saga!
-Bendis does it once again, and with style!
