About Heroes

This Review Was Submitted by Spider-Ben:
“The Clone Saga” part 4
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Mark Bagley
Covers: Mark Bagley and Richard Isanove

Ladies and gentlemen, please take a moment and give a round of applause for one of the freshest and most entertaining comic books to ever put their unique spin (pardon the pun) on the world famous wall crawler, Ultimate Spider-Man! Here’s commemorating 100 incredible issues and here is to the next 100 to come.

While this may be a milestone for ultimate Peter Parker, his life isn’t exactly a celebration at the moment. Peter learns that his father Richard has been alive all these years, Gwen Stacy has returned alive at his home, Aunt May wants him out of her home after he reveals to her that he is Spider-Man, and the Fantastic Four have a Peter Parker clone (the scorpion) at their lab. That’s a lot for any normal person to deal with, but just think how tough it is for a sixteen year old who happens to stick to walls and face off against costumed crazies in his part time!

The story starts off with Richard telling Peter how he has been alive all this time. He begins to talk about his life’s work (the Venom Project) and Peter tells him he is familiar with the concept and origins. Richard states how Trask and the government wanted to use the work for biological weapons and what not.
Unknown to Peter, Richard and the Brock family were given a second offer to continue their work for others, yet not having complete control or gaining the results that the projected was created for. At the airport, Richard, Mary, and the Brocks were to get on a plane and fly to Chicago to talk about working for their new employers. Richard decides not to get on the plane and refuses to sign. Mary gets pissed at him, and the 3 take off on the plane. Richard later learned the plane blew up, killing all aboard.

Since Richard is technically a “ghost” now (the world believes him dead) he decides young Peter is in good hands with May and Ben to raise him. Henry Gyrich approaches Richard, deciding to make him an offer.
Richard can carry on his work with Gyrich and his people, but must remain in secret and never is seen.
He tells Richard they will support his endeavors in curing both Cancer and AIDS, but Richard must also help them prepare to help them in the upcoming genetic war the world is leaning towards. Gyrich also tells Richard Nick Fury wants to put together a team of super-soldiers to patrol the world, and Richard’s insight towards stopping this is needed. Richard realizes he must accept the offer.

Peter still wants to know how Gwen is alive, and May wants them all to leave her home. Richard has apparently helped bring Gwen back to life as he asks her how she is feeling and what her pulse is like.
Richard continues to tell Peter how he found out about the suit running amok in the city and how “Spider-Man” intervened in the onslaught caused by the creature. (See Ultimate Venom kiddies!) Richard then learns that his son is Spider-Man, and becomes more fascinated in what his son can do. He even sneaks out to watch him at school from time to time, much to the dismay of Gyrich and co.

Meanwhile, Ultimate Kaine wants to mutate MJ so she can have powers of her own and he won’t have to worry about her getting hurt ever again. This is all happening at the destroyed Oscorp laboratories (See Ultimate Spidey Volume 1. This all ties together!) Just as Kaine is about to start the mutation experiment, a six armed and black costumed clad Spider-Man stops him. Six armed clone states that this is not what they were created for and the two have a huge fight. Kaine gets the upper hand and defeats six armed clone, and starts the transformation process on MJ.

Back at the Parker home, Richard goes on to explain how he approached May awhile back. She tells him to stay away from Peter and get out of their lives. Peter still is confused about how Gwen is actually alive, when a voice is heard on the front lawn. Nick Fury wants all the Parker clan (and Gwen) to come outside and surrender or face lethal force. Fury has this massive armada of Spider-Slayer robots with him, and he isn’t kidding around here. Richard wants Peter to suit up, but Peter realizes even he can’t fight that many foes at once. Peter wants to try and talk first, and the stress gets to Gwen who turns into Carnage and leaps out the window to face the robotic foes. Aunt May seems to have a heart attack, and Peter doesn’t know what to do next. Back at the lab, MJ wakes up to hear Kaine tell her congratulations on gaining new powers and becoming a new person or being.

Thoughts/Comments:

Oh hell yeah! This issue was a blast from start to finish. Who would have ever guessed I would be excited about anything dealing with Spider-Man and clones again? Bendis continues to shock and surprise. Sure, I still think that issue 99 freaked me out a bit more than this issue, but this issue was a lot of fun. I loved how Richard was revealed to be alive all this time, and I loved how the story ties in from issue one. I have no clue where six arm black costume clone came from, and I want to know what MJ looks like now that she has been transformed. We are still in the dark about how Richard brought Gwen back to life, and how Gwen is really Carnage! (My fave cliffhanger part of the book) I really didn’t care about May having a heart attack since she has been such a bitch to Peter last issue and this one. Plus, the fight with Fury and his Spider Slayers will be great! This issue gets another A+ from me. Bagley is the man; his artwork was top of the game with this issue.

Speaking of Bagley, the extra features in the back of the book were great. We got unused Bagley covers, sketches, and pages from the series. We also get a look at the entire Ultimate Spidey saga thus far, and a cover preview to issue 101. I’ve loved this book since day one and it continues to get better and better. Here are to Bendis and Bagley, two of comics finest and most dedicated creators!