The Clone Saga in Spider-Man comics is a storyline notorious for its complexity and mind-bending twists. Just when readers thought they had a grasp on Peter Parker’s life, a seismic revelation shook everything to its core. The bombshell? The Peter Parker we’d been following for years might not be the original Peter Parker at all. Enter “Maximum Clonage,” an event designed to delve deeper into this identity crisis, starting with Spider-Man: Maximum Clonage Alpha #1. Penned by Tom DeFalco and Todd DeZago, with art by Ron Lim, this chapter plunges us further into the clone confusion, and things are about to get truly wild.
The story picks up after the shocking implication that Ben Reilly, the Scarlet Spider, was actually the Original Peter Parker, and the man we knew as Peter was the clone. This revelation understandably throws Peter into an existential tailspin. “Maximum Clonage” amplifies this turmoil, introducing Spidercide, a resurrected and mutated clone from a previous encounter. Spidercide is essentially a monstrous, shapeshifting Spider-Man with a gaping maw, serving as the Jackal’s formidable new enforcer.
The Jackal, ever the mad scientist, unveils his latest diabolical scheme: to unleash a Carrion virus variant that will wipe out everyone who isn’t a clone. His endgame? To repopulate the world with clones loyal only to him, establishing his reign as the Clone King. To test the efficacy of his deadly virus, Jackal unleashes it on a small Pennsylvania town, resulting in the horrific deaths of over 2,000 innocent people. This act sets the stage for the escalating stakes of “Maximum Clonage.”
Amidst this chaos, Peter Parker grapples with his identity. In a move that strains credulity for many readers, he is manipulated by the Jackal into believing the villain has his best interests at heart. While Peter’s disorientation is understandable, his willingness to side with a mass-murdering megalomaniac like the Jackal remains a perplexing and criticized plot point within the Clone Saga narrative.
Before Peter can fully commit to this dubious alliance, the Punisher intervenes, shooting the Jackal and seemingly delivering a mortal wound. Peter, in a misguided act of protection, attacks the Punisher and then bizarrely uses one of Jackal’s clone pods – now conveniently repurposed as healing pods – to save the Jackal’s life. Ben Reilly arrives on the scene, hoping to connect with Peter, but is met with hostility. Peter lashes out physically before retreating, leaving Ben to face the newly arrived Spidercide alone. Adding to the turmoil, Kaine, another clone with his own complex agenda, appears to confront the Jackal. Peter then reappears, and the situation predictably devolves into a chaotic melee of shouting and punches. This initial confrontation ends with Kaine storming off and Ben being overwhelmed and thrown into a room filled with a horrifying number of clones.
The storyline intensifies as Kaine seeks out Mary Jane, Ben battles hordes of clones, Peter continues to wrestle with his identity, and the Jackal persists in his villainous schemes, even creating more Gwen Stacy clones, a recurring and unsettling motif in the Clone Saga. During a massive clash against the clones, Spidercide tragically murders Kaine, stabbing him with a piece of machinery.
The climax of “Maximum Clonage” revolves around Jackal’s world-domination plan. However, Spidercide, in a surprising turn, betrays Jackal, leading to both villains falling to their deaths from a building. Ben Reilly manages to thwart Jackal’s ultimate plan by seizing the virus canister and throwing it away, proving that the Clone King’s scheme was far from foolproof. The event concludes with Peter offering Ben the mantle of Spider-Man, a symbolic gesture that Ben ultimately declines.
In the aftermath of “Maximum Clonage,” Peter and Ben collaborate on several missions, facing threats like a new Doctor Octopus. The storyline then moves toward a potential resolution in Spectacular Spider-Man #229. Amidst Mary Jane’s hospitalization due to pregnancy complications and a battle with Doc Ock, Peter decides to prioritize his family and officially retire as Spider-Man. He passes the torch to Ben, who takes on the hero role. The Spider-Man titles are rebranded as Scarlet Spider, marking a significant shift as Peter and Mary Jane step away. This moment signifies the end of an era and the beginning of Ben Reilly’s time as the prominent Spider-hero in New York, leaving readers to wonder how the city’s friendly neighborhood would fare under a new Spider-Man, or rather, Scarlet Spider.
