The Clone Saga

• Core Identity: The Clone Saga is a sprawling and controversial multi-year Marvel Comics event, primarily within the spider-man mythos, that fundamentally challenged Peter Parker's identity by introducing a perfect clone who was believed to be the original Peter Parker.
• Key Takeaways:
  • Role in the Universe: This event served as a crucible for Spider-Man's character, forcing Peter Parker, his supporting cast, and readers to question the very nature of his identity. It introduced long-lasting characters like Ben Reilly (The Scarlet Spider) and Kaine Parker, who have become integral parts of the wider Spider-Family.
  • Primary Impact: Its most significant impact was the long and complex narrative that, for a time, replaced Peter Parker as the mainline Spider-Man with his clone, Ben Reilly. While commercially successful initially, its convoluted plot and controversial “reveal” that Peter was the clone (a decision later reversed) caused a significant fan backlash that shaped Marvel's editorial direction for years.
  • Key Incarnations: The Clone Saga primarily exists in two major forms within the Earth-616 continuity: a self-contained and well-regarded arc in the 1970s, and the infamous, multi-year epic from the 1990s. There is no direct adaptation of this event in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), where the concept of identity doubles is instead explored through the Multiverse and Variants.

The term “Clone Saga” can refer to two distinct periods in Spider-Man's publication history, linked by characters and themes but vastly different in scope and reception. The original story, often called the “First Clone Saga,” was conceived by writer Gerry Conway as a way to create a powerful, emotional exit for the recently deceased character Gwen Stacy. Conway, feeling the character's death had not been fully explored from a villainous perspective, wanted to bring her back in a way that would torment Peter. This led to the creation of her clone and, by extension, a clone of Spider-Man himself. The story ran from The Amazing Spider-Man #144-149 in 1975, with art by the legendary Ross Andru. It was a tight, character-driven thriller that concluded definitively, with the clone seemingly dying in an explosion. For nearly two decades, this story was considered a classic, self-contained tragedy. The second and more famous (or infamous) “Clone Saga” of the 1990s began as an attempt to re-energize the Spider-Man line of comics. In the early 90s, the comic book market was booming, and events like DC's “The Death of Superman” were massive commercial hits. Marvel's editorial team, led by Tom DeFalco and Bob Budiansky, saw an opportunity for a similar high-stakes story. The idea was pitched to bring back the clone from the 70s story. The initial plan was for a relatively short arc where this returned clone, now named Ben Reilly, would operate as the Scarlet Spider before Peter Parker resumed his primary role. However, the storyline proved incredibly popular at its outset. Sales soared, and the mystery of “Who is the real Peter Parker?” captivated readers. Driven by this success, the editorial team decided to extend the story. The plan mutated into a much more radical idea: what if Ben Reilly was revealed to be the original, and Peter Parker had been the clone all along? This would free up the “real” Peter to retire with his pregnant wife, Mary Jane Watson, and allow a single, unattached Ben Reilly to become the new Spider-Man, effectively rebooting the character to a more classic, back-to-basics status quo. This decision, however, led to the story becoming increasingly complex and drawn-out, running for over two years across all major Spider-Man titles (Amazing Spider-Man, Spectacular Spider-Man, Web of Spider-Man, Spider-Man) and numerous one-shots and mini-series from 1994 to late 1996. The saga's eventual, convoluted conclusion and reversal of the “Peter is the clone” plot point were a direct result of intense fan backlash and declining sales as the story dragged on.

The origin of the clones and the subsequent conflict is a deeply personal one, rooted in obsession, grief, and twisted science.

The in-universe saga begins and ends with one man: Professor Miles Warren, a brilliant but unstable professor of biochemistry at Empire State University. The First Saga (The Jackal's Revenge): Professor Warren secretly fell in love with his student, Gwen Stacy. When she was tragically murdered by the Green Goblin, Warren's mind shattered. He blamed Spider-Man for her death, unable to accept that she died during the hero's rescue attempt. His grief curdled into a vengeful obsession. Using his expertise in genetics and cloning, he sought to create perfect duplicates. After successfully cloning a frog, he obtained DNA samples of both Gwen and Peter Parker (whose identity as Spider-Man he had deduced). He successfully created clones of them both. Calling himself The Jackal, Warren orchestrated a campaign of psychological warfare against Spider-Man. He tormented Peter with the appearance of the Gwen Stacy clone, making him believe she had somehow returned from the dead. This culminated in a final confrontation at Shea Stadium. The Jackal forced Spider-Man to fight his own clone, a perfect duplicate who shared all of Peter's memories up to the point of cloning. The Jackal's plan was to kill the “real” Spider-Man and have the clone take his place, but during the battle, a bomb detonated. The Gwen clone fled, while the Jackal and the Spider-Man clone were seemingly killed. Unsure which Spider-Man was the original, Peter performed a quick scientific test. Convinced he was the genuine article, he buried the clone's body in a smokestack, hoping to put the nightmare behind him forever. The Second Saga (The Clone's Return): Five years later, Peter's life had changed significantly; he was married to Mary Jane, and his Aunt May had fallen gravely ill. This fragile stability was shattered when he was confronted by a mysterious, powerful figure named Kaine, who was systematically murdering Spider-Man's old enemies. Kaine was a flawed, degenerate first clone of Peter Parker, created and cast aside by the Jackal. Almost simultaneously, the clone Peter believed had died years ago returned. This clone, who had survived the explosion and spent five years in exile, now called himself Ben Reilly (using his Uncle's first name and Aunt's maiden name) and operated as a new hero, the Scarlet Spider. The reunion of Peter and Ben was fraught with tension and confusion, exacerbated by the manipulations of the returned Jackal. The central conflict was a seed of doubt planted by both the Jackal and his mysterious benefactor, Seward Trainer: that the man who had been living as Peter Parker for the last five years was, in fact, the clone, and Ben Reilly was the original. Medical tests conducted by Seward Trainer “confirmed” this shocking twist. A devastated Peter, with Mary Jane pregnant with their child, decided to hang up his web-shooters and pass the mantle of Spider-Man to Ben, seeking a normal life. Ben Reilly became the new Spider-Man, with a new costume and a new life. This status quo lasted for a significant period, but the mysteries continued to mount. The saga spiraled into a massive crossover called Maximum Clonage, which introduced an army of clones and a new villain, Spidercide. The entire convoluted scheme was ultimately revealed to be the master plan of a long-thought-dead Norman Osborn, the original Green Goblin. He had orchestrated the entire saga from the shadows, manipulating the Jackal, faking the medical tests, and using Seward Trainer to psychologically torture Peter. Osborn's goal was to destroy Peter's life not by killing him, but by utterly annihilating his sense of self. In the final battle, Ben Reilly sacrificed himself to save Peter from Osborn, and upon dying, his body dissolved into genetic dust—the ultimate proof that he was, and always had been, the clone. Peter Parker reclaimed his identity as the one true Spider-Man, but the emotional scars and the loss of the man who had become his brother would haunt him for years.

The Clone Saga, in its 90s comic book form, has never been adapted into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The MCU has deliberately avoided this specific storyline, likely due to its narrative complexity, controversial reputation, and the difficulty of translating a multi-year comic event into a film or series. However, the MCU has explored the core thematic elements of the Clone Saga—questions of identity, doppelgängers, and “What makes a hero?”—through other concepts:

• Variants and the Multiverse: The most direct parallel in the MCU is the concept of Variants, introduced in the Disney+ series `Loki` and expanded upon in films like `Spider-Man: No Way Home` and `Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness`. Like clones, Variants are alternate versions of a character, but they originate from different timelines rather than a test tube. The meeting of the three Spider-Men (Tom Holland, Tobey Maguire, and Andrew Garfield) in `spider-man_no_way_home` directly addresses the emotional and identity-based questions of seeing another “you,” which is a central theme of the Clone Saga.
• Artificial Beings: The MCU has extensively explored the creation of artificial life and the identity crises that follow. Characters like Vision (a synthetic being with the Mind Stone), Ulron (a malevolent A.I.), and the various Life-Model Decoys (LMDs) in `Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.` touch upon similar ideas of created beings questioning their purpose and authenticity.
• Genetic Manipulation: While not cloning in the Spider-Man sense, villains like the High Evolutionary in `Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3` are masters of genetic engineering. His creation of Rocket and other beings speaks to the scientific hubris and moral questions inherent in creating life, which is a foundational element of the Jackal's work in the comics.
• What If…? Animation: The animated series `What If...?` briefly touched on a clone concept where a Yellowjacket-controlled Hank Pym created an army of Ultron-esque Iron Man clones in the episode “What If… the World Lost Its Mightiest Heroes?” This is a very loose adaptation and not tied to the Spider-Man storyline.

In summary, while audiences are unlikely to see a direct adaptation of Ben Reilly and the Jackal, the MCU prefers to explore the saga's core themes of identity and duplication through the more cinematically flexible framework of the Multiverse.

The 90s Clone Saga was not a single story but an overarching “mega-arc” that unfolded over approximately 26 months.

1. Exile's Return: Ben Reilly, the clone from the 1970s, returns to New York and establishes himself as the hero known as the Scarlet Spider.
2. The Mark of Kaine: A mysterious and violent figure, Kaine, begins murdering Spider-Man's foes, leaving a distinctive handprint, “the Mark of Kaine.” He is revealed to be the Jackal's first, failed clone of Peter.
3. The Trial of Peter Parker: Peter is arrested for Kaine's crimes due to their shared fingerprints. Ben and Peter work together to clear his name.
4. Power and Responsibility: Seward Trainer's tests “confirm” Ben is the original and Peter is the clone. A weary Peter relinquishes the Spider-Man identity to Ben to focus on his life with a pregnant Mary Jane.
5. Ben Reilly as Spider-Man: Ben sheds the Scarlet Spider identity and dons a newly designed Spider-Man costume, becoming the star of the main Spider-Man titles.
6. Maximum Clonage: A massive, chaotic crossover event where the Jackal unleashes an army of Spider-clones on New York City. The event introduces another clone, Spidercide, and ends with the supposed death of the Jackal.
7. The Final Battle & Revelations: The mysterious villain orchestrating everything is revealed to be Norman Osborn. He murders Ben Reilly, who disintegrates upon death, proving he was the clone all along. Osborn escapes, having achieved his goal of psychologically devastating Peter.

1. The Return of Ben Reilly: This was the inciting incident. His re-emergence after five years forced Peter to confront a past he thought was buried and introduced a compelling new character to the mythos. It was the point of no return for the storyline.
2. The “Reveal” that Peter is the Clone: This was the saga's most controversial and defining moment. By inverting the protagonist's identity, the writers created a massive status quo shift. It alienated a large portion of the fanbase who felt it invalidated decades of Peter Parker's history, but it also defined the saga's high-stakes narrative.
3. Ben Reilly becomes Spider-Man: This was the practical application of the reveal. For nearly a year, Ben was the Spider-Man. This period allowed for new stories, a new supporting cast, and a different take on the web-slinger, but it also cemented the departure from the classic hero readers loved.
4. The Return of Norman Osborn: This was the ultimate deus ex machina used to resolve the story. Bringing back a villain who had been dead for over two decades in comic book continuity was a huge move. It provided a single, classic antagonist to blame for the entire convoluted plot, allowing the writers to restore Peter Parker's identity and hit a narrative “reset” button.

The Clone Saga's conclusion left deep and lasting impacts on both the Marvel Universe and the real-world company.

1. In-Universe Consequences:
   • Peter's Trauma: Peter was left deeply scarred by the identity crisis and the death of Ben, whom he had come to see as a brother.
   • The Loss of Baby May: In a follow-up storyline, Mary Jane's baby, May, was seemingly stillborn (later revealed to have been stolen by Osborn's agents), adding another layer of tragedy and loss to Peter's life.
   • The Return of the Green Goblin: Norman Osborn was firmly re-established as Spider-Man's ultimate arch-nemesis, leading to major new storylines like his tenure as the Director of H.A.M.M.E.R. during `Dark Reign`.
   • Legacy Characters: Years later, both Ben Reilly and Kaine were resurrected. Ben has struggled with his identity, even becoming a new Jackal for a time before finding a new heroic path as Chasm. Kaine found redemption as the new Scarlet Spider, operating out of Houston and becoming a grittier, more violent anti-hero.
2. Real-World Consequences:
   • Fan Backlash: The prolonged, confusing nature of the story and the decision to replace Peter Parker created one of the largest fan backlashes in comic book history, damaging reader trust.
   • Editorial Shift: The saga is often cited as a cautionary tale about letting a popular story expand beyond its planned scope without a clear endpoint. It led to a “back-to-basics” approach for Spider-Man in the late 90s and early 2000s.
   • Creative Burnout: The immense pressure and constant plot changes led to significant burnout among the creative teams involved.

The Clone Saga was defined by a core cast of characters, each representing a different facet of Peter Parker's identity.

• Peter Parker: The original hero. During the saga, he is the established, married Spider-Man, weary from years of fighting. The core of the story is the deconstruction of his identity. When he is told he is the clone, he is forced into a crisis of self that makes him question his entire life, his memories, and his marriage. His journey is one of loss and, ultimately, reclamation of his true self.
• Ben Reilly (The Scarlet Spider / Spider-Man): The returning clone. Having spent five years wandering America, Ben is a different man from Peter. He is lonelier, more introspective, and carries the weight of having “stolen” memories. As the Scarlet Spider, he is a grittier hero, but when he takes on the mantle of Spider-Man, he tries to live up to the optimistic ideal Peter created. His sacrifice at the end of the saga is his defining moment, proving his heroism and solidifying his place as a true brother to Peter.

• The Jackal (Miles Warren): The original architect of the clones. The Jackal of the 90s saga was even more unhinged than his 70s counterpart. He believed his cloning process was a form of godhood, a way to conquer death itself. He saw both Peter and Ben as his “sons” and was the primary source of the saga's narrative chaos, constantly introducing new clones and manipulating events until his role was usurped by the true mastermind.
• Kaine: The tragic villain. Kaine was Warren's first attempt at cloning Peter, but the process was flawed, leaving him physically and mentally scarred. He possessed enhanced strength and a precognitive “spider-sense” that showed him glimpses of the future, but he was also driven by a deep-seated rage and jealousy towards Ben Reilly, whom he saw as the “perfect” clone. He acted as an antagonist for much of the saga, but his motivations were complex, as he also sought to protect Peter, whom he believed was the real deal.
• The Green Goblin (Norman Osborn): The ultimate mastermind. Revealed at the saga's conclusion, Osborn had survived his original death and had been pulling the strings from Europe. His motivation was pure psychological sadism. He didn't want to just kill Spider-Man; he wanted to destroy the man underneath the mask, to make Peter Parker question his very existence. He represents the ultimate corruption of power and the deepest, most personal evil in Peter's life.

• Mary Jane Watson-Parker: Peter's rock. Mary Jane was the emotional core of the story for Peter's side. Her unwavering belief that her husband was the real Peter Parker, regardless of what any test said, was his anchor during his identity crisis. Her pregnancy was a key motivator for Peter's decision to retire, representing the hope for a normal life that the saga constantly threatened.

The Clone Saga is best understood as a series of interconnected arcs.

This is the foundational text. Professor Miles Warren, driven mad by the death of Gwen Stacy, clones her and Peter Parker to torment Spider-Man. This arc is a tight, psychological thriller that introduces the core concepts: the perfect clone with shared memories, the emotional horror of facing a dead loved one, and the confusion of fighting an exact duplicate of yourself. It concludes with the apparent death of both the Jackal and the Spider-clone, and for nearly 20 years, it was a closed book.

This marks the beginning of the 90s epic. It re-introduces the clone, now named Ben Reilly, who has established a new life for himself. His return to New York coincides with Aunt May's failing health, drawing him back into Peter's orbit. He adopts the identity of the Scarlet Spider, with a distinctive blue hoodie over a red bodysuit, and begins operating as a hero. This storyline sets up the core mystery and the complex, initially antagonistic but later brotherly relationship between Peter and Ben.

This was the saga's chaotic, action-packed midpoint. The Jackal returns with an army of Spider-clones, claiming that a “carrion virus” is set to wipe out humanity, and only his new cloning method can save it. The storyline is infamous for its confusing plot, the introduction of even more clones like Spidercide, and its “all-out war” approach. It represents the point where the saga's scope perhaps grew beyond the control of the creative teams, prioritizing shocking twists over coherent storytelling.

The four-part finale that brought the entire saga to a close. After months of Ben Reilly operating as Spider-Man, the threads of the mystery finally converge. It is revealed that Norman Osborn is alive and was the secret manipulator behind the entire multi-year event. The story culminates in a brutal battle between Peter, Ben, and the Green Goblin. Ben's heroic sacrifice and subsequent disintegration provide the definitive, biological proof of his clone status, restoring Peter Parker as the one and only Spider-Man and setting the stage for Osborn's return as his primary antagonist.

The Clone Saga's controversial nature has led to it being re-imagined and referenced in several other realities.

• Ultimate Universe (Earth-1610): Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley created a far more streamlined and contained version in Ultimate Spider-Man. In this reality, the clones are the result of an attempt by Doctor Octopus (working for the CIA) to re-create the Super-Soldier Serum using Peter Parker's DNA. The story introduces a scarred, insane Kaine; a female clone named Jessica Drew (who becomes Spider-Woman); a six-armed clone (Tarantula); and a version of Ben Reilly who is an African-American lab assistant, not a direct clone. The story is a brutal horror-thriller that concludes in a single arc.
• MC2 Universe (Earth-982): This alternate future timeline, best known for the series `Spider-Girl`, spins directly out of a different ending to the Clone Saga. In this reality, Ben Reilly survives and Peter loses a leg in the final battle with the Green Goblin. More importantly, Peter and Mary Jane's baby, May “Mayday” Parker, is successfully born and returned to them. She grows up to inherit her father's powers and becomes Spider-Girl, with a retired Peter acting as her mentor.
• Spider-Man: The Clone Saga Miniseries (2009): In response to decades of fan criticism, Marvel published a six-issue miniseries that presented the Clone Saga as it was originally conceived by the writers before editorial mandates extended it. In this version, the story is a much shorter affair. Ben is revealed as the clone, Norman Osborn is not involved, and the main villain is a mutated Jackal. It concludes with Peter and Ben deciding to work together, with Ben leaving New York to find his own path.

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