Ultimate Spiderman #104 Clone saga

[Romelacca]

Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Penciled by Mark Bagley
Inks by Drew Hennessy
Colored by Avalon's Andy Troy
Lettered by Chris Eliopovlos
Production by Rich Gintar
Editor Ralph Macchio
Editor in Chief Joe Quesada

Previously in Ultimate Spiderman everything that is old is new again. This book is about once again clones. I hate stories about clones. No good can come from clones such as cloned Thor (Clor) in the Civil War story line. But I guess Marvel decided clones are good for sales so lets put it in our Ultimate universe. I remember the original clone saga and the second clone saga in Amazing Spiderman. When I was reading Ultimate Spiderman with Mark Bagley and realized that he was going to surpass Jack "King" Kirby goal of 102 issues I was very excited. But then I heard that it would be dealing with the clone saga I was very disappointed. This book does have some major downs, Jessica is Spiderwoman but she is also Peter Parker's clone. This story has some ups, it is a nice twist that it is not the Jackle that created the clones but actually Dr. Octopus. I like the fact that he can control metal and I know that this is a Magneto rip off but I still like it. This book has everything. Fantastic Four establishes themselves as Peter Parkers friend. The FF in this book seem to be on their A game. They were able to figure out how to cure MJ. I like that something happened to MJ because usually it is just a stalker but this time she gets infected with something because of Peter. The clone that did this to her looks like Cain from Amazing Spiderman. The dialog in this book was pretty witty and did not have a slow moment. It gave me a little hope that you can tell a good story dealing with clones. The end of this book has a cliff hanger with the ultimate question. If you were able to have your hearts desire would you take it. That is why I will be picking up issue 105.

Rating overall: A+

[Romelacca]

Has anyone seen the white cover and if so how much is it going for?

[The Guvnor]

Has anyone seen the white cover and if so how much is it going for?

I didn't see it at my store as it's very rare (1 in 100), but you could probably hunt one down on eBay if you had cash to spend.

By the way nice review. I get Ultimate Spiderman in trades so I can't really comment on this particular issue, but it sounded like a good read.

[Ken B.]

This arc needed to ship bi-weekly soon. It really was a pain to wait so long for this thing to finally wrap up. This and the previous issue made up for the complete decompression that the first 4 issues had, and kind of made me excited for Ultimate Spider-Man again.

The thing with this book that has become very apparent is that it works best in a bam bam bam two issues a month every other month fashion. Otherwise Bendis needs to pick up the pace.

I've stuck with the book from the very beginning, and this arc was the one that almost made me decide to quit it. If another arc like this takes place soon, I could see myself cropping the book.

Bagley, as always, provided great art and panel layouts.

[aceatkins]

I'm glad this sucker is winding down. Not that I don't like it --- it's fine. But I'll be glad when it's over so we can move on to other things.

A couple of my fears were addressed here, to varying degrees of satisfaction. Specifically:

1) Mary Jane the wolf-girl. This would have made for a very silly character had it continued, although they do leave the door open for her to transform back into that goofy form should a writer decide to. I dearly hope no writer ever does. There are a lot of ways you can go with Mary Jane, but having her be a crazed wolf monster is really not one of the good ones.

2) The revelation about Doc Ock's powers. This is just so bizarre to me. I continue to scratch my head trying to figure out what the purpose of this is, besides to give a surprising cliffhanger to last issue. If that is the case (and character- and story-wise, that's all I can come up with) it's a pretty lame move. I don't understand how the accident that created Doc Ock imbued him with low-level magnetic powers. Unless the answer is that Ock was always a mutant, which is...not my favorite choice. What does it add to the character? Just confusion, really. And those homemade metal arms don't do anything for me aesthetically. Bendis had already done a good job distinguishing the Ultimate Ock from the 616 Ock. He was much more calculating and deadly, and less of an oaf. Adding this on, to me, just puts a blemish on his character.

3) The Clones. Well, three out of five Peter clones (that we know about) are (seemingly) dead. That's good, although I'm surprised they killed the Kane-like clone so early. I figured he'd end up coming back at some point. The thing with "Dad" Peter was very strange. I felt like I missed a page in my comic. Was there a scene in which it is explained why he ages so rapidly and dies? As for the currently surviving two, if they try to use Peter Parker clones as Spider-Woman and Scorpion in the Ultimate Universe, I'll be really annoyed. It's such a silly, goofy concept that would turn off pretty much any new reader out there.

I realize I keep using the word "silly" to describe a lot of the changes made to characters in this arc, but that's the only word I can use to describe them. The Ultimate Universe has done a good job keeping things fairly realistic -- for a super-hero comic book -- throughout its run. You could pick up any one of these books at any point and not be saddled with really convoluted plot points. But some of the developments here start really complicating things. Try to explain to a new reader who the new Scorpion is, or why Doc Ock -- who they're probably familiar with from the movies -- is actually magnetically powered, or why this Spider-Woman is a girl Peter. You can do it. But they'll get that look on their faces. Like, "Yeah. Comic readers. O-kay..." And that concerns me.

[Romelacca]

I realize I keep using the word "silly" to describe a lot of the changes made to characters in this arc, but that's the only word I can use to describe them. The Ultimate Universe has done a good job keeping things fairly realistic -- for a super-hero comic book -- throughout its run. You could pick up any one of these books at any point and not be saddled with really convoluted plot points. But some of the developments here start really complicating things. Try to explain to a new reader who the new Scorpion is, or why Doc Ock -- who they're probably familiar with from the movies -- is actually magnetically powered, or why this Spider-Woman is a girl Peter. You can do it. But they'll get that look on their faces. Like, "Yeah. Comic readers. O-kay..." And that concerns me.[/QUOTE]

I agree I hope they don't keep alot of the things they have done in this story arc. But in all this comic has been breathing new life in all the spider books.:D

[hydroguy77]

You can try checking it at midtowncomics.com they have it listed on their site.

[Heffaloo]

A couple of my fears were addressed here, to varying degrees of satisfaction. . .
2) The revelation about Doc Ock's powers. This is just so bizarre to me. I continue to scratch my head trying to figure out what the purpose of this is, besides to give a surprising cliffhanger to last issue. If that is the case (and character- and story-wise, that's all I can come up with) it's a pretty lame move. I don't understand how the accident that created Doc Ock imbued him with low-level magnetic powers. Unless the answer is that Ock was always a mutant, which is...not my favorite choice. What does it add to the character? Just confusion, really. . .

I think that the revelation of Doc Ock's powers does have a purpose, and that purpose is to cut down on some silliness. Without this reveal we are stuck with the same stupidity involved with the 616 Ock, namely that he keeps regaining his arms. As much as I like Dr. Octopus (he's my favorite spidey villain), I'm glad this version doesn't have to come up with some lame excuse for the arms not being dismantled beyond use each time he gets captured. I always disliked that.

[Romelacca]

I have to agree. I think this is the reason for the ultimate line and I personaly like the difference from the whole 616 line:p .

[Salieri]

I keep telling everyone that Ock hasn't got Magnetic powers - he's a low-level Telepathic to any Metal that had been infected by OZ in the explosion that created the Green Goblin. Basically, he can control any pieces of Metal that was int hat Lab at th etime - which is why Bendis made it that Harry Osborn didn't renovate the building during the 'Hobgoblin' arc.

[tesh_karde]

i just am sad that they killed the best spider-clone. the guy with the extra arms was okay in my book!

[Salieri]

I'm a bit annoyed that no-one ever got aroudn to referring to the Black-Costume Clone as 'Tarantula', which he blatantly was.

[Salieri]

The end of this book has a cliff hanger with the ultimate question. If you were able to have your hearts desire would you take it. That is why I will be picking up issue 105.

Rating overall: A+

I disagree; I think the question is more along the liens of, 'If you had your heart's desire...would you know it was your heart's desire? Would you actually want it?'

I mean, Peter's gone between wanting to lose his power and not wanting to in this big Hormone Cocktail for the entire series. Is someone as smart as him going to make a decision like that on-the-spot, without thinking?

[Legend]

I jumped on this book in the middle of the arc (102), which caused some problems . . . but not many, thanks to the helpful re-cap page at the front of each ish. I wanted to catch the end of this historic run by this creative team, and thusfar I haven't been disappointed. I would agree with some other posters who feel "clone sagas" are somewhat convoluted and overwrought with problematic story-points . . . however, this final issue did a nice job of "dotting i's and crossing t's" (basically by killing most of the clones off). And, I enjoyed the Spidergirl clone and thought the Father Parker clone executed the obligatory realization moment ("ohmygod, I'm a clone.") with effective emotion. One often wonders about the "feelings" and "personalities" of clones . . . whether or not their capacity for feeling is being conveyed properly. Perhaps I am confusing androids with clones, but if all were spliced from Peter's DNA wouldn't they all just act exactly like Peter . . . OR, do the memory implants allow for variations in behavior? Oh well, you can see how a "clone saga" can start a mind spinning.

I do conceed that the Doc Ock's metal-manipulating powers seem a bit forced. Yet, I am willing to allow for some peculiar variation given the "Ulitimate" universe factor. The sudden "natural" death of Father Parker did seem curious.

I have enjoyed the vivid art-work in the issues I've read, and #104 was no exception. But, I was troubled somewhat by Reed's unorthodox appearance. I have not seen him drawn like this before. Is this just because this is an "Ultimate" title? Just a Bagley thing? I kept doing double-takes during his scenes . . . glasses? . . . no gray hair? Maybe I just haven't read enough recent books, but I have indulged in much of the recent JMS run of FF, as well as other Civil War tie-ins . . . and Reed is always just a slight variation of the standard look. Who is this new spectacled genius?

Also can anyone fill me in on Dr. Storm??? Not familiar with this character either. During this issue, it almost seemed as though the two of them (Dr. Storm and Reed) combined to create the genius-effect that Reed typically provides by himself.

The fight-scenes with Doc Ock were pretty spectacular. At times I became disoriented, almost as though I was in the fight myself. Bagley renders this scene dynamically with lots of chaotic movement . . . which, in turn, lends itself to lots of mouth-gaping gazing.

Overall, I liked this issue and I am looking forward to seeing how Peter deals with the opportunity presented to him at the story's conclussion.

[Salieri]

Perhaps I am confusing androids with clones, but if all were spliced from Peter's DNA wouldn't they all just act exactly like Peter . . . OR, do the memory implants allow for variations in behavior? Oh well, you can see how a "clone saga" can start a mind spinning.

Behaviour has to do with what parts of the brain are intact, or hormones - especially hormones, as Peter is only sixteen now. In the 'Kaine' Clone, it seems that by pure coincedence the Grey Matter controlling rational thought is gone; in 'Scorpion', the Brain is made to be far more military, as hed would have been programmed to be a soldier; In 'Richard', not only is he an adult but he has all these memories to work on, 'Six-Arms Tarantula' will also be a bit more violent but probably the same, and finally...'Jessica'.

'Jessica' is th emost fascinating to me. Basically it's as if you've taken The Information stored in a PC and put it into a Mac - it's the same information, but different ways of dealing with it. Though she may have a Guy's Memories, she is completely a girl. She'll experience Female Physiology; her Hormones are undeniably Female. Within a week her personality would have been totally different to Peter's; perhaps more flamboyant, or moodier, or something. Bottom Line: She isn't just a Female Peter. She's a different Person entirely.

But, I was troubled somewhat by Reed's unorthodox appearance. I have not seen him drawn like this before. Is this just because this is an "Ultimate" title? Just a Bagley thing? I kept doing double-takes during his scenes . . . glasses? . . . no gray hair? Maybe I just haven't read enough recent books, but I have indulged in much of the recent JMS run of FF, as well as other Civil War tie-ins . . . and Reed is always just a slight variation of the standard look. Who is this new spectacled genius?

Also can anyone fill me in on Dr. Storm??? Not familiar with this character either. During this issue, it almost seemed as though the two of them (Dr. Storm and Reed) combined to create the genius-effect that Reed typically provides by himself.

I've found that those variations are and advantadge to the Ultimate Character. In Ultimate, the entire FF are Teenager to TwentySomething; not only do they go around saving people from cosmic threats, but they also have more Fun. Also, being Teens, Reed & Sue can split up, somethign I've always wanted.

And having Doc Storm as backup is a much better approach, because it makes Reed's Own smartness a lot more realistic - he's still a Kid. He still has flaws.

The fight-scenes with Doc Ock were pretty spectacular. At times I became disoriented, almost as though I was in the fight myself. Bagley renders this scene dynamically with lots of chaotic movement . . . which, in turn, lends itself to lots of mouth-gaping gazing.

Overall, I liked this issue and I am looking forward to seeing how Peter deals with the opportunity presented to him at the story's conclussion.

Amen, Brother.

[shady878]

This new clone saga is "meh" nothing bad but nothing special for me. very passe...next arc please!

[Legend]

Yo, Salieri . . . thanks for the help. I had no idea the FF were suppossed to be so young. I don't read Ultimate FF, and I think this is the first time they played a role in any of the Ultimate Spidey books I have (102-104). Cool concept. Also appreciated your comments regarding clone behavior . . . all of your posits seem viable to me . . . and I agree that Jessica is the most fascinating . . . her possibilities are intriguing.

[Salieri]

Yo, Salieri . . . thanks for the help. I had no idea the FF were suppossed to be so young. I don't read Ultimate FF, and I think this is the first time they played a role in any of the Ultimate Spidey books I have (102-104). Cool concept. Also appreciated your comments regarding clone behavior . . . all of your posits seem viable to me . . . and I agree that Jessica is the most fascinating . . . her possibilities are intriguing.

Yup. I mean, Imagine if she starts going to Pete's School under her alias - imagine if she starts dating his friends or something. Pete would see her out on the town with Flash, and think, 'Wait...are a couple of lousy chromosomes all that's holding me back from attraction to Flash?' and freak out.

Plus, in 616, Venom was a crimefighter. Now that Gwen is Carnage, maybe the Ultimate version of Venom will stick to devouring People while SHE gets to be the crimefighter!