Should Marvel make Clone saga trades? [Archive]

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Sparda

11-05-2006, 08:10 AM

Venom

11-05-2006, 08:35 AM

I've always wanted Clone Saga TPB but Marvel just don't want it to happen. They keep pretending like the whole era didn't happen. I've got news for ya; it did happen and it was bloody great.

Nick MB

11-05-2006, 08:36 AM

The big difference is that AoA is actually fondly looked back on as a classic and well-done storyline by a majority of fans, whereas the clone saga is looked upon as an abomination by quite a few of them. So they'd arguably be depending on the car crash factor for sales.

I, personally, like the clone saga. But I have all the issues, and don't have the disposable income or the inclination handy to buy them all again. And I suspect a lot of clone saga fans are in that position.

So, in short, it's a massive gamble. And there's a real risk that even if they did the first volume, there's a huge chance it could flop and you'd never see a second.

Sean Whitmore

11-05-2006, 12:12 PM

I think Marvel should put out at least the first collected story in a trade. See how it does, gauge interest, and let the sales dictate whether or not to collect the rest of the series.

They're shooting themselves in the foot if they ascribe to the theory that since fans don't remember it fondly, it isn't worth collecting. New readers will pick it up like they do anything Spidey, and considering how much readership grew during those years, it could suck in that many more new readers today.

SEAN

MakeshiftHero

11-05-2006, 05:23 PM

Are all of the clone saga issues collected in the 40 Years of Spider-Man CD ROM for the computer?

Bloodstrike

11-05-2006, 05:50 PM

I've been thinking the other day that since marvel is making AoA in trades of chronological order, why should'nt they do the same for the clone saga beginning in Power and Responsibility arc? Sure it was controversal but it started out great and I tend to like the good parts of the arc. I for one would spend the cash for the trades for memory's sake.

It was an important part of spidey's history. What do you guys think?

I think they should, The clone Saga was a good storyline. It would be good to see Marvel bring that out in Trade. Does Marvel still keep The Scarlet Spider around? or did they killed Peter's Clone off?

Spider-Man

11-05-2006, 06:16 PM

Instead of trades, Marvel should just put out a DVD with the ENTIRE saga, including the What If? that introduced Spider-Girl, all the side mini-series, the ish that focused on how to end the Clone Saga, EVERYTHING. That would be better than trades, and much cheaper, probably like fifteen to twenty bucks for the whole deal.

I'd certainly buy it.

Spidey

Sparda

11-05-2006, 07:06 PM

I think they should, The clone Saga was a good storyline. It would be good to see Marvel bring that out in Trade. Does Marvel still keep The Scarlet Spider around? or did they killed Peter's Clone off?
They killed off poor Ben Reilly. To be quite frank, I like his scarlet spider out fit a million times over than his redone edition of the spider-man costume.

Sean Whitmore

11-05-2006, 08:25 PM

Are all of the clone saga issues collected in the 40 Years of Spider-Man CD ROM for the computer?

No, just all the parts that appeared in Amazing Spider-Man. That's a whooooooooooole lotta Clone Saga unspoken for.

SEAN

Arana Negra

11-05-2006, 08:46 PM

What's AoA???

TassleTREX

11-06-2006, 12:03 AM

What's AoA???

Age of Apocalypse.

And I agree, I'd be all for collected editions, I'd especially love them to include the 35-part Life of Reilly series by Andrew Goletz and Glenn Greenberg and some updated interviews with creators, etc, give some perspective on the whole mess.

spacy

11-06-2006, 01:16 AM

some of the clone saga stuff was really good. Okay, some other wasn't worth to be printed. But i would like to see trades in general

gatchamandave

11-06-2006, 04:55 AM

The problem for Marvel reprinting the Clone Saga is that, unlike Age of Apocalypse, the Clone Saga has become the benchmark of how NOT to do it.

- How not to retcon your characters and convince the public to accept it

- How not to publish a multi-part crossover and convince the mass of the reading public that it is working to a sensible climax

-How not to convince the top creators to work with the new character ( Dan Jurgens, for example, was highly uncomfortable with Ben Reilly, if I recall Life of Reilly correctly, and left the Spidey titles rather than continue with some-one he didn't want to work on )

I haven't read it since I bought it as individual issues all those years ago, but did read up on the Life of Reilly website a couple of years ago.

Now what jumped out to me from that was the massive inconsistencies in approach, attitude and talent of the people working on Spidey throughout those difficult months. Differences that I suspect would become even more apparent if the Saga were to be reproduced as a series of trade paperbacks. J M Dematteis's specific characterisation of the Ben-Spidey would nestle alongside Howard Mackie's much more generic writing - to the denegration of both of them.

The only way I could see it done would be - like the Saga itself in many places - quickly thrown together, cheap and bulky. I'm thinking an Essentials volume of every issue between two covers in black and white. Maybe, maybe, it would then be worth having, if only to satisfy the understandable curiosity of modern fans who didn't have to live through the whole tortuous mess at the time like us miserable old bastards did.:D

The Shadow

11-06-2006, 05:33 AM

Chris S.

11-06-2006, 07:52 AM

Well there are TPB's of the clone saga. I own a trade of the story in which Ben dies, name is escaping me right now. So they exist you just have to find them, and they may not cover the entire saga obviously.

I don't really know how I feel about this. Personally, I have said this before, I hate TPB. I will not buy them if they do so I don't really care. I own a majority of the books any how, and the ones I don't I would rather buy individually then in a TPB.

The need for trades needs to end. People need to return to buying up back issues. There are a ton of Clone Saga back issues out there, and for cheap. Look around people.

StrikeForce Albert

11-06-2006, 09:15 AM

Why not? They are putting those garbage AoA books and Heroes Reborn in trade

Keehar

11-06-2006, 10:26 AM

Clone Saga sucked.

That's why Marvel don't make trades of it. Most fans can't be bothered to buy it.

hmnut73

11-06-2006, 10:33 AM

The clone saga wasn't that bad. But it was ten years ago AND PEOPLE ARE STILL COMPLINING ABOUT IT!!!! I would like to go one day with hearing some Spidey fan b*tch how the clone saga was the worst moment of their life.

But anyway, Marvel has tried very hard to erase that story from the minds of the readers. It's like the CIA and Aliens, anyone at Marvel who admits the clone saga actually happens gets driven out into the desert and is never seen again. I think a trade of it would open a can of worms that Marvel had a tough time closing in the first place.

Sean Whitmore

11-06-2006, 11:45 AM

Well there are TPB's of the clone saga. I own a trade of the story in which Ben dies, name is escaping me right now. So they exist you just have to find them, and they may not cover the entire saga obviously.

I'm pretty sure "Revelations" was collected, which is the one you have. That one's understandable thought, as it puts Peter back in the costume, kills Ben, and reintroduces the Green Goblin.

SEAN

The Confessor

11-06-2006, 12:59 PM

I would love for Marvel to collect the whole Clone Saga in TPB form. I own a whole lot of spidey comics and usually shy away from trades, but I don't own any of the Clone Saga at all...so, that's why I'm in favour of it.

I think in an ideal world I'd actually rather own the individual comics that make up the Clone Saga (I'm always on the look out for someone selling the whole collection on eBay) but a series of trade paperbacks would be a very easy and convenient way for me to get the whole story.

It should be done in full colour though. The thing that really puts me off the whole essentials line (and DC Showcase for that matter) is the fact that it's all in black & white. I like my comics/trades in colour thanks very much!

will_butler

11-06-2006, 06:07 PM

Personally, I'd love to see it collected. I just found the Life of Reilly articles, and read the entire series in one looooong sitting over the weekend. I found it fascinating. I read some of the books back in the day, and it was a large part of why I got out of comics, but hearing how much behind the scenes crap sabotaged anything resembing a story made me really interested in revisiting it. However, I would absolutely not pay trade paperback prices for it. Nor should it be released as an Essential volume, as calling the Clone Saga "essential" is something of a sick joke. I think Marvel should release it in black and white in one giant, phonebook sized volume on cheap paper. Sort of a cheapass Omnibus. And it shouldn't retail for more than $25.

Will

Nick MB

11-06-2006, 11:47 PM

I think Marvel should release it in black and white in one giant, phonebook sized volume on cheap paper. Sort of a cheapass Omnibus. And it shouldn't retail for more than $25.

I feel that the people who are making the "Single Volume Clone Saga Collection" demand have failed to take into account that the clone saga ran for over two years, across four Spider-Titles, plus many (many many) extra specials/mini-series/etc. In short, well over one hundred comics. You want one $25 volume? You'd be lucky to see it fit in four.

Sean Whitmore

11-06-2006, 11:55 PM

I think Marvel should release it in black and white in one giant, phonebook sized volume on cheap paper. Sort of a cheapass Omnibus. And it shouldn't retail for more than $25.

The entire clone sage in one collected book? Physics doesn't work that way, I'm afraid. ;)

Like Nick said, a series of about 4 or 5 phonebook-sized collections might do it. Just maybe. Not counting any of the mini series or one-shots.

SEAN

gatchamandave

11-07-2006, 02:40 AM

The entire clone sage in one collected book? Physics doesn't work that way, I'm afraid. ;)

Like Nick said, a series of about 4 or 5 phonebook-sized collections might do it. Just maybe. Not counting any of the mini series or one-shots.

SEAN

Good lord < choke > and I read the lot...that's - well, that's ages out of my one and only life I'll never get back !!!!

MAAAARRRRVEEELLLLLLL!!! You Maniacs! You blew it up! Ah, damn you! God damn you all to hell!

Rich L

11-07-2006, 06:18 AM

I dug this post up that I did over a year ago the last time this came up, suggesting a four-volume Essential Clone Saga:

It may not sell that well in full price format, but some of those stories were pretty good - I'm sure that you could do a good solid version of the story in a few Essential volumes (Essential Clone Saga), cutting out the chaff:

Return of the Clone: includes Lost Years #0-4, some tease pages/panels from WOS 114-SPEC 216, WOS 117, ASM 394, SPID 51, SPEC 217, WOS 118, ASM 395, SPID 52, SPEC 218, WOS 119, ASM 396, SPID 53, SPEC 219, WOS 120, ASM 397, SPID 54, SPEC 220, WOS 121, ASM 398, SPID 55, SPEC 221, Funeral For An Octopus 1-3 - a total of 28 books

The Trial of Peter Parker: (cutting out most of the New Warriors stuff and the Super-Specials): Contains WOS 122, ASM 399, SPID 56, SPEC 222, WOS 123, ASM 400, SPID 57, SPEC 223, WOS 124, ASM 401, SPID 58, SPEC 224, WOS 125, ASM 402, SPID 59, SPEC 225, WOS 126, ASM 403, SPID 60, SPEC 226, Maximum Clonage Alpha, WOS 127, ASM 404, SPID 61, SPEC 227, Maximum Clonage Omega) - total of 26 books

Passing the Torch: again you can cut some of the less impressive stuff (like the New Warrior tie ins and the Web of Scarlet Spider issues, plus the Unlimiteds): WOS 128, ASM 405, SPID 62, SPEC 228, WOS 129, ASM 406, SPID 63, SPEC 229, Web Of Scarlet Spider 1, Amazing Scarlet Spider 1, Scarlet Spider 1 Spectacular Scarlet Spider 1, Web Of Scarlet Spider 2, Amazing Scarlet Spider 2, Scarlet Spider 2, Spectacular Scarlet Spider 2, SEN 0, ASM 407, SPID 64, SPEC 230, ASM 408, SPID 65, SPEC 231, SEN 2, ASM 409, SPID 66, SPEC 232, SEN 3, ASM 410, SPID 67, SPEC 233 - a whopping 31 issues though you could lose some standalones if you wanted (tho they're amongst the better ones)

Return of Spider-Man : Sensational #4-Spider-Man #75, ignoring Unlimiteds, Team-Ups and Redemption: SEN 4, ASM 411, SPID 68, SPEC 234, SEN 5, ASM 412, SPID 69, SPEC 235, SEN 6, ASM 413, SPID 70, SPEC 236, SEN 7, ASM 414, SPID 71, SPEC 237, SEN 8, ASM 415, SPID 72, SPEC 238, SEN 9, ASM 416, SPID 73, SPEC 239, SEN 10, ASM 417, SPID 74, SPEC 240, SEN 11, ASM 418, SPID 75 - another 31 issue bumper Essential (although again you could get rid of some stand alone issues quite easily)

The Shadow

11-07-2006, 07:52 AM

The clone saga wasn't that bad. But it was ten years ago AND PEOPLE ARE STILL COMPLINING ABOUT IT!!!!
You contradict yourself... if it wasn't that bad why are people complaining about it a decade later?

It really WAS that bad...especially as the years went on.

The Shadow

11-07-2006, 07:56 AM

They are putting those garbage AoA books
wow... that's the first time I've EVER heard AoA mentioned as garbage (assuming you are talking about the original stuff and not the 10 Anniversary mini) and the clone saga defended in the SAME SENTENCE!

Chris S.

11-07-2006, 07:57 AM

You contradict yourself... if it wasn't that bad why are people complaining about it a decade later?

It really WAS that bad...especially as the years went on.
Yea but it is in people's nature to complain. I would almost guarantee that if this message board is around in ten years the Sins Past discussions will be very similar.

Rich L

11-07-2006, 08:16 AM

Yea but it is in people's nature to complain. I would almost guarantee that if this message board is around in ten years the Sins Past discussions will be very similar.

But Sins Past is pretty much reviled now - and rightly so.

The Clone Saga I enjoyed then and I enjoy now. There were parts that were stretched out, no question, but overall it was pretty good. And people forget that readership was at a high during the saga and only started to drop off when Peter returned.

Nick MB

11-07-2006, 10:10 AM

I dug this post up that I did over a year ago the last time this came up, suggesting a four-volume Essential Clone Saga:

You cut out Redemption? That is not "chaff", it's one of the highlights of the whole saga....

will_butler

11-07-2006, 04:51 PM

The entire clone sage in one collected book? Physics doesn't work that way, I'm afraid. ;)

Like Nick said, a series of about 4 or 5 phonebook-sized collections might do it. Just maybe. Not counting any of the mini series or one-shots.

SEAN

You know, I think reading Life of Reilly all in one sitting may have distorted my memory of how long that travesty actually was. My apologies, there. Collecting it all on one CD, though, has a great deal of potential.

Will

Mikl C

11-08-2006, 05:22 PM

[unpopular opinion] The clone saga rocked! [/unpopular opinion]

Cody H

11-08-2006, 06:53 PM

If they were to put together clone saga trades, It'd be great if they included the "Life of Reilly" as something of an introduction to each story, it's very well done. And you can count me among the few who enjoyed the majority of the clone saga, so I'd said go ahead with the trades.

aepuk

11-12-2006, 12:47 PM

Loved the clone saga and would really like a trade, but it would be long long long. I just like a ben reily trade that would make me happy. I loved him as spidey and wish he had stayed in the universe as scarlet spider. Marvel bottled it well and truly.

Web_Spinner

11-13-2006, 10:27 PM

Could they do trades by having two arcs in one book?

Then have several volumes/books of the clone saga?

That'd be cool.

with a cover that says, Spider-Man: The Clone Saga, as the main title, and then the subtitles would be the arc names, Blood Brothers & Exiles, for example!

And of course volume numbers!

How many books/volumes would that end up being??

Sean Whitmore

11-13-2006, 10:31 PM

How many books/volumes would that end up being??

That'd depend on how many stories were reprinted in each volume. There couldn't be a separate one for each story, since some were 3-parters, some were 6-parters, some were one-shots, etc.

Right off the top of my head, maybe 10 or so of those HCs would do it, with about 13-15 reprints in each. This is excluding a lot of the tie-ins, of course.

SEAN

Herrick

11-14-2006, 08:40 AM

I'm not a huge comic book fan, but Spider-Mang has always seemed very cool to me, and out of the few Spider-Mang comics I've bought over the years, the whole Clone thing really intrigued Herrick.

I'd like for Marvel to release The Clone Saga, cause there's no way I'm going to buy all those comics, assuming I could find them all. 'Course there are other ways...