Was The 90's Clone Saga As Bad As We Make It Seem?

[TheAltarOfMyEgo]

I started reading in the '90s, right around issue #400, and even third grade me thought the stories were terrible. I quit reading within a few months ("Planet of the Symbiotes" was the only newer story at the time that my then-9-year-old self thought was good) and only asked my parents for back issues until I got back into current comics in 2005.

And I don't count that as a slight against the writers...I'm sure they were sick of the storyline, too. Bagley remains one of my favorite Spider-Man artists, and there are several stories by the writers involved in that mess that I actually enjoy quite a bit.

[SJNeal]

Well I was excited to see this thread since I just added the Clone Saga trades to my Amazon wish list, and was preparing to pull the trigger on them. After reading the replies I'm now torn...

Of course I've heard a lot of horror stories about this era, but being a 90's kid myself thought "It can't be that bad" since I was one of the three people who enjoyed The Crossing in the Avengers books. Maybe I'll just start out slow and buy the first volume.

Does anyone recommend the Spider titles post-Clone Saga, up through the relaunch?

[Ben K.]

Context is everything. And in the context of the quality of Spider-Man stories immediately before and after the Saga it stands up quite well (one must be reminded writers were writing Parker into a depressing hole before the saga started). Plus, the arc of Ben Reilly is one of the best in Spider-Man in spite of the extraneous BS. Starts as angsty clone, accepts his lot, learns to love life, is rewarded with finding out he's the real deal and sacrifices himself not knowing (or caring) if he's the original or not. PPSM 75 and ASM 400 also came with the deal, two of the best single issues ever in my opinion (pity that both are ignored or belittled within the canon). The diamonds are in the rough alright.

Though I consider him one of the best SM characters, not sure what purpose a revived Reilly could serve. Maybe they could switch the initial concept around and have him return as a settled, happy family man retired from super heroics much like they had planned for Peter at the time. Shove the oft repeated "what-if" scenario in Peter's face. Brain-washed villain/anti-hero would have no appeal to me.

[Russell]

Well I was excited to see this thread since I just added the Clone Saga trades to my Amazon wish list, and was preparing to pull the trigger on them. After reading the replies I'm now torn...

Of course I've heard a lot of horror stories about this era, but being a 90's kid myself thought "It can't be that bad" since I was one of the three people who enjoyed The Crossing in the Avengers books. Maybe I'll just start out slow and buy the first volume.

I'd buy them, at least the first 5 (The Clone Saga books). 1-3 are very good, it is during books 4-5 where the quality slips a bit but by then you'll want to see what happens. They are worth it for The Lost Years and #400 alone.

Does anyone recommend the Spider titles post-Clone Saga, up through the relaunch?

If you are talking about the comics before the 99(?) relaunch where the numbering goes back to #1, then yes. Highly recommended. There are three trades (Spider Hunt, Identity Crisis & Hobgoblin Lives) out at the moment from that era but I hope more are coming soon.

[SJNeal]

If you are talking about the comics before the 99(?) relaunch where the numbering goes back to #1, then yes. Highly recommended. There are three trades (Spider Hunt, Identity Crisis & Hobgoblin Lives) out at the moment from that era but I hope more are coming soon.

Yep, that's the era I'm talking about. I have all 3 of those trades on the wish list too, and have been checking out the singles to fill in the gaps between. Some are a bit pricey online, but the creative teams are solid so I think I'll keep searching local shops for cheap copies.

Thanks for the reply!