Tom Defalco answers a few Clone Saga questions.

[Mister Mets]

H/T to the Crawl Space

A few weeks ago, Tom Defalco posted an interview he had done on the Clone Saga to the Alvaro's Board Spider-Girl page.

http://www.comicboards.com/php/show....&layout=thread

One interesting tidbit.

As one cause why Peter Parker had to return as fast as possible it was often mentioned that the concept of Ben Reilly could never work with the same supporting cast as Peter’s. (Because everybody would recognize Ben as Peter Parker). So the complete cast – created over 30 years – would have to vanish… I wonder, why Ben wasn’t introduced to (for example) Robbie Robertson as Peters long lost cousin or stepbrother. (Ben did the same with Peter concerning Jessica) Was this ever an option?

Many options were considered. When we first began the project, I planned to eventually spin Ben off in his own title—kind of like I did with Thunderstrike and War Machine—but comic books sales were in a tailspin by the time we finished the clone sage so that was no longer an option. (Sales were falling across the industry because Marvel had decided to distribute its own comics. This led to a massive upheaval that almost destroyed the entire industry.)

[Scott Taylor]

And this was interesting. I did not know this:

5. When was decided, that Peter Parker had to be reestablished as the real Spider-Man as fast as possible?

Bob Harras took over as editor and chief and felt that the clone saga had gone on much too long. As for Peter Parker being reestablished as Spider-Man—contrary to popular belief--that was always the plan!

[charlesthehammer]

And this was interesting. I did not know this:

That is an odd statement. Either because it flies in the face of the main reason we know why the saga happened, or because its a dumb play at semantics.

[Scott Taylor]

Well, what happened there is that I typed something much shorter and it was kicked back saying there were not enough characters. SO I quickly typed more words and hit post, not thinking about how it could be confusing.

It was my belief that the Clone Saga was planned as a way to get rid of the marriage and have Peter effectively be replaced by Ben. But it sounds like DeFalco said the plan was always to bring Peter back and have it be business as usual. Unless I am misreading things.

[charlesthehammer]

Well, what happened there is that I typed something much shorter and it was kicked back saying there were not enough characters. SO I quickly typed more words and hit post, not thinking about how it could be confusing.

It was my belief that the Clone Saga was planned as a way to get rid of the marriage and have Peter effectively be replaced by Ben. But it sounds like DeFalco said the plan was always to bring Peter back and have it be business as usual. Unless I am misreading things.

Well yes that is what I meant, though I did allow for the possibility that Ben was also the real Peter, which is the semantics I was talking about.

[DV1Band]

I don't see why Peter and Ben couldn't have both been Spidey on different sides of the U.S.

[David Walton]

DeFalco says it was always the plan, but Glenn Greenberg and every other writer on the book at the time maintains that Ben Reilly was the real deal.

So if that was DeFalco's plan, he kept it really close to the vest.

[Russell]

It is odd because DeFalco's recollection, that Peter was always supposed to return, is the version I have heard most from creators/official interviews, while the clone saga being a way to permanently replace Peter is the version I read on message boards.

I'd say nobody knows exactly what happened, and the plan was probably always going to involve Peter returning, but a few overzealous types enjoyed the sales peak and decided to extend the clone saga, then thought it might be a good idea to leave Ben as SM, only to change their mind.

Though I'm no expert on the matter

[Scott Taylor]

Well yes that is what I meant, though I did allow for the possibility that Ben was also the real Peter, which is the semantics I was talking about.

Oh, haha. I understand. Yes, it was an odd statement considering. Although the Clone Saga is so convoluted that its easy to misconstrue statements about it even when someone is trying to be straight up.

[Doctor Cosmic]

Read this (when you have a lot of time or in multiple sittings) and it will answer all the questions asked in this thread, and then some:

Life of Reilly