Twisted intrigue
How crazy this comic is! Moreover, it is not crazy in the model we know from comedy, abstract stories. Here we get an intrigue that makes even Peter Parker’s head ache – a dramatic, painful and emotional story that can squeeze tears from the eyes of the most resistant readers. It starts out quite innocent, if unpleasant. Peter has to deal with a wave of reproaches his girlfriend Kitty Pryde yells into his phone. It’s mostly about the relationship with Mary Jane, with whom Pete is just going to meet. However, it gets even worse when, during their tryst, the mall is attacked by a Scorpio. This one has never been too much of a problem for Spider-Man, who can handle it once or twice. But when the villain loses his mask, Peter sees… himself underneath it! The hero takes his clone to the headquarters of the Fantastic Four, where he decides to get help. The matter becomes even more complicated when more copies of Parker appear in the arena – a deformed, monstrous Spider-Man, a girl with identical powers, a boy with six hands. To complete the madness, his long-deceased father and ex-girlfriend, Gwen Stacy, knock on the door of Aunt May and Peter’s house. Madness at full speed!
The Clone Saga returns
Egmont did a great job, giving us in this issue a short history of the Clone Saga , which was born back in the 70s. It all started with the killing of Gwen Stacy, which met with the fury of a whole crowd of fans. Marvel ordered the heroine to be resurrected, and the cunning author, Gerry Conway, decided to do it his way – creating a revolutionary comic book plot. Since then, the Clone Saga has been going on forever, both in picture novels and in other media. Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume 9 by Tom Bendis, however, takes the best out of this theme, and the story of Peter Parker’s copies takes a blush.
It is not always possible to maintain the level …
The second story in this volume focuses on a new group of heroes created by Daredevil himself. He wants to get rid of the king of crime, Kingpin, from the city once and for all. Moreover, the heroes decide to deviate from traditional, humanitarian methods of struggle and finally get rid of the villain. This turn of events will surprise Spider-Man a bit. What the outcome of this brawl will be, however, you have to see for yourself. I must admit, however, that the second story stands out from its predecessor in this volume. It’s hard to match the fireworks that the creators of the Clone Saga have prepared for us .
Friendly neighbor? We don’t have time for this!
In the plot, I miss what I like most about the Spider-Man stories, i.e. the moral side of Parker’s life. Unfortunately, due to the enormity of action, fighting and various intrigues, there is no room for Peter’s everyday life here. It’s a pity. The pace of the story, however, does not slow down even for a moment. I think some readers may like this, but in my opinion one of the most important elements of Spidey’s identity has been abandoned. The second story presented in the volume fares a bit better in this respect, but I still did not feel satisfied. Remember, however, that I am a fanboy of Peter Parker, and his New York everyday life has always been what I loved most in movies and comics. My judgment on this aspect of the comics may be slightly biased by this, but you have to forgive me.
Dark drawings for the seriousness of the situation
Mark Bagley found a place in the darker, slightly eastern style used in these comics. The frames are full of emotions, they hide a secret, and the fight scenes give the impression that the characters are about to jump out of the cards at any moment. The artist’s works are so much more impressive that for Bagley this volume is also a farewell to the Ultimate Spider-Man series . He deserves a huge thank you from the entire fan community for his amazing job.
You do it, Spidey!
A great comic book that is impossible to tear yourself away from. The Clone Saga breaks the rules, surprises and keeps you in suspense. Bendis and Bagley’s duo is probably the best that could happen to the series. Volume 9 Ultimate Spider-Man is an almost complete comic book in which it is very difficult to find any flaws. Maybe if there were a little more of Peter’s everyday life here … but let’s not blame it, after all, Spidey doesn’t always have time to live a normal life when his clones are rampant all over town!
