Written by Tom DeFalco
Art by Mark Bagley; Larry Mahlstedt; Al Milgrom; Bob Sharen; Malibu’s Hues; Richard Starkings; & Comicraft
Cover Art by Mark Bagley & Larry Mahlstedt
SUMMARY:
Released by Marvel Comics for May 1996, it’s Part 2 of the six-part “Blood Brothers.” While J. Jonah Jameson gloats over a publicity-seeking Spidey bounty re: a stolen skeleton, two Spider-Men have separate dilemmas. Ben Reilly is still acclimating (or re-acclimating) to his dual life, as one scene depicts a homage to Batman’s origin in Crime Alley. Realizing someone has a vendetta to ruin him, Ben’s day grows steadily worse. A mystery adversary tauntingly invades Ben’s apartment and may next target his unsuspecting workplace.
Eager to return home to Portland, Oregon, a powerless Peter Parker accepts that his web-spinning days are over. Sharing an exuberant day in New York City, with his pregnant wife, Mary Jane, Peter is briefly content with this reality. In an alley, the Parkers are brutally accosted by cybernetic mercenaries. Mary Jane is helpless witnessing their assailants mercilessly pummel Peter to near-death as an ominous warning to Spider-Man.
Elsewhere, the villainous Doctor Trainer looks forward to the Multivex Corporation’s cloning technology to revitalize him.
Note: The cover image doesn’t depict Mary Jane as obviously pregnant (as she is in the actual story).
REVIEW:
No matter how preposterous the whole Clone Saga seems, writer Tom DeFalco’s scripting for this particular issue is solid enough. Including reasonably good visuals, The Amazing Spider-Man # 411 delivers a decent, likely one-and-done read.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
A single-page checklist details newly-released Marvel issues. Saved for last is a single-page “Spider-Web” letters-and-answers column.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 5½ Stars
