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For much of Spider-Man’s career, Norman Osborn has been Spider-Man’s arch-enemy. The Green Goblin has perpetrated several heinous acts against Peter Parker, including his role as the mastermind of the “Clone Saga.” In one version of the “Clone Saga,” however, Harry Osborn almost took his father’s crown as Peter Parker’s worst nightmare.
The events of the controversial “Clone Saga” are reimagined in 2009’s Spider-Man the Clone Saga, by Tom DeFalco, Howard Mackie and Todd Nauck, which offers a simplified and condensed version of the infamous Spider-Man storyline. This six-issue mini-series begins similarly to the original “Clone Saga.” Aunt May is extremely sick, leading Peter’s clone, Ben Reilly, to emerge from the shadows. Before Peter has much time to process Ben’s return, Kaine attacks the two Spider-Men. Months after surviving this battle, Ben becomes the Scarlet Spider.
Kaine returns to lead Peter and Ben to the Jackal, who reveals that he is the reason for Aunt May’s illness and that he’s poisoned a pregnant Mary Jane as well. Spider-Man and the Scarlet Spider fight their way through the Jackal’s clones to reach the cure for Aunt May and Mary Jane. Much like the original “Clone Saga,” Peter is also made to believe that he has been the clone the whole time, while Ben is the original Peter Parker. When the Jackal unveils his Gwen Stacy clone, Kaine goes berserk and murders the Jackal. When the chaos subsides, Aunt May and Mary Jane are saved. Peter decides to settle down with his new family, giving Ben the mantle of Spider-Man.
As Spider-Man, Ben later faces Doctor Octopus. Otto Octavius is working for Kaine, helping him create a clone of Norman Osborn from the Jackal’s genetic samples. Kaine tries to kill Octavius, like in the original “Clone Saga,” but Ben arrives to save him. When Mary Jane goes into labor, Kaine distracts Peter and Ben so Allison Mongrain can steal the baby, just as she did in the original storyline.
Of course, the major divergence from the original “Clone Saga” arrives when the Green Goblin returns to attack Ben. This time, instead of Norman, the Goblin is Harry. The Green Goblin reveals how he faked his death and masterminded the events of the “Clone Saga,” with Kaine working for Harry all along. Norman, on the other hand, is merely a clone in this version of the story. Peter arrives to save Ben from Harry, and a giant battle ensues. Norman surprisingly grows a conscience and sacrifices himself to save Ben Reilly, dying in place of Peter’s clone. Kaine also feels guilty, returning the baby to Mary Jane. In the end, Ben decides to leave New York and make a life for himself, while Peter remains Spider-Man while raising his daughter alongside Mary Jane.
Although this version of the “Clone Saga” seems quite different from the original, it’s more similar than it appears at first glance. Many elements remain, although with some tweaks to their resolution. Aunt May is still sick, but she recovers instead of apparently dying. Mary Jane is pregnant, but her baby survives. The Scarlet Spider is also given a happy ending, contrary to Ben Reilly’s death in 1996’s Spider-Man #75, by Howard Mackie and John Romita Jr.
Considering Ben’s resurrection and brief tenure as a villain in 2016’s Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy #1, by Dan Slott and Jim Cheung, his ending in Spider-Man: The Clone Saga would have paved the way for his current appearances in the comics. Similarly, Aunt May’s death was revealed to be faked by Norman Osborn. Although this whole sub-plot was eliminated in Spider-Man: The Clone Saga, she ends the mini-series alive and well, just as she is in the current comics. While many events retain the same general idea, Spider-Man: The Clone Saga is far more condensed than the original storyline. As a six-issue mini-series rather than a two-year event, running from 1994 to 1996, Spider-Man: The Clone Saga takes many important elements of the original storyline and cuts them down to a few issues.
Most importantly, Harry Osborn is made the mastermind of the “Clone Saga,” rather than Norman Osborn. Harry’s role in Spider-Man: The Clone Saga is a lot like his part in the recent “Last Remains” storyline. Revealed as Kindred in Amazing Spider-Man #50, by Nick Spencer and Patrick Gleason, Harry also cheated death and manipulated Peter. By disrupting Peter’s life, Harry brought the web-slinger to a dark place, making Peter question his whole life in a story where his plot is quite similar to the machinations of Spider-Man: The Clone Saga.
Another similarity to “Last Remains” is the role of Norman Osborn. Norman, in both stories, realizes the weight of his sins, choosing to repent. In Amazing Spider-Man #55, by Nick Spencer and Patrick Gleason, Norman confronts Harry, just as he did at the end of Spider-Man: the Clone Saga. Even though this version of “The Clone Saga” took place out of continuity, it still seems to be remarkably prescient about the recent events of Amazing Spider-Man.
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