October 2, 2023

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Spider-Man Complete Chronology Update 22

jimmyimpossible April 2, 2018 19 min read
Wrapping up the Clone Saga

So much for smaller more frequent updates.  The bulk of this update has to do with the Clone Saga, and I didn’t see a logical point to stop besides the end.

I’ll try not to babble too much up front and intersperse the update with any (arguably) necessary comments.

I will get to some housekeeping items shortly, but the bulk of this update covers the period following the reveal that Ben Reilly is the real Spider-Man and our good buddy Peter Parker is actually the clone.

While compiling the update I did find two interesting articles on the Clone Saga:

  • Spider-man Clone Saga Trivia Facts – Just some interesting facts on everyone’s “favorite” Spider-Man era.
  • Life of Reilly – A great blog that probably has more information than you ever wanted to know about the behind the scenes chaos at Marvel during the Clone Saga. Featuring interviews and memos from the different Spider-Editors at the time and details on how office politics would routinely send the storyline off the rails, and the numerous times and ways they tried to end it.

For the first bit of housekeeping, here are a few things that were not included that came out during this time period:

  • Spider-Man and Batman – Disordered Minds – A direct reference to Spectacular Spider-Man 229 tries to give it legitimacy, but this is one of those stories where the Marvel and DC universe already coexist.
  • Backlash/Spider-Man – You’ll notice a bit of a theme from these exclusions.  This Marvel/Image crossover featuring Ben Reilly as Spider-Man is excluded for the simple reason that it exists in that “alternate reality” where the Image and Marvel universes are one and the same.
  • DC vs Marvel – Joker says he’s met Spider-Man (Peter Parker version) before, which is a reference to the Batman/Spider-Man crossover “Disordered Minds”. Later, Silver Surfer and Green Lantern acknowledge they’ve met before (in their own crossover). Both those books are from the year before this event. The story itself has Ben Reilly as Spider-Man, but he pretends he is Peter and goes back to work as a photographer at the Bugle and his hair isn’t dyed and usually isn’t cut short.  He wears the Spider-Ben suit and he hits on Lois Lane, which Peter wouldn’t have done since he’s married. This thing is just a mess that is probably best to avoid.

Next we need to talk about Planet of The Symbiotes.  During the summer of 1995 Marvel released a series of Super Specials (basically annuals) for all the Spider-Man books plus Venom.  Each consisted of three stories: a chapter of the feature Symbiotes storyline; a minor short story; a “flipbook” story featuring the Scarlet Spider versus the Lizard.

Those short stories were generally context free or didn’t feature Spider-Man at all.  The biggest exception being the story from Spectacular Spider-Man Super Special which occurs shortly after Aunt May’s funeral.  As such, I’ve wedged it into the flow of Amazing Spider-Man #400.  It’s not a perfect fit, but it’s not too bad.

  1. Amazing Spider-Man 400 [Story 1, P1-P34] – after May wakes from coma in Web of Spider-Man 123.  May reveals she knows Peter is Spider-Man . Death of Aunt May.
  2. Spectacular Spider-Man Super Special 01 [Story 2] – Shortly after May’s Funeral.
  3. Amazing Spider-Man 400 [Story 1, P35-P38] – Peter arrested for murder. Ben and MJ meet for the first time.

The other two storylines…caused me much grief.  Especially the Scarlet Spider one.  But especially the Planet of the Symbiotes.

There are two major considerations when trying to place Symbiotes in the timeline.  First, Ben still thinks he’s the clone, so it has to be before the reveal of the opposite in Spectacular Spider-Man #226.  And second, it has to be after Amazing Spider-Man #400 because MJ and Ben know each other in Symbiotes and #400 was their first meeting.  BUT…from the end Amazing #400 through to the middle of Spectacular #226, one of either Peter or Ben is in jail.  So there is NO POINT during that time that Peter, Ben and Venom can have an adventure.  So it became a big gross juggling act and trying to decide which continuity problem to ignore.  You could place it prior to Amazing #400 and just ignore the whole MJ/Ben dynamic.  Which I didn’t really like.  The other option is to split up Spectacular Spider-Man #226 into two parts so that Symbiotes can occur after Peter/Ben are out of jail, but before the “who’s the real Peter Parker” reveal.

I chose to use the latter, but I still don’t love it.  My biggest issue is that the split occurs after MJ has received a call from Seward Trainer who has news about her baby and before they go to see him.  Contrary to popular belief, I do hate splitting books up.  And this bugs me because if I’m MJ and I get a call about my baby…am I going to wait several days to go see Seward to hear what he has to say?  Particularly when MJ is seen as happy go lucky for the most part in Symbiotes.

So…if you are not crazy like me, just read Symbiotes whenever and take Tom Kelly’s advice and not think about it too much.

And speaking of thinking about it too much, let’s deal with that Scarlet Spider story.  It needs to be after May’s death in Amazing Spider-Man #400.  And Ben thinks he’s the clone, so we run into the same issue as above.  In this case though it could possibly take place while Peter is in prison, before he is replaced by Ben.  The wrinkle comes in that the final chapter of the story actually takes place AFTER the reveal in Spectacular Spider-Man #226.

So I ended up placing most of that story in the same gap.  And since I had created this gap now, I placed a few more random stories in there as well, to continue the absurdity.

  1. Spectacular Spider-Man 226 [P1-P11] – Trial of Peter Parker Part 4. Immediately after and direct reference to Spider-Man 60. Direct reference to Web of Spider-Man 124.
  2. Amazing Spider-Man Super Special 01 [Story 1] – Planet of the Symbiotes Part 1. MJ is pregnant , but not much else to place it. Story 2 – direct reference to Spider-Man Unlimited 5. At least after Scarlet Spider has appeared.  No Spider-Man or Scarlet Spider.
  3. Spider-Man Super Special 01 [Story 1] – Planet of the Symbiotes Part 2.  Day after Part 1. Direct reference to Amazing Spider-Man Super Special 1.  Has to be after Peter and Ben are relatively buddies and one assumes after Ben fights Venom. Yes, direct reference to Ben beating Venom in Spider-Man 53. Ben still thought to be the clone.
  4. Venom Super Special 01 [Story 1] – Planet of the Symbiotes Part 3. Immediately after and direct reference to Spider-Man Super Special 1 story 1.
  5. Spectacular Spider-Man Super Special 01 [Story 1] – Planet of the Symbiotes Part 4.  Editor’s note that this takes place before Spectacular Spider-Man 226.
  6. Web Of Spider-Man Super Special [Story 1] – Planet of the Symbiotes Part 5.  Immediately after Spectacular Spider-Man Super Special 1 Story 1. Story 2 – Black Cat, no Spider-Man.
  7. Spider-Man Super Special 01 [Story 2] – Context free. Spider-Man appears. Placed after Story 1, but can really go almost anywhere.
  8. Venom Super Special 01 [Story 2] – Mostly a flashback that takes place way back during Amazing Spider-Man 256. Ending is current and after death of Aunt May.
  9. Spider-Man Unlimited 011 [Story 2] – Story from before Peter and MJ left town. Nothing really to place it.
  10. Amazing Spider-Man Super Special 01 [Story 3] – Flipbook. After May’s death. Ben still thinks he’s the clone. Direct reference to Web Of Spider-Man 119.
  11. Spider-Man Super Special 01 [Story 3] – Flipbook.  Immediately after and direct reference to Amazing Spider-Man Super Special 1 Story 3.
  12. Venom Super Special 01 [Story 3] – Flipbook. Continues from Spider-Man Super Special 1 story 3.
  13. Spectacular Spider-Man Super Special 01 [Story 3] – Flipbook. Immediately after Venom Super Special 1 story 3.  Direct reference to Spider-Man Super Special 1, Web Of Spider-Man 110.
  14. Spectacular Spider-Man 226 [P12-P22] – Ben revealed as the real Peter and Peter the clone. 1st Spidercide costume. Direct reference to story continuing in New Warriors 61.
  15. Web Of Spider-Man Super Special [Story 3] – Flipbook. Continues from Spectacular Spider-Man Super Special Story 3. Direct reference to Spectacular Spider-Man Super Special 1 story 3, Spider-Man Super Special 1 story 3.   Direct reference to and has to be after Spectacular Spider-Man 226.

That brings us to the portion of the program where we continue on from the last update.

  1. New Warriors 061 – Maximum Clonage Prologue.   Spidercide appears, but not Spider-Man.
  2. Spider-Man – Maximum Clonage Alpha – Maximum Clonage Part 1. Same day as Spectacular Spider-Man 226.  Direct reference to New Warriors 61.
  3. Web of Spider-Man 127 – Maximum Clonage Part 2. Immediately after and direct reference to Spider-Man: Maximum Clonage Alpha.
  4. Amazing Spider-Man 404 – Maximum Clonage Part 3. Almost immediately after and direct reference to Web Of Spider-Man 127.  Direct reference to Spider-Man: Maximum Clonage Alpha.
  5. Spider-Man 061 – Maximum Clonage Part 4. Immediately after and direct reference to Amazing Spider-Man 404.
  6. Spectacular Spider-Man 227 – Maximum Clonage Part 5. Immediately after Spider-Man 61. Direct reference to Spider-Man: Maximum Clonage Alpha.
  7. Spider-Man – Maximum Clonage Omega – Maximum Clonage Part 6. Immediately after Spectacular Spider-Man 227.  Death of Jackal and Spidercide.

At this point, the Scarlet Spider joins the New Warriors.  It’s not for an extended amount of time (as Ben would become Spider-Man not long after) and the books are not tightly bound to the Spider-books unless otherwise noted.  (Some would also argue that a Spider-Man chronology shouldn’t include Scarlet Spider references, but since Ben does become Spider-Man, and given the uncertainty around who was the real Spider-Man at that time, I’ve decided to include them.  I’m not sure that I would include current incarnations of the Scarlet Spider…if I ever make it that far.)

  1. New Warriors 062 – direct reference to Maximum Clonage Alpha.  No Spider-Man. Scarlet Spider joins New Warriors.
  2. New Warriors 063
  3. New Warriors 064 – Immediately after New Warriors 63.
  4. Web of Spider-Man 128 – Exiled Part 1.  Direct reference to Spider-Man Unlimited 10, but that has to be a typo.
  5. Amazing Spider-Man 405 – Exiled Part 2. Shortly after Web Of Spider-Man 128.  Ben leaves NY for like 5 minutes. 1st cameo new Doc Ock.
  6. Spider-Man 062 – Exiled Part 3. Shortly after and direct reference to Amazing Spider-Man 405.  Direct reference to Spider-Man Unlimited 10.
  7. Spider-Man Unlimited 010 – Exiled Part 4. Direct reference to Amazing Spider-Man 386-387, 405, Spider-Man 62, Prowler mini series, Funeral For An Octopus. Has to be before Web Of Spider-Man 129 and Spectacular Spider-Man 228.

Do the Malibu characters even exist in the MCU anymore?  At the time of this release they were crossing over quite heavily with the Marvel Universe.  We’ll get another crossover that can mostly be ignored later…

  1. Prime Infinity – Editor’s note that this is before Spectacular Spider-Man 229.   Indirect reference to Scarlet Spider capturing the Lizard in Web Of Spider-Man Super Special 1 story 3.
  2. Spectacular Spider-Man 228 – Time Bomb Part 1.  Direct reference to Maximum Clonage and Smoke and Mirrors. Has to be after Ben has joined the New Warriors.  Direct reference to Maximum Clonage: Omega.
  3. Web of Spider-Man 129 – Time Bomb Part 2. Immediately after Spectacular Spider-Man 228. Direct reference to Maximum Clonage: Omega.
  4. Spider-Man Team up 1 – Has to be after Spectacular Spider-Man 226 and editor’s note that it is before Spectacular Spider-Man 229.
  5. Amazing Spider-Man 406 – The Greatest Responsibility Part 1.  First full new Doc Ock.
  6. Spider-Man 063 – The Greatest Responsibility Part 2.  Immediately after and direct reference to Amazing Spider-Man 406.
  7. Spectacular Spider-Man 229 – The Greatest Responsibility Part 3. Peter quits being Spider-Man.
  8. Spider-Man – The Parker Years – Direct reference to and has to be after Spectacular Spider-Man 229.
  9. Scarlet Spider Unlimited 01 – Direct reference to Maximum Clonage Alpha, Spectacular Spider-Man 227.  The story about the Gwen Stacy and Peter Parker clones being Joyce Delany and Anthony Serba is retconned out.  Kaine’s body goes missing.
  10. New Warriors 065
  11. New Warriors 066 – Ben is still Scarlet Spider. Not much more than a cameo. Has to at least be before “new” Scarlet Spider goes on rampage.

You’ll notice the next nine entries don’t feature the name Spider-Man in their title.  That’s because, with Peter “retiring”, there currently is no Spider-Man.  The Scarlet Spider books, for the most part, simply replace the Spider-Man books for two months, prior to Ben finally taking over as Spidey with a new suit.  Again, some may argue about their inclusion in a Spider-Man chronology, but they are a natural progression of the Parker years and lead into the Reilly years.My first notes for this Web issue also remind me that throughout his initial existence, Ben Reilly takes several jobs that are only relevant during a particular story arc and are never mentioned again.  He also goes hunting for an apartment…a lot.

  1. Web of Scarlet Spider 01 – Virtual Morality Part 1. Ben gets job at Club Noir.
  2. Amazing Scarlet Spider 01 – Virtual Morality Part 2.  Direct reference to Web of Scarlet Spider 1.
  3. Scarlet Spider 01 – Virtual Morality Part 3. Direct reference to and almost immediately after Amazing Scarlet Spider 1. Direct reference to Web of Scarlet Spider 1.
  4. Spectacular Scarlet Spider 001 – Virtual Morality Part 4. Direct reference to Maximum Clonage, Scarlet Spider 1.
  5. Web of Scarlet Spider 02 – Cyberwar Part 1. Direct reference to Amazing Scarlet Spider 1, Spectacular Scarlet Spider 1.  Day after Spectacular Scarlet Spider 1.
  6. Amazing Scarlet Spider 02 – Cyberwar Part 2.   Direct reference to Spectacular Scarlet Spider 1, Scarlet Spider 1, Web Of Spider-Man 125.
  7. Green Goblin v1 003 – Direct reference to and has to be (the day) after Amazing Scarlet Spider 2.   Ben is still Scarlet Spider.
  8. Scarlet Spider 02 – Cyberwar Part 3.
  9. Spectacular Scarlet Spider 02 – Cyberwar Part 4. Immediately after Scarlet Spider 2.  Direct reference to Scarlet Spider 1, Web of Scarlet Spider 2.  Ben decides to be Spider-Man.
  10. Sensational Spider-Man (Wizard Mini comic 03) – Pretty inconsequential, but after Spectacular Scarlet Spider 2 and before Sensational Spider-Man 0.
  11. Sensational Spider-Man 000 – Direct reference to Peter and MJ having moved to Portland in Spider-Man: The Final Adventure.  1st appearance of Ben’s Spider-Suit. Ben starts working at The Daily Grind. First Ben with short blond hair.
  12. Amazing Spider-Man 407 – Direct reference to Spider-Man Unlimited 5, Sensational Spider-Man 0. Ben has been Spider-Man about a week. Peter and MJ have moved. Rumours that Spider-Man was spotted in Portland…which seems to imply this is after Spider-Man: The Final Adventure. But Robbie says he hasn’t heard a word since Peter and MJ moved, but he and MJ have a large role to play together in Spider-Man: The Final Adventure. Unless he is lying to JJJ? Might have to ignore Portland reference. Or maybe there was an off panel Spider-Man sighting previous to Final Adventure. Final Adventure also seems to be more than like a week after the Parker’s have moved. Human Torch is trying to find out about this new Spider-Man, which seems to make Holiday Special Story 5 out of continuity. Ben was hired at Daily Grind “yesterday”.
  13. Web of Scarlet Spider 003 – Nightmare In Scarlet Part 1. Direct reference to Scarlet Spider 2, Spectacular Scarlet Spider 2, New Warriors 62.
  14. New Warriors 067 – Nightmare In Scarlet Part 2. Immediately after and direct reference to Web of Scarlet Spider 3.  Direct reference to Spectacular Scarlet Spider 2, Time Bomb. After Ben has become Spider-Man.
  15. Web of Scarlet Spider 04 – Nightmare In Scarlet Part 3. Immediately after and direct reference to New Warriors 67.
  16. Spider-Man-Punisher – Family Plot 01 – Before Christmas. Maybe before Holiday Special.
  17. Spider-Man-Punisher – Family Plot 02 – Immediately after issue 1.
  18. Spider-Man Holiday Special 1995 – Story 1 – Spider-Ben. Direct reference to Lost Years #0, Untold Tales of Spider-Man 1. Christmas, but otherwise context free. Story 2 – Black Cat. No Spider-Man. Story 3 – Venom. No Spider-Man. Story 4 – Willie Lumpkin visits May’s grave. No Spider-Man. Story 5 – mostly a flashback story with Human Torch and Peter at Christmas. But wrapped in a story where Ben has become Spider-Man and after Peter has left town. Torch doesn’t know Spider-Man is not Peter. Ben explains the clone saga. This all seems to contradict Amazing Spider-Man 407 and could be dismissed as out of continuity.

This Ultraforce crossover is a bit of an oddity.  Two books, with the same beginning and ending, but the middle branches to either feature the Green Goblin or Spider-Man.

  1. Ultraforce – Spider-Man A – Direct reference to Prime Infinity.  Green Goblin middle section.
  2. Ultraforce – Spider-Man B – Direct reference to Prime Infinity.  Spider-Man middle section. Someone missed a memo:  Ben says the only friends he has are Mary Jane and their unborn baby.

Placing this was a bit of an adventure as well.  In some ways it is context free as long as it is after the Parkers have moved and Ben has become Spider-Man.  The reference in Amazing 407 to Spider-Man having been seen in Portland caused some confusion as well.

  1. Spider-Man – The Final Adventure 01 – After Spider-Man: The Parker Years.
  2. Spider-Man – The Final Adventure 02 – Has to be very shortly after Ben debuts as Spider-Man. Or at least shortly after the Bugle get the first new pics of him.
  3. Spider-Man – The Final Adventure 03 – MJ is back in NY. Ben appears. First time MJ has seen Ben with the short blond hair.
  4. Spider-Man – The Final Adventure 04 – Immediately after last issue. Ben appears, as Spider-Man as well. Peter loses his powers.
  5. Spider-Man Unlimited 011 [Story 1] – Direct reference to Spider-Man: The Final Adventure. Hard to tell if before, during or after that story. Spider-Ben is still very new on the scene.
  6. Venom – Along Came a Spider 01 – Story 1 – direct reference to and seems like it shouldn’t be too long after Planet of the Symbiotes.  Story 2 – before, during, after and direct reference to Planet of the Symbiotes. No Spider-Man.
  7. Venom – Along Came a Spider 02 – Story 1 – immediately after issue 1 Story 1.   Direct reference to Spider-Man 53 and Planet of the Symbiotes.  Story 2 – No Spider-Man.
  8. Venom – Along Came a Spider 03 – Story 1 – immediately after issue 2 Story 1.  Direct reference to Amazing Spider-Man 375. Story 2 – No Spider-Man.
  9. Venom – Along Came a Spider 04 – Story 1 – immediately after issue 3 Story 1. Direct reference to Planet of the Symbiotes. Story 2 – No Spider-Man.
  10. Spider-Man 064 – Ben gets his own apartment. Direct reference to Amazing Scarlet Spider 2.
  11. Spectacular Spider-Man 230 – Direct reference to Sensational Spider-Man 0, which was “last week”.
  12. Sensational Spider-Man 001 – Media Blizzard Part 1. Sensational Spider-Man 0 was “a couple of weeks ago”.
  13. Amazing Spider-Man 408 – Media Blizzard Part 2. Immediately after and direct reference to Sensational Spider-Man 1.
  14. Spider-Man 065 – Media Blizzard Part 3. Direct reference to Sensational Spider-Man 1.
  15. Spider-Man Team Up 2
  16. Spectacular Spider-Man 231 – The Return of Kaine Part 1. Direct reference to Scarlet Spider Unlimited 1.
  17. Sensational Spider-Man 002 – The Return of Kaine Part 2.  Direct reference to Spectacular Spider-Man 231.
  18. Amazing Spider-Man 409 – The Return of Kaine Part 3. Direct reference to Sensational Spider-Man 2, Spectacular Spider-Man  231, Scarlet Spider 2, Spectacular Scarlet Spider 2.
  19. Spider-Man 066 – The Return of Kaine Part 4. Direct reference to Amazing Spider-Man 409, Sensational Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man:The Lost Years. Peter and MJ return to NY.
  20. Spectacular Spider-Man 232 – Direct reference to Spectacular Scarlet Spider 2, Spider-Man 66, Spider-Man: The Final Adventure.
  21. Sensational Spider-Man 003 – Web of Carnage Part 1.  Direct reference to Spider-Man: The Final Adventure.  A few hours after Spectacular Spider-Man 232.
  22. Amazing Spider-Man 410 – Web of Carnage Part 2. Shortly after and direct reference to Sensational Spider-Man 3. Direct references to Sensational Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man: The Final Adventure 4, Spectacular Spider-Man 226.
  23. Spider-Man 067 – Web of Carnage Part 3. Immediately after Amazing Spider-Man 410.  Direct reference to Sensational Spider-Man 3.
  24. Spectacular Spider-Man 233 – Web of Carnage Part 4.  Direct reference to Spider-Man: The Final Adventure, Spider-Man 67.
  25. New Warriors 70 – Context free for Spider-Ben. (No Spider-Man in New Warriors 68-69, but read if you want the full story.)
  26. New Warriors 71 – Spider-Man’s role is very small and almost skippable.
  27. X-Men Spider-Man 03 – Features Spider-Ben. After Peter has lost his powers. Sinister reveals that Ben is the clone. Sigh. Technically a bit of a spoiler…but not like everyone doesn’t know Ben is the clone already.  I like to roll with keeping out as many spoilers as I can, but not sure where else to place this, especially with the other issues in the mini-series scattered throughout the chronology.
  28. Sensational Spider-Man 004 – Blood Brothers Part 1.  Direct reference to Spectacular Spider-Man 226.
  29. Amazing Spider-Man 411 – Blood Brothers Part 2.  Direct reference to Sensational Spider-Man 3.   Fire at the Daily Grind.
  30. Spider-Man 068 – Blood Brothers Part 3. After fire is put out at the Daily Grind.  Direct reference to Amazing Spider-Man 411, Spider-Man: The Final Adventure.
  31. Spectacular Spider-Man 234 – Blood Brothers Part 4. Shortly after Spider-Man 68.  Direct reference to Sensational Spider-Man 4, Amazing Spider-Man 411, Spider-Man 68, Spectacular Spider-Man 200.
  32. Sensational Spider-Man 005 – Blood Brothers Part 5.
  33. Amazing Spider-Man 412 – Blood Brothers Part 6. Immediately after Sensational Spider-Man 5.
  34. Spider-Man Unlimited 012 – Has to be after and direct reference to Amazing Spider-Man 411. Direct reference to Spectacular Scarlet Spider 2. Resolution of skeleton storyline.
  35. Spider-Man 069 – Has to be after Spider-Man Unlimited 12. Daily Grind reopens. Peter and MJ decide to move back to NY.
  36. Spider-Man Team Up 3
  37. Daredevil 354 – Peter is back at the Bugle. Ben is still Spider-Man.  Ben tells DD about the whole clone saga.
  38. Spider-Man Team Up 04
  39. Sensational Spider-Man 006 – Almost seems like they are still renovating Daily Grind, but maybe just putting up the sign outside.  Ben has been cleared as the Daily Grind arsonist, which is in Spider-Man 69, so has to be after that.
  40. Amazing Spider-Man 413 – Daily Grind definitely back in full swing here. Direct reference to Spider-Man 65.  MJ and Peter moving into Aunt May’s old house. Peter starts having “headaches”.

This was another one of those side stories that became a major pain to place.  And if you read that Life of Reilly blog I noted above, it’s amazing this project was published at all, so it’s not surprising their are continuity issues.  The biggest of which (and minor to most) is that during this time Ben’s apartment has been robbed and he has no furniture.  But the apartment looks fine here.

  1. Spider-Man – Redemption 01 – Has to be before Ben’s apartment is robbed (Amazing Spider-Man 411), or after it is re-furnished (which happens off panel sometime before Sensational Spider-Man 9). That placement doesn’t really work and I don’t think the apartment storyline is every really resolved. Definitely feels out of place. Weeks pass in this issue.  There is no mention of Peter, but at the very least, seems like it should be before he has his attack (Spider-Man 70).  After Amazing Spider-Man 413 and before Spider-Man 70 seems to make some sense, but Ben’s apartment being refurnished is an issue.
  2. Spider-Man – Redemption 02 – Immediately after Spider-Man: Redemption 1.  Peter and MJ are living in Aunt May’s house, so has to be after Amazing Spider-Man 413.
  3. Spider-Man – Redemption 03 – Shortly after Spider-Man: Redemption 2. Maybe not that short…could be a day or two?
  4. Spider-Man – Redemption 04 – Immediately after Spider-Man: Redemption 3.
  5. Spider-Man 070 [P1-P20] – Direct reference to Spider-Man: The Final Adventure. Have to split this up since Spider-Ben’s story in Spectacular Spider-Man 236 occurs immediately after Spectacular Spider-Man 235. But Peter’s story continues immediately from here. Ugh. Peter and Ben Urich working a story. Ben saves Jimmy 6.
  6. Spectacular Spider-Man 235 – Direct reference to all of Ben’s stuff getting stolen in Amazing Spider-Man 411.  Direct references to Spider-Man: The Final Adventure, Spider-Man 69. Spider-Ben vs Dragon Man. Peter at the Bugle having spasms.
  7. Spider-Man 070 [P21-P22] – Issue ends with MJ calling ambulance for Peter. Split here is a bit messy as Peter references the events of Spider-Man 70 on these last two pages, but it mostly fits.
  8. Spectacular Spider-Man 236 – Peter’s story shortly after Spider-Man 70.  Ben’s story immediately after Spectacular Spider-Man 235.  Direct reference to Spider-Man: The Final Adventure.  Issue opens with Peter arriving at hospital, but Ben’s story throughout is continuing to fight with Dragon Man.
  9. Sensational Spider-Man 007 – Direct reference to Spider-Man 70 which was last night. Robbie is surprised Jonah doesn’t show at hospital to visit Peter.
  10. Amazing Spider-Man 414 – Shortly after Sensational Spider-Man 7. Direct reference to Sensational Spider-Man 6-7, Spider-Man 70. Robbie breaks into Jonah’s office at the Bugle. It’s been ransacked and Jonah is still missing.
  11. Spider-Man 071 – Direct reference to Sensational Spider-Man 7, Amazing Spider-Man 414.  Death of Peter Parker.
  12. Spectacular Spider-Man 237 – Immediately after Spider-Man 71.  Just kidding, Peter’s alive. Jonah’s been missing at least 48 hours.
  13. Spider-Man Unlimited 013 – Seems to be after Daredevil 354. Direct reference to Spectacular Spider-Man 216. Has to be after Spectacular Spider-Man 237. Location of Jameson revealed.
  14. Sensational Spider-Man 008 – Direct reference to and seems to be not long after Spectacular Spider-Man 237. Direct reference to Spectacular Spider-Man 236, Spectacular Scarlet Spider 1. Peter is still in hospital. Ends with Sentinels showing up, leading directly into Onslaught and Amazing Spider-Man 415.
  15. Amazing Spider-Man 415 – Onslaught tie-in. Peter released from hospital. Direct reference to Spectacular Spider-Man 237.
  16. Spider-Man 072 – Onslaught tie-in. Shortly after and direct reference to Amazing Spider-Man 415. Ben gives Peter one of his Web shooters.

Post-Onslaught gets a little bit messy.  It seems like Amazing 416 should be the next book, but in that one, Peter and MJ know they are having a baby girl.  Which is information they learned in Sensational 9, so that should come first.  I played with splitting Amazing 416 around Sensational 9-10, but it never really worked either.

  1. Sensational Spider-Man 009 – After Onslaught. Peter and MJ learn they are having a girl.  At some point Ben’s apartment got re-furnished. Direct reference to Spider-Man 70 (incorrectly as Amazing Spider-Man 70).
  2. Sensational Spider-Man 010 – Immediately after Sensational Spider-Man 9. Direct reference to Amazing Spider-Man 412.
  3. Amazing Spider-Man 416 – 24 hours after Onslaught. Direct reference to Spider-Man 70. Has to be after and direct reference to Sensational Spider-Man 9 as Peter and MJ know sex of the baby. Peter gets laid off at the Bugle. Ben’s apartment is furnished.
  4. Spectacular Spider-Man 238 – Seems like it should be close to Peter’s “death” but after Onslaught. But probably not a big deal. Spider-Ben heads to Florida to fight the Lizard.  Ben’s apartment re-furnished.
  5. Spectacular Spider-Man 239 – Immediately after Spectacular Spider-Man 238. Spidey flies back to NY.
  6. Marvel Fanfare V2 #003 – Pretty context free outside of being Spider-Ben.
  7. Spider-Man 073 – After Peter gets laid off (Amazing Spider-Man 416), but still freelancing. Ben’s apartment refurnished.
  8. Spider-Man 074 – Not immediately after Spider-Man 73, but should be nothing in between.
  9. Amazing Spider-Man 417
  10. Spider-Man Team Up 5 – Story 1 – Direct reference to Spider-Man: The Lost Years.  Story 2 – Peter and Ben go to Cleveland. Peter is wearing Web shooters and is obviously out of hospital. Savage Dragon appears.
  11. Uncanny X-Men 339 – Spidey appears on 5 pages but is mostly unimportant.
  12. Spider-Man Unlimited 014 – Direct reference to Amazing Scarlet Spider 2, Spider-Man 66, Sensational Spider-Man 7…Betty says she met Ben while Peter was in hospital. After Peter has been laid off (Amazing Spider-Man 416). Death of Night Watch, Polestar. Ben starts dating Betty, who’s acting a bit insecure and off her recent characterization. I like placing this just before Revelations as it doesn’t leave the Ben/Betty romance dangling as it is never mentioned again.
  13. Spectacular Spider-Man 240 – Revelations Part 1.  Direct reference to Amazing Spider-Man 412, Spider-Man: Legacy Of Evil, Amazing Spider-Man 400.  Death Seward Trainer. 1st Alison Mongrain.
  14. Sensational Spider-Man 011 – Revelations Part 2. Immediately after and direct reference to Spectacular Spider-Man 240. Gaunt revealed as Mendel Stromm. MJ poisoned, invoking labor.
  15. Amazing Spider-Man 418 – Revelations Part 3. Immediately after and direct reference to Sensational Spider-Man 11. Death of Mendel Stromm. Death of Baby May…or is she off to Europe with Alison Mongrain? Norman Osborn revealed to be alive.

The “extra pages” need some explanation.  When the Revelations storyline was reprinted in it’s own trade paperback and subsequently in the Ben Reilly Epic trades, they included 14 new pages inserted into Spider-Man 75.

The extra pages include: Ben Reilly regaining consciousness and flashing back to his fight with and capture by Norman Osborn (7 pages); Epilogue 1: Remembrance service for Ben Reilly. (3 pages);  Peter spreading Ben’s ashes off the Brooklyn Bridge (1 page); Epilogue 2: Norman Osborn alive and ready to cause more havoc. (3 pages).

  1. Spider-Man 075 [with extra pages] – Revelations Part 4. Including 14 extra pages. Shortly after and direct reference to Amazing Spider-Man 418. Death of Ben Reilly.

So that sums up the Clone Saga…”but Jimmy, why are there 9 more books in this update?” you may ask.  Well, the only one that is probably “required” reading is “The Osborn Journal” which tries to fix all the continuity errors created by the Clone Saga’s eventual conclusion.  The Clone Saga mini-series is an attempt at a retelling of the Clone Saga as it was originally envisioned without it spiraling out of control.  An interesting comparison tool.  As you know I like to include What If stories, hence the one here.  Finally, 101 Ways is just a bit of fun the writers and editors had at their own expense about the trials and tribulations of the Clone Saga.

  1. Spider-Man – The Clone Saga 01
  2. Spider-Man – The Clone Saga 02
  3. Spider-Man – The Clone Saga 03
  4. Spider-Man – The Clone Saga 04
  5. Spider-Man – The Clone Saga 05
  6. Spider-Man – The Clone Saga 06
  7. What If V2 086 ..The Scarlet Spider Had Killed Spider-Man
  8. Spider-Man – 101 Ways to End the Clone Saga
  9. Spider-Man – The Osborn Journal – This places Legacy of Evil around the time Peter and Ben run the tests to discover which of Peter and Ben are the clone. The Life of Reilly blog has an interview with a Spider-Man editor at the time that says it is placed prior to Clone Saga.

Phew!  And that’s the last we’ll ever see of Ben Reilly…

As usual, you can find the entire chronology to date on the main menu under Special Features->Jimmy Impossible’s Tasks.

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