Clone Conspiracy #4 - by Slott and Jim Cheung

The heavy moral questioning that has surrounded this event so far comes into closer focus with this penultimate issue. Events hinge and turn on two critical relationships, Peter with Uncle Ben (and in some respects with Ben Reilly) and Doctor Octopus and Anna-Marie, his love interest from Superior Spider-Man.

In a masterful stroke of characterization by Slott, Peter rejects Reilly's offer of joining him (by accepting Reilly's offer to bring back Uncle Ben) in a manner that strikes to the heart of the relationship between Peter and Uncle Ben. That despite what appears to be the good intentions of Reilly in bringing these people back from the dead, no amount of good could ever result, a dramatic theme that this title and character are certainly familiar with.

As for the other relationship, Otto still loves Anna-Marie but she rejects him even though she can't help but admire his genius. Together, the pair solve the problem of these new clones degrading into contagious zombies without meds. But when Reilly unintentionally insults Anna Marie, Otto takes offense and responds accordingly, initiating a disaster that Reilly soon compromises that threatens to unleash the very zombie apocalypse that Peter was warned about by Kaine and Spider-Gwen.

Slott's characterization is top-notch. From Peter's shock and amazement over seeing friends and colleagues long dead now returned to Otto's attempts to renew his relationship with Anna Marie, this event continues to be a emotional roller-coaster ride. There's also a wonderful sense of wit on display, especially with the new female Electro who has some quips that earned quite a few chuckles from me. Cheung's art is detailed, expressive, and impressive.

I love this type of event, in which I don't know what will happen next.
9/10 


Amazing Spider-Man #23 - by Slott, Gage, and Camuncoli

A Clone Conspiracy tie-in, this issue takes place within the spaces of a few panels of CC #4 and focuses on a heart-to-heart talk between Peter and Gwen. Peter doesn't dispute that she's a clone but can't believe that it's actually her. Slott handles this rather well, this felt like what would happen if you ran into an old lover after being apart for years. Gwen forgives Peter for what happened to her and in some ways, wants to reunite but realizes that time and Peter has moved on (some interesting comments on his relationship with MJ). Her thoughts and responses help crystallize Peter's response to Reilly's offer in CC #4 and it ends with Gwen being caught up in the disaster that ends that issue. As with all good event tie-in issues, this story showcased an emotional side and effect of the main event.

Camuncoli did well on the art side. This mainly consisted of Peter and Gwen standing in a living room, talking. Hardly the most exciting environment. Yet, with differing angles and strong emotional displays, Camuncoli effectively highlights the drama being put on display. Terrific job all around.

8/10




All-New X-Men #17 - by Hopeless and Bagley

Major kudos to Cullen Bunn, Jeff Lemire and now Dennis Hopeless for taking the events and effects of Inhumans vs. X-Men and seamlessly weaving them into their ongoing storylines in their respective titles.

Here, Hopeless focuses on young Bobby Drake. In case you didn't know, Bendis in his X-run officially outed Adult Iceman as gay. In the last few issues, young Bobby has been exploring his sexuality by engaging in a new relationship with a young Inhuman named Romeo. Through flashbacks of their dates, things are going very well for this new couple until the rest of the team inform Bobby of the X-men's upcoming attack on New Attilan and the reasons why. To their surprise, Iceman joins the assault, even leading from the front line. But it's a ploy to get into the city and find Romeo, to make sure he's alright. Together, the couple make a drastic decision.

Again, the main X-titles have done a fabulous job so far showing the personal effects of the main event. If you've been reading this title all along, then Bobby's fear and rage over this change in tactics hits home hard. Hesitant of the social judgements, he's been slowly expressing his new sexuality and now there's a real chance he could lose his newfound love. The threat of potential genocide of his own people isn't enough to dissuade him from wanting to rescue the new relationship he's built with this young Inhuman. It's a powerful theme used effectively here by Hopeless in a title in which he's been doing this with the entire cast since #1. Bagley is, well, Bagley, great art that ranges from explosive action between Inhumans and X-Men to tender scenes between Bobby and Romeo.

8/10  

While this thread is normally a source of weekly joy for me, it is currently killing me. Big cover of The Kamandi Challenge on the front page, image of it in the second post, but no one has actually reviewed it yet. I NEED TO KNOW!!!

#60 and #61 are the ones I want to hear about!

Superman #15: Multiplicity continues in this fairly quick read. Superman and friends visit different earths, saving the supers of those worlds before the bad guys take them. It was interesting see the different heroes of each world. As the story shifted, I didn't mind 4 different artists pitching in on this issue. And was that a character from
the Crisis on Infinite Earths I saw? No doubt 2017 is going to be a big year for Superman.
8/10

The Multiplicity storyline is turning out much better than I originally thought it would, I liked the Morrison storyline but two years after the fact I wasn't sure what could be added but this story is feeling like a neat epilogue.