Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #394 (Story 2)
Background
This story appeared as a backup in the four issues of the Power and Responsibility story line. It retells the original Clone Saga as detailed in Amazing Spider-Man #149 and following. Note that this backup story was included only in the Deluxe Foil-Stamped versions of these four books.
Story 'No Escape'
Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #394 (Story 2)
| Editor: | Danny Fingeroth |
| Writer: | J.M. DeMatteis |
| Pencils: | Liam Sharp |
| Inker: | Robin Riggs |
| Lettering: | Steve Dutro |
| Colorist: | John Kalisz |
| Reprinted In: | Astonishing Spider-Man (UK) #5 |
Pages 1-3: A very confused Clone is scaling the sides of some of New York's mightiest skyscrapers. He is getting the hang of his spider-powers while so many thoughts and doubts race through his mind. One the side of one building, he hears a voice from above: "Poor Peter... you must be so tired of running." He looks up to see that the chilling voice belongs to...
Pages 4-6: The Jackal! Wearing that ridiculous rocket-pack we last saw in Amazing Spider-Man #148. The Clone finds it hard to believe that Warren, the man who 'fathered' him could have abused him all this time. Instead he blames Warren's Jackal alter ego (ironically enough this was the reason Warren created the Jackal persona in the first place - because he was in total disbelief that he could have killed his lab assistant Anthony Serba. See Amazing Spider-Man #149 for details). The two of them battle in the air and crash on one of the rooftops below.
Pages 7-8: As the Clone continues to pound him, the Clone of Gwen Stacy, who the Jackal had planted on the rooftop, appeals to him to stop. (This coincidence is ridiculous - how did the Jackal know that it was the roof of this particular building that they'd crash on??) The Clone is confused but he remembers her name as the two Clones kiss and embrace.
Pages 9-10: The Jackal interrupts this intimate moment by striking the Clone on the back of the head. He falls unconscious. The cops arrive on the rooftop a moment too late as the Jackal flies off into the night with his two Clones, intent on using them to bring horror to the life of Peter Parker.
Special Features: A page on Cletus Kasady/Carnage 'from the files of Dr. Ashley Kafka'; Exile Returns and Back from the Edge previews; two pages of Maximum Carnage cheats.
General Comments
Despite the current knee-jerk response that the word "Clone" brings to many Spider-Fans these days, this isn't actually a bad story, and this is also a pretty good re-telling.
Overall Rating 
Four webs.