Ultimate Spider-Man #102

Background

On a casual mall outing with MJ, Peter is attacked by a genetic duplicate of himself! He makes sure MJ gets clear and brings the duplicate to the world- famous Fantastic Four for examination.

Unfortunately, MJ is soon kidnapped and taken to an abandoned Oscorp laboratory. She's held prisoner by a horribly scared, tattered version of Peter - who swears he's found a way to keep MJ safe from harm... by making her like him!

As the real Peter searches for her, he instead discovers his friend Gwen Stacy, back from the dead... and as confused as he is! As they try to figure things out, they're caught by Aunt May, so Peter does the only thing he can - he reveals himself as Spider-Man.

The confrontation is interrupted when Peter's father, also long thought dead, walks right into the kitchen. Richard Parker reveals that he has been alive the entire time, but has been secretly continuing his genetics work for the CIA.

Suddenly, Nick Fury - head of the government's superhuman task force and armed to the teeth with spider-slayer warrior drones - surrounds the house. The overwhelming stress of the situation gives Aunt May a hear attack... but the greater shock is when Gwen transforms into Carnage - the very monster that killed her - and attacks Fury and his men!

When the Fantastic Four arrive to help Peter, Carnage is defeated and Aunt May is taken to the hospital (with Peter's dad following)... but Nick Fury detains Peter Parker. He is bringing him in...

Story Details

Reed Richards tries to talk to Nick Fury. Fury is angry. Then a girl in a red / black Spidey suit (from issue 98, remember) jumps in and grabs Peter. They escape.

On top of a truck, to New Jersey, she takes of her mask. It's a female version of Peter. She tells about her origin. They created her. Actually, Ben Reilly did, in a R&D facility for the CIA. Ben told her that Carnage was actually a clone prototype. Curt Connors is in jail for that, but Ben isn't. He got a "get out of jail" card by means of a sample of the blood of Peter Parker.

Peter freaks out. The girl continues her story. They gave her the name Jessica Drew and Cassandra Webb was about to help her when Carnage broke loose. In the process, the other clones got set free as well. And one of them looks very much like Peter's father.

Later on, they arrive at the abandoned Oscorp laboratory. They see a red Goblin like monster, covered with fur, attacking the ugly Peter. Jessica and Peter try to break them up. It works and the monster changes back into Mary Jane. She was injected with Oz. Peter asks the ugly Peter, but where he get it from? Then we see Otto Octavius saying "From me. His father.". Nick Fury and Reed Richards are there as well.

General Comments

Cool, the lady in the Spidey suit wasn't MJ (like I thought in issue 98) but a clone of Peter. No, wait, she's a clone and I thought it was cool? That can't be right.

Anyway, when Carnage breaks loose, to me, it seemed that 4 people were set free as well. The scorpion Peter, the ugly Peter, the 6 armed Peter and the fourth, an old version of Peter. Hah, could it be that this is Peter's father? In other words, he's a clone too? Would make sense... for having his real father around, well, that would kinda spoil the saga of Spider-Man.

A lot of different characters in this issue, Jessica Drew, Cassandra Webb, Ben Reilly, Curt Connors, Otto Octavius, Nick Fury, Reed Richards. A lot of characters that seem to have a connection. Which one? We'll have to wait and see. But I bet it's going to get messy.

Overall Rating

Excellent issue. What can I say more than giving it 4.5 webs?