There are few more frequently derided events in Marvel history than the Clone Saga that ran in every issue of Spider-Man for a full year from late 1994 all the way through October 1995.
It’s an immensely long commitment, and often referenced as shorthand for Marvel’s mid-90’s editorial indiscretions that would lead to their late 90’s bankruptcy.
Perhaps even more shocking upon reflection over 20 years later – The Clone Saga is fascinating, and occasionally the most interesting Spider-Man comics had been in the decade!
Spider-Man Clone Saga Trade Reading Order
Spider-Man: Clone Saga Omnibus Vol. 1
Presumably a volume two is one the way from Marvel, but for now (9.9.16) this new Omnibus is your most complete collection option.
Spider-Man: The Original Clone Saga
Collects: Amazing Spider-Man #139 to #150
Spider-Man: The Complete Clone Saga Epic – Book One
Spider-Man: The Complete Clone Saga Epic – Book Two
Spider-Man: The Complete Clone Saga Epic – Book Three
Spider-Man: The Complete Clone Saga Epic – Book Four
Spider-Man: The Complete Clone Saga Epic – Book Five
Spider-Man Clone Saga Issue by Issue Reading Order
Return of the Clone
Web of Spider-Man #117
Amazing Spider-Man #394
Spider-Man #51
Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #217
Web of Spider-Man #118
Spider-Man Unlimited #7
Spider-Man #52
Web of Spider-Man #119
Spider-Man #53
Amazing Spider-Man #395
Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #218
Amazing Spider-Man #396
Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #219
Spider-Man: The Lost Years #0
“The Lost Years” mini written by JM Dematteis with art by Liam Sharpe flashes back to the original Clone Saga, and what happened next. The series wasn’t actually released until deeper into the Clone Saga, so I recommend only reading the issue zero pure flashback issue here (primarily if you haven’t read the original!), and checking out the remaining issues later.
Web of Spider-Man #120
Spider-Man #54
Web of Spider-Man #121
Spider-Man #55
Amazing Spider-Man #397
Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #220
Amazing Spider-Man #398
Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #221
Spider-Man: Funeral For An Octopus #1
Spider-Man: Funeral For An Octopus #2
Spider-Man: Funeral For An Octopus #3
Enter The Jackal
Spider-Man Unlimited #8
Web of Spider-Man #122
Amazing Spider-Man #399
Spider-Man #56
Spectacular Spider-Man #222
Web of Spider-Man #123
Amazing Spider-Man #400
Spider-Man: The Lost Years #1
Spider-Man: The Lost Years #2
Spider-Man: The Lost Years #3
Planet of the Symbiotes
Amazing Spider-Man Super Special #1
Spider-Man Super Special #1
Venom Super Special #1
Spectacular Spider-Man Super Special #1
Web of Spider-Man Super Special #1
Kaine
Spider-Man #57
Spectacular Spider-Man #223
Web of Spider-Man #124
Amazing Spider-Man #401
Spider-Man #58
Spectacular Spider-Man #224
Spider-Man Unlimited #9
Web of Spider-Man #125
Amazing Spider-Man #402
Spider-Man #59
Spectacular Spider-Man #225
Web of Spider-Man #126
Amazing Spider-Man #403
Spider-Man #60
Spectacular Spider-Man #226
New Warriors #61
Maximum Clonage
Spider-Man: Maximum Clonage Alpha #1
Web of Spider-Man #127
Amazing Spider-Man #404
Spider-Man #61
Spectacular Spider-Man #227
Spider-Man: Maximum Clonage Omega #1
New Warriors #62
Web of Spider-Man #128
Amazing Spider-Man #405
Spider-Man #62
Spider-Man Unlimited #10
Spectacular Spider-Man #228
New Warriors #63
New Warriors #64
Amazing Spider-Man #406
Spider-Man #63
Spider-Man Team-Up #1
Spectacular Spider-Man #229
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I would have put The Lost Years after SSM 226. That’s where you get the big Kaine and Ben Reilly reveals, which get spoiled in TLY. It’s true that reading TLY first gives you the context for Raven’s murder investigation and the Kaine and Ben history, but I don’t think that’s worth spoiling the two major plot twists from SSM way early.
This chronology is mostly good, but some of it is kinda inaccurate tbh. Here’s what’s wrong in 7 brief notes:
1. From WEB120 to SPEC221 it should be: WEB120 (MJ travels home), ASM397 (MJ arrives home), SM54 (MJ learns that she’s pregnant), SPEC220 (MJ tells Peter that she’s pregnant), ASM398 (Peter and MJ celebrate), WOS121 (meanwhile there’s Kaine), SM55 (Kaine kills the Grim Hunter), SPEC221 (Kaine then kills Doctor Octopus).
2. SMUnlimited #8 comes before the Funeral for an Octopus limited series. In #8, Ben Reilly learns that Doc Ock has died, and the limited series shows him watching the funeral with full awareness. Naturally.
3. There’s a one-shot called “Spider-Man: The Clone Journal” in-between SM56 and SPEC222.
4. If you read Planet of the Symbiotes, you also have to read Venom: Separation Anxiety and Venom: Carnage Unleashed before it, and after SM53. Otherwise how did Venom and Carnage get to this point?
5. There’s a one-shot called “Spider-Man 2099 Meets Spider-Man” that was published the same year as the Clone Saga, and it would best fit in-between SPEC225 and WEB126. It’s not directly related, but it’s fun.
6. There’s a one-shot called “Spider-Man: The Jackal Files” in-between SPEC226 and New Warriors #61.
7. New Warriors #62 should be moved in-between SMU10 and SPEC228. This is because WEB128-SMU10 deal with the immediate aftermath of Maximum Clonage Omega, whereas in New Warriors #62, a week has passed. Also, as someone else noticed, WEB129 follows SPEC228. Gotta read all of Time Bomb.
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Also as of right now, I can see that this is only halfway completed. If anyone wants, I can fill out the rest of the chronology in another comment. I’m kind of a big fan of the Clone Saga (an unpopular view, I know.)
Hey man, I’m needing to sort my digital collection into a respectable reading order and your additions here are perfect – I’d greatly appreciate your input on the “Ben Reilly” half
Hey man, appreciated your additions for this reading list since I’m putting my digital collection into a respectble order. I’d really appreciate what you have for the “Ben Reilly” half of the Clone Saga!
Ben Reilly, please do a FULL clone saga reading list/order.
I can’t believe I’m doing this because this is absurdly nitpicky, but you’re missing Web of Spider-Man 129 in between Spectacular Spider Man 228 and New Warriors 63 (at least according to Marvel Unlimited). Gotta read all of Time Bomb, I guess?