This book is actually two or three clone sagas. The real original, from the mid-1970s, involves the return of Gwen Stacy, Peter Parker's one true--and deceased--love. Coupled with the illusions of Mysterio, who is also supposed to be dead, Spider-Man thinks he might be going mad. Though it takes up half the book, there's plenty going on in it and it never drags. Gerry Conway's writing is on mark (the Marvel style I loved as a kid and still do) and Ross Andru was always my favorite regular Spidey artist.

This arc has a poignant ending and it should have ended there. Unfortunately, a few years later Bill Mantlo had to dig it up again in the form of Carrion, allegedly the failed clone of Professor Miles Warren, Peter's university professor who cloned Gwen Stacy. Like Warren, Carrion blames Spider-Man for Gwen's death, and their battle goes on and on... Carrion makes no sense as a character. His powers are whatever he seems to need at the moment (oh, I'm also telepathic!) And where does he get his red dust of death? Does he order it from the Red Skull?

Conway returns several years later in a story that is part of 1988's crossover event, the Evolutionary War. I remember that this was when I quit reading superhero comics for a long time. Spidey gets involved in a dispute between members of the supposedly significant but actually super-lame Young Gods. (Will they change their name when they get old?) Terrible art heralding the infamous 90s look. The only point of this story is to reveal that Gwen Stacy was never really a clone, but another woman infected with a genetic virus. Because this is somehow more plausible than just having her be a clone. Gerry, you did so well the first time, why are you making this more complicated?

Finally, we get a couple issues featuring a new Carrion. At least they're drawn by Sal Buscema, though it's not his best work.

I really wish this book had only reprinted Conway's original story arc. The rest is a bunch of stuff I'll do my best to ignore/forget. ( )

Spider-Man: The Original Clone Saga goes beyond the scope of 1995's Spider-Man: Clone Genesis (released as a tie-in to the 1990s Clone Saga) to include material from Amazing Spider-Man nos. 139-150, Giant-Size Spider-Man no. 5, and Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man nos. 25-31, 149, 162-163, and annual no. 8. The stories were written by Gerry Conway, Archie Goodwin, Len Wein, and Bill Mantlon with art by Ross Andru, Gil Kane, Jim Mooney, Frank Miller, Mark Bagley, and Sal Buscema.
This story begins with Spider-Man facing various foes as a gauntlet set up by the Jackal (Peter's college professor, Miles Warren), who wants to wear Spider-Man down before killing him in revenge for Gwen Stacy's death. He uses a clone of Gwen Stacy to further throw Spider-Man off his game. Spidey manages to fend off the Jackal, only to be confronted with his a clone of himself, who nobly sacrifices himself to save Peter and an innocent bystander. The Gwen Stacy clone then goes on her way. Some time later, a supervillain calling himself Carrion attacks Peter, revealing himself to be a clone of Professor Warren. Peter defeats the clone while suffering greatly, at one point temporarily losing his sight in a battle against the Maggia. Later stories ret-con the clone story to suggest that Warren never cloned anybody, but instead re-wrote existing individual's DNA and gave them memory implants, leading to the creation of a new Carrion.
This volume collects enough stories to tell a coherent narrative and includes brief summaries to fill in gaps where necessary as the original Clone Saga was composed of about three different story lines that built upon each other without prior planning. It does provide necessary background for those looking to read the 1990s Clone Saga, though it has a more limited scope. There are also interesting links to other stories at the time and several references are now dated (such as when the "clone" of Gwen Stacy doesn't recognize President Ford on the television). That said, this is a good volume for fans of Spider-Man who want to know more about this narrative as it's become relevant with the recent Clone Conspiracy storyline. ( )