Arguably, probably one of the most controversial and divisive Spider-Man stories ever--right up there with "One More Day" and the current "Superior Spider-Man" series--is one of the many examples of the excesses of the 1990's: the second Clone Saga, which introduced characters such as Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider; Kaine, the deformed Spider-Clone; Carolyn Trainer as Lady Octopus; and Doctor Octopus's lover and right-hand woman, Stunner.
Original event writer Tom DeFalco has stated before what he would have done had things not gotten out of hand: "Our plan was to structure the clone saga like a three-act play. Act One would climax at or around Amazing #400—when we revealed that Pete was the clone and Ben was the real guy. Act Two would last around three months and follow Ben's adventures. In Act Three, Peter would triumphantly return as the one, true Spider-Man. Mark and I was hoping the Spider-crew could make Ben a viable character during his turn in the spotlight, and we planned to star Ben in his own monthly title after Peter returned. It was kind of like what I had already done with Thor and Thunderstrike—two very different titles based on a single concept. Of course, our plan went into the trash the day I got fired."
Seeking to right the wrongs that plagued the original event, DeFalco and original writer Howard Mackie, along with artist Todd Nauck and sans J.M. DeMatteis, collaborated on a six-issue mini-series in 2009 simply titled "Spider-Man: The Clone Saga", which was based on the original outline for the event, based on a notebook Mackie had rediscovered: "Somewhere along the line I discovered a notebook which contained the original notes from the very first meeting at which the clone story was discussed. The original notes showed that the story was planned as a three month event spread across the four monthly Spider-Man titles. At some point Ralph talked to Joe Quesada, and I got a phone call from Ralph [Macchio] asking if I wanted to do a mini-series showing a version that was truer to what the writers originally imagined. Tom and I remember certain story points differently. The goal with this mini-series was get back to basics, to strip away the extraneous stuff that got layered onto the original story, and to present the cleanest possible version of what was a pretty simple story at heart. It was decided that it would be best if only two writers collaborated on this mini-series."
This is how the mini-series eventually went (summary courtesy of the dreaded Wikipedia):
"Ben Reilly and Peter bond after Kaine attacks them, and Ben stays in New York as Peter's blond-haired cousin so he can build a life of his own. He adopts the identity of the Scarlet Spider and works at the Daily Grind.
Ben, Peter, and Kaine reach the lair of the shadowy figure responsible for infecting Aunt May and Mary Jane with a genetic virus. The villain is revealed to be the Jackal, who captures all three and reveals that he plans to make an army of Spider-clones and take over the world. Since Ben was the only clone to turn out stable, Jackal takes a sample of his blood to perfect his cloning technique. A mastermind over Jackal wants the blood sample as well, for the body of Norman Osborn.
The Jackal intends to clone Gwen Stacy and another unknown figure, and Kaine breaks himself, Ben, and Peter free. During the subsequent fight, the clones dissolve and Jackal suggests that Ben is the original Peter Parker. Kaine kills Jackal, Ben and Peter escape with the cure and save Aunt May and Mary Jane, who is revealed to be pregnant. Peter retires, saying Ben is the real one, so Ben creates a new costume.
Peter and MJ begin planning for their baby with the support of Aunt May, while Peter focuses on acquiring a research grant. Ben battles Doctor Octopus, who escapes after knocking down debris. After Ben tracks him down, the villain notes that the newly costumed Spider-Man seems to be an imposter. Kaine arrives and attempts to kill Octopus by asphyxiating him with some webbing and then escaping. Ben shreds the webbing off, saving his life.
Informed that Mary Jane is about to give birth, Ben and Peter swing to the hospital in their respective Spider-Man costumes. They come into conflict with Kaine, who escapes and is chased by Ben as Peter goes to the hospital. At the hospital, the baby is born and named May Parker. The nurse takes the baby to ready her for the parents, but actually hands the baby to Kaine at the docks. Kaine tells the mastermind he has the baby, who remarks that it will be raised overseas.
The mastermind, now in control of a Parker blood sample, resurrects Norman. The mastermind, Harry Osborn, gives a Green Goblin mask to Norman and tells him there is work to be done. Moments later, Harry attacks Ben and captures him as bait for Peter. Harry asserts that Ben is just a clone. Kaine speaks with the revived Norman, who is a clone, and discusses baby May's fate.
Kaine tells Norman he feels that May is his family in addition to Ben, Peter, Mary Jane, and the elder May, and she should not be held accountable for the sins of her father. Harry deploys a Goblin signal outside the building (OsCorp), which attracts Peter, who is still searching for his daughter. Peter finds Ben and both are threatened by Harry. Norman blasts Harry and tells him that he cannot continue the cycle of violence. Peter frees Ben, and both help Norman. Peter's shoulder is dislocated, and Ben demands to know where baby May is, as Aunt May and Mary Jane wonder where Peter is. Kaine enters through a window with baby May and gives her to her family.
Back at OsCorp, Harry is restrained by Ben, so he activates his glider to impale Peter from behind. Ben prepares to leap in the path of the flying glider, but Norman jumps in the way, killing himself with it once more. Norman disintegrates due to cellular degeneration. Harry vows to get even. He is put in a sanitarium. Ben leaves the city, but says he will return from time to time. Peter tells Ben that both villains were liars, and it does not matter who is the clone, but they each have a life."
I really hope to read this mini at some point fully, as Ben Reilly is one of my favorite characters and Todd Nauck is one of my favorite artists. For the time being, I thought that this would make a decent animated film, one that would treat audiences to an idea of a Peter Parker post-high school, which we rarely see in other media. (Plus, best of all, NO FRIGGEN' SUPERIOR SPIDEY HERE!) So here's how I imagine this particular animated flick to pan out:
-DVD cover art by popular Spider-Man artist Ron Frenz.
-Voice direction by Jamie Simone.
-Art/animation designs by a collab of both Nauck and Man of Action Studios--basically a blend of Nauck's style and Ben 10: Alien Force's.
-The ending is altered slightly--it's revealed Ben rescued the Gwen Stacy clone Jackal created, and she leaves along with Ben (after having dyed her hair brown and adopting the alias "Ramona Thomas" (a nod to comic artist Ramona Fradon and writer Roy Thomas)).
-A bonus "Marvel Spotlight" animated short in the vein of the "DC Showcase" shorts is an extra, with this one starring none-other-than.....May "Mayday" Parker, the amazing Spider-Girl!
Now enough of my yappin', let's see who I've rounded up for a voice cast:
Bret Harrison as the voice of Spider-Man/Peter Parker, Scarlet Spider/Ben Reilly, and Kaine
Now, in casting Harrison, I was inspired by a couple of things: 1. I believe someone here used him for a live-action Spidey fancast, and 2. I thought it would be an interesting challenge for him--he's basically playing the same character, but each with their own different personality and 'voice'.
Jennifer Love-Hewitt as the voice of Mary-Jane Watson-Parker
Hewitt was immediately on my mind when I was thinking of who to voice MJ. She really could work, I know it, especially when MJ's got to be strong throughout this whole ordeal.
Debbie Reynolds as the voice of Aunt May Parker
This was also inspired by someone here using Reynolds as Aunt May--I believe it was in a "Spider-Man 80's movie" fancast or something?
Jeffery Combs as the voice of the Jackal/Miles Warren
Combs has been really on a roll in the voiceover department lately. I cite his portrayals of the Scarecrow, the Leader, and the Rat King for influencing this casting--and it'd also add another Marvel character to his resume.
Danny Cooksey as the voice of the Green Goblin/Harry Osborn
Harry took a while to figure out, with my original choices being Josh Meyers and Zachary Quinto. In the end, I went with Cooksey based on his portrayals of two bad guys in animation: Hot Streak on Static Shock and Jack Spicer on Xaolin Showdown. I think he could really capture Harry's insanity in this story, while still making him human in his faults.
John Larroquette as the voice of the Green Goblin/Norman Osborn (clone)
I thought that Larroquette would have a decent voice for the elder Osborn, something along the lines of what Alan Rachins did with the character on "The Spectacular Spider-Man", though with more humanity as he makes a reverse heel-turn in the story.
Catherine Bach as the voice of Alison Mongrain
Here I go again, dipping into the well of relatively-obscure actors (like I did with Jim Kelly and Rip Taylor), and it's the former Daisy Duke herself! I felt that this role would be something new and different for Bach, who I don't recall ever playing a villain before.
Phil Proctor as the voice of Doctor Octopus/Otto Octavius
Proctor's voiced Marvel villains before--he was Baron Mordo and Jarvis in the first "Marvel: Ultimate Alliance" game, and the Tinkerer in the second one. Doctor Octopus would be no trouble at all for him.
April Stewart as the voice of Stunner/Angelina Brancale
Stunner isn't in the mini that this fancast is based on, but I felt it would be nice to have a villain who's pretty obscure for most people. In this film, instead of the whole wonky virtual-reality angle they had for her origin, I'd have her as someone who turned to Ock for a better set of powers and looks (sort of like what we had with Titania, Volcana, and Dr. Doom in Secret Wars). Stewart's another pro in the VA field, and she's voiced plenty of comic characters: on the DC side, she voiced Baroness Von Gunther (a Wonder Woman villain), while on the Marvel end, she voiced Ms. Marvel in both Marvel: Ultimate Alliance games, as well as Selene in "Wolverine and the X-Men".
Additional voices
-Kari Wahlgren as the voice of 'Gwen Stacy'
-Sanaa Lathan as the voice of Shirley, owner of the Daily Grind
-Ricky D'Shon Collins as the voice of Devon, Ben's co-worker and Shirley's son
-Maurice LaMarche as the voice of Buzz, a regular customer at the Grind.
*Bonus "Marvel Spotlight" short: Spider-Girl in "Late Swinger"
May "Mayday" Parker, daughter of Pete and MJ and aka Spider-Girl, tries to make it home in time for dinner, having to foil all manner of mayhem along the way (while constantly stalling her folks on the phone).
In this short:
+Alyson Stoner as the voice of Spider-Girl/May Parker
+Additional voices
-Neal McDonough as Peter Parker
-Vanessa Marshall reprising Mary-Jane Watson-Parker
-John DiMaggio, Dee Bradley Baker, Dave Wittenberg, Khary Payton, Grey DeLisle
And that's just about wrapped! I would say not bad for my first Spider-Man themed fancast, I just hope this is a hit! For taking the time to look at this...here's a blast from the past in the form of the intro to the 90's Spider-Man cartoon: