Bendis: clone saga is going to be ‘ultimized’

[E]

Clipped from Brian Michael Bendis's interview at Silver Bullet Comics discussing plans for the Ultimate clone saga - http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/news/108237204927872.htm...

SBC: On your Image message board you said that you have plotted up to Ultimate Spider-Man #87. What villains do you have planned to ‘ultimize’ in those issues? For that matter, are there Ultimate versions of any villain you plan on doing?

BMB: Villains coming up - Dr Strange (as in Ultimate Team-Up), Hobgoblin, Carnage, Wolverine gets a cameo (heh, I'm ashamed of that), Morbius. Cast-wise there will be more of the high school cast.

SBC: You revolutionized the Spider-Man franchise back in 2000 with Ultimate Spider-Man, now, nearly five years later, it continues to be in the top-five-selling books, how has that experience been for you? Any different than you imagined it would have been?

BMB: Thanks for the grand way that was put… The experience hasn’t stopped yet - it’s all a process that we [the creators] are finding satisfying and the stories feel like they have a purpose. I'm surprised that other people appreciate so much the stories I'm telling. I never expected "hit" status. And we want to keep it that way. I've learned that the characters belong to the readers. I'm aware that I can’t please everyone but at the same time I appreciate that “with great powers come great responsibility.”

SBC: You’ve said before that you plan on ‘ultimizing’ the Clone Saga in your own way, what else can you say about how it’s going to get laid down?

BMB: Yes, the clone saga is going to be ‘ultimized’, I have the framework set out and some seeds for the saga have already appeared.

SBC: Any plans for the Death Of Ultimate Gwen Stacy?

BMB: Gwen has a high arc in front of her.

SBC: A lot of people have been curious as to where the Ultimate Marvel Team Up issues fit into Ultimate continuity, mostly the Fantastic Four one, what can you say about those?

BMB: Most of it fits in except for a few of the out there stories such as the Fantastic Four issue that was intended to be “nonsense...”

[thee great one]

You know this is probaly the mystery arc.

[Caduceus]

You know this is probaly the mystery arc.
Wow, digging up and old thread here. I wouldn't be sure but its certainly possible.

[TheApostle]

I actually think the clone saga was done more or less with Ultimate Carnage. I had read a thing a while back where he was thinking of doing both Carnage and the Clone saga.. kind of as a lark.. and then Carnage pops up with Ben Reilly involved and cultured like a clone in some ways from Peter Parker's blood sample.

[SeAcoW]

the clone saga was one hell in 616 .. i don't hope it will be that @ ultimate .. let's see if bendis can handle the job !

[Goodwill]

I actually think the clone saga was done more or less with Ultimate Carnage. I had read a thing a while back where he was thinking of doing both Carnage and the Clone saga.. kind of as a lark.. and then Carnage pops up with Ben Reilly involved and cultured like a clone in some ways from Peter Parker's blood sample.

That's what I thought, too. I wrote the entire thing off after that... It doesn't seem like you can do much more than Carnage in the UU.

[Bass]

Y'know?

I agree, I think that this is the mystery arc and it's not being publicised because of the uber-fanboy reaction it'll have.

But honestly? I am actually interested in seeing this. Bendis isn't going to try to rewrite continuity and solve such problems as the original clone saga was meant to do, but I think it will flesh out the Ultimate Conspiracy. It might actually be good. I mean, it's essentially the symbiotes + clones.

But it's Bendis, so it's 50/50. I hope it's good.

[Goodwill]

Yeah, Bendis has been pretty hit or miss lately... The idea sounds interesting, but I just don't know at this point. As long as this isn't the way Green Goblin is going to come back, I'm actually ok with it.

[Shihad]

I think Norman will be tied to it, cause 1 of the questions that was asked was about who was talking to norman on the phone in the first issue/arc, and bendis said will be revealed soon, and there was a question bout OZ, and the answer was something like be revealed soon 2

[Goodwill]

WOW! That's an interesting thing to have going on... Are you saying that the clone saga was going on even back then? Interesting stuff here... I think we've got something for the Baseless board! ;)

[The Captain]

I actually think the clone saga was done more or less with Ultimate Carnage. I had read a thing a while back where he was thinking of doing both Carnage and the Clone saga.. kind of as a lark.. and then Carnage pops up with Ben Reilly involved and cultured like a clone in some ways from Peter Parker's blood sample.

which is what i was thinking too...but if the mystery arc is it...perhaps bendis didnt want to reveal the name to avoid scrutiny from the fans..perhaps the title reveals a lot about what is going on with the character at the time besides just the "villain of the week".

[The Overlord]

I have question to ask Bendis regarding this news, why?

[ourchair]

I have question to ask Bendis regarding this news, why?
Because after breaking down under the pressure of Bill Jemas to put out the Venom story, and LIKING it, he swore to "never say never."

[Patriot Mk2]

He's said in the jinxworld Q&A that this was Carnage.

[Goodwill]

I knew I was right! ;)

[Widdle Wade]

I think this is gonna be an Ultimization of both Maximum Carnage and the Clone saga...because Bendis has been saying Venom is gonna show up again! and Carnage too.....

I have faith that Bendis is gonna make this a top notch story arc, I dont think he'll mess it up at all!!

[Nurhachi]

If he does Maximum Carnage he needs CLETUS!!!!!! Otherwise it just wont be the same. Needs mindless violence and insanity :D

[Widdle Wade]

Man I was just thinking about reading Maximum Carnage, that was classic wasnt it :rockon:

I need to buy the TPB!!

[Nurhachi]

Man I was just thinking about reading Maximum Carnage, that was classic wasnt it :rockon:

I need to buy the TPB!!

It was orgasmic! *sigh* :dreamy look:

[ultimatedjf]

I think that this "clone saga" Bendis speaks of will either be THE Ultimate bad-*** storyline for Spidey, or it will result in sales declining MAJORLY. But you already knew that, didn't you. :shifty:

[Goodwill]

Bendis is so hit or miss, guys. Seriously, he can do one story and totally blow us out of the water and then blow it all together when it comes time to follow it up. I'm guessing that, if Carnage wasn't it, the next Clone chapter will most definitely stink.

[ourchair]

Bendis is so hit or miss, guys. Seriously, he can do one story and totally blow us out of the water and then blow it all together when it comes time to follow it up. I'm guessing that, if Carnage wasn't it, the next Clone chapter will most definitely stink.
Well, assuming your theory is self-balancing maybe Carnage will remain sucky forever and the next Clone chapter will be so good the Overstreet Price value for the Clone issues will go up. Good thing I still have those issues in bag and board! :D

[Goodwill]

You didn't like Carnage? You're joking right? That right there is what the Ultimate Universe has needed for a while - a radical departure from 616.

[Caduceus]

You didn't like Carnage? You're joking right? That right there is what the Ultimate Universe has needed for a while - a radical departure from 616.
It wasn't a radical departure though. Gwen, someone Peter is emotionally close too dies at the hand of a very personal villain. Peter is summarily upset.

The only real difference was in Gwen's character and the manner of her death.

[Goodwill]

And the fact that there was no Cletus Cassiday, Connors was responsible, Ben Reilly was a black guy, and there were a bunch of villains and things that showed up that didn't show up the way they did here in 616. ;)

[Caduceus]

And the fact that there was no Cletus Cassiday, Connors was responsible, Ben Reilly was a black guy, and there were a bunch of villains and things that showed up that didn't show up the way they did here in 616. ;)
Which, apart from Connors, had nothing to do with the story of Gwen Stacy's death. Carnage wasn't about Carnage, it was about Gwen dying.

[Goodwill]

The argument was about the arc as a whole. Why you would split it into two different things to win an argument is beyond me. As a whole, the arc was a change from what you saw in 616.

[Caduceus]

The argument was about the arc as a whole. Why you would split it into two different things to win an argument is beyond me. As a whole, the arc was a change from what you saw in 616.
To me, this wasn't a story about Carnage. Carnage just happened to be there. The story of the Carnage arc was all about Gwen dying and Peter's initial reaction. Other than Ben Reilly actually existing, what else happened in Carnage? Peter got mad at Connors...because Gwen died. Reilly showed up but ran away...because Gwen died. Carnage has so far simply been means to an end and, yes, its not impossible that the Clone Saga will happen and Carnage would be a main part of that but the story, "Carnage", those six issues, barely touches upon Reilly and only vaguely on the Carnage organism itself, its all about Gwen.

[Goodwill]

Yes, but there were departures from 616 that was obvious... Because of Gwen's death or otherwise. That's the point I'm making.

[Caduceus]

Yes, but there were departures from 616 that was obvious... Because of Gwen's death or otherwise. That's the point I'm making.
I'm not saying there weren't departures, I'm saying that the point of the story, the effect on Peter was pretty similar to what happened in 616. The departures at this point are basically meaningless. Easter eggs.

[Goodwill]

Easter eggs or otherwise, the Carnage arc as a whole was a vast difference from 616. Compared to other stories in the Ultimate Universe, this has been one that sticks out as one of the more original.

[Bass]

I dunno, but it's nice Carnage is the spider-clone. He too, got lost in the chimney smoke stack after all.

[Goodwill]

That was a cool ending. That was Peter using his brain to kill Carnage.

[Fuzzy Birds]

I would have actually welcomed a proper ultimization of the clone saga. The original idea was pretty interesting, just heavily flawed in the writing department.

I think it would have worked if they just made two clones, one of them a failed project later becoming Kaine, and the other being the Scarlet Spider. As long as you have none of that Reilly is Parker nonsense, and keep it clear from the start just who is the clone, then I think it would be interesting. Perhaps SS could have stolen Spideys limelight, and the two could have competed to comedic effect while eventually facing the threat of Kaine.

And as long as Miles Warren didn't become a hairy lame Joker rip off.

[The Captain]

I would have actually welcomed a proper ultimization of the clone saga. The original idea was pretty interesting, just heavily flawed in the writing department.

I think it would have worked if they just made two clones, one of them a failed project later becoming Kaine, and the other being the Scarlet Spider. As long as you have none of that Reilly is Parker nonsense, and keep it clear from the start just who is the clone, then I think it would be interesting. Perhaps SS could have stolen Spideys limelight, and the two could have competed to comedic effect while eventually facing the threat of Kaine.

And as long as Miles Warren didn't become a hairy lame Joker rip off.

you have a good point there...as the saga did start off strong...if miles warren is exactly the same as he is in 616, i will immediately cease reading ult spidey

[Bass]

Miles Warren?

EDIT... duh, the Jackal, right? Is in USM yet?

[The Captain]

Miles Warren?

EDIT... duh, the Jackal, right? Is in USM yet?

yes....

[Goodwill]

I would have actually welcomed a proper ultimization of the clone saga. The original idea was pretty interesting, just heavily flawed in the writing department.

I think it would have worked if they just made two clones, one of them a failed project later becoming Kaine, and the other being the Scarlet Spider. As long as you have none of that Reilly is Parker nonsense, and keep it clear from the start just who is the clone, then I think it would be interesting. Perhaps SS could have stolen Spideys limelight, and the two could have competed to comedic effect while eventually facing the threat of Kaine.

And as long as Miles Warren didn't become a hairy lame Joker rip off.

The Jackal can be revamped... He's definitely a really big threat to Spider-Man, why not ultimize him?

[Rawb]

Hnh..

I liked Ultimate Carnage.. and I loved the clone saga.. (I started reading comics regularly when Ben was spider-man.. so I guess I'm a bit attached to him.)

I hope they do an ultimate clone saga later on, even though I agree that the carnage one was what Bendis was referring to.

[Goodwill]

While I'm not convinced that the clone saga has blown over yet, I do think Bendis was referring to Carnage. We've still got Ben, the blood sample, and Venom to tie stuff up in that wing... I would tie Venom to this only because his father's work really got the wheels spinning for Connors.

[Random]

My idea for Ultimate Maximum Carnage (that's a mouth full) was having Venom attacking Trask Industries labs (the company that had legal rights over Project: Venom), who have recently cracked the formula creating their own symbiote. During the attack the symbiote escapes and slices its way through an armored van which is transporting a dangerous criminal Cletus Cassidy. That works out well we have Cassidy and Venom's purpose for going after him.

As for the clone saga, I think Ben should just attempt to splice his genes with Spideys, he creates his own costume to test his new powers and has a confrontation with Spidey. Later his body mutates into the Man-spider and now Parker has tyo find a cure.

[ultimatedjf]

Welcome Random!! :D :D :D

[moonmaster]

My idea for Ultimate Maximum Carnage (that's a mouth full) was having Venom attacking Trask Industries labs (the company that had legal rights over Project: Venom), who have recently cracked the formula creating their own symbiote. During the attack the symbiote escapes and slices its way through an armored van which is transporting a dangerous criminal Cletus Cassidy. That works out well we have Cassidy and Venom's purpose for going after him.

As for the clone saga, I think Ben should just attempt to splice his genes with Spideys, he creates his own costume to test his new powers and has a confrontation with Spidey. Later his body mutates into the Man-spider and now Parker has tyo find a cure.

Welcome to the wonderful, funderful world of UC!!!

[Random]

Wow thatnk you I didn't expect a greeding like that. i've been watching your post and I'm glad to be apart of the disscusion.

[Goodwill]

Hey, you're from my neck of the woods. We're practically brothers, huh? :) You get it, City of Brotherly Love... Aw, forget it! Welcome, Kid. ;) I hope you like it around here. We need new blood.

I like the idea of your random appearance of Cletus Cassiday. We don't need his back story given to us first before he becomes a villain. I thought that was what killed the Hob arc.

[Bass]

We need new blood.

AHA! You've slipped in your old, old age Goodwill! Now I have proof you're a vampire! Let the lynching begin!



Oh. Hey Random, welcome.

[Goodwill]

It's true, it's true... But at least I'm immortalized in the UC forever!

[Caduceus]

Hey, you're from my neck of the woods. We're practically brothers, huh? :) You get it, City of Brotherly Love... Aw, forget it! Welcome, Kid. ;) I hope you like it around here. We need new blood.
See Random this is the kind of friendliness you need to watch out for.

Welcome, too, if you haven't, why not head over to the Who's Who Thread (http://www.ultimatecentral.com/forum/showthread.php?p=73232#post73232) and see many more examples of the kind of friendliness you need to watch out for.

[Goodwill]

Yeah, you must have caught me on a good day. :twisted:




:lol:

[DIrishB]

My idea for Ultimate Maximum Carnage (that's a mouth full) was having Venom attacking Trask Industries labs (the company that had legal rights over Project: Venom), who have recently cracked the formula creating their own symbiote. During the attack the symbiote escapes and slices its way through an armored van which is transporting a dangerous criminal Cletus Cassidy. That works out well we have Cassidy and Venom's purpose for going after him.

As for the clone saga, I think Ben should just attempt to splice his genes with Spideys, he creates his own costume to test his new powers and has a confrontation with Spidey. Later his body mutates into the Man-spider and now Parker has tyo find a cure.

You know, thats a pretty good idea.

[Goodwill]

Like I said before, if, at nothing else, it's a good way to have Cletus Cass introduced.

[shadyd1224]

yea carnage was a clone of peter ,and ben reilly even referred to him as little ben

[Goodwill]

Well, Carnage was actually a little bit of Peter, a little bit of Conners, and some of Peter's father's suit. It was a mess, really. A genetic mess.

It's funny you should mention Ben Reilly referring to Carnage as "Little Ben". Perhaps this is the reason why he took the blood sample at the end - he's got a thing for the clone. ;) I mean this in all seriousness, too, so try not to think it was that stupid.

[DIrishB]

Well, Carnage was actually a little bit of Peter, a little bit of Conners, and some of Peter's father's suit. It was a mess, really. A genetic mess.

It's funny you should mention Ben Reilly referring to Carnage as "Little Ben". Perhaps this is the reason why he took the blood sample at the end - he's got a thing for the clone. ;) I mean this in all seriousness, too, so try not to think it was that stupid.

no, that makes sense

[Spade]

maybe the clone saga isnt about parker but aboutriely :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: DUN DUN DUUUUN

[Goodwill]

It's a possibility. There will more than likely be a place for Peter in the Clone Saga, but I think it will deal heavily with Reilly.

For now, though, I think it will be Spider-Man Vs. SHIELD.