Collects Amazing Spider-Man (2015) issues #16-19 and material from Free Comic Book Day 2016 (Captain America) #1
If you've been enjoying Dan Slott's run on "Amazing Spider-Man," you should enjoy this collection. It is a collection that sets the stage for the big Spider-Man event, "Clone Conspiracy" (also known as "Dead No More"). In fact, these issues were originally branded with a banner that said "Before Dead No More."
As a long time fan, I had a lot of fun with this volume of the "Worldwide" era. All of the pieces are put in place for what is coming next in the story, and tons of mysteries are established which will be explored during "Clone Conspiracy."
I read this collection in the original comic book issue form, so here are my SPOILER-FILLED REVIEWS of each issue:
Issue #16: This book was a lot of fun. It is the beginning of “Before Dead No More.” The Jackal appears in this book, but I don’t think it is the Jackal. I think it is Ben Reilly, turned evil. The Jackal leads a medical company called NEW U, and they use organ cloning to help people. They are also bringing people back from the dead as JJJ saw – Marla is back! Something happens to people when they get the cloned organ donations. Peter’s Spidey-Sense went off when he shook someone’s hand that had the procedure done to them. Are they evil now? Will JJJ Sr. turn evil if he gets the procedure? (read 8-18-16 – 5 stars)
Issue #17: This is a Prowler-centric issue, and he apparently dies in this story…but then is resurrected by the Jackal. Jackal’s voice is different, and he keeps saying his team is a part of the good guys, so I don’t think it is Miles Warren. I continue to believe that this is a deranged Ben Reilly, back from the dead. Whatever Jackal showed Prowler after his resurrection has him convinced that they really are the good guys, so now he is secretly working with Jackal’s team. This book also featured the debut of a new, female Electro (Francine Frye). (5 stars – read 9-11-16)
Issue #18: This entire issue catches us up on how Otto preserved his brain inside Anna Maria’s robot, and sets up the idea that Otto is determined to clone his body and put his brain back inside his own body (instead of doing the same plan again where he takes over Peter’s body). That’s pretty much it. That was the whole point of this issue. (read 10-16-16 – 4 stars)
Issue #19: This issue featured the death of Jay Jameson, Aunt May’s husband. Peter wouldn’t let them use New U to heal him, which is the right decision, but now his family and friends are mad at him. The back-up story was about The Jackal trying to work with Kingpin, but Kingpin realizing the clone of his dead wife wasn’t really his wife. Kingpin is super mad, and I think he will be a main part of “The Clone Conspiracy” story. (Read 10-19-16 – 4 stars)