Ben Reilly experiences Parker Luck.
Too many Marvel and DC events suffer from the decision to split the story between a core mini-series and several tie-in books. The core series generally has room to cover only the big story beats, while most of the character development is reserved for the tie-ins. If not handled elegantly, the reading experience becomes disjointed and unsatisfying. This is a problem that's plagued The Clone Conspiracy particularly at the end. The Clone Conspiracy #5 wrapped without giving the conflict adequate closure or definitively addressing the fates of many key characters. The Amazing Spider-Man #24 attempts to rectify those problems, but it's only partially successful.
Unfolding both during and after the events of The Clone Conspiracy #5, this issue sheds more light on the ultimate fate of both Ben Reilly and Otto Octavius. The issue is at its strongest early on as it continues exploring the sudden, bitter rivalry between Ben and Otto, the latter of whom clearly hasn't forgotten every lesson he learned as the Superior Spider-Man. Sadly, Otto drops out of the story after the first act, leaving the rest of the issue to focus on Ben's efforts to rebuild his shattered empire.
Basically, this issue reads like a backdoor pilot for the new Scarlet Spider series as it lays the groundwork for a new status quo. The problem is that it doesn't do much to cast Ben as a compelling protagonist rather than antagonist. The novelty of having this long-dead Spider-clone back in action may wear off for readers once they realize he's far from the hero he once was. Dan Slott and Christos Gage make some effort to reset Ben's moral compass, but it's a character transformation that feels abrupt and unearned. Not that there isn't ample potential in a more morally gray version of Peter Parker (it worked out well enough for Kaine in the previous Scarlet Spider comic), but this issue doesn't make a particularly strong case for Ben's continued presence in the franchise.
Giuseppe Camuncoli never disappoints on this book, however. Camuncoli thrives as he explores the chaotic fallout of Jackal's failed experiment. Camuncoli's rendition of melting Miles Warren clones brings equal doses of black humor and horror to the table. And even in its more dialogue-heavy moments, the script keeps humming along thanks to Camuncoli's energetic style and dynamic layouts. He's an artist who really knows how to use vertical space to his advantage.
The Verdict
The Clone Conspiracy disappointed with its abrupt, open-ended finale issue, and this epilogue chapter doesn't do enough to give the event the closure it needed. It focuses too little on Otto Octavius, and it doesn't do enough to shift Ben Reilly from sinister villain to compelling protagonist again. Giuseppe Camuncoli's art is always a draw, but this series clearly needs a fresh start.
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