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The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) (Collected Editions) #31
The Amazing Spider-Man: Return of the Black Cat
"WHO WAS BEN REILLY?" begins here Bursting out of the pages of this year's Amazing Spider-Man Annual, Raptor is back for revenge against the man he claims killed his family - Ben Reilly, the clone of Spider-Man Unfortunately, the only person alive that fits Ben's description is Peter Parker As this super powered psycho with a thirst for vengeance targets Peter, his family, and his friends, even Spider-Man might not be able to save the day this time.
Collects Amazing Spider-Man #606-611 and material from Web of Spider-Man #1.
Collects Amazing Spider-Man #606-611 and material from Web of Spider-Man #1.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
52 people are currently reading
680 people want to read
About the author
Marc Guggenheim
942 books174 followersMarc Guggenheim grew up on Long Island, New York, and earned his law degree from Boston University. After over four years in practice, he left law to pursue a career in television.
Today, Guggenheim is an Emmy Award–winning writer who writes for multiple mediums including television, film, video games, comic books, and new media. His work includes projects for such popular franchises as Percy Jackson, Star Wars, Call of Duty, Star Trek, and Planet of the Apes.
His next book, In Any Lifetime, coming from Lake Union Publishing on August 1st.
Guggenheim currently lives in Encino, California, with his wife, two daughters, and a handful of pets.
Keep up to date on his latest projects with LegalDispatch, a weekly newsletter where he shares news and notes about writing, comics, and the entertainment industry.
Today, Guggenheim is an Emmy Award–winning writer who writes for multiple mediums including television, film, video games, comic books, and new media. His work includes projects for such popular franchises as Percy Jackson, Star Wars, Call of Duty, Star Trek, and Planet of the Apes.
His next book, In Any Lifetime, coming from Lake Union Publishing on August 1st.
Guggenheim currently lives in Encino, California, with his wife, two daughters, and a handful of pets.
Keep up to date on his latest projects with LegalDispatch, a weekly newsletter where he shares news and notes about writing, comics, and the entertainment industry.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
February 12, 2016
Peter Parker doesn’t have the best of luck with women (or anything else, for that matter). His marriage to Mary Jane was voided by Mephisto, he couldn’t save Gwen Stacy, he currently rooms with the incredibly short-tempered Michele Gonzales, so guess who turns up, Ms.-My-Powers-Induce-Bad-Luck-for-Anyone-Nearby, the Black Cat. She’s extra flirty and Joe Kelly milks the situation for maximum laughs. Kelly has a good ear for the well placed Spider-quip. Kudos.
Then Marc Guggenheim turns up and throws a wet blanket on the proceedings by bringing back the Spider-Clones.
Why? What the hell did the collective comic reader universe ever to do upset you, Mr. Guggenheim? Do you have some sort of unresolved anger? Did your parents not buy ice cream that one time? Were you cut from the chess team? Attend your court appointed anger management, dude. ASAP!
For those of you who don’t know, the Spider-Clone story from the nineties was one of the most misbegotten Spider-Man story lines ever. The Jackal created a clone of Spider-Man named Ben Reilly, who should have stayed dead in the 1970’s, but was resurrected in the bloated 1990’s and the story arc seemingly went on forever and ever. Oh, and there was a semi-evil Spider-clone name Kaine too. Both are featured here, Reilly in a flashback with some scientist who’s trying to create a dinosaur/human hybrid and Kaine, who's all over the place. Remember Robin Williams in Dead Poet’s Society. Well, if you just bought this sucker, start ripping. If you borrowed it from your local library, please refrain from tearing the pages out.
This volume ends on a happy note with a Deadpool Vs. Spider-Man. Joe Kelly had much success writing Deadpool and his take on the character features much inner-monologuing and fourth-wall breaking. It’s Deadpool at his frenetic best. The issue ends with Deadpool and Spider-Man trading “yer momma” jokes.
Sadly, the art on this particular issue is awful.
Unlike some Spider-Man writers, Joe Kelly doesn’t go heavy on the sub plots and extended Spider-cast. The exception is a page showing Aunt May on her honeymoon in Egypt having a touching high school reunion with her classmates, the Pharaohs, now mummified.
Art: Thanks for showing some restraint with the Black Cat, who is usually Marvel’s candidate for the Power Girl fanboy treatment.
Bottom Line: Joe Kelly's the shizzle!
Then Marc Guggenheim turns up and throws a wet blanket on the proceedings by bringing back the Spider-Clones.
Why? What the hell did the collective comic reader universe ever to do upset you, Mr. Guggenheim? Do you have some sort of unresolved anger? Did your parents not buy ice cream that one time? Were you cut from the chess team? Attend your court appointed anger management, dude. ASAP!
For those of you who don’t know, the Spider-Clone story from the nineties was one of the most misbegotten Spider-Man story lines ever. The Jackal created a clone of Spider-Man named Ben Reilly, who should have stayed dead in the 1970’s, but was resurrected in the bloated 1990’s and the story arc seemingly went on forever and ever. Oh, and there was a semi-evil Spider-clone name Kaine too. Both are featured here, Reilly in a flashback with some scientist who’s trying to create a dinosaur/human hybrid and Kaine, who's all over the place. Remember Robin Williams in Dead Poet’s Society. Well, if you just bought this sucker, start ripping. If you borrowed it from your local library, please refrain from tearing the pages out.
This volume ends on a happy note with a Deadpool Vs. Spider-Man. Joe Kelly had much success writing Deadpool and his take on the character features much inner-monologuing and fourth-wall breaking. It’s Deadpool at his frenetic best. The issue ends with Deadpool and Spider-Man trading “yer momma” jokes.
Sadly, the art on this particular issue is awful.
Unlike some Spider-Man writers, Joe Kelly doesn’t go heavy on the sub plots and extended Spider-cast. The exception is a page showing Aunt May on her honeymoon in Egypt having a touching high school reunion with her classmates, the Pharaohs, now mummified.
Art: Thanks for showing some restraint with the Black Cat, who is usually Marvel’s candidate for the Power Girl fanboy treatment.
Bottom Line: Joe Kelly's the shizzle!
July 28, 2021
Spider-man and Black cat reunite but before that some murder mystery mayhem and we see that Diablo is involved and the old cat and spider games are played and some underlining is hinted at, some big players behind the scene. Meanwhile on other hand Raptor is after Peter thinking he is Ben Reily and we see the backstory there and why he hates him and then also Kaine returns? But when Raptor targets Spidey's family he has to step up and take down this guy for good. This is a fun collection of short stories and is sort of boring tbh but alright its a brand new day and new status quo.
April 13, 2018
Some 'bait-and-switch' stuff going on here - the Black Cat involvement in only the first third or so of the book, but it was my favorite part. (She and Spidey generate heat - that cover! - like DC's Batman / Catwoman pairing.) The opening scene portraying Peter Parker's women trouble was hilarious!
The closing chapter, also good, is a Spider-Man / Deadpool romp through the streets of Manhattan.
However, the remaining section (probably about half the book, or so it seemed) was a long-winded, slow-moving clone saga drama. I actually nodded off while reading it - that's not a good sign at all.
The closing chapter, also good, is a Spider-Man / Deadpool romp through the streets of Manhattan.
However, the remaining section (probably about half the book, or so it seemed) was a long-winded, slow-moving clone saga drama. I actually nodded off while reading it - that's not a good sign at all.
April 21, 2018
This was up and down. Nearly gave up.
March 8, 2021
The title story was pretty good but only made up 1/4 of the book. To me, the rest was a bit of a mess. The last comic collected here is part one of a multi part story so makes no sense to be here.
Amazing Spider Man #606 to 611 are in this collection.
Defiantly just a borrow for the first story, skip the rest.
Amazing Spider Man #606 to 611 are in this collection.
Defiantly just a borrow for the first story, skip the rest.
October 26, 2018
A fun little Black Cat tale and a really long drawn Reilly tale with a hiring villain.
World: The art was alorjg, nothing really special. I would have wanted a more expressive artist for the Black Cat issues but oh well. The Raptor issues were rather bland also. World building was aight, there was a little in the Black Cat story with Bennett but nothing of real substance. What I did like is the potential drama moving her back to New York does for MJ and Peter. I'm not a big fan of Ben Reilly and so a story focused on that part of Peter and a villain created for it didn't interest me.
Story: The Black Cat tale was a bit quick and convoluted in terms of the building and the caper, that part was rather ho hum. The part with the relationship with Peter and Cat on the other hand was great cause it created drama and that's always good. He Raptor story was boring, I didn't care, the story was overly long and Raptor needed to be insane for the story to work, and he was...zzz. Deadpool issue was meh and the jokes were rather stale but that's Deadpool in general.
Characters: Peter is very much a Playa by now and it's inconsistent with the character that Marvel is trying to write, I would have thought that Brand New Day would put all the relationship genies back in the bottle but I guess not. His relationship is interesting but the on again off again relationships with all the female characters here is getting rather stale. Felicia is interesting but there was no depth her but rather her part of the story was mostly for titillating the reader and cresting future drama, I want more depth there. Raptor was boring, clichéd and derivative, we've had these clone stories and I am so tired of it.
It was meh. Felicia was nice but that's about it.
Onward to the next book!
World: The art was alorjg, nothing really special. I would have wanted a more expressive artist for the Black Cat issues but oh well. The Raptor issues were rather bland also. World building was aight, there was a little in the Black Cat story with Bennett but nothing of real substance. What I did like is the potential drama moving her back to New York does for MJ and Peter. I'm not a big fan of Ben Reilly and so a story focused on that part of Peter and a villain created for it didn't interest me.
Story: The Black Cat tale was a bit quick and convoluted in terms of the building and the caper, that part was rather ho hum. The part with the relationship with Peter and Cat on the other hand was great cause it created drama and that's always good. He Raptor story was boring, I didn't care, the story was overly long and Raptor needed to be insane for the story to work, and he was...zzz. Deadpool issue was meh and the jokes were rather stale but that's Deadpool in general.
Characters: Peter is very much a Playa by now and it's inconsistent with the character that Marvel is trying to write, I would have thought that Brand New Day would put all the relationship genies back in the bottle but I guess not. His relationship is interesting but the on again off again relationships with all the female characters here is getting rather stale. Felicia is interesting but there was no depth her but rather her part of the story was mostly for titillating the reader and cresting future drama, I want more depth there. Raptor was boring, clichéd and derivative, we've had these clone stories and I am so tired of it.
It was meh. Felicia was nice but that's about it.
Onward to the next book!
June 4, 2025
Black Cat remains one of my favorite creations of Marvel comics and that's fully aware she's a rip off of Catwoman. Here's the thing (Ben Grim: Hello), though. The Black Cat is used better than Selina Kyle has been in most of the work. We wouldn't even notice if she was a Fox or other sexy animal. Here, we have Spider-Man and her renewing their relationship in the wake of One More Day. Frankly, I'm okay with it and as much as that will always be a blow to the face, I do love her and Peter. Still, she's a little TOO one-dimensionally sexy crook.
Selina's nuance is a bit lost. I mean Felicia. :D
Selina's nuance is a bit lost. I mean Felicia. :D
September 22, 2015
The first two parter was good: I really like Joe Kelly's take on Spider-Man and I really like McKone's version of Spider-Man. Wish we could get more of that pairing. There's a couple really funny parts in there.
The rest, meh. Never cared for anything in the clone saga. Slott tries to at least wrap these characters up but it bores me.
The last story is a team-up with Deadpool and Spider-Man, written by Kelly. While there is a funny battle via "your momma" jokes, it's really just filler and also reminded me why I don't like DP.
The rest, meh. Never cared for anything in the clone saga. Slott tries to at least wrap these characters up but it bores me.
The last story is a team-up with Deadpool and Spider-Man, written by Kelly. While there is a funny battle via "your momma" jokes, it's really just filler and also reminded me why I don't like DP.
September 28, 2016
Όχι άλλοι κλώνοι!!!
Κατά τα άλλα, το στόρυ με τον Peter και τις γυναίκες της ζωής του ήταν πραγματικά καλό, το ίδιο και η επανεμφάνιση της Black Cat.
Κατά τα άλλα, το στόρυ με τον Peter και τις γυναίκες της ζωής του ήταν πραγματικά καλό, το ίδιο και η επανεμφάνιση της Black Cat.
February 21, 2011
Another solid offering from the consistently entertaining (if not always perfect) recent Spider-Man run. The art on the Black Cat story is great and I usually like Felicia as a character but in this it's like they've forgotten all the recent Black Cat (particularly Evil the Men Do) character development. I guess we can chalk this 'Spidey's hot and Pete's not' attitude reversion up to the OMD mix up. Shame. I preferred the increased maturity in their relationship. Pete seems a little out of character here but you can hardly blame him. Then just as soon as she's come she disappears again without even a goodbye. She just isn't in the next issues.
The Kaine back story is a reminder of days past in Spidey canon before the spectre of Ben Reilly rears it's head in the form of Raptor. I don't know if all this Ben Reilly retrospective is purely to sell the reprints they're currently putting out or whether there's something brewing.
We finish it all of with a funny if not throw away Deadpool issue. Weak art surrounds the humourous banter before an ending setting up the next few trades. We now move to the Gaunlet (and I move to getting these in paperbacks again as they're a lot cheaper).
The Kaine back story is a reminder of days past in Spidey canon before the spectre of Ben Reilly rears it's head in the form of Raptor. I don't know if all this Ben Reilly retrospective is purely to sell the reprints they're currently putting out or whether there's something brewing.
We finish it all of with a funny if not throw away Deadpool issue. Weak art surrounds the humourous banter before an ending setting up the next few trades. We now move to the Gaunlet (and I move to getting these in paperbacks again as they're a lot cheaper).
February 26, 2013
I was a big fan of the original relationship between Spider-Man and the Black Cat. The dynamics involved, mostly Felicia being almost disgusted by a maskless Spider-Man, were something I don't think I'd ever seen in comics before. Here we have them reuniting and sadly most of Peter's actions seem out of character. Yes, I understand that Miss Hardy is supposed to be ridiculously sexy but most the time Peter acts like he's fourteen around her here after years of acting normal. Then you have the clone related arc. I actually enjoyed Ben Reilly and pieces of the clone saga, however this didn't thrill me. Raptor (lame 90s dinosaur name) could have been easily stopped with a plausible explanation (Ben was Peter's cousin) instead of everything that went down. Also there was a huge plan by Peter that completely goes against character by involving a civilian in the middle of a battle. Lastly, the Deadpool story didn't belong in the pages of Spider-Man since it was a just a Deadpool story and the art was atrocious. This trade is supposed to lead up to the big Gauntlet event and this limped into that. Sadly this is just a hodge podge of bad characterization and miss matched plotlines.
April 21, 2013
Kelly makes the crazy antics with Black Cat into a near-slapstick of goofy banter and sheer fun. These scenes always make me wish I'd met my own Felicia (and well, I have - but that's beside the point of my teenage fantasies being strummed by this memory fodder).
The Raptor/Reilly story is good and a little tense but ultimately another adventure we get to play along with (and another series of events that would require more suitable explanations than our hero ever provides).
Good art as usual, but someone needs to learn how to draw a calf muscle.
Oh wait, then there's the insane Deadpool issue with the crazy funhouse-mirror art. Kelly's dialogue is nuts, but the art makes me think my eyes are broken.
The Raptor/Reilly story is good and a little tense but ultimately another adventure we get to play along with (and another series of events that would require more suitable explanations than our hero ever provides).
Good art as usual, but someone needs to learn how to draw a calf muscle.
Oh wait, then there's the insane Deadpool issue with the crazy funhouse-mirror art. Kelly's dialogue is nuts, but the art makes me think my eyes are broken.
February 13, 2010
The Spidey Clone saga was what made me drop this title all those years ago and reading this book just brought back so many bad memories. A clone plot is the comic book version of the evil twin brother plot. Both are lame. The issue that featured Deadpool was a bit of a saving grace, however. It promises to lead to Spidey's big event this year: the Gauntlet (which is just his rogues gallery going up against him one by one to soften him up while the real mastermind, Mrs. Kraven the Hunter, prepares for the final kill. Seen it, done that but I'll read that instead of another clone story any day).
June 16, 2010
nothing much in this one. Keeping up, so I don't miss any big plot points in the Spidey-saga, but except for the Deadpool/Spidey team-up issue, this one was wahtever. Plus J. Scott Campbell-- DRAW A FUCKING BACKGROUND YOU LAZY PIECE OF SHIT. Pisses me off when hot-shot artists just do covers and stuff like that. Just sayin'.
September 25, 2014
No storyline worth reading. A rehash of 90's spidey with no substance or build. I think this book is a low point for spidey fans with the quality at an all time low the only thing saving this book from a 1 star was half decent art and a fun joe kelly spidey deadpool crossover. Not worth the read unless your a dedicated spidey fan.
January 8, 2015
This was pretty disappointing. Considering Black Cat in the title, I was expecting to see her for more than two issues. In addition, the art and writing changed between those two titles in a rather disappointing disjointed fashion. The rest of the stories were tedious and I skipped to Deadpool. The second star is for Deadpool and the only reason to pick this book up.
July 28, 2012
For being a book called "Return of the Black Cat", it really should have had more than just one issue with her in it.
It wasn't drawn bad, but if they were only going to have one issue with the Black Cat, they should have named the book something else. :/
It wasn't drawn bad, but if they were only going to have one issue with the Black Cat, they should have named the book something else. :/
August 7, 2011
Despite solid artwork, my lack of familiarity with the current Spider-Man stories means that I failed to fully appreciate this volume as much as I possibly could have.
March 17, 2012
The only good parts of this collection is the stuff with Black Cat but the best is with Deadpool.
May 16, 2012
Anytime Spidey and Black Cat (easily my favorite romantic interest of Spidey's) get together, it's guaranteed to be good. My favorite Brand New Day issues so far.
August 28, 2016
this volume was more about Peter's clones than Black Cat, so i don't know why it's named that. anyway, solid read.
September 9, 2020
Konu farklılaşsa bile aksiyonun cilt boyunca düşmemesini sevdim. Black Cat ve Clone Saga mevzularının "dönüş" üzerinden tekrar pazarlanması can sıksa da sürükleyici birer hikaye çıkmış kendilerinden. Özellikle klon hikayesindeki Marco Checchetto çizgileri enfesti. Hem karanlık atmosferi hem güçlü deseni hem de aksiyonu iyi vermesiyle Lee Weeks'ten sonra, yeni dönem çizerlerden bir başka takip edeceğim isim oldu. Finaldeki Deadpool hikayesi olmasa da olurdu. İkisinin karşılaşması çoğunluğun aksine bana pek keyif vermiyor, zaten Deadpool Örümcek'in klonu ve bence vasat bir klonu. İki karakterin karşı karşıya gelmesi/team up yapması söz konusu olunca daha zıt kişilikleri, Wolverine ve Örümcek'i tercih ederim örneğin.
April 19, 2023
Three separate, unrelated runs in this collection...
- The Black Cat - amazing covers, great artwork, and a solid story. I happen to be reading the Hobgoblin saga (c. ASM 238-251), and it is interesting how closely this story parallels that run, generally speaking.
- Ben Reilly - never was a fan of the clone, and this reinforces that. We see a glimpse into the history of Ben, and a character he ran into previously, plus the return of Kaine. Not a fan of him either. The artwork is good, and the story is okay, just not a fan of the clones...
- Deadpool - this is a fun, one-shot.
All in all, the first two stories are what make this collection great, and the Deadpool story is a funny one-off, so it is a good collection, and worth the read.
- The Black Cat - amazing covers, great artwork, and a solid story. I happen to be reading the Hobgoblin saga (c. ASM 238-251), and it is interesting how closely this story parallels that run, generally speaking.
- Ben Reilly - never was a fan of the clone, and this reinforces that. We see a glimpse into the history of Ben, and a character he ran into previously, plus the return of Kaine. Not a fan of him either. The artwork is good, and the story is okay, just not a fan of the clones...
- Deadpool - this is a fun, one-shot.
All in all, the first two stories are what make this collection great, and the Deadpool story is a funny one-off, so it is a good collection, and worth the read.
August 2, 2025
"DON'T TAKE OFFENSE, BUT DID YOU FORGET TO TAKE SOME MEDICATION TODAY OR SOMETHING?"
- Spider-Man asking Deadpool the only question that should ever be asked of him.
Spider-Man and Black Cat battle Diablo, plenty of flirting, and a viral kiss.
Slowly dying in a lab somewhere, Kaine interacts with his memories.
We get a closer look at Raptor's beef with Ben Reilly, who is still harassing Peter because he can't tell them apart, then Kaine joins in on the Peter beating (giggle!).
A deadpool story from Joe Kelly (yes, please!), a battle of "yo mama" jokes, and a set-up for the next story arc... The Gauntlet.
Four stars.
- Spider-Man asking Deadpool the only question that should ever be asked of him.
Spider-Man and Black Cat battle Diablo, plenty of flirting, and a viral kiss.
Slowly dying in a lab somewhere, Kaine interacts with his memories.
We get a closer look at Raptor's beef with Ben Reilly, who is still harassing Peter because he can't tell them apart, then Kaine joins in on the Peter beating (giggle!).
A deadpool story from Joe Kelly (yes, please!), a battle of "yo mama" jokes, and a set-up for the next story arc... The Gauntlet.
Four stars.
July 8, 2019
Spider-Man and the Black Cat have always been an interesting pairing not unlike Batman and Catwoman, in a manner of speaking. There's a definite sense of attraction between the two but for the Black Cat, it largely remains on the alter-ego side of things and rarely translates well into non-costumed real life. This book brings them back into contact with one another while still respecting the Brand New Day reality that she no longer knows his secret identity. That allows for some interesting stories along with a surprise decision to rehash stories related to the old clone saga.
April 7, 2022
The cover of this book intrigued me, and I did love the two issues inside that had anything to do with Black Cat and MJ. The rest of the book contained a long, drawn out clone story, plus a Deadpool comic. I mean, what? None of these three things have any cohesion with the others. I did rather like the artwork for the first two stories, so at least there’s that.
May 19, 2022
Some good ol’ plain flavor Spider-Man. Having Diablo, an immortal alchemist, running an insurance scam seemed like a weird character beat, but he was really just there as backdrop for an examination of the Spidey/Black Cat relationship, so I guess I’m fine with it. The Raptor conflict that takes up most of this collection is totally forgettable.
November 20, 2022
Unfortunately this is a collection that assumes you've read the previous six hundred issues. Despite reading what I thought was a fair amount of Spider-Man comics in my life, I literally didn't know who most characters in this were. I wasn't into the art style either. 2 stars instead of 1 for the first two Black Cat issues in this.
April 23, 2023
The Black Cat storyline is really the first 1/3ish of this volume, with the rest of it filled with the end of a Ben Reilly story. It's been a while, so that storyline felt a little out of place to me. But Black Cat and Spider-Man always have great chemistry, so that was probably the best part of this volume overall. We're also heading into the Gauntlet storytline, so taht's what's coming up next.
February 8, 2024
Gotta love how Black Cat only shows up for only like half of the book. And it's not like the stories in the book make up for it. The first story is practically nonexistent and the second story, while marginally more interesting, still isn't all that engaging. Not a terrible book, but most certainly not a good one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews