Spider-Man Clone Saga #2 (OF 6)

This story arc is playing out like an old fashioned, meat and potatoes Spider-Man story, which is not necessarily a bad thing.  Spidey, and his clones this time, have gone to confront the villain who they know is up to no good, and end up the evildoer’s captives.  I wonder how they can possibly escape?!  Actually, the real suspense here is how many of Spidey’s clones will survive?  I hope that Ben Reilly lives to fight another day, even though we may never again get to see this alternate reality version of him after the Clone Saga ends.  Reilly is an appealing and sympathetic, if redundant character.  I like that Reilly has used the Parker smarts to design spider stingers.  (I even liked the spider stingers that Straczynski gave Spider-Man and that have now been forgotten.)  I don’t see why Reilly has to keep moving from job to job in order to avoid the IRS.  Illegal immigrants in the U.S. never seem to have to worry about the tax man.  Given allusions to “American Idol,” Tim Gunn and Jon Stewart, Tom DeFalco has apparently decided to base this story in the present day, which is OK.  The art for this series so far has been strong.  Todd Nauck seems to have been inspired by Mark Bagley, but he isn’t copying Mr. Bagley.  Nauck’s faces and figures are more angular and stylized.