The Jackal takes drastic measures that Spider-Man, Spider-Gwen and Scarlet Spider could never see coming. This is it, the end of Marvel’s big Spider-Man event that really did shake things up in so many ways.

Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy #5 wraps up (sort of) what’s been building and been played out for months delivering a finale that’s packed with action and lots of unanswered plot lines that sets up what’s to come next.

Writer Dan Slott has guided the world of Peter Parker and Spider-Man for years now and again makes his mark with this event that gives the character new life in a way by returning villains, classic villains, and characters in a way that works in the world of Spider-Man.

As we saw with last issue Peter was trying to figure out how to stop the Jackal and his signal which threatens to kill humanity by unleashing a virus from the decomposing clones. This issue dives right into that with a solution (not really a spoiler, I mean come on!) and an ending that leaves open way too many holes.

The story is an action one, and a reset in a way that has classic villains returned, it’s a goal of the series, clearly a goal of the series that’s focused on action. But what stands this issue apart from the previous is that Slott really focuses on that action aspect. Enough of the previous issues focused on the impact of seeing these characters again on Peter that there was heart to the story. But, with this final issues fast paced nature, those moments are lost in the punching, explosions, and clone dissolving. There’s a little heart missing.

But, the issue also doesn’t feel complete. The ending, which I’m not going to spoil, leaves open a lot of doors, the whole issue really does, with questions as to who survived, who died, and where do things go from here? It’s clear we’ll see a lot of these villains returning to their ways setting up years of battling originals for Spider-Man and the event feels like it’ll be used as a crutch in that way.

I think overall The Clone Conspiracy will be judged in what comes next. It sets up a lot and leaves a lot out there, and where Slott goes next will be key. On its own it’s a perfectly entertaining Spider-Man story playing off his long history (of events).

The art by Jim Cheung continues to be exciting giving us art that pops off of the page as the art enhances Slott’s intentions. Where some are made to be heroic, Cheung perfectly places them so they strike that heroic look and giving it a push from cool to epic. The art for the entire series has been top notch and things don’t disappoint at all here.

On its own, this finale leaves a bit too much out there for me and doesn’t quite feel like the conclusion I was hoping for, instead it acts as a set-up for what’s next. Still, the story overall is entertaining delivering a Spider-Man event that builds on some classics in new ways.

Story: Dan Slott Art: Jim Cheung Cover: Gabriele Dell’Otto
Story: 7.5 Art: 8.0 Overall: 7.5 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review