Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection: Maximum Clonage

Chaos breaks out as the epic Clone Saga hits high gear!

While Peter Parker and Ben Reilly each reckon with revelations about their respective identities, the Jackal unleashes the next phase of his terrible plan — releasing the deadly Carrion virus, the lethal Spidercide and a whole army of Spider-Clones! As Spider-Men go to war, the Punisher sets his own sights on the Jackal, and the New Warriors are drawn into the fray — but which wall-crawler will join them? Plus: Peter and Ben must put aside their own differences — and their feelings for Venom — to defend Earth from an alien invasion that threatens to turn it into a planet of the symbiotes!

COLLECTING: Web of Spider-Man (1985) #127, Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #404, Spider-Man (1990) #61, Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) #227, Spider-Man: The Jackal Files (1995) #1, Spider-Man: Maximum Clonage Alpha (1995) #1, Spider-Man: Maximum Clonage Omega (1995) #1, New Warriors (1990) #61-62; material from Amazing Spider-Man Super Special (1995) #1, Spider-Man Super Special (1995) #1, Venom Super Special (1995) #1, Spectacular Spider-Man Super Special (1995) #1, Web of Spider-Man Super Special (1995) #1

Written by Todd DeZago, J.M. DeMatteis, Howard Mackie, Tom DeFalco, David Michelinie, Evan Skolnick

Penciled by Steven Butler, Mark Bagley, Tom Lyle, Eliot Brown, Ron Lim, Sal Buscema, Patch Zircher, Dave Hoover, Joe St. Pierre, Kyle Hotz, Darick Robertson, Steve Lightle & more

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs