Issue(s): Amazing Spider-Man #151, Amazing Spider-Man #152
Cover Date: Dec 75 - Jan 76
Title: "Skirmish beneath the streets!" / "Shattered by the Shocker!"
Credits:
Len Wein - Writer
Ross Andru - Penciler
John Romita Sr. / Mike Esposito & Frank Giacoia - Inker

Review/plot:
This arc begins Len Wein's run on Spidey.

This issue starts with Peter throwing his clone's body into an incinerator. His Spider-sense tingles as he does so. This may be related to another sub-plot where Dr. Octopus is running around like a homeless person in a set-up for a silly future plot (this scene is from #152)...

...or it may be proof that Spidey's clone is still alive!!!!

(Actually, it's Harry Osborn; see comments below.)

J. Jonah Jameson throws a party for Ned Leeds and Betty Brant. At the party the radio announces a series of blackouts throughout the city. The blackouts reach Jameson's apartment. Peter sneaks out of the party to investigate, and finds that the culprit is the Shocker, who is writing his name using the shapes of the blacked-out buildings.

That's just stupid.

It's part of a ransom scheme, but Spider-man beats up the Shocker, despite the hindrance of a power plant's security guards, who think Spidey's in cahoots with the villain.

Mary Jane gets really mad at Peter for ducking out on her during the party. Also, Harry Osborn gets out of the mental institution and goes back to school, but he's still not well.

Quality Rating: C-

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: Takes place before Marvel Team-Up #40, which takes place before Fantastic Four #164.

References:

• Harry Osborn became the Green Goblin in Amazing Spider-man #136 and Amazing Spider-man #137.
  
• The Shocker previously appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #46 and Amazing Spider-Man #72.
  
• Peter moved out of Flash's apartment in Amazing Spider-Man #140, and now Harry's moving in with Flash.
  
• Spider-Man is at the same power plant he fights the Shocker in when he fought Shang-Chi in Giant-Size Spider-Man #2.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: Marvel Tales #128, Marvel Tales #129

The Spider-Sense tingling was explained in Amazing Spider-Man #180.

Plus, Peter's clones don't set of his Spider-Sense nor does he set of theirs. I guess because it doesn't distinguish the difference between them?

While on the subject of clones and Spider-Sense, Ben Reily's Spider-Sense actually functioned against Venom, supposedly because he was cloned long before Peter wore the symbiote. So how does the symbiote block it I wonder...? With this in mind, it seems that the symbiote doesn't copy Peter's DNA or anything, as that would have likely worked on Ben. Peter has been shown to still retain microscoptic (but seemingly inert) traces of the symbiote in some storys, as do many former hosts, perhaps it could have something to do with that? Or even those subtley used physic abilities it may have?

It's later revealed that his spider-sense tingled because someone photographed him disposing of the body. In issue 180, we learn it was Harry Osborn, who then gets manipulated by Bart Hamilton (who of course adopts the Green Goblin identity himself).

(Oops, didn't see Mark's post above.)

you know, i stopped reading comics just before the clone saga in the 90s, so all i know about it is the scathing it gets online. But the basic premise to me feels like a good idea. the Peter Parker that we grew up with gets a happy well-deserved retirement with his wife and we'd get a new spidey, both new and old, resetting him to a less experienced hero and almost being able to cater to a "man out of time" dynamic.

At least it sounds a lot better than selling your soul to the devil for a magic divorce.