Ben Reilly has had a Scheol of a rough liveliness . First , there was thewhole businesswhere he eventually learned he was a clone of Peter Parker ( and then died saving him ) . Then he vex resurrected year later , horrifically tortured , andturned to supervillainy . Now , he ’s back in action as the Scarlet Spider … but he ’s not quite all right .
This week new Scarlet Spider series — by Peter David , Mark Bagley , John Dell , Jason Keith and Joe Caramagna — pick up in the wake of Ben ’s decision to judge and become himself again atthe end of Clone Conspiracy . At first , it ’s well-to-do enough to consider that Ben ’s moving on from the pain in the ass and suffering he endured at the men of the Jackal — a newfangled costume , a return to his heroic identity operator , and a Modern head start in the glimmering lights of Las Vegas . But it ’s right around the clip that he let in hiscreepy new costumewas stolen from a cosplayer he go away raw in a hotel restroom after their clash that you start to understand that not everything is all right with Mr. Reilly .
The bit where he has a conversation with an fanciful version of his old Scarlet Spider self like a shot after is the next cue .
true , when this comic wasfirst announced , I was skeptical that it would really be doing anything new with Ben . It look yet another Spider - book that ’s just going to be a Spider - Man book with a different trail character . But Scarlet Spider build on the anguish and torment Ben suffered throughout Clone Conspiracy — where Miles Warren mutilate , quicken , and murdered him over and over again ina hellish experimentation Ben had no choice but to recall and live through — to show that Ben Reilly has become a changed man . A humankind blight with madden visions of his past selves , bouts of rage , and a biting drive to bear witness that he ’s moved on from being stuck in Peter Parker ’s shadow , even if it becomes very much clear later on in the issue that he has n’t .
The new Ben is a volatile , unpredictable persona . He ’s swinging around Vegas act like he ’s a hero — but the uncompromising , uncaring streak he developed during his time act as as the Jackal still comes through in some pretty disconcerting manners , as we see in his first encounter with a mugger while on patrol . The scenario is classic Spider - Man material , but Ben ’s discredited soul — and his linger resentment at being in Peter ’s shadow — makes his humor easily tilted … even the desolate mention of Peter Parker or Spider - Man is enough to set him off .
But for all the anger and the bravado Ben professes while out being a “ hero , ” so far it seems like being the Scarlet Spider is a ( actual and metaphorical ) masquerade for someone who still ca n’t quite have go of his story of populate Peter Parker ’s life . early on on , Ben mentions how lone he feel in Las Vegas , but by and by on in the comedian we see his forlornness intermingle with his turmoil over Peter in some distinctly distressful mode . He prowl the floor of a gambling casino later on on in the issue , only to find an elderly gaming addict at a expansion slot automobile indicate with her married man … only to latch on to her as his own “ Aunt May , ” standing by her and fend her husband off , despite the fact the woman is exclusively forgetful to his presence .
Because if Peter Parker has his own Aunt May , should n’t Ben Reilly have one ? It ’s unsettling to watch unfold , and yet weirdly fascinating .
The internal struggles being set up here — is Ben a hero or is he a villain ? Is he sincerely on his own or is he still link to Peter Parker in some unknown way?—are so far making for a far more compelling take on the character than any “ normal ” Scarlet Spider book could have . It ’s rare to see an event series have this sort of a lasting wallop on a quality , and see it do by so interestingly . This “ new ” Ben Reilly is someone who has lose everything , again and again , and struggling to get hold his way in the world after a deep traumatic experience . I ca n’t wait to see where his tale goes next .
ComicsMarvelSpider - Man
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