Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider Vol. 1: Back In The Hood

Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider (Collected Editions)

by Peter David, Mark Bagley (Illustrator)

Collects Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider (2017) #1-5 and material from Clone Conspiracy Omega #1.

One of the most controversial characters in comic book history has returned - and a whole new controversy has only just begun! You all remember Ben Reilly. Spider-Man's clone, created by the Jackal, who returned years later to turn Peter Parker's life upside down! Ben became the Scarlet Spider and even took Peter's place as Spider-Man for a time, before dying a hero's death. Now, in the aftermath of The Clone Conspiracy, Ben Reilly is back! But he has a whole new take on life...and he's not the same Scarlet Spider he was before. Witness what will be the most talked-about story of the year!

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Spider Man, Superheroes, Comic Book, Ebooks

124 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 17, 2017

About the author

aka David Peters

Peter Allen David, often abbreviated PAD, was an American writer of comic books, novels, television, films, and video games. His notable comic book work includes an award-winning 12-year run on The Incredible Hulk, as well as runs on Aquaman, Young Justice, SpyBoy, Supergirl, Fallen Angel, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2099, Captain Marvel, and X-Factor.
His Star Trek work included comic books and novels such as the New Frontier book series. His other novels included film adaptations, media tie-ins, and original works, such as the Apropos of Nothing and Knight Life series. His television work includes series such as Babylon 5, Young Justice, Ben 10: Alien Force and Nickelodeon's Space Cases, which he co-created with Bill Mumy.
David often jokingly described his occupation as "Writer of Stuff", and he was noted for his prolific writing, characterized by its mingling of real-world issues with humor and references to popular culture, as well as elements of metafiction and self-reference.
David earned multiple awards for his work, including a 1992 Eisner Award, a 1993 Wizard Fan Award, a 1996 Haxtur Award, a 2007 Julie Award and a 2011 GLAAD Media Award.

Reviews

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Spider-Clone books for Marvel are like being reminded of the time you threw up on your date’s prom gown or when it took you six times to pass the driver’s test – awkward, embarrassing, painful. Yet Marvel still keeps re-publishing the collected clone works (I believe the whole shebang is five volumes. Mercy!) and still gives the clone characters prominence.

Ben Reilly (THE Scarlet Spider) has been dead a bunch of times, like disintegrated dead, yet here he’s back and Marvel’s trying to differentiate him from the pack of Spider-Heroes by making him a dickwad. (read: anti-hero).



He was caught illegally cloning people who were dying, subbing them out with their clones and giving their families false hope. Sadly, the clones didn’t last long. And Mr. Reilly is now one spider swing ahead of the law in Las Vegas.

Vegas, baby!!!

Reilly hates Spider-Man, but tries to imitate him in the creepiest of ways.



Well, you could sub in almost any prunish old harridan for Aunt May.



Throw in the fact that complications from his cloning business are biting him in his Spider-A$$ in a big way…



…and Kaine, yet another Spider-Clone is gunning for him...



…and you have the gist of the story.

Bottom line : As much as I like most of Peter David’s body of work and his sense of humor, this one reeks of D-List hero – it’s that smell you get when poor kitty cat has lost his breakfast and it’s been sitting around all day – “sure, honey, I’ll clean it up…eventually…”



Yep, Vegas, baby!!!

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, bugger me; after twenty years, something good finally came of the Clone Saga! >shudder<

Don't get me wrong; there are a dozen books I'd rather PAD be writing (Hulk, X-Factor, Spider-Man, etc...) but I'll take what I can get. It's not so bad, either; I actually enjoyed this quite a bit. I couldn't give a flying fig about any of the characters in this book but, with PAD at the helm, I'm getting a kick out of it anyway. Let's see where it goes...

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a bit hard to get into this series since Ben Reilly has turned into the world's biggest douche. He's hiding out in Vegas after his turn as The Jackal during The Clone Conspiracy. The story does pick up once Kaine gets involved. He's turned into a better Scarlet Spider than Ben Reilly ever was. If this wasn't Peter David and veteran Spider artist Mark Bagley, I probably wouldn't stick with it. But they've earned my trust.

[Subham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun comic and it deals with Ben returning to the Las Vegas circuit and well working for a woman named Cassandra Mercury and trying to cure her daughter after Clone conspiracy but then Kaine is after him and also a conscience of crisis dawns on him. Its a new day in his life and repentance and regrets and trying to fix things. And he goes up against Kaine multiple times and its a fun face off. The art is awesome and the story flow is okayish and I like the evolution of him here and some fun things to go against him.

[James DeSantis · Rating 2 out of 5]

This isn't bad, which I kind of expected from reading issue 1 back in the day, but it's not great. Which sucks because Peter David is usually a great writer.

So Ben Riley is trying to figure out his life. He's kind of a prick though. He scams people, lies, and saves people for money mostly. So when he convinces a crime lord boss that he can save her kid from a disease, which he can't, he becomes even more scheme-like. That's when Kaine, the Scarlet Spider (The real one) comes into play to stop Ben.

Good: Kaine. He's awesome. He's by far my favorite Spider character in a long time. His solo series, while it got messy by the end, was really fun. So seeing him on the hunt for Ben, who truly is a piece of shit, is great.

Bad: Ben is not a good main character. Why? Because he's a asshole. Which could be fine if he had SOME redeeming qualities but he really doesn't. Also, the art is just average. The plotting isn't anything special and feels filler-like.

Overall, I know Peter David could do better than this. This is so average it hurts. A 2.5 out of 5.

[Alex Sarll]

A clone of Peter Parker, introduced in terrible nineties event the Clone Saga, and then resurrected as a villain in differently terrible recent event the Clone Conspiracy, gets his own solo series. Despite being killed off both times. Ought to be terrible, right? But Peter David just uses it as an excuse to cut loose and take the piss out of exactly this sort of dubious brand extension, as a result of which it's a lot of fun. On the run from the results of his cloning scam, Reilly heads to the one town as fake as he is, Vegas. Where he tries to be a hero, sort of. Well, mainly he tries to find a Gwen or MJ, and an Aunt May, while shooting muggers and charging victims for rescues and generally being a fairly hopeless attempt at his original. And then who should show up on his trail but the other Spidey clone, Kaine, who also trades as the Scarlet Spider. Followed by a bunch of other guys in various Spider-Man suits, until the whole thing feels like the Marx Brothers' stateroom scene with masks on. It's an extended exercise in biting the hand that feeds, interwoven with an ongoing niggle at superhero universe theodicy, where if Reilly was playing God, and deceiving, and abusing people's trust, well, so does God, meaning at least he was consistent. Far better than it has any right to be.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not really up to date on all the weird twists and turns of the Clone Saga, but Peter David is one of my favorite writers, so thought I'd give this a try. It's all right, but nothing special. Ben Reilly is really a jerk, with pretty much no redeeming qualities, so it's kind of hard to care about what might happen to him as the lead character of a series. The artwork is serviceable, but nothing great either. Hopefully this will get better in subsequent volumes.

[Yuiko · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't like this one

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

[Read as single issues]
Ben Reilly is one of my favourite characters, and my favourite Spider-Man, so when I heard that he was going to get a new ongoing series after the Clone Conspiracy, I was very pleased. This first arc however, isn't exactly what I wanted.

The character is kind of up in the air after the Clone Conspiracy, mostly because of what he was forced to go through as a result of the story. He's straddling the line between hero and villain, and his faux-supporting cast aren't helping him at all. The first half of the volume is a little slow, but things really kick into high gear in the second half when the other Scarlet Spider, Kaine, turns up and brotherly beatdowns ensue. I feel like I'd be remiss not to note that the second arc of the series has already been much, much better and sets the character on a brand new path, so it's well worth sticking this one out to get to that.

The art is by the faultless Mark Bagley, who has made a name for himself all across Marvel but especially the Spider-Man books, so you definitely know what you're going to get with this guy. It looks lovely, as you'd imagine.

A stumble at the starting block, but a good foundation for what comes next, I think.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have no idea what I just read. I am not familiar with the history of the Scarlet Spider at all. So I guess that put me at a disadvantage to begin with. I wanted to read this because of what I had heard about this character. I had a good time reading the comic even though at time I found myself confused as to who was talking or what was going on. The graphics were entertaining, and the story was interesting. I am looking forward to the next installment to figure all of this out.

[Jason Tanner · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, some background: My first Spider-Man comics were the Judas Traveller story from the very beginning of the Clone Saga. The story was pretty weird for someone who had no idea what was going on in the Spider-verse at the time, but I immediately fell in love with the clone, and I was hooked. And, yes, as the Clone Saga warped beyond what it was originally intended, there was definitely some bad stuff. And don't get me started on the Scarlet Spider books with the ridiculous VR crap. But there was some really good stuff in there too. Peter and Ben bonding over time, The Lost Years miniseries, and several other things were definite positives. In a way, Ben Reilly was as much my Spider-Man as Peter was, and I was pretty sad to see Ben melt at the end of it.

And then Kaine came back in the Grim Hunt and again in Spider Island, and they did some really interesting things with him. I actually really enjoyed his evolution from broken half-man to the edgy but ultimately heroic Spider-Man who would not hesitate to f*** you up.

And then I learned that they brought Ben Reilly back. As the Jackal.

What.

I have not read the Clone Conspiracy as of this writing, so I can't pass judgment on it as an idea, but it made me very nervous because, while I enjoyed a lot of Dan Slott's stories that I've read, he can take characters in directions that I vehemently do not agree with, and I don't think he's above bringing back Ben Reilly just to piss on him all over again. (I'm not saying he did this, because I haven't read the story, just that it is a concern of mine that time has since alleviated.)

But curiosity got the better of my trepidation, and I finally picked up the first Scarlet Spider trade by Peter David. And it was really good. Better than I had hoped, based on reading the synopsis. Ben is obviously as broken from his ordeals as Kaine ever was, but in his own way. He's clearly not a hero, and he's clinging to his version of "helping" people by cloning their loved ones. And he's obviously a little crazy, what with "Aunt June."

I also enjoy how Peter David has turned the Kaine/Ben rivalry on its head without actually changing it: Kaine has always stalked and tormented Ben Reilly and threatened to kill him. And he's doing that again, but this time, he's kind of right to be doing so.

This Scarlet Spider is not the Ben Reilly I remember. But David has the opportunity to do some really interesting things here, and I'm willing to give him the chance.

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bem, para ler essa nova fase de Ben Reilly novamente como o Aranha Escarlate, você deveria ter lido ou pelo menos (como eu) saber do enredo da saga A Conspiração do Clone. Nela, uma empresa chamada Nova VC promete reviver pessoas queridas. Mas não se passa de uma técnica de clonagem, cujo principal envolvido é o Chacal. Mas ele não era Miles Warren como sempre. O novo Chacal era Ben Reilly e os clones que ele fez acabaram se deteriorando. Essa é a história até aqui. Neste encadernado, Ben resolve abandonara a identidade de Chacal e se assumir novamente como o Aranha Escarlate. Esse novo herói é louco como uma mistura de Cavaleiro da Lua com o Deadpool. Totalmente sem escrúpulos. Ele vai a Las Vegas e se arranja num cassino prometendo à dona do lugar uma cura para a doença de sua filha. Ao mesmo tempo, o clone defeituoso de Peter Parker, Kaine, que até então atuava como o Aranha Escarlate, e sempre foi o nêmese de Ben Reilly, vai atrás dele para matá-lo por suas operações com a Nova VC. Esse é mais o menos o enredo desse primeiro volume. Pode parecer chato e coisa e tal e essa história de clones do Homem-Aranha brigando entre si pelas zilhésima vez. Mas a Marvel tinha um trunfo na manga, que é Peter David e ele sabe como estruturar histórias intrigantes e desenvolver personagens de apoio, por mais que o protagonista seja um palerma. E sim, estamos de volta à Las Vegas, como em Hulk e X-Factor, o que acontece em Vegas fica em Vegas... Kinda. Então uma história que tinha de tudo para ser uma bomba bombástica bem explodida fica interessante. A prova disso é que, diferente de outras revistas da Marvel, Aranha Escarlate continua firme e forte nos Estado Unidos, chegando à edição de número 30. Acho que tudo isso se deve ao fator Peter David. Ah, e aos clones. Porque clones se multiplicam, como o leitor de quadrinhos está cansado (bem cansado) de saber.

[Adam Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the aftermath of the Clone Conspiracy storyline, we find that the Jackyl, Ben Reilly himself, has survived and gone into hiding. His psyche is fractured however, and he spends quite a bit of time arguing with himself about his next move. Moving to Las Vegas and setting up as Scarlet Spider again (briefly using a new style uniform) seems to stablize him, but a casino owner suffered her own losses via Reilly's NewU company, and she wants revenge. Ben (calling himself Peter) promises to do what he can to try and help her daughter survive. Who's that on the horizon? Kaine has come to Vegas to take out Reilly and show him who the real Scarlet Spider is! An amazing fight breaks out between them, but convinced Ben is truly trying to be good and help, Kaine relents.... for now.
I wasn't much of a Spider-Man reader when the whole Clone stuff happened originally, but I am familiar with the story overall. I really like this slightly Deadpool-ish direction they are taking Scarlet Spider and look forward to seeing if this villain can really turn over a new leaf.
Recommend. Especially if you loved the Clone storylines.

[Matthew Ledrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's something about this that really failed in execution. Ben Reilly isn't a good protagonist in this story. If you're going to have a character that's on the "wrong side of the law," it's unbelievably important that the reader empathize with him and his actions (see "Dexter" and "Breaking Bad"). This does neither, and the only good parts of the book are it's all-too-brief diversions to focus on Kaine (the last person to hold the Scarlet Spider moniker), who does have good reason to be there, and whom we've followed since his solo series before Spider-Verse.

I don't feel like this series came from a good creative place. It stinks of the same editorial mandate that destroyed the Ben Reilly character to begin with: they were told to write a Ben Reilly story, they weren't inspired to do so.

I read this as single issues and couldn't wait for each to end. I think if one were to read it as a trade they'd be bored to tears. 2.3 overall rating, and that's being super generous. Stay away.

[Don Weiss · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was one of the readers who actually liked Ben Reilly... to a certain extent. I liked him when he was the Scarlet Spider, and portrayed as an offshoot of Peter Parker with the same past, yet with different experiences resulting in him becoming his own individual person. I kind of lost interest when he ultimately became Spider-Man and replaced Peter. Although the new Spider-Man costume was cool, I'd rather it had been an updated one for Peter than for Ben.

This story falls into the former category, moreso because the stories that brought Reilly back ended up blurring his line between hero and villain, further differentiating him from Parker. It starts off a bit slow and murky, but with Peter David at the helm I have faith things will pick up once he settles in. The Ben Reilly/Kaine confrontation is a sure sign of that. His work on past Spider-books was consistently entertaining and his style is a great fit for the character(s).

[Brunò · Rating 1 out of 5]

Odio el nuevo traje y eso que nunca fuí fanático del viejo pero este parece un fan-made feo.

No conozco al personaje así que no estoy seguro si están cambiando completamente lo que es pero lo de hacerlo un pseudo-villano para después hacerlo un anti-héroe al estilo de Deadpool,sin lo gracioso. Además ¿qué es eso de que el también sea un genio? si no me equivoc Kaine no lo es y también es un clon de Peter.
Hablando de Kaine ¿otra vez lo mismo? ¿volver a matar? Al menos en su vieja serie hubo una evolución y ahora volvimos atras

Y la historia bueno,nada hace por ayudarlo ¿Usar la desesperación de una mujer por plata? Buena manera de hacer que me guste Reilly.

¿¿ME ESTÁN JODIENDO??? ¿¿MATARON A KAINE??

De lo peor que leí en el año,aburrido,sin sentido y malo. No puede ser que le den más de dos estrellas

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collects Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider issues #1-5 and Clone Conspiracy: Omega issue #1

Ben Reilly, one of my favorite Marvel Comics characters is back, but he isn't quite the same. I was reading the 1990's "Clone Saga" as a 12-year-old, and loved it! Ben Reilly has been a favorite of mine for years, so while I love that he has his own title again, I was a little bummed that he was such a different character. I read this collection as individual issues, and have read beyond this collection already...

SPOILERS:

...therefore I'm happy to report that around Issue #7 events happen that start to get Ben back on his original, noble path. For long time Ben Reilly fans, I'd definitely recommend sticking around for this title, because I think it has the potential to get better and better.

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess I could never have the thing I want where Ben picks up where he left off. Something like DeFalco's excellent Spider-Girl run functionally did that.

This is a little tough to stomach, though, as it's not really about *Ben* so much as Dan Slott's evil Ben. It's a like a cross between Superior Spider-Ben, Spider-Man 2099, and Christopher Yost's Scarlet Spider. It's a book people keep writing although I'm not sure anyone is reading it other than me.

I guess it's not bad, and I'm dumb enough to keep reading it even if it were bad. But this is one of the few attempts to play on nostalgia I've seen with almost exactly zero interest in calling things back. (Otherwise, Ben would still be using impact webbing like Miles uses his venom touch.)

[Ashe Catlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always loved Ben Reilly, when I was growing up he was actually Spider-Man. Pete was just a supporting character who used to be Spider-Man, when he eventually took over I dropped the title.

Anyway this is spinning out of the events of Amazing Spider-Man: The Clone Conspiracy, when Ben had been bringing peoples loved ones back to live. He's considered evil in this though I don't really think he did anything wrong, yes he asked for money to do it but a company has to make a profit, it's not like he was planning to turn everyone into mush.

This take place shortly after, as kind of his redemption arc. He's basically on the run and has taken his old role as the Scarlet Spider, Kaine has decided that he needs to pay for his crimes, so he's decided to hunt him down. Peter David has got their voices spot on, Ben is confident in his abilities whilst Kaine is very nonchalant. If Kaine says he'll do something, he'll damn well do it. Like trying to kill Ben, I was shocked when he actually shot him.

The whole thing is completely bonkers, the only thing stopping this from getting 5 stars was some of the supporting cast. Whilst the mafia mum was an interesting angle, the guy trying to mess with her wasn't very interesting, not was the reveal.

[Jimbo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter David writes a good story and this one--with Ben Reily--on eof Spider-man's many clones i a good one of redemption for the man who has died more than anyone else in the MCU and come back to life.

In Vegas this time, he is caught by Cassandra Mercury -- Ben, (as the Jackel) cloned her dying daughter only for the incurable disease to still try to kill her. This takes place right after the Clone Conspiracy storyline and not only is Cassandra out for blook, but so is Kaine, the other Scarlet Spider, another clone of Peter Parker.

Confusing, but you really don't need to know everything to enjoy the stories herewiithin.

[Sean · Rating 2 out of 5]

What was this? Peter David is such a fun writer and this was so not fun. This Ben Reilly is not fun, clever, or likable. I almost feel like David wants him to be Deadpool without the humor. It was bizarre. Added to that is the fact that next to nothing happens and the new characters introduced are extremely one note. The biggest thing this book had going for itself was the iconic artwork from Mark Bagley. He is one of my definitive Spider-Man artists so it was good to see him drawing the Scarlet Spider again. Overall, I don't see a future for this book as its beginning was a huge bummer.

[Villain E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Veteran Spider-Man writer Peter David is joined by veteran Spider-Man artist Mark Bagley to continue the story of the villanous Scarlet Spider. Following the Clone Wars Conspiracy, Ben Reilly is walking the Earth again. But he needs money, so he approaches a business contact from his pretend healthcare company, who isn't happy to see him. Meanwhile Kaine figures out that Ben faked his death and follows him. And, y'know, they both go by Scarlet Spider and under the mask they both look the same, so that all comes into play.

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a big Spider-Man fan, but the character has been so overused that at times he can be quite stale.

This was a refreshing "alternative" Spider-man, who is decidedly not a "good guy." It's almost as is Deadpool, Moon Knight, and Spider-man combined together, which shouldn't work, but it does.

Ben Reilly is a great combo of hilarious and disturbing, keeping this story fresh and interesting.

I would recommend giving this a try to any fans of Spider-man or Marvel.

[Adan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is probably the most unnecessary series ever. I much preferred Kaine’s Scarlet Spider series set in Houston. This is just dumb anti-hero spider nonsense, and isn’t the Venom series enough dumb anti-hero spider nonsense? Bagley’s art is the only reason this isn’t one star because I love me some Bagley art.

[Kris Ritchie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of like New Super-man, here we have a Spider-man tale but with Spider-man, re: Scarlet Spider, as kind of a dick. It works solely because as I keep reading it, I wonder what Ben's slow descent into insanity, violence, and all-around rudeness will bring.

[Redi Bortoluzzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5. HQ com boa trama e personagens carismáticos. Os conflitos e caráter do protagonista/antagonistas dá curiosidade para saber o desenrolar da trama. Diverte, mas nada além disso. Recomendado para quem tem certa nostalgia da Marvel de meados dos anos 90.

[Cagne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mental issues, an older lady as a mascotte, kissing death, this clone is really Deadpool-ish, wonder if it will ever make it to Spider-man vs Deadpool.

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't bad, per se. I just didn't know what to expect from this and even then it wasn't overly exciting. 2.5/5.

[Lillian Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent

[Benjamin · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars, rounded up.