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Ben Reilly: Spider-Man #1-5
Ben Reilly: Spider-Man
In the proud tradition of SYMBIOTE SPIDER-MAN, journey back in time to another sensational era of Spidey storytelling — for a brand new tale starring Peter Parker’s clone Ben Reilly, set during his first stint as Spider-Man! When a mysterious figure from the past crawls his way back into Ben’s life, does the foreboding Ravencroft Institute hold the key to their identity? And after five years lived on the road, followed by the madness of the Clone Saga, can Ben truly handle what it means to be Spider-Man? Written by legendary scribe J.M. DeMatteis with kinetic art by David Baldeón, BEN REILLY: SPIDER-MAN returns readers to a tumultuous time in comic books — when Ben Reilly, not Peter Parker, was the one true Spider-Man!
113 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 5, 2022
6 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
J.M. DeMatteis
1,912 books232 followersAlso Credited As:
DeMatteis, John Marc
Ellis, Michael
Lombego, Wally
Bio:
J.M. DeMatteis was a professional musician/singer and rock music journalist before entering comics in the late 70's.
Credits include Spider-Man, Moonshadow, Brooklyn Dreams, Justice League, Abadazad, Hero Squared, the Life and Times of Savior 28.
Created I, Vampire , Creature Commandos, Moonshadow, Hero Squared (co-creator), Abadazad, Stardust Kid, Savior 28 and more.
DeMatteis, John Marc
Ellis, Michael
Lombego, Wally
Bio:
J.M. DeMatteis was a professional musician/singer and rock music journalist before entering comics in the late 70's.
Credits include Spider-Man, Moonshadow, Brooklyn Dreams, Justice League, Abadazad, Hero Squared, the Life and Times of Savior 28.
Created I, Vampire , Creature Commandos, Moonshadow, Hero Squared (co-creator), Abadazad, Stardust Kid, Savior 28 and more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
March 10, 2023
There's nothing exactly wrong with this but it didn't really work for me. The writing was good. I'm a JM DeMatteis fan. My main issue was that the cartoony art from David Baldeon didn't seem right for the dark tone of the story. Also, since this takes place in the brief period when Ben Reilly was thought to be the one true Spider-Man, internet dating as a plot device doesn't seem quite right. Sure, time is fluid in the world of monthly super heroes but it took me out of the story.
Someone else with a stronger attachment to Ben Reilly might enjoy this more than I did.
Someone else with a stronger attachment to Ben Reilly might enjoy this more than I did.
September 20, 2022
There seems to be a lot of nostalgia for the Clone Saga (the original one) at the moment, largely from people who started reading comicbooks while it was in full swing (pun intended) which, I suppose, is understandable. If you don’t know any different, right?
As somebody who’d already been reading comicbooks for nearly two decades when the Clone Saga arrived, I’m very much in the ‘hated-it-with-a-passion’ camp, I’m afraid, so I’m not the target audience for this book, which tells an ‘untold tale’ from the days when Peter had been replaced by Ben (again, the first time).
I am a big fan of J.M. DeMatteis, though, so that was enough for me to pick up this book, annnnd… it was OK. Entertaining enough, with a very nice finale.
I don’t think David Baldeón, as good an artist as he is, was the right choice of artist for this project. This was a very dark, psychological tale and Baldeón’s artwork is too cartoony for the tone of this book.
As somebody who’d already been reading comicbooks for nearly two decades when the Clone Saga arrived, I’m very much in the ‘hated-it-with-a-passion’ camp, I’m afraid, so I’m not the target audience for this book, which tells an ‘untold tale’ from the days when Peter had been replaced by Ben (again, the first time).
I am a big fan of J.M. DeMatteis, though, so that was enough for me to pick up this book, annnnd… it was OK. Entertaining enough, with a very nice finale.
I don’t think David Baldeón, as good an artist as he is, was the right choice of artist for this project. This was a very dark, psychological tale and Baldeón’s artwork is too cartoony for the tone of this book.
February 21, 2023
Ben Reilly: Homem-Aranha, minisserie por J. M. De Matteis e desenhada por David Baldeón faz parte de uma iniciativa retrô da Marvel de conferir pequenos arcos para fases memoráveis de seus personagens. Esta fase, no caso não é tão memorável, porque se refere à famigerada Saga do Clone do Homem-Aranha que durou mais de três anos em suas revistas mensais. Contudo, eu tenho um certo carinho pelo personagem Ben Reilly, e acho ele mais bonito, sexy es carismático do que Peter Parker apesar dos dois serem clones. Por isso fui atrás desse encadernado aqui. Trata-se de uma história trivial de assassinato serial, em que muitos inimigos do Homem-Aranha dessa fase da Saga do Clone estão envolvidos. E, claro que o inimigo principal teria um envolvimento com as clonagens do Doutor Miles Warren, o Chacal. Uma historinha bem ok, passável, mas pouco memorável. O destaque, para mim, ficam nos desenhos de Baldeón e na presença da Dra, Ashley Kafka e do Instituto Ravencroft na trama.
April 6, 2023
This book was a bit of nostalgia for me the original Clone Saga is what first got me into comics full-time. The thing I liked about this book that was missing from that saga was Ben Reilly seem to transition into his new life and role as Spider-man seamlessly. Here I see his struggle because of his year as a loaner on the road, and how these life experiences made him different from Peter Parker.
Ben Reilly is haunted but the shadow of Peter Parker everywhere he goes. The people he meets and the places around him. The only part of his life that feels natural is being Spider-man. However, when he is attacked by villains from both his and Peter's past who know his secret identity, the walls are torn down.
It is an all-around good book, I was also glad for the villain brought back in this book. I am not a fan of everyone knowing Spider-man's identity but that is a small thing. A good edition to the original saga. Not perfect but a lot better than much of the current Spider-manchild book out recently. The book finishes with a thumbnail variant cover gallery.
Ben Reilly is haunted but the shadow of Peter Parker everywhere he goes. The people he meets and the places around him. The only part of his life that feels natural is being Spider-man. However, when he is attacked by villains from both his and Peter's past who know his secret identity, the walls are torn down.
It is an all-around good book, I was also glad for the villain brought back in this book. I am not a fan of everyone knowing Spider-man's identity but that is a small thing. A good edition to the original saga. Not perfect but a lot better than much of the current Spider-manchild book out recently. The book finishes with a thumbnail variant cover gallery.
August 18, 2022
Sing it with me, now...
"All we are say-ing..."
"Is give Ben a chaaaaance..."
This is a prequel, of sorts, to 'Amazing Spider-Man: Beyond'. Maybe it's a continuation of the 'Clone Saga'. Any way you cut it, this is a late 90's flashback. We've got Ben Reilly coming to terms with his own identity, clone or not. At this point, he believes he's the original Peter Parker...but jumping into that life just feels wrong and appropriated. He's trying to find his place in the world as Ben Reilly.
Funny how he's STILL working on that years later in the pages of 'Amazing Spider-Man: Beyond'.
---------
This was the kind of story I would LOVE to pick up at my local comic shop when I was a kid. Just enough going on to make me dig for more, but not mired in history I didn't know.
Bonus: Dr. Kafka (pre clone..or pre clone of clone) doing that psych work
Bonus Bonus: Did/does Spider-Man really need a Clayface equivalent?
"All we are say-ing..."
"Is give Ben a chaaaaance..."
This is a prequel, of sorts, to 'Amazing Spider-Man: Beyond'. Maybe it's a continuation of the 'Clone Saga'. Any way you cut it, this is a late 90's flashback. We've got Ben Reilly coming to terms with his own identity, clone or not. At this point, he believes he's the original Peter Parker...but jumping into that life just feels wrong and appropriated. He's trying to find his place in the world as Ben Reilly.
Funny how he's STILL working on that years later in the pages of 'Amazing Spider-Man: Beyond'.
---------
This was the kind of story I would LOVE to pick up at my local comic shop when I was a kid. Just enough going on to make me dig for more, but not mired in history I didn't know.
Bonus: Dr. Kafka (pre clone..or pre clone of clone) doing that psych work
Bonus Bonus: Did/does Spider-Man really need a Clayface equivalent?
June 7, 2023
A kind of boring story with art that doesn't match the tone.
I will say I'm a fan of Ben but the dude just doesn't get a lot of quality stories. This one included. J.M. Demetteis is a fine writer but he does nothing special with Ben here. Ben just goes on moping about his life, not doing much, wondering if he can fit in or have a normal life. It's just a rehash of everything that came before with not many interesting twist or perspectives to help make it feel fresh. One good thing is the art is solid but the depressing tone for Ben doesn't seem to match the overall story it's telling.
A 2.5 out of 5.
I will say I'm a fan of Ben but the dude just doesn't get a lot of quality stories. This one included. J.M. Demetteis is a fine writer but he does nothing special with Ben here. Ben just goes on moping about his life, not doing much, wondering if he can fit in or have a normal life. It's just a rehash of everything that came before with not many interesting twist or perspectives to help make it feel fresh. One good thing is the art is solid but the depressing tone for Ben doesn't seem to match the overall story it's telling.
A 2.5 out of 5.
October 30, 2022
The idea that Ben is actually the original Spider-Man and Peter is the clone is one where I'm glad I'm not the only person who doesn't like it - obviously the two are tied together because of Ben's origin story, but even if he's the "real" Spider-Man, his character is severely lacking.
October 2, 2022
I don't know what I was expecting with this series, but I am a big fan of both Ben Reilly and J.M. DeMatteis, so I might have pumped to his story up in my head a little too much, and, having now read it, I'm just a little let down.
But, there's nothing wrong with the story at all. The tone is very much in keeping with the books at the time. Ben was still finding himself, and still pretty emo about it. Ashley Kafka and Ravencroft, staples of DeMatteis 's run, were featured prominently. There was a lot of introspection and psychobabble, and at least one "Get. Out. Of. My. Head!!!" for good measure.
In short, it was very much a 1990s DeMatteis Spider-Man book.
Maybe too much.
Much as I liked that era, looking back, it was very angsty, and the humor was pretty sparse. Spider-Man, Peter and Ben both, had a tendency to lash out and just wail on people back then, and even as a child that seemed not great to me. I know it's just the soapy drama being dialed up, but it' a trope I don't like and it makes Peter seem unhinged. And giving Ben that same energy almost thirty years later in 2022 did not bring me joy.
The theme of the book was identity. Who is Ben Reilly? What makes him not Peter Parker? Where is the line? And how much of Peter does Ben need to leave behind to just be Ben? And naturally, these questions are reflected in Spidercide's actions.
Spidercide. There's a character I never thought I'd see again. And I was fine with that. Spidercide was massively overpowered even if Tom Lyle wrote him, a character who had total control of his molecular structure, falling to his death off a building in the abysmal finale of Maximum Clonage. DeMatteis brought him back here as a foil for Reilly. Which wasn't bad, surprisingly. That being said, I kind of hope I never see him again.
I'm rambling.
I think the real reason I'm disappointed in this story is that I've already read the story of Ben Reilly finding himself in 1994 or whenever. Reilly made his peace just before Osborn pulped him. I was hoping DeMatteis would tread some new ground. And since Ben has literally had his humanity stripped away at the end of the Beyond arc, it's dubious whether I'll see him as a hero again in the present time. In a way, this story could be his sendoff, and I was hoping for something in the caliber of The Lost Years but instead got something that was...fine.
But, there's nothing wrong with the story at all. The tone is very much in keeping with the books at the time. Ben was still finding himself, and still pretty emo about it. Ashley Kafka and Ravencroft, staples of DeMatteis 's run, were featured prominently. There was a lot of introspection and psychobabble, and at least one "Get. Out. Of. My. Head!!!" for good measure.
In short, it was very much a 1990s DeMatteis Spider-Man book.
Maybe too much.
Much as I liked that era, looking back, it was very angsty, and the humor was pretty sparse. Spider-Man, Peter and Ben both, had a tendency to lash out and just wail on people back then, and even as a child that seemed not great to me. I know it's just the soapy drama being dialed up, but it' a trope I don't like and it makes Peter seem unhinged. And giving Ben that same energy almost thirty years later in 2022 did not bring me joy.
The theme of the book was identity. Who is Ben Reilly? What makes him not Peter Parker? Where is the line? And how much of Peter does Ben need to leave behind to just be Ben? And naturally, these questions are reflected in Spidercide's actions.
Spidercide. There's a character I never thought I'd see again. And I was fine with that. Spidercide was massively overpowered even if Tom Lyle wrote him, a character who had total control of his molecular structure, falling to his death off a building in the abysmal finale of Maximum Clonage. DeMatteis brought him back here as a foil for Reilly. Which wasn't bad, surprisingly. That being said, I kind of hope I never see him again.
I'm rambling.
I think the real reason I'm disappointed in this story is that I've already read the story of Ben Reilly finding himself in 1994 or whenever. Reilly made his peace just before Osborn pulped him. I was hoping DeMatteis would tread some new ground. And since Ben has literally had his humanity stripped away at the end of the Beyond arc, it's dubious whether I'll see him as a hero again in the present time. In a way, this story could be his sendoff, and I was hoping for something in the caliber of The Lost Years but instead got something that was...fine.
September 9, 2022
In an untold story from years past, J. M. DeMatteis revisits Ben Reilly while the present day Ben dons the webs over in Spider-Man: Beyond.
I love Ben Reilly, this isn't news. And when I saw that this series was on the cards, I was very excited. I'll be honest though, the first two issues are a little rough. Ben's mean to the point of unlikeable, and that's not the Ben I remember, or the one I know and love. But it does make sense in terms of the story later on, when some reveals in the later issues put everything into a different light. It pays to stick through those first two issues, trust me.
The villain of the piece was a pleasant surprise as well - without spoilers, it rounds off a long-hanging Clone Saga plotline perfectly, as well as explaining why said plotline hasn't been revisited in the present, since it was resolved here instead. We also get some appearances from Vermin, Scorpion and Ravencroft, which I wish showed up more often, and all invoke the Ben Reilly age of Spidey comics nicely. It's like being teleported back to the comics that got me into comics in the first place.
On art is David Baldeon, who's a solid choice for a Spidey book, even if his style is a bit too bright and cheerful for what I associate this era with. That's more a commentary on me rather than Baldeon though, who does a great job.
Ben Reilly's Beyond adventures might be over now, but this little mini-series is a must-read for Clone Saga fans (and I know I'm not alone out here!)
I love Ben Reilly, this isn't news. And when I saw that this series was on the cards, I was very excited. I'll be honest though, the first two issues are a little rough. Ben's mean to the point of unlikeable, and that's not the Ben I remember, or the one I know and love. But it does make sense in terms of the story later on, when some reveals in the later issues put everything into a different light. It pays to stick through those first two issues, trust me.
The villain of the piece was a pleasant surprise as well - without spoilers, it rounds off a long-hanging Clone Saga plotline perfectly, as well as explaining why said plotline hasn't been revisited in the present, since it was resolved here instead. We also get some appearances from Vermin, Scorpion and Ravencroft, which I wish showed up more often, and all invoke the Ben Reilly age of Spidey comics nicely. It's like being teleported back to the comics that got me into comics in the first place.
On art is David Baldeon, who's a solid choice for a Spidey book, even if his style is a bit too bright and cheerful for what I associate this era with. That's more a commentary on me rather than Baldeon though, who does a great job.
Ben Reilly's Beyond adventures might be over now, but this little mini-series is a must-read for Clone Saga fans (and I know I'm not alone out here!)
March 12, 2023
This actually took me a couple days to read but my god this was so fun, like probably one of the best Spidey stories I have read and for a series which could have just been a throwback to the 90s and all, it does well to have a beginning, great middle and ending and introducing a new villain and just shows how well JMD knows this world and characters.
So Ben struggling with Peter's existence and wanting his memories gets visited by these villains and has to fight them, be it Carrion, Vermin or Scorpion even and the return of Lady Octopus and I love how the first 3 issues are kinda like the character facing their gauntlet of villains and each time it tells something new about them, and Ben struggling with it and then realizing who this new nemesis is aka SPIDERICIDE, and I love this villain and he is so fun, kinda like Clayface and intriguing power set ad his motivations are super well defined and it really gives Ben a challenge and the villain is Ben's frame of mind given form, and thus by the end you get one of the most tragic moments in his history but also the story coming full circle and a solid ending for him, and that last panel of him swinging is just awesome!
I loved this one, it is solid throughout and a love letter to the "CLONE SAGA" era of Spider-man even though its confusing but a good read nonetheless and for many people it will be nostalgic but even new people will appreciate the level of skill and love for these characters has gone in the pages and yeah all around will have a good time after reading it! ;)
So Ben struggling with Peter's existence and wanting his memories gets visited by these villains and has to fight them, be it Carrion, Vermin or Scorpion even and the return of Lady Octopus and I love how the first 3 issues are kinda like the character facing their gauntlet of villains and each time it tells something new about them, and Ben struggling with it and then realizing who this new nemesis is aka SPIDERICIDE, and I love this villain and he is so fun, kinda like Clayface and intriguing power set ad his motivations are super well defined and it really gives Ben a challenge and the villain is Ben's frame of mind given form, and thus by the end you get one of the most tragic moments in his history but also the story coming full circle and a solid ending for him, and that last panel of him swinging is just awesome!
I loved this one, it is solid throughout and a love letter to the "CLONE SAGA" era of Spider-man even though its confusing but a good read nonetheless and for many people it will be nostalgic but even new people will appreciate the level of skill and love for these characters has gone in the pages and yeah all around will have a good time after reading it! ;)
February 19, 2025
Há algum tempo a Marvel lançou um “selo” onde artistas da editora pegavam grande fases do passado e faziam novas histórias que se passavam naqueles tempos. Teve Wolverine do Larry Hama, Hulk do Peter David, entre outros. Esse é um gibi dessa iniciativa. O DeMatteis faz uma história do Ben Reilly, o clone do Homem-Aranha, que por um tempo pensou ser o original e o Peter o clone, e assumiu a identidade do Aranha, com um novo e belíssimo uniforme. Essa história se passa numa época que ele não sabia exatamente o que era ser o Ben Reilly. Ele tinha medo de ter amigos e se aproximar das pessoas, mas aos poucos ele vai fazendo amizade com a Dra. Kafka e com o Edward, o Rattus, que havia se curado e estava trabalhando com a Dra. Kafka no Instituto Ravencroft, o Asilo Arkham da Marvel. Vários inimigos do Aranha que deveriam estar presos no Instituto estão atacando o Ben, e sabem da identidade secreta dele. Mas essas pessoas continuam presas e o Aranha ainda não sabe quem está atacando. Depois descobrimos que é outro clone do Peter, o Aranhacida (que acho que é uma nova tradução, na época que saiu era chamado de Aracnocida). A história é muito divertida, e os desenhos do Baldeón são muito bons. Ele teria feito um ótimo trabalho na época da Saga do Clone. O estilo dele combina perfeitamente com o Aranha e queria ver ele desenhando mais o personagem. E essa história mostra o quanto o Ben poderia ser melhor aproveitado, ao invés de tudo que a Marvel tem feito com ele ultimamente, e sim, estou falando de Dark Web
January 8, 2023
I’m always going to geek out over J.M. DeMatteis writing a Spider-Man book. I don’t need any more Ben Reilly stories, but if we’re going to get them, I’m happy they got JDM to flesh out Ben’s stint as Spidey a little more.
There are a lot of interesting ideas here. Was Spider-Ben always this angry? My memory is that he was pretty happy-go-lucky once he took over, so it was refreshing to see a more conflicted portrayal of him - now that they’re not trying to sell him to us as a Peter Parker replacement. I like that he has trouble having a normal social life, and I love that he decides to befriend Edward “Vermin” Whelan and adopt Ashley Kafka as a confidante. It’s a shame that we don’t get to see these threads evolve and flourish any further - unless the plan is to have more of these minis focusing on Ben’s Spider-months? I hope so because this feels truncated.
It’s also worth mentioning JMD does a commendable job fleshing out a character I’d never cared for (whose identity shall remain unspoiled, since it’s a big reveal in the story), but even then, I couldn’t truly become invested in their fate. I wish Ben had found himself dealing with someone more compelling in this tale… so yeah, let’s do a follow-up mini, Marvel. Please?
There are a lot of interesting ideas here. Was Spider-Ben always this angry? My memory is that he was pretty happy-go-lucky once he took over, so it was refreshing to see a more conflicted portrayal of him - now that they’re not trying to sell him to us as a Peter Parker replacement. I like that he has trouble having a normal social life, and I love that he decides to befriend Edward “Vermin” Whelan and adopt Ashley Kafka as a confidante. It’s a shame that we don’t get to see these threads evolve and flourish any further - unless the plan is to have more of these minis focusing on Ben’s Spider-months? I hope so because this feels truncated.
It’s also worth mentioning JMD does a commendable job fleshing out a character I’d never cared for (whose identity shall remain unspoiled, since it’s a big reveal in the story), but even then, I couldn’t truly become invested in their fate. I wish Ben had found himself dealing with someone more compelling in this tale… so yeah, let’s do a follow-up mini, Marvel. Please?
September 22, 2022
I guess I am puzzled as to when this story takes place in the universe of Spider-Man. I haven't read Spider-Man in a long while, so I know that somehow this is an "untold" tale, but I don't remember Ben thinking he was Peter, then going away for five years, then returning being Spider-Man again. . . and Parker off to Portland -- just can't remember that line of story. (Guess part of that is that there were like four of five Spider-Man comics going on all at the same time--by the way--I hated it when they rarely if ever acknowledged what was happening in the other titles)
Anyway, I love Ben Reilly as a character and I loved him as Scarlet Spider. I liked this comic, but I thought it was somehow incomplete and because my brain wouldn't wrap around WHEN this was supposed to happen (what ever happened to the notes like "This take place after issue # 245?")
Anyway, I read a few comments about the artist being wrong for this book, but it didn't bother me. The story was a head game all around and I am glad I read it, and some day I'll put it in the right time frame and probably reread it to see how it fits.
Anyway, I love Ben Reilly as a character and I loved him as Scarlet Spider. I liked this comic, but I thought it was somehow incomplete and because my brain wouldn't wrap around WHEN this was supposed to happen (what ever happened to the notes like "This take place after issue # 245?")
Anyway, I read a few comments about the artist being wrong for this book, but it didn't bother me. The story was a head game all around and I am glad I read it, and some day I'll put it in the right time frame and probably reread it to see how it fits.
January 16, 2023
When it comes to Ben Reilly, his time as Spider-Man isn't without confusion. The whole Clone Saga from the 80s and 90s was a time that created a lot of stuff for Spidey, like in the form of new villains and characters, but ultimately was "reconned" (in a way) to get the original Peter Parker back as the Amazing Spider-Man. However, the popularity of the other clones continued, and thus we see them still in action to this day.
Thought we just got to see Ben Reilly back in action in the main title of Spidey (during the Beyond storyline), this title takes us back to Ben's heyday. The story is a bit long, but the action is great and the art is top notch. We do get introduced to a new clone, by the name of Spidercide, but I doubt we will see him again.
Overall, if you long for the days of Ben Reilly back as the main Spidey, pick this one up. Otherwise, with it not being in the main canon, you can skip it.
Thought we just got to see Ben Reilly back in action in the main title of Spidey (during the Beyond storyline), this title takes us back to Ben's heyday. The story is a bit long, but the action is great and the art is top notch. We do get introduced to a new clone, by the name of Spidercide, but I doubt we will see him again.
Overall, if you long for the days of Ben Reilly back as the main Spidey, pick this one up. Otherwise, with it not being in the main canon, you can skip it.
February 1, 2024
Five issues of mopey, vapid, navel-gazing drecch. This is J.M. DeMatteis at his absolute worst: vacillating between tedious internal monologues filled with endless existential whinging, and wildly melodramatic and overwrought action sequences in which Ben is constantly screaming with explosive emotion (rendering the scenes one-note and dull as dishwater). It's a distillation of all the worst tendencies of Spider-Man comics in the '90s, from the endless fetishistic fixation on the character's misery, to the inclusion of the dumbest and most '90s villain ever, Spidercide, as the big bad of the story.
If you weren't familiar with Ben Reilly as a character, this miniseries would definitely NOT sell you on him. Hell, I already liked the character, but after reading this I'd be hard-pressed to tell you why.
If you weren't familiar with Ben Reilly as a character, this miniseries would definitely NOT sell you on him. Hell, I already liked the character, but after reading this I'd be hard-pressed to tell you why.
October 8, 2022
Maybe I’m just not the biggest Scarlet Spider fan, but this take on Ben Reilly, while mostly fairly focused, also felt really contingent on having a prior connection to the character since the vast majority of this volume focuses on his identity crisis and the way his historical trauma informs his current role as Spider-Man. The way it barrels through confrontation after confrontation before arriving at this wildly explosive climax that sort of just…quickly shifts gears and ends…seems in almost direct contrast to all the successful things I’ve been reading in terms of plotting and character relationships over in the Miles Morales line. Not everything need be that, but I’m not quite sure what this is yet…feels thematic at least!
October 26, 2024
I read a lot of the Clone Saga, so I was interested in reading this book and was surprised it was actually set in that same storyline. The book is good.
The pencils of the art were decent, but the colours were very dark/dull in my opinion.
The issues were pretty good and I actually read the entire book in one sitting, so it obviously kept me intrigued enough (to read issues 1-5 in one go).
It was also surprising the secret main villain that returned in this story, despite them being somewhat unpopular in the clone saga… and again this character was probably the weakest aspect of the book.
Overall, I would still recommend reading it.
The pencils of the art were decent, but the colours were very dark/dull in my opinion.
The issues were pretty good and I actually read the entire book in one sitting, so it obviously kept me intrigued enough (to read issues 1-5 in one go).
It was also surprising the secret main villain that returned in this story, despite them being somewhat unpopular in the clone saga… and again this character was probably the weakest aspect of the book.
Overall, I would still recommend reading it.
February 20, 2023
[3.25/5]
It's a fine book. I like Ben Reilly. I've always been obsessed with him so hearing that this was a redemption for the character made me want to check it out. There is nothing inherently wrong or bad about the story. It deals with what being Ben Reilly means to Ben Reilly. It's also about accepting the past as the past and embracing the future. I liked both of those aspects of the book and I even enjoyed the little moments with Ben living his day to day life.
It's a fine book. I like Ben Reilly. I've always been obsessed with him so hearing that this was a redemption for the character made me want to check it out. There is nothing inherently wrong or bad about the story. It deals with what being Ben Reilly means to Ben Reilly. It's also about accepting the past as the past and embracing the future. I liked both of those aspects of the book and I even enjoyed the little moments with Ben living his day to day life.
May 25, 2025
People are way too harsh on this series. It’s not perfect, but damn it’s enjoyable and surprisingly sweet, it gave a lesser liked character like Spidercide a spotlight and I like that. This isn’t an all timer Spider-Man series, but it’s good, I might even go as far as to say great
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2022
Fun, sweet story. Final issued felt rushed- maybe 6 issues instead of 5 to give some breathing room but a wonderful companion to ASM Beyond
October 20, 2022
Not good
November 10, 2022
3.5
Clearly not set in the 616.
But this is the type of story that gives Matt the Reilly he wants and builds on the Clone Saga legacy.
Clearly not set in the 616.
But this is the type of story that gives Matt the Reilly he wants and builds on the Clone Saga legacy.
November 28, 2022
A fair look at the nature of personhood and resistance to therapy or counseling. Not bad.
April 21, 2023
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
November 27, 2023
Ben Reilly (my beloved).
August 11, 2024
Ben Reilly is broody and endlessly reflecting on his own darkness and pain. Critically, he’s often boring as he does it. An overly repetitive tale with too much internal monologue and not enough positive qualities to endear me to the central character and his problems. Ben has been written much better elsewhere.
October 31, 2024
I’m not familiar enough with the Ben Reilly story but I’m always a fan of JM DeMatteis writing so that carries me through this and makes it worthwhile.
November 5, 2024
tqm ben reilly
May 17, 2025
Not my favorite of his Spider-Man trilogy but it's still holds a deep place in my heart
April 13, 2023
I love Ben Reilly as Spider-man, that's the one thing I really took from the mess that was the Clone Saga, the sheer joy of Ben as Scarlet Spider, then as SM, especially once Peter came back. This harks back to those days, between SS and Peter's return.
It's great, the story is fun and the art is brilliant. I love Ben and Edward's friendship.
And I even have empathy for the bad guy.
Hope this isn't the last throwback story we get to this time.
There's some great cover art too. I wish I bought these in paper issues.
It's great, the story is fun and the art is brilliant. I love Ben and Edward's friendship.
And I even have empathy for the bad guy.
Hope this isn't the last throwback story we get to this time.
There's some great cover art too. I wish I bought these in paper issues.
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