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Ben Reilly
Ben Reilly
from Wikipedia

Ben Reilly
Ben Reilly as Scarlet Spider, as appeared in Spider-Man Collectors' Preview #1 (December 1994).
Character design by Tom Lyle
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceAs Peter Parker's clone:
The Amazing Spider-Man #149 (October 1975)
Return:
Web of Spider-Man #114
(May 1994)
Identified as Ben Reilly:
Spider-Man #51 (October 1994)
As Scarlet Spider:
Web of Spider-Man #118
(November 1994)
As Spider-Man:
Sensational Spider-Man #0
(January 1996)
As Jackal:
The Clone Conspiracy #3
(December 2016)
As Chasm:
The Amazing Spider-Man #93
(March 2022)
Created byGerry Conway (writer)
Ross Andru (artist)
(based upon Spider-Man by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko)
In-story information
Full nameBenjamin Reilly (né Peter Parker)
SpeciesHuman mutate clone
Place of originThe Catskill Mountains, New York
Team affiliationsThe New Warriors
New U Technologies
The Midnight Sons
The Spider-Army/Web-Warriors
Notable aliasesChasm, Scarlet Spider, Spider-Man, Spider-Carnage, Peter Parker, Henry Jones, Jackal, Man in Red, Canadian Spider-Man[1]
AbilitiesAs Scarlet Spider:
  • Superhuman strength, speed, durability, agility, stamina, reflexes/reactions, coordination, balance and endurance
  • Spider physiology: high pain tolerance, precognitive spider-sense ability, cling to most solid surfaces
  • Master martial artist, hand-to-hand combatant, and expert swordsman
  • Spider-sense helps against enemies
  • Genius-level intellect:
    Proficient scientist and inventor
  • Utilizes wrist-worn web-shooters to fire various projectiles include a strong air-expanding adhesive substance in variety of forms of artificial webbings (web-lines and impact webbing), sedative stingers, and mini-dot tracers
  • Undetectable to Spider-Man's spider-sense

As Spider-Carnage:

Benjamin "Ben" Reilly (/ˈrli/), also known as the Scarlet Spider, is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Grown in a lab by Miles Warren/Jackal, he is a clone of Peter Parker/Spider-Man tasked with fighting him but instead becoming an ally, later even regarded as a "brother". Created by writer Gerry Conway, the character first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #149 (October 1975) and is seemingly killed in the same issue. The character returned and featured prominently in the 1994–96 "Clone Saga" storyline, adopting the "Scarlet Spider" alias with a costume similar to Spider-Man's consisting of a red spandex bodysuit and mask complemented by a blue sleeveless hoodie sweatshirt adorned with a large spider symbol on both sides, along with a utility belt and bulkier web-shooters. This Scarlet Spider costume was designed by artist Tom Lyle. When Peter Parker temporarily left the Spider-Man role, Ben became the new Spider-Man while wearing a new costume variation designed by artist Mark Bagley. However, Reilly dies at the hands of Norman Osborn/Green Goblin, sacrificing himself to save Parker who then resumes the Spider-Man role.

In 2017's Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy story, the character is revealed to be alive, his mind forcibly transferred to new clone bodies by the Jackal repeatedly before his resurrection was successful. Driven mad by the experience of being reborn and dying repeatedly, he became the new Jackal and started his own criminal enterprise. After being defeated by Spider-Man and others, Reilly reclaims his Scarlet Spider identity in the series Ben Reilly: The Scarlet Spider. Reimagined as an antihero, he first hopes to escape his past then embarks on a spiritual quest to redeem himself. This arc is completed in "Spider-Geddon" (2018), during which he sacrifices himself to protect others when his life force is absorbed by an enemy who inadvertently absorbs his many death traumas as well. Ben is then resurrected in a new clone body, his mind and soul healed and restored. During the events of the 2021–2022 storyline "Beyond", Ben temporarily became Spider-Man again, only for him to have his memories purged from him, leading him to become the villain Chasm. Due to his many resurrections in different clone bodies, the 2017–2018 comic series Ben Reilly: The Scarlet Spider states he has died and returned more than anyone else in the Marvel Universe, leading to him becoming favored by Lady Death.

The character made his cinematic debut in the 2023 feature film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse voiced by Andy Samberg.[2]

Publication history

[edit]

Ben Reilly was first featured as Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man #149 as a nameless clone of Peter Parker who seemingly dies alongside his creator the Jackal, who had also created a clone of Parker's lost love Gwen Stacy. The events of the issue were later revisited in several comics such as What If #30. Asked why he created the character, writer Gerry Conway explained:

One of the things I was trying to do at that time was take ideas to their logical, yet absurd conclusion, reductio ad absurdum. The idea was that if we have Gwen Stacy brought back as a clone, how can I up the stakes when I get rid of her? When I write her out of the book, what can I do to make that really effective and to punctuate it, to bring it to the next level? And I thought, if we can clone Gwen, we can certainly clone Peter. I was also at that time enamored with titles that played off of old, melodramatic Stan Lee titles of the past. ... I came up with the title, "If I Kill Me, Will I Die?"[a] It was basically a parody of an old overdramatic Stan Lee title, but I also thought it was a good title in general. So that's really what the impetus was - to raise the stakes, give us a good finish to the Gwen Stacy saga, and to allow me to have a little fun with the storytelling conventions of the time.[3]

Though Conway had no intention of using the character beyond this initial story in which he dies,[3] Reilly returned to the comics during the "Clone Saga", which ran from October 1994 to December 1996 through all five of the concurrent Spider-Man titles — The Amazing Spider-Man, Web of Spider-Man, Spider-Man, Spider-Man Unlimited, and The Spectacular Spider-Man. Editor Danny Fingeroth directed the Spider-Man artists to design a costume for the character which would stand out from conventional superhero costumes by emphasizing simple functionality rather than flash.[3] The artists worked on costume ideas independently, and according to Mark Bagley, Tom Lyle's "hoodie" design won unanimous approval among them.[3] The original costume was later replaced by an updated Spider-Man costume designed by Bagley with minor alterations by Bob Budiansky.[3]

Between November and December 1995, the Scarlet Spider replaced Spider-Man in all five of the comics' titles, which were renamed The Amazing Scarlet Spider, Web of Scarlet Spider, Scarlet Spider, Scarlet-Spider Unlimited, and The Spectacular Scarlet Spider. Reilly was also featured prominently in the supplemental material provided for the storyline, including Spider-Man: The Lost Years and Spider-Man: Clone Journals. The storyline was later revisited in What If (vol. 2) #86. Reilly was passed the mantle of Spider-Man and was featured throughout the Spider-Man titles The Amazing Spider-Man, The Spectacular Spider-Man, Spider-Man, Spider-Man Unlimited, and The Sensational Spider-Man, which replaced Web of Spider-Man as an ongoing monthly title. Reilly remained as the featured Spider-Man between January and December 1996. During this period, the character also featured in two intercompany crossovers DC vs. Marvel with DC Comics and Backlash/Spider-Man with Image Comics.

Though the character has not been used in mainstream continuity since his death in Spider-Man #75, the character is often alluded to and provided the foundation to the backstory in the Spider-Girl mythology. In January 2009, Reilly returned to comics as Spider-Man in the third part of Marvel's X-Men/Spider-Man miniseries. Written by Christos Gage, the series explores episodes in the histories of both the X-Men and Spider-Man, sticking thoroughly to the source material of the time frames that the stories take place in. Issue #3 marked the first new adventure featuring Reilly in more than 12 years. Starting in 2009 and continuing into 2010, Marvel published a six-issue miniseries titled Spider-Man: The Clone Saga that was a retelling of the story as it had originally been envisioned.[3] In 2010, Marvel began collecting the story in trade paperback and hardcover forms (ISBN 978-0785148050). The epic spans five books and covers Reilly's time on the road, through his encounters with Peter and Mary Jane Watson, up to his role as the Scarlet Spider, as the lone spider hero in New York.

Mooted return

[edit]

On July 25, 2010, at San Diego Comic-Con, fans expressed their desire to see a return of Ben Reilly. To this, assistant editor Tom Brennan replied, "It's being worked on".[4] During the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con, a teaser image was posted on Marvel.com of Reilly's shirt in flames, entitled "The return of The Scarlet Spider?"[5] It is revealed in The Amazing Spider-Man #673 and the Marvel Point One one-shot that Kaine will be the new Scarlet Spider in his own ongoing series, which was confirmed by editor Steve Wacker in the "Letters to the Editor" page of #673. Later, Ben Reilly in his Scarlet Spider uniform appears to be fighting Kaine on the cover of Scarlet Spider #21. At the climax of the issue it is revealed that this is Kraven the Hunter impersonating Reilly.

Resurrection

[edit]

Ben Reilly returns in the storyline Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy, it revealed he was repeatedly resurrected, killed and resurrected again by the Jackal as the villain tried to perfect a new cloning process. Broken by the memory and experience of over two dozen deaths, Ben took control of the Jackal's scheme, even adopting the villain's name for himself, and created a new cloning process that included a better memory transfer but required the clone to ingest a pill on a daily basis to maintain their cellular composition, lest their flesh, muscles, organs, and bones deteriorate until only the nervous system, eyes, and brain remain. He eventually planned to save the human race from death and disease by killing everyone and transferring their memories to super-clones who could then continually have their mind transferred to new bodies if they ever suffered fatal injury, continuations of the original person rather than copies and calling them "reanimates." After a final confrontation with Peter forces him to abandon his plans and resources, Ben relocates to Las Vegas. He initially tries to escape his past and punishment for his actions while being haunted by hallucinations, adopting the Scarlet Spider identity again. His experiences eventually help restore some of his sanity and set him back on the path to be a hero, before learning he has been favoured by Lady Death as her new favourite person from how many times he had died and returned, and how many people he had revived via his reanimations, to whose bodies their souls returned. Death warns Ben that since his soul has degraded with each death and revival, in spite of his wish to return to heroism, his next death and return will lead him to a path of villainy, a plotline followed up on in Spider-Man Beyond, at the end of which Ben is rendered a bitter partial amnesiac, as the villain Chasm.

Fictional character biography

[edit]

Creation

[edit]

Professor Miles Warren, unhealthily obsessed with his late student Gwen Stacy who died at the Green Goblin's hands, attempts various experiments, learning Peter Parker was Spider-Man. Blaming the web-slinger for marking Gwen as a target, Warren (taking on the villain alter ego the Jackal) attempts to clone the hero. Parker's first clone, Kaine, suffers from clone degeneration and is dismissed, but successful clones of both Parker and Stacy with stable cell structures are later created. After multiple attacks on Spider-Man, the Jackal forces the hero and his clone to fight, each believing the other is the clone. The two team up to save Parker's colleague Ned Leeds and Gwen's clone. In the process, Warren and Spider-Man's clone appear to be killed in an explosion.[6] Spider-Man's clone survives and realizes he is not the real Peter Parker. Rather than attempt to replace Parker, he leaves New York to embark on a nomadic life, dubbing himself "Ben Reilly" as a nod to his original self's uncle Ben Parker and May Parker's maiden surname.[7]

Exile

[edit]

During his travels, Ben Reilly befriends geneticist Seward Trainer, becoming the man's lab assistant and honing his scientific prowess to university graduate level under his mentorship. Ben trusts Trainer with his secrets and the man becomes a father figure.[8][9] Reilly is hunted by Kaine, the scarred and resentful failed clone of Peter Parker. Later, Reilly works with scientist Damon Ryder, who mutates himself into a dinosaur hybrid. An attack by Kaine causes a fire that kills Ryder's family, though the scientist blames Reilly for this tragedy.[10] At one point, Reilly finds love with college student Janine Godbe who then reveals her true identity is Elizabeth Tyne, a fugitive who killed her father after enduring incestuous rape. After Janine apparently commits suicide out of guilt for her crime, Reilly continues his travels.[11][12][13]

Scarlet Spider

[edit]

Five years after leaving New York City, Ben Reilly discovers May Parker suffered a stroke and may not recover. He returns to New York City, leading to a confrontation with the original Peter Parker who at this time is bitter, angry, and prone to violent rages following recent traumatic events. After the two handle a hostage situation at Ravencroft, Peter attempts to reclaim his humanity and Ben decides to remain in the city for a while.[14][15][16]

When Venom (Eddie Brock) goes on a rampage, Reilly decides to stop Venom, donning a red bodysuit along with a blue spider hoodie he buys at a museum.[17] Armed with improved web-shooters he developed, he defeats Venom and is dubbed the "Scarlet Spider" by Daily Bugle reporter Ken Ellis.[18] Ben and Peter later reunite and come to believe that Peter is actually the clone and Ben the original.[19]

Scarlet Spider joins the New Warriors for a brief time and develops an attraction to teammate Firestar.[20] After a few more adventures, Peter is nearly killed in action and decides to retire as Spider-Man to be a better husband and father.[21] He and Mary Jane leave New York City. During gang warfare between Lady Octopus and Alistair Smythe, a holographic duplicate of the Scarlet Spider ruins Ben's reputation, causing him to drop the Scarlet Spider identity.[22]

Ben Reilly as Spider-Man

[edit]
Ben Reilly as Spider-Man, wearing the costume designed by Mark Bagley. Art by Dan Jurgens and Klaus Janson.

Ben Reilly adopts the Spider-Man identity with a new costume. Only a few heroes and villains realize this equivalent of Spider-Man is a different person than before. In his civilian life, Ben dyes his hair blonde and starts working at a café called the Daily Grind.[23] He bonded with the Carnage symbiote as Spider-Carnage which John Jameson helped in removing.[24][25][26] He starts a relationship with Jessica Carradine, a student at Centennial University with a personal vendetta against Spider-Man, convinced the hero is a murderer. Ben later discovers her late father was the burglar who killed Ben Parker and went into foster care after the man's arrest.[24] Jessica then reveals her father told her he had been framed for Ben Parker's murder. She blames the wall-crawling vigilante not only for taking away her parent, but for his death during another encounter with Spider-Man, unwilling to believe it was simply a heart-attack brought on by stress. After Jessica discovers Ben is Spider-Man, she confronts the truth of her father. Ultimately accepting that Spider-Man is a hero when she sees him risk his life to save people from a burning building, she decides to start a new life on her own rather than remain with Ben.[27][28]

Ben's life and work are targeted by the Hobgoblin on orders of Spider-Man's old enemy Mendel Stromm, now called Gaunt.[29] After Peter and Mary Jane return to New York, Ben realizes Seward Trainer has been working with Gaunt for years.[30] Peter and Ben cement their relationship, now regarding each other as brothers and enjoying that they share the same childhood memories. Ben introduces Peter to the Daily Grind staff as his "cousin".[31] Reilly's former lover Janine Godbe is revealed to be alive, forced to fake her death years ago by Kaine as a means of hurting Ben. After multiple confrontations, Kaine accepts he has been avoiding responsibility for his actions and turns himself over to the authorities. Inspired, Janine does the same.[32]

Death

[edit]

Norman Osborn reveals himself to be the architect behind Parker's last few years of trauma, all part of a plan to drive the hero insane, including having Seward Trainer create false lab results so he would mistakenly believe he was the clone and Reilly the original. Since Peter has withstood his many trials, Osborn has lost patience and decided to act directly. While Mary Jane is poisoned and loses her child in stillbirth, the original Goblin fights Parker. The battle ends when Reilly takes a fatal wound intended for Peter. He dies and his body decomposes rapidly, confirming he was actually a clone. Peter reclaims the Spider-Man identity.[33]

Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy

[edit]
Ben Reilly as the new Jackal, from Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy #4 (Jan. 2017) by Jim Cheung.

Ben Reilly returns in the 2015 All-New, All-Different Marvel branding, where he assumes the alias of Anubis, the jackal-headed Egyptian god of death. It is revealed that Miles Warren survived the events of Maximum Clonage and resurrected Ben in a clone body. When the new body has problems with cellular degradation, Warren kills Ben and tries again. He does this many times, with Ben's memory transfer ensuring he recalls each death leading up to his stable 27th body. Traumatized by the memory of 26 deaths, Ben breaks free, defeats Warren, and decides to use his technology and operation to prevent anyone else from suffering the tragedy of death. He adopts a mask of Anubis and as the new Jackal he improves the cloning process, now seeing his new clone creations as "reanimates," continuations of the original person rather than simply copies. His reanimates seem improved in many ways but carry a latent form of a new Carrion virus in their cells.[34][35]

Publicly, Reilly uses the company New U Technologies to offer cutting edge healing and organ replacement for people, even those with terminal conditions. Peter Parker, head of Parker Industries at the time, becomes suspicious and investigates. Reilly later reveals himself and shows he has resurrected people whose deaths have caused Spider-Man guilt, all of whom now live in a neighborhood-like facility called Haven. Reilly asks Peter to join him and but the latter concludes the new Jackal is using power without considering the responsibility of his actions. A signal is activated that destabilizes the bodies of the reanimates, meaning the new airborne Carrion virus will now activate in most if not all of them. Reilly decides to let this plague spread across Earth so he can replace everyone with genetically improved reanimates, but his plan is stopped. With his own body breaking down, Reilly saves himself using New U Pills and Webware Technology, but now bears scars all over his face and body.[36][37] After a brief confrontation with the original Jackal, Ben leaves to start a new life, still believing his work was for the good of humanity.[38]

Ben Reilly: The Scarlet Spider

[edit]

Relocating to Las Vegas, the disfigured Ben is tracked down by former New U Technologies client Cassandra Mercury, owner of the Mercury Rising casino, who wants revenge for his failure to cure her daughter Abigail's terminal disease. Ben buys time by telling Cassandra he can develop a cure in exchange for a lab and resources. He lives and works in the Mercury Rising casino, identifying himself as "Peter."[39] During this time, Ben is haunted by hallucinations of his old self telling him to be more heroic and his Jackal self defending their actions. He steals a Spider-Man cosplayer's hooded costume, then later takes a copy of his original Scarlet Spider outfit from a Spider-Man fan. Operating at times as a vigilante, he uses harsher methods than before, sometimes using a gun to deliver nonlethal injuries.[40]

Kaine Parker arrives in Las Vegas, desiring Ben's death for his actions as the Jackal. Reilly argues he is trying to cure Abigail Mercury's condition, but his untested serum backfires and kills the girl. Kaine attacks, only to be seemingly killed by Death.[41] Death explains no other person has been brought back to life as often as Ben and this has corrupted his soul; one more resurrection will likely shatter his soul and sanity. She offers to restore Abigail or Kaine to life, but Ben asks her to save both and take him instead. Impressed, Death heals Kaine and Abigail and removes Ben's scars.[42] During a later battle, Ben uses excessive force and regains scarring around an eye. Death explains he is still being tested and will manifest more scars again if he engages in corrupt behavior.[43]

Some time later, Ben injects Abigail with what seems to be a blood sample from the angel Gabriel, though Abigail succumbs to her fatal disease. The demon lord Mephisto then tricks Kaine into killing Reilly.[44] However, the blood had indeed saved Abigail, but not in the form everyone thought. Abigail ascended to an angelic level of existence and decides to resurrect Ben since Mephisto overstepped his bounds by arranging the man to die earlier than he should. Ben refuses, remembering Death's warning that his soul will be shattered and he might become evil. Abigail assures him he's still a hero at heart and soon afterwards Ben awakes in a body bag in an ambulance. After escaping from the ambulance, he is confronted by Misty Beck, only for him to punch her through the stomach and exposes her true nature as an android. Ben quickly discovered that he had been driven sociopathic and he enjoyed it. He assaults Kaine and injures him, threatening him to leave Las Vegas if he survived. However, after he leaves, he breaks down in an alleyway, crying.[45]

Spider-Geddon

[edit]

During Spider-Geddon, Otto Octavius recruits Kaine to help fight the Inheritors, vampiric beings who feed on the life force of animal totems, particularly Spider heroes across reality. Overhearing that the Inheritors plan to use New U Technologies to rebuild their cloning machine to ensure they cannot die, Ben, still suffering from his evil soul, volunteers his services, wishing to prevent his technology from causing more harm.[46] Octavius begrudgingly agrees only to apparently betray Ben later, by offering him to the Inheritors in exchange for leaving other Spiders alone.[47] The Inheritor called Jennix takes Ben's life force, but also absorbs the experience of Ben's 27 deaths which drives the Inheritor insane, just as planned. Following his sacrifice and Jennix absorbing his death traumas, Octavius resurrects Ben a 28th time with his mind restored.[48]

Spider-Man Beyond

[edit]

At an unspecified point, Ben is recruited by the Beyond Corporation, taking on the mantle of Spider-Man for a second time. He takes a newly modified costume designed by Beyond into the field when Bushwacker seizes control of a building in Dallas. To assure Ben's unwavering loyalty, the Beyond corporation arrange for the prison release of Elizabeth Tyne, Ben's true love.[49] The Beyond Corporation alters Ben's memories to maintain control over him, causing him to lose his sense of responsibility.[50] The Corporation pits Ben against Peter, telling him they've built a device that can restore his memories. In the ensuing conflict, Ben is exposed to special matter-manipulating polymers that the Beyond Corporation created and disappears. Ben resurfaces months later, having deteriorated further and become unable to perceive his own face. Additionally, he is bathed in green and black energy that seems related to the shifting properties of the polymers. Donning a twisted green and purple version of his Spider-Man suit, Ben declares his old self "dead" and assumes the villainous persona of Chasm.[51]

Powers and equipment

[edit]

As Spider-Man's clone, Ben Reilly possesses proportionate spider-like abilities and traits identical to Peter Parker's, including superhuman strength, speed, reflexes, stamina, resiliency, and agility, along with the ability to cling to almost any surface granted by consciously commanding his body to do so (the process seems similar to the van der Waals force and has been described as "the ability to mentally control the flux of the inner-atomic attraction between molecular boundary layers).[52] Reilly's reflexes and stamina operate up to 40 times faster than an average person's, while his strength allows him to lift 150 times his own weight (approximate limit of 10 tons). He can leap thirty feet into the air from a standing position. Ben's superhumanly enhanced muscles, bones, and body are more resistant to injury than the average human.[53] Like Peter, Ben has a precognitive "spider-sense" warning him of incoming danger and threats, manifesting as a buzzing in the base of his skull. In battle, Ben can allow this sense to guide his reflexes to help dodge attacks.[53]

Ben possesses Peter Parker's genius-level scientific intellect with particular talents towards applied science, chemistry, biology, engineering, physics, mathematics, and mechanics. During his travels, Ben was able to spend more time improving his scientific knowledge and experience and came to surpass Peter's skill in some fields. Because Reilly was not in the role of Spider-Man for five years while traveling, and didn't engage in regular combat during his time as the Jackal, his fighting style is less polished than Parker's. Kaine notes that Reilly is more reliant on tactics rather than his physical skill and is a calculating and cunning combatant.

Like Peter Parker, Ben is armed with wrist-worn web-shooters that each holds several cartridges of "web-fluid", a chemical mixture that solidifies on exposure to air. Released from a pressurized valve, the web-fluid can (depending on the valve's adjustment) become an expanding net, a thin web-line, or an adhesive, malleable goo. Reilly's web-shooters use more advanced triggers than Parker's and include features such as "impact webbing", temporary paralysis-inducing "stingers", and "mini-dot" tracers (a smaller version of Parker's spider-tracers). Due to these advances, Reilly's web-shooters are bulkier than Parker's, so he wears them on the outside of his costumes. Like Parker, Reilly wears a belt that carries spare web-fluid cartridges.[54]

Other versions

[edit]

Marvel Zombies

[edit]

Ben Reilly is one of the heroes on the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier who survived the zombie plague. He is seen battling the zombies; however, this plan falls apart. Reilly's fate is unknown.[55]

Spider-Man: Life Story

[edit]

Spider-Man: Life Story features an alternate continuity where the characters naturally age after Peter Parker becomes Spider-Man in 1962. Miles Warren was ordered by Norman Osborn to create clones of Norman and Peter. In 1977, Norman convinced Harry to attack Miles after discovering that Warren had created a clone of Gwen as well. Harry deduces that Norman had Miles clone Peter because Norman still viewed Peter as a more worthy successor over him and blows up the containment tubes with the clones. Peter's clone was the only survivor thanks to inheriting Spider-Man's powers. However, Miles reveals that the "Gwen" Peter was with was actually her clone while the real Gwen died in the explosion. A year later, Peter and Gwen's clones rename themselves as Ben and Helen Parker (later Reilly) and move out of New York for a second chance at life. In 2006, Ben is murdered by Morlun.[56]

Spider-Man: The Clone Saga

[edit]

In September 2009, a six-issue miniseries based on the Clone Saga comics of the 1990s, titled Spider-Man: The Clone Saga, was issued. The purpose of the miniseries was to tell the story as it was initially conceived. It is a condensed version of the Clone Saga without the plot points involving Traveler, Scrier, and covers several months of a fictional time period. The first issue introduces readers to the characters Ben Reilly and Kaine, and addresses Mary Jane's pregnancy and Aunt May's hospitalization. Reilly and Parker bond after Kaine attacks them, and Reilly decides to stay in New York, pretending to be Peter's blonde-haired cousin so that he can build his own life. Reilly adopts the identity of the Scarlet Spider and begins working at the Daily Grind.[volume & issue needed]

Reilly and Parker later work with Kaine to reach the lair of the shadowy figure responsible for infecting Mary Jane and Aunt May with a deadly genetic virus. The mysterious villain is revealed to be the Jackal, who captures all three and reveals his plans to make an army of Spider-Man clones to take over the world. Since Reilly is the only stable clone, the Jackal takes a sample of his blood to perfect his cloning technique. When the Jackal reveals another stage of his plan, to clone Gwen Stacy and another unknown figure, Kaine goes berserk and breaks himself, Parker and Reilly free. During the subsequent fight, the clones dissolve and the Jackal plants the first seed of doubt over who is the original Peter Parker. After Kaine kills the Jackal, Reilly and Parker escape with the cure for Aunt May's and Mary Jane's virus. Parker retires and hands the Spider-Man identity to Reilly. Reilly spends several months in the role, while Parker gets ready to become a father. Reilly is shown as a less-polished Spider-Man and is somewhat insecure due to his relative inexperience because of his exile. Eventually, Mary Jane gives birth, Allison Mongrain kidnaps the baby, and later gives it to Kaine.[volume & issue needed]

When Reilly goes searching for the baby, he is attacked by the Green Goblin, who is revealed to be Harry Osborn and working with Kaine. Though Reilly appears to gain the upper hand in the ensuing fight, the Goblin impales him in the back with his Goblin Glider. Miraculously, Reilly survives the attack. Osborn had been plotting his revenge against Parker since his apparent heart attack. Osborn creates a clone of his father, Norman, to help him defeat Parker and Reilly; however, Norman jumps in front of Harry's Goblin Glider as it is about to hit Parker and is impaled in the back. Afterwards, Kaine returns baby May to Parker and Mary Jane, Aunt May survives and wants to help raise the child, and Ben Reilly leaves once again to travel the world and find a life for himself.[57]

"Spider-Verse"

[edit]

During the 2014 "Spider-Verse" storyline, Ben Reilly of Earth-94 was recruited into a team of multiverse Spider-Totems who were teaming up to fend off the Inheritors, who were trying to devour each and every Spider-Totem.[58] In this particular universe, Peter Parker's powers did not return, with Peter remaining in Oregon while Ben has developed into a far lighter character without the burden of Peter's past, particularly aided by the string of successes that he had as Spider-Man, including saving Marla Jameson from Alistair Smythe and preventing Doctor Octopus from taking his body.[59]

This version of Ben Reilly lead a team featuring fellow clones Kaine of Earth-616 and the Jessica Drew of Earth-1610 who are sent on a mission that requires their 'expertise' as clones of Spider-Man.[60] Their mission sends them to Earth-802, a world conquered by the Inheritors and ruled over by the Inheritor Jennix, whose efforts to clone Spider-Totems failed to clone the Spider-Essence itself. Despite their best efforts to infiltrate said world, the Spider-Clones would end up doing battle with the dimension's versions of Iron Man and the Human Torch, as well as Jennix himself, before Reilly later sacrificed himself to destroy the Inheritors' cloning facility; which they used to resurrect themselves if they fell during their trips to other worlds.[59]

Ultimate Marvel

[edit]

In Ultimate Marvel (Earth-1610), Ben Reilly is introduced as an African-American scientist who worked with Curt Connors at Empire State University. He created the Carnage organism, which he nicknames "Little Ben" Reilly after himself.[61] Reilly later works with Doctor Octopus, creating five clones of Spider-Man while employed by the CIA.

What If?

[edit]
  • What If? #30, "What If Spider-Man's Clone Had Lived?", depicts a world where, after the Jackal's bomb explodes at Shea Stadium, both Spider-Men are knocked unconscious and the clone awakens before the original. The clone, believing that he is the original Peter Parker, puts the unconscious Parker into stasis in one of the Jackal's clone-growing devices for safety and attempts to continue with life as normal. However, the clone has no memories from the time before the cell samples he had been grown from were taken, and is confused and lost in the world of the real Peter Parker. This memory gap and the discovery of the Jackal's notes on his cloning process, leads the clone to realize what he truly is. After some hesitation, he frees the real Parker in time for both of them to confront the Kingpin.[62]
  • What If? vol. 2 #86, "What If Scarlet Spider Killed Spider-Man?", gives an alternate ending of the "Clone Saga". During the time Spider-Man is under the Jackal's control, the Scarlet Spider and Spider-Man fight until there is an explosion. Ben Reilly's body is later found washed ashore and Peter Parker is believed to be dead.[63]

In other media

[edit]

Television

[edit]
Ben Reilly as he appears in Spider-Man: The Animated Series
  • Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the X-Men: The Animated Series episode "One Man's Worth".
  • Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the Fantastic Four episode "Nightmare in Green".[64]
  • Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider appears in the Spider-Man: The Animated Series two-part series finale "Spider-Wars", voiced by Christopher Daniel Barnes.[65][66][67] This version is from an alternate reality where Miles Warren created a clone of Peter Parker and altered both his and the original's memories. Unsure of whether he was the clone or not, the original changed his identity to "Ben Reilly / Scarlet Spider" in an attempt to escape the confusion. Despite eventually discovering he was the original from the start and recovering all of his memories, he ultimately chose to continue his new life. When the clone becomes Spider-Carnage and nearly succeeds in destroying the multiverse, the Beyonder and Madame Web recruit the Scarlet Spider, the "prime" Peter Parker / Spider-Man, and several of their multiversal doppelgangers to stop Spider-Carnage.
    • Additionally, Spider-Carnage appears in "Spider-Wars", also voiced by Barnes.[66][67] Hailing from the same alternate reality as the Scarlet Spider, the aforementioned clone went mad with jealousy upon learning of his true status and attempted to kill the Scarlet Spider before the Carnage symbiote emerged from an interdimensional portal, bonded to the clone, and turned him into Spider-Carnage. He nearly succeeds in destroying the multiverse, but the Beyonder and Madame Web work to stop him, as stated above. Eventually, the "prime" Parker finds a living version of Ben Parker, who convinces Spider-Carnage to stop, though the clone sacrifices himself to stop Carnage after failing to regain control from the symbiote.
  • Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider appears in the fourth season of Ultimate Spider-Man, voiced by Scott Porter.[65] This version sports Kaine Parker's facial scar, modern Scarlet Spider costume, and aggressive personality, and is a synthezoid created by Doctor Octopus using Peter Parker's DNA who possesses stingers under his arms. Throughout the season, he reluctantly works with the Web Warriors to stop Hydra and Doc Ock while hiding his allegiance with the latter. Additionally, Reilly receives his name from May Parker. Eventually, Reilly is revealed to be a mole within S.H.I.E.L.D. during the Sinister Six's attack on the Triskelion, but the Parkers appeal to his better nature, inspiring Reilly to betray his creator and fake his death while defeating the Sinister Six to work alone from the shadows. While investigating his origins however, he resurfaces and joins forces with Spider-Man to battle the imperfect synthezoid Kaine, during which Reilly learns the truth of his synthezoid origins and that he was intended to lead a team of synthezoid Spider-Slayers, which the Web Warriors eventually defeat. Sometime later, he becomes a teacher at the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy.

Film

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Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider appears in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,[2][68] voiced by Andy Samberg.[69][65] This version is a member of Miguel O'Hara's Spider-Society who serves as a parody of 1990s comic tropes and makes internal monologues. Director Joaquim Dos Santos confirmed their version of Reilly was "representing an era in comics. That's one of the key things with the character is that Ben Reilly was an era when super duper ripped characters were like the norm. Muscles on top of the muscles on top of muscles and being in positions that were not physically possible. And we were just like we really wanted to capture that."[70]

Video games

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Merchandise

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  • 1996: Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider received an action figure in Toy Biz's "Marvel OverPower Card Game – PowerSurge Invincibles" toyline.
  • 1996: Ben Reilly as Spider-Man received an action figure from Toy Biz.
  • 1997: Ben Reilly as Spider-Carnage received an action figure in Toy Biz's Spider-Man/Venom – Along Came a Spider toyline.
  • 2002: Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider received a KB Toys exclusive action figure in the Spider-Man Classics toyline.
  • 2004: Ben Reilly as Spider-Man received an action figure in Toy Biz's Spider-Man Classics.
  • 2004: Ben Reilly as Spider-Man received an action figure as part of a Kubrick / Medicom Toy five-pack.
  • 2005: Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider received an action figure in Kubrick / Medicom Toy's Marvel Super-Heroes toyline.
  • 2005: Ben Reilly as Spider-Man and Spider-Carnage received action figures from Minimates.
  • 2007: Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider received a figure from Minimates as part of a two-pack with the Hobgoblin.[72]
  • 2008: Ben Reilly in his redesigned Spider-Man suit and designated as "Scarlet Spider" received an action figure in the Marvel Legends line via the Ares Build-A-Figure series.[73]
  • 2009–2010: Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider, designated as "Ben Reilly Spider-Man", and wearing a redesigned Spider-Man suit, received figures in the Super-Hero Squad line, with the first figure being released as part of a two-pack with Bullseye while the latter was released individually and as part of a two-pack with Carnage.
  • 2016: Ben Reilly as Spider-Man and Spider-Carnage received figures in the Marvel Legends.
  • 2018: Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider received a mini-figure in Lego's Spider-Man: Web Warriors Bridge Battle set.[74]
  • 2021: Ben Reilly as Spider-Man received an action figure in Medicom Toy's Mafex toyline.[75]

Collected editions

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Title Material collected ISBN
Ben Reilly: The Scarlet Spider Vol. 1: Back in the Hood Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider #1-5 and material from Clone Conspiracy Omega #1 978-0785194583
Ben Reilly: The Scarlet Spider Vol. 2: Death's Sting Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider #6-10, Slingers (1998) #0 978-0785194590
Ben Reilly: The Scarlet Spider Vol. 3: Slingers Return Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider #10-14 978-1302911157
Ben Reilly: The Scarlet Spider Vol. 4: Damnation Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider #15-19 978-1302911164
Ben Reilly: The Scarlet Spider Vol. 5: Deal With the Devil Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider 20-25 978-1302915049

Notes

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Benjamin "Ben" Reilly, also known as the , is a fictional appearing in American comic books published by , best known as a clone of Peter Parker () created by the villain Miles Warren, aka the , as part of a scheme to destroy the original hero. Named after Peter's and Aunt May's maiden name, Reilly first appeared as an unnamed clone in #149 (October 1975), with his full identity and role as established in #117 (October 1994). Despite his artificial origins, Reilly emerges as a heroic figure grappling with questions of identity and purpose, often allying with or succeeding while adopting a red-and-blue costume reminiscent of the original's. Reilly possesses powers nearly identical to Spider-Man's, including capable of lifting up to 10 tons, a precognitive spider-sense for danger detection, enhanced agility and reflexes fifteen times that of an ordinary human, and the ability to adhere to walls through electrostatic force. He employs mechanical web-shooters that project synthetic webbing with a tensile strength of 120 pounds per square millimeter, operable up to 300 pounds per square inch of pressure and with a 60-foot range, along with a superior healing factor that allows rapid recovery from injuries. Created in the Jackal's laboratory during the storyline, Reilly initially believes himself to be the real Peter Parker after a fire destroys his "original" body, leading him to wander for five years before returning to aid against threats like the villainous clone Kaine. Throughout his history, Reilly's arc is marked by dramatic twists, including temporarily assuming the mantle of after revelations question Peter's authenticity, only to sacrifice himself to save the original from the . Resurrected by the during the 2016 The Clone Conspiracy event, he briefly turns antagonistic as part of the villain's New U Technologies initiative before redeeming himself and relocating to to operate as . In more recent developments, Reilly worked with the Beyond Corporation in a corporate-sponsored role, undergone a memory wipe and transformation into Chasm following exposure to a mutagenic psycho-reactive , was imprisoned in the Embassy, escaped to reclaim his memories in alliance with Queen , featured in the "Chasm: Curse of Kaine" storyline aiding against threats like and , impersonated Peter Parker during his absence, assumed a Superior -like role amid a narrative heel turn, and in late 2025 bonded temporarily with the Carnage symbiote as Spider-Carnage; as of November 2025, he lives with Janine Godbe in . His story explores themes of , legacy, and heroism, making him a pivotal in the mythos across major events like the and Spider-Man: The Clone Conspiracy.

Publication history

Clone Saga era

Ben Reilly was first introduced as an unnamed clone of Peter Parker in The Amazing Spider-Man #149, published in October 1975 by Marvel Comics. Created by the villainous scientist Miles Warren, known as the Jackal, the clone was engineered in response to the death of Gwen Stacy, with the intent to psychologically torment Spider-Man by mirroring his powers and memories. Written by Gerry Conway and illustrated by penciller Ross Andru, the story portrayed the clone as a tragic antagonist who ultimately sacrificed himself to save civilians during a confrontation with Spider-Man, marking it as a one-off element in the character's early mythology. This debut established the clone's identical abilities to Spider-Man's, including superhuman strength, agility, and wall-crawling. The character was revived and expanded upon during the 1994–1996 , a sprawling crossover event that unfolded across Marvel's Spider-Man titles, including , (1990 series), Spectacular Spider-Man, , and . Pitched by editor Terry Kavanagh, the storyline reintroduced the clone—now named Ben Reilly, after Peter Parker's and Aunt May's maiden name—as a long-lost figure who had spent five years in exile after being tricked by the into believing he was the duplicate. Upon his return to New York following Aunt May's hospitalization, Ben initially believed himself to be the original Peter Parker, leading to intense identity conflicts and blood tests by Dr. Seward Trainer that controversially suggested he was the true original while Peter was the clone. Key events included Ben's confrontation with Kaine, a genetically unstable earlier clone who stalked him as a harbinger of cellular decay, and the escalation of the 's experiments, which revealed a broader conspiracy involving multiple Spider-Man clones and threats to Peter's family. These plot developments positioned Ben as a central hero, adopting the identity to aid Peter while grappling with his cloned origins. The Clone Saga was helmed by a rotating creative team, with key writers including Howard Mackie, who managed major crossovers, Tom DeFalco, , and Todd Dezago, alongside artists such as and Tom Lyle, whose dynamic artwork captured the saga's high-stakes action and emotional turmoil. Originally planned as a short arc, it was extended due to its commercial success, becoming Marvel's top-selling event of the era and revitalizing the Spider-Man line amid the 1990s comics boom. Sales figures for the involved titles surged dramatically, with issues topping charts and contributing to 's status as Marvel's flagship property, though the prolongation led to eventual reader fatigue. This prominence elevated Ben Reilly from obscurity to a prominent figure in Spider-Man lore, influencing subsequent explorations of themes.

Hiatus and initial resurrection

Following the conclusion of the , Ben Reilly was killed off in #418 (December 1996), where he sacrificed himself to save Peter Parker from the villain Kaine, leading to a prolonged absence from mainline continuity. This event marked the end of Reilly's prominent role as Spider-Man, with the character entering a narrative limbo as editorial decisions shifted focus back to Peter Parker as the sole Spider-Man, sidelining clones and alternate identities for nearly two decades. During the 2000s and 2010s, Ben Reilly's potential return was frequently discussed among fans and teased in various titles, including editorial comments and story hints that kept the possibility alive without commitment. Fan campaigns, such as petitions on comic forums and letters to Marvel editors, advocated for his revival, reflecting ongoing interest in the character's arc from the era. However, these efforts did not result in a full resurrection until 2016, as Marvel prioritized other narratives like the "One More Day" storyline and Brand New Day initiative. Ben had only minor mentions in flashbacks, handbooks, and alternate reality stories during this period. Ben Reilly's initial resurrection occurred in the 2016 crossover event Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy, featured prominently in The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4. In this storyline, the Jackal (Miles Warren) revives Ben using advanced cloning technology at New U Technologies, initially positioning him as a key antagonist who manipulates resurrection schemes involving Spider-Man's loved ones.

Modern revivals and ongoing arcs

Following this event, Ben starred in his first solo series, Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider (2017–2018), written primarily by and set in , where he adopts an anti-hero persona while grappling with his cloned identity and moral ambiguities. The series explores Ben's attempts to build a new life amid criminal underworld threats, emphasizing his internal conflicts and reluctant heroism in a seedy, high-stakes environment. It ran for 25 issues before cancellation, attributed to declining sales that averaged around 20,000–30,000 copies per issue in its later months, sparking fan debates over the character's direction and potential for deeper exploration. Ben's role expanded in major Spider-Man events, including (2018), where he joins a multiversal alliance of Spider-heroes against the Inheritors, showcasing his combat prowess and sacrificial tendencies as the Scarlet Spider. This led into Spider-Man: Beyond (2021), tied to vol. 5 arcs, in which Ben assumes the Spider-Man mantle under the corporate sponsorship of the Beyond Corporation while Peter Parker is sidelined, delving into themes of and corporate exploitation through the "Vault of Spiders" subplot. These appearances integrated Ben into broader narratives, highlighting his evolving status among Spider-variants. By 2022, escalating arcs in The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 6 culminated in Ben's transformation into the villainous Chasm in issue #93, triggered by demonic influences and repeated resurrections that fracture his psyche, marking a heel turn from hero to antagonist. Recent developments in 2024 include Chasm: Curse of Kaine #1–4, a limited series where Kaine Parker hunts the corrupted Ben, reuniting the clones in a battle over their shared origins and involving Janine Godbe, Ben's former romantic interest, to explore redemption possibilities. In 2025, Ben appears in The Amazing Spider-Man #11, continuing the Superior Spider-Man legacy by impersonating Peter Parker with enhanced tech and symbiote elements, blending corporate intrigue with identity crises. Ben continued to appear in The Amazing Spider-Man (2025) series, including issues #14 and #16, further exploring his impersonation of Peter Parker and clone dynamics as of November 2025. Editorial decisions behind Ben's Chasm evolution, as stated by Marvel Executive Editor Tom Brevoort in 2025 interviews, aimed to streamline the family by elevating characters like and , reducing overlap with "yet another middle-of-the-road Spider-hero" like Ben. This shift has fueled ongoing fan discussions on reception, with for revitalizing Ben's arc but for sidelining his heroic potential in favor of villainy.

Fictional character biography

Origin and early life

Ben Reilly, originally known simply as the Spider-Man clone, was created in 1975 by the villainous geneticist Miles Warren, better known as the Jackal, using DNA harvested from Peter Parker, the original Spider-Man. This clone was engineered in Warren's New York City laboratory as part of a twisted revenge scheme following the death of Gwen Stacy, whom the Jackal obsessively loved and blamed Peter for killing. Debuting in The Amazing Spider-Man #149, written by Gerry Conway with pencils by Ross Andru, the clone was implanted with Peter's memories, leading him to initially believe he was the genuine Peter Parker displaced in time after Gwen's demise. This false identity drove the clone to adopt a heroic lifestyle, attempting to continue Spider-Man's legacy while grappling with fragmented recollections of loss and responsibility. The clone's early experiences culminated in a dramatic confrontation with the real Peter Parker, orchestrated by the Jackal at Shea Stadium to test their worthiness. There, the two Spider-Men were forced into a battle while racing to defuse a bomb strapped to reporter Ned Leeds, highlighting the clone's misguided heroism as he fought with the same agile prowess and web-slinging tactics as his progenitor. The Jackal further manipulated the scenario by subjecting Peter to a hallucinogenic drug that simulated death, prompting the clone to question his own authenticity; in a moment of clarity, the clone realized he was the duplicate when Peter survived the ordeal, affirming Peter's status as the original. Despite the revelation, the clone allied with Peter against the Jackal, contributing to the villain's apparent defeat in an explosion that also led to the clone's sacrificial plunge into the East River, where he was presumed drowned. This origin event left the clone—later named Ben Reilly in honor of Uncle Ben and Aunt May's maiden name—with profound psychological turmoil, marked by initial disorientation and a reluctant acceptance of his artificial origins. The instilled a deep-seated sense of inferiority and purpose, as Ben internalized his role as a "backup" to Peter's life, themes that would echo through his existence as he navigated the implications of being a genetic copy designed for destruction.

Exile and identity crisis

Following his creation and the traumatic realization of his status as a clone in The Amazing Spider-Man #149 (October 1975), Ben Reilly departed New York City in self-imposed exile, adopting the alias "Ben Reilly" by combining the first name of Peter Parker's Uncle Ben with the maiden name of his Aunt May. This marked the beginning of over two decades of wandering in real-world publication time (compressed to approximately five years within the story's sliding timescale), during which he traversed the globe seeking purpose away from the shadow of his genetic template. Reilly's nomadic lifestyle involved odd jobs such as science teacher, janitor, and occasional adventurer, allowing him to form fleeting relationships while steadfastly avoiding heroic out of deep-seated fears that he was an inferior duplicate unworthy of Spider-Man's legacy. In , , he found temporary stability working as a and developing a romantic bond with Janine Godbe, a seeking her own redemption, though this peace was fragile amid his underlying turmoil. Throughout his exile, Reilly endured a severe , tormented by existential doubts about his authenticity as a "copy" lacking a true soul, intensified by prophetic taunts from the degenerate clone Kaine, who stalked him as a harbinger of failure, and subtle manipulations from the , the who engineered their existence. These influences deepened his isolation, as shared memories with Peter Parker blurred the lines between original and clone, fostering growing psychological instability. In the lead-up to the Clone Saga, Reilly made subtle cameo appearances in 1980s and early 1990s Spider-Man issues, such as a shadowy drifter figure in The Amazing Spider-Man #218 (March 1982), foreshadowing his survival and mounting emotional fragility without revealing his full backstory. These teases built quiet anticipation for his eventual return, emphasizing the lingering impact of his clone origins on the broader narrative.

Return as Scarlet Spider

After five years of wandering the country in self-imposed exile, Ben Reilly made his return to New York City during the escalating Clone Saga, first appearing in a brief cameo in The Amazing Spider-Man #393 (September 1994), where he was revealed as the long-presumed-dead clone of Peter Parker. His full re-emergence occurred in Web of Spider-Man #117 (October 1994), where he confronted Peter, initially mistaken for an imposter, but soon proved his identity through shared memories and a DNA test that initially suggested Peter was the clone. To aid in the fight against emerging clone threats without usurping Peter's role, Reilly donned the Scarlet Spider costume in Web of Spider-Man #118 (November 1994), crafting it from a stolen red bodysuit, blue accents on the hands and feet, web-shooters, and a distinctive web-patterned jacket over a hooded sweatshirt with the sleeves ripped off for mobility. This attire, complete with impact webbing projectiles known as "stingers," set him apart from Spider-Man's classic look, symbolizing his unique identity as a heroic clone rather than a replacement. As , Reilly quickly established his heroism by teaming up with Peter Parker against the sinister schemes of the , the mad scientist responsible for creating him and other clones. In #400 (May 1995) and subsequent crossovers like #52-53 (December 1994-January 1995), he battled the Jackal's viral outbreaks and clone armies, saving civilians from the Carrion virus and dismantling experimental facilities that threatened the city. His alliance extended to confronting Kaine, a scarred and unstable clone with spider-powers who stalked Reilly as a rival and killer, in intense clashes depicted in Spectacular Spider-Man #222-223 (July-August 1995), where Scarlet Spider's quick thinking and web-based tactics protected Peter and exposed Kaine's murders. These team-ups across titles like #67 (November 1995) highlighted Reilly's independent role, as he rescued innocents during multi-hero confrontations with clone conspiracies, earning respect from allies like the New Warriors while proving his worth beyond his origins. The bond between Reilly and Peter deepened into a fraternal relationship amid the chaos, with Peter viewing him as a "brother" after their shared trials against the Jackal's manipulations in Peter Parker: Spider-Man #75 (September 1996), fostering mutual trust that allowed Scarlet Spider to operate as Peter's steadfast partner. Reilly's personal life intertwined with his heroism through his pre-existing romance with Janine Godbe, a he met during his travels, whose as the vigilante was later disclosed during the saga's revelations in Scarlet Spider #1-2 (November-December 1995), adding emotional depth to his vigilante pursuits without derailing his focus on clone threats. Through these events from 1994 to 1996, Scarlet Spider solidified his legacy as a distinct hero in the Clone Saga, balancing clone identity crises with proactive defense of New York.

Tenure as Spider-Man

Following the conclusion of the Clone Saga, Ben Reilly assumed the mantle of in The Sensational Spider-Man #0 (January 1996), donning a redesigned version of the classic costume after Peter Parker faked his death to shield his family from escalating threats, including those posed by . This transition allowed Reilly to step fully into the role of New York's protector, marking a pivotal shift where he became the primary hero operating under the identity. Reilly balanced his superhero duties with civilian life, taking a job as a waiter at the Daily Grind, a small coffee shop owned by Shirley Washington, where he dyed his hair blonde to further distinguish himself from Parker. During this period, he confronted a range of villains, including a resurgent Carnage in the "Web of Carnage" storyline, where Reilly teamed with Peter Parker to contain the symbiote's rampage across multiple titles such as Amazing Spider-Man #410, Spider-Man #87, Spectacular Spider-Man #242, and Sensational Spider-Man #3. He also battled Judas Traveller and his illusory Host in Spectacular Spider-Man #229-231, though these encounters tested his resolve amid ongoing identity doubts from the Clone Saga. A key moment of validation came through scientific analysis by geneticist Seward Trainer, Reilly's confidant, whose DNA tests—conducted during the "Revelations" arc—confirmed Reilly as the genetic original rather than a clone, alleviating his lingering and bolstering his confidence in the role. This revelation, though later retconned, empowered Reilly to embrace his responsibilities more fully. Reilly's tenure ended dramatically with Peter Parker's return in Spider-Man #75 (December 1996), as the two reunited to confront , now reborn as the ; in a sacrificial act, Reilly impaled himself on Osborn's glider to protect Parker and others, allowing Parker to reclaim the Spider-Man mantle.

Death and multiple resurrections

Ben Reilly's tenure as Spider-Man ended tragically in a 1996 confrontation with the (). While protecting from an exploding at the , Reilly was impaled by Osborn's glider and succumbed to his injuries in Peter Parker's arms. His body rapidly degenerated into ash, a hallmark of unstable that confirmed his artificial origins despite his prior belief in being the original Peter Parker. For nearly two decades, Reilly remained deceased in the , but the Jackal's obsessive cloning experiments brought him back in the 2016 "Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy" event. The Jackal, seeking to perfect resurrection technology through his New U Technologies corporation, had secretly cloned Reilly 27 times since his death, implanting memories and using each iteration for testing. These repeated cycles of creation, life, and destruction caused severe cellular degeneration in the clones, leading to premature aging and failure; Reilly's consciousness endured the trauma across bodies, fostering deep psychological scars and a fractured sense of self. In the storyline's climax, the 27th clone—indistinguishable from the original and implanted with full memories—initially served as the Jackal's enforcer, helping unleash a clone army and the deadly Carrion Virus on to advance the resurrection scheme. However, Reilly rebelled against his creator, allying with Peter Parker and other heroes to dismantle New U and contain the virus outbreak. Despite his redemption, he sacrificed himself once more, perishing in the ensuing battle and reinforcing the disposability of clones in the Jackal's twisted vision.

Transformation into Chasm

Following a series of traumatic resurrections that eroded his sense of self, Ben Reilly's mental instability intensified, culminating in his corruption into the villainous persona known as Chasm during the events of (vol. 6) #1–10 (2022). This breakdown was triggered by exposure to psycho-reactive goo during an explosion at the Beyond Corporation's headquarters, where Reilly had been manipulated into confronting Peter Parker in a desperate bid to restore his fragmented memories. The substance, a volatile experimental material, interacted catastrophically with Reilly's clone physiology, amplifying his psychological fractures and twisting his heroic impulses into rage-fueled antagonism. As Chasm, Reilly's powers evolved dramatically, granting him the ability to manipulate the psycho-reactive goo into extensible tendrils for and restraint, alongside inducing vivid hallucinations that tormented both himself and his opponents. His spider-sense, previously defensive, became offensively proactive, allowing him to preemptively lash out at perceived threats with enhanced aggression. These abilities, combined with his pre-existing , agility, and wall-crawling, positioned Chasm as a formidable adversary capable of projecting light-energy constructs from the goo for ranged attacks. Driven by deep-seated resentment toward Peter Parker for what he perceived as abandonment of the clones—exacerbated by years of identity crises and repeated deaths—Chasm sought vengeance against the family. This villainy was part of a broader at to reposition Reilly as an antagonist, thereby creating space for other Spider-heroes like and () in the spotlight, as confirmed by executive editor Tom Brevoort in 2025. Chasm's rampage included brutal clashes with Peter Parker and his brother clone Kaine, whom he viewed as extensions of Parker's legacy, during incursions into and . The immediate aftermath saw Chasm allying briefly with (the Goblin Queen) in the "" crossover, escalating his threats before his defeat by a coalition of the , , and Pryor herself, who reclaimed a demonic artifact empowering him. Subdued and stripped of his amplified influence, Chasm was imprisoned at the Limbo Embassy in , where subtle hints of suggested potential paths toward redemption.

Recent adventures

In the 2024 miniseries Chasm: Curse of Kaine, Ben Reilly, operating as the villainous Chasm, becomes the target of his clone brother , who is determined to hunt him down amid escalating tensions within the Spider-Man clone family. The story delves into the corrupting influence of Chasm's demonic persona on Reilly, raising questions about whether he can be redeemed or if a greater external force is manipulating him, ultimately leading to a climactic confrontation that tests their fraternal bonds and shared origins as Peter Parker clones. Reilly's arc continued into 2025 with his appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #11, where he impersonates Peter Parker in New York City while the real Parker is stranded in space, employing a newly revealed "Clone Sense" ability to detect Parker's survival despite multiple near-death experiences. Adopting a more ruthless, Superior Spider-Man-inspired approach to vigilantism, Reilly metes out justice against various threats in New York City, showcasing a partial shift toward heroism as he steps up to protect the city in Parker's absence. Reilly's impersonation continues in The Amazing Spider-Man #14 (October 2025), where he takes a job at Rand Industries and reunites with Janine Godbe amid threats to Norman Osborn, including a Spider-Slayer incursion. In #16 (November 2025), his activities intersect with emerging supervillains in crosscutting narratives involving characters like Tombstone and Aunt May, further developing his internal conflicts and partial heroic turn. These developments align with Marvel's late 2024 announcement of team-ups involving Reilly, Kaine Parker, and Janine Godbe (Hallow's Eve) in broader Spider-Verse narratives, emphasizing his ongoing struggles with clone identity and potential full redemption as of November 2025.

Powers and abilities

Powers

Ben Reilly, as a genetically engineered clone of Peter Parker (), possesses an identical array of abilities derived from the same irradiated spider bite that empowered his . These powers grant him peak human potential amplified to levels, enabling him to perform feats comparable to Spider-Man's during his tenure as the and briefly as himself. Reilly's superhuman strength allows him to lift approximately 10 tons under optimal conditions, sufficient to overpower most opponents or hurl large vehicles with ease. Complementing this is his superhuman speed, which enables him to move at velocities far exceeding those of an ordinary , often blurring his form during rapid dashes. His agility and reflexes are similarly enhanced; Reilly's tendons and connective tissues are twice as elastic as an average person's, allowing extraordinary flexibility and acrobatic maneuvers, while his reaction time operates up to 15 times faster than normal, permitting him to dodge bullets and evade high-speed threats. In terms of durability, Reilly's body is far more resilient than a typical human's, with tissues and bones that withstand significant physical trauma without fracturing or tearing easily. He also benefits from an accelerated healing factor, recovering from injuries such as cuts, bruises, and even broken bones in hours or days rather than weeks. A key sensory ability is his "spider-sense," a precognitive tingling that alerts him to imminent danger from any direction, enhancing his already superior reflexes and allowing instinctive evasion of attacks. Additionally, Reilly can adhere to most surfaces via a bio-electrostatic force generated by his body, enabling wall-crawling and ceiling traversal without mechanical aid. Like , Reilly's powers come with inherent limitations, including vulnerability to sonic frequencies that can overload and disrupt his spider-sense, temporarily impairing his danger detection and reflexes. His clone physiology, while stable, does not confer immunity to these weaknesses, making him susceptible to the same tactical exploits that challenge Peter Parker.

Abilities and equipment

Ben Reilly is a highly skilled hand-to-hand combatant, rated 4 out of 7 in fighting ability on the Marvel power scale, drawing from the cloned memories and experiences of Peter Parker while refining his techniques through years of personal challenges. His background as a professor further honed his strategic thinking, enabling him to outmaneuver intelligent adversaries like and the in tactical scenarios. As the , Reilly's signature costume featured a web-patterned red jacket over a black , equipped with mechanical stingers in the web-shooters designed for non-lethal takedowns via delivery. During his tenure as , he adopted a lightly modified version of the classic red-and-blue suit to continue web-slinging operations seamlessly. Reilly's standard equipment includes mechanical web-shooters mounted on his wrists, which project adhesive web fluid with a tensile strength of 120 pounds per square millimeter, capable of supporting his weight over distances exceeding 60 feet and dissolving after one to two hours. He also employs spring-loaded spider-tracers, small red devices that attach to targets and transmit location data via his spider-sense frequency for tracking purposes. Among his innovations are impact webbing, which deploys as explosive pellets to ensnare foes on contact, and webbing, fired from stingers to deliver fast-acting for subdued captures. In his transformation into Chasm, Reilly's capabilities are augmented by psycho-reactive goo, which he manipulates into demonic-like tendrils for extended reach in combat and the creation of illusions through associated magical properties derived from energies.

Other versions

Alternate realities

In the reality (Earth-2149), Ben Reilly exists as the , a clone of Peter Parker who survived the initial plague longer than most heroes. He is shown aboard the S.H.I.E.L.D. as part of the resistance led by , fighting to contain the infection that has transformed superheroes into flesh-eating undead. However, Reilly ultimately succumbs to the virus, becoming a zombified version of himself and participating in invasion of other universes, where seek to spread their curse. The 2021 miniseries Spider-Man: Life Story presents an aged Ben Reilly in Earth-19529, set against a real-time aging timeline mirroring key eras of Spider-Man's history from the to the . In this continuity, Reilly, having taken over as after Peter Parker loses his powers in the 1990s, operates as the "Red Mask" vigilante during the 2000s amid events like Civil War. Captured by , who seeks to exploit his cloning origins, Reilly escapes and sacrifices himself to protect Peter from the vampire , dying in the process and publicly revealing Peter's secret identity. During the 2014–2015 Spider-Verse event, a variant of Ben Reilly from Earth-94 is recruited by Spider-UK (Billy Braddock) into the Spider-Army to combat the Inheritors, a family of reality-hopping predators targeting Spider-Totems across the multiverse. In this universe, Reilly assumed the Spider-Man mantle after the original Peter Parker's powers faded, adopting a more optimistic and supportive persona while retaining his clone heritage. He later reappears in the 2018 Spider-Geddon storyline, aiding in the defense against a new Inheritor threat alongside other Spider-heroes. The 2009–2010 miniseries Spider-Man: The Clone Saga offers a condensed retelling of Ben Reilly's origin in a modern context, streamlining the controversial storyline into six issues. Here, Reilly returns as the after years in hiding, confronting Peter Parker amid the Jackal's experiments and the emergence of Kaine, a failed clone. The narrative explores Reilly's and heroism, affirming him as the genuine successor to 's legacy without the extended soap-opera elements of the original saga, ultimately positioning him as a key ally in resolving the clone conspiracy. In the MC2 reality (Earth-982), Ben Reilly is Peter Parker's clone and serves as the uncle to May "Mayday" Parker, who becomes . In this future timeline, Reilly has assumed the role of after Peter retires, mentoring May and influencing her decision to become a hero. May initially dons Reilly's version of the Spider-Man costume and web-shooters in her early adventures.

What If? scenarios

The "What If?" comic series has featured Ben Reilly in several hypothetical tales that diverge from key moments in Spider-Man history, particularly those tied to his origins as a clone and his role during the . These stories often probe deeper into themes of , the blurred line between original and duplicate, and the potential for Ben to serve as Peter's permanent successor, offering contrasts to the main continuity where Ben's existence is temporary and fraught with tragedy. In What If? #30 (December 1981), the narrative reimagines the conclusion of the original 1970s Clone Saga from The Amazing Spider-Man #149, where Peter's clone—later retroactively established as Ben Reilly—survives the rooftop bomb explosion instead of perishing. Knocked unconscious by Peter during their battle atop a building rigged with explosives by the Jackal, the clone is placed in suspended animation by the villain but awakens three years later, disoriented and convinced he is the original Peter Parker. Struggling with fragmented memories and the realization of his cloned nature, he investigates the Jackal's abandoned lab, confirming his artificial origins while evading threats like the Kingpin. The clone eventually rescues the real Peter from cryogenic stasis and, after a tense confrontation, the two reconcile, agreeing to alternate as Spider-Man on a weekly schedule to share the burden of heroism. This early variant explores the "death scenario" retelling by averting the clone's demise, allowing for a cooperative dynamic that underscores themes of shared identity and mutual legitimacy, unlike the main continuity's fatal outcome that delayed clone exploration until the 1990s. What If? Vol. 2 #86 (June 1996), subtitled "What If Killed ?", presents an alternate take on the "" storyline from the 1990s , positioning Ben Reilly as Peter's tragic successor in a symbiote-influenced timeline. During a chaotic confrontation at a Super-Adaptoid power plant, a mind-controlled Peter—empowered by Jackal's manipulations—threatens Mary Jane and their infant daughter May, forcing Ben, in his guise, to drop heavy machinery on him, resulting in Peter's death. Ben survives the ensuing explosion, his costume in tatters, and is mistaken for Peter by authorities and loved ones due to their identical appearances. Over the next three years, Ben fully assumes Peter's life as , raising May (who develops a rare blood condition), working as a photographer for the , and battling major threats including the symbiote-driven chaos of , where he confronts Carnage and other villains alongside allies like supporting cast members. When the kidnaps May to exploit her blood for a serum, Ben defeats him and saves her, but Mary Jane eventually uncovers the deception through subtle inconsistencies in Ben's behavior. She urges him to abandon the masquerade and embrace his own identity, leading Ben to depart for a solo path. This scenario amplifies the theme of Ben as the "real" Peter, with him thriving in the role long-term amid symbiote-related perils, in stark contrast to main continuity where Peter survives, Ben briefly succeeds him, and ultimately dies to restore the status quo.

Ultimate Universe

In the original Ultimate Marvel imprint's Ultimate Spider-Man series (2000–2010), Ben Reilly had no direct equivalent or clone storyline, as the narrative focused on Peter Parker's origin without replicating the Earth-616 clone saga elements. The 2024 relaunch of the Ultimate Universe (Earth-6160) introduced the name Ben Reilly in Ultimate Spider-Man #10, where it serves as a pseudonym adopted by Ben Parker—J. Jonah Jameson's adoptive son and journalistic partner—for anonymous reporting in their underground newspaper, The Paper. Ben Parker and Jameson use the alias to publish exposés on corporate corruption, such as Oscorp's covert alliances with Stane/Stark Industries, shielding their identities in a dystopian world reshaped by the Maker (the Ultimate Reed Richards). This iteration positions "Ben Reilly" in an antagonistic dynamic against the Maker's authoritarian regime, as the reporting undermines the controlled societal order and invites retaliation from figures like Wilson Fisk (Kingpin). Unlike the heroic clone of Peter Parker in the main continuity, this Ben Reilly lacks any superhuman elements or explicit ties to Spider-Man's legacy, functioning instead as a symbolic tool for resistance journalism that contrasts the original character's spider-themed vigilantism. In Ultimate Spider-Man #15, the pseudonym's use escalates the conflict when Kingpin, seeking to silence The Paper, orchestrates the global murder of individuals named Ben Reilly, turning the alias into a chilling emblem of the regime's brutality and forcing Parker and Jameson into deeper peril. The reimagining has been praised for injecting intrigue into the Ultimate Spider-Verse by subverting expectations of a clone narrative, instead leveraging the name to explore themes of truth-seeking and oppression without mirroring Earth-616's clone dynamics.

In other media

Television and animation

Ben Reilly made his animated television debut in Spider-Man: The Animated Series (1994–1998), appearing as the in the two-part series finale "I Really, Really Hate Clones" and "Farewell, " (season 5, episodes 12–13), which aired on January 31, 1998. Voiced by , who also provided the voice for the series' primary , Reilly is portrayed as a clone from an alternate reality who initially believes himself to be the original Peter Parker. In the storyline, he teams up with the prime-universe and multiversal variants to combat Spider-Carnage, a malevolent clone of Peter Parker bonded with the Carnage symbiote, who plans to annihilate all realities using a matter-disintegrator device. Reilly aids in the battle by leading an army of Spider-clones against Spider-Carnage's forces and briefly assumes the mantle after the original is incapacitated, ultimately perishing in a to seal the villain in a portal, though his survival is implied. Reilly returned in a supporting capacity in Ultimate Spider-Man (2012–2017), with Scott Porter voicing the character across multiple episodes starting in season 3 (2015). Depicted as a synthezoid clone engineered by Doctor Octopus as a spy for the Sinister Six, Reilly—named Ben after Aunt May's suggestion—initially harbors resentment toward Spider-Man but redeems himself during the "Hydra Attacks" arc (season 4, episodes 1–3, 2016). He assists Spider-Man against Doctor Octopus and the Jackal's cloning schemes, later confronting Kaine, a degenerated clone assassin, in the "Spider-Slayers" storyline (season 4, episodes 20–22, 2016), where he helps dismantle an army of synthetic Spider-Slayers.) This portrayal draws loose inspiration from comic cloning narratives, positioning Reilly as a reluctant ally who joins the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy and contributes to team efforts without a prolonged solo stint. Like his earlier appearance, the role shares vocal ties to Spider-Man variants, though Porter's performance emphasizes a brooding, conflicted tone distinct from the lead. Ben Reilly appears as in the animated film (2023), voiced by . He is portrayed as a cheerful, somewhat naive clone of Peter Parker from Earth-94, serving as a member of Miguel O'Hara's Spider-Society and assisting in the mission to capture . Since the conclusion of Ultimate Spider-Man in 2017, Ben Reilly has featured in major animated film roles, such as in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023), highlighting his clone identity and supportive heroism.

Film

Ben Reilly has not yet appeared in any live-action films as of 2025. In Sony's Spider-Man Universe, elements of Reilly's comic origins are indirectly teased through references to Dr. Miles Warren, the mad scientist known as the Jackal who created him as a clone of Peter Parker. The character is name-dropped multiple times in Kraven the Hunter (2024), where Warren is portrayed as a shadowy geneticist aiding the film's antagonists, setting up potential Clone Saga storylines without featuring Reilly himself. This nod aligns with the Jackal's role in the 1990s comics where he engineers Reilly and other Spider-Man clones. No portrayals of Reilly exist in Marvel Cinematic Universe films, including minor references in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). Future appearances remain unconfirmed, though industry commentary has speculated on his potential to revitalize Sony's villain-focused franchise.

Video games and merchandise

Ben Reilly, as the , has appeared in several video games, primarily through costumes and alternate character representations inspired by his comic book persona. In the 2010 title Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, developed by , the Scarlet Spider costume—modeled after Reilly's iconic red-and-blue design—is unlockable and playable for the Amazing Spider-Man character across multiple levels, allowing players to experience his web-slinging abilities in a multiverse-spanning narrative. The 2018 game Marvel's , published by and developed by , features the suit as one of 30 unlockable costumes for protagonist Peter Parker, directly referencing Ben Reilly's Clone Saga-era appearance with its hooded red bodysuit and web-pattern accents; the suit is obtained through in-game progression and enhances gameplay with standard Spider-Man mechanics. While no direct boss or villain role for Reilly appears in the base game or DLC, the suit nods to his legacy as a operating in Peter's shadow. In Marvel's Spider-Man 2 (2023), also from , Ben Reilly does not appear as a playable character or major , though fan discussions highlight interest in potential future DLC incorporating his or Chasm forms from recent comics; post-game content focuses on other variants without explicit Reilly ties. Merchandise featuring Ben Reilly has spanned action figures, collectibles, and apparel, reflecting his enduring appeal from the 1990s to modern reboots. released figures in the line during the 2017 SP//dr wave, depicting Reilly in his classic red suit with articulated posing and web accessories, as part of a broader assortment that celebrated characters. Earlier 1990s representations, tied to the , included boxed sets like the 1997 Toy Biz Maximum Clonage collection with a figure alongside and Ben Reilly variants, capturing the era's storyline hype. Funko has produced vinyl collectibles of the , including a 2020 release in their Pop! series that portrays Ben Reilly in his signature hooded costume, standing approximately 3.75 inches tall and packaged for display; this figure became a staple for Marvel enthusiasts seeking memorabilia. Apparel lines have also embraced Reilly's design, with offering collections in 2024 that include Ben Reilly-inspired T-shirts featuring comic panels of the in action, available in various sizes for casual fan wear. As of 2025, new merchandise ties into recent comic developments, such as Hasbro's figures linked to the Ultimate Universe's reimagining of Reilly as a variant akin to Ben Parker in storylines, featuring updated sculpts with interchangeable parts for web-shooting effects. Additionally, figures inspired by the Chasm: Curse of Kaine miniseries (2024–2025), where Reilly transforms into the villainous Chasm, include a 2023 Marvel Legends Retro Collection release with purple tendril details, extended into 2025 waves with comic-accurate accessories from the Kaine-focused narrative. The costume has gained notable traction in cosplay communities, with its bold red design and hooded silhouette proving popular at conventions; replicas often incorporate practical web-shooter props and have seen increased demand following comic reboots, though specific sales data remains proprietary to costume retailers.

Collected editions

Key trade paperbacks

Key trade paperbacks collecting stories featuring Ben Reilly, particularly those centered on his role as the or in clone-related arcs, provide accessible entry points into his character history. These volumes repackage his major appearances from the 1990s Clone Saga through modern revivals, available in both print and digital formats via Marvel's official channels and retailers. The foundational Clone Saga storyline, introducing Ben Reilly as Spider-Man's clone and eventual Scarlet Spider, is collected in Spider-Man: The Complete Clone Saga Epic Book 1 (2010 trade paperback, reprinted 2016 and 2017), which gathers over 400 pages including Web of Spider-Man #117-119, Amazing Spider-Man #394, Spider-Man #51-53, Spectacular Spider-Man #217, Spider-Man: The Lost Years #0-3, and material from Spider-Man Unlimited #7, emphasizing Reilly's five-year absence and return. Earlier printings of select arcs existed, but the comprehensive editions restore the saga as originally intended. These volumes highlight the controversial narrative where Reilly briefly assumes the mantle. In the modern era, Amazing Spider-Man: Dead No More - The Clone Conspiracy (2017 trade paperback) revives Reilly as a central antagonist under Jackal's influence, collecting Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #19-24, Clone Conspiracy #1-5, Clone Conspiracy Omega #1, and tie-ins like Silk (2015) #14-17, where he orchestrates a resurrection scheme involving cloned heroes. This arc explores Reilly's moral descent and ties back to his clone origins. Following this, the Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider series is compiled in Volumes 1-5 (2017-2020), with Vol. 1: Back in the Hood gathering issues #1-5 and Clone Conspiracy Omega material, depicting Reilly's anti-hero struggles in Las Vegas. Vol. 2: Death's Sting (#6-10), Vol. 3: The Slingers Return (#11-14, Annual #1), Vol. 4: Damnation (#15-18), and Vol. 5: Deal with the Devil (#19-25) continue his redemption arc, teaming him with reformed teen heroes while battling personal demons. These trades focus on Reilly's solo adventures post-resurrection. More recent collections include (2019 trade paperback), which features Reilly among a multiversal Spider-army fighting the Inheritors, collecting the #0-5 and Vault of Spiders #1-2. His role underscores his enduring place in the Spider-family. The Chasm arc appears in Amazing Spider-Man by Vol. 4: (2023 trade paperback), compiling Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #15-18, #1, and Dark Web: Finale #1, where a corrupted Reilly as Chasm allies with against . A dedicated Chasm collection, Chasm: Curse of Kaine (2025 trade paperback), covers his ongoing clone conflicts and demonic influences as of November 2025. These volumes prioritize Ben-centric narratives, offering print editions through comic shops and digital access via .

Hardcovers and omnibuses

Several deluxe hardcover editions and omnibuses collect Ben Reilly's key appearances, offering collectors comprehensive compilations of his arcs from the onward. The Spider-Man: Omnibus Vol. 1, originally released in 2016 (new printing 2024), gathers 1,240 pages of material from 1994-1996, including Ben Reilly's debut as the and the ensuing with Peter Parker, featuring remastered artwork and bonus content for a premium reading experience. The Spider-Man: Ben Reilly Omnibus Vol. 1, published in 2019 (new printing 2023), compiles 1,304 pages of Reilly's tenure as Spider-Man in the late 1990s, spanning The Amazing Spider-Man #400-416 and related titles, with high-quality production aimed at fans seeking the full narrative of his heroic struggles and revelations. A second volume covers additional 1996-1997 stories. Subsequent omnibuses extend coverage into Reilly's resurrections and multiversal roles. The Spider-Verse/Spider-Geddon Omnibus (2023) collects 1,440 pages of 2014-2018 events, featuring Reilly's participation as Scarlet Spider against the Inheritors, emphasizing cross-dimensional threats in a lavish edition for enthusiasts. Looking ahead, the Dark Web Omnibus (2025) focuses on Chasm, Reilly's demonic alter ego, compiling 792 pages from Amazing Spider-Man runs and crossovers like Dark Web, tying into his psychological descent and alliances with figures such as , with premium binding for in-depth exploration. These editions, typically exceeding 500 pages, prioritize archival quality and narrative depth, catering to dedicated readers who value exhaustive collections over entry-level formats.

References

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