.In Ben Reilly: Spider-Man # 1, The Clone of Peter Parker Takes Up The Spider-Mantle.

Written by: J.M DeMatteis. Art by: David Baldeon.

*CONTAINS SPOILERS*

Ben Reilly is a complex character. Since his first official appearance as a major supporting player in Spider-Man #51 (October 1994), he has constantly wrestled with the question “Who am I really?”. Broken memories fill his mind as he tries to put the pieces together. Insecurities about being a clone of Peter Parker, also known as Spider-Man, have loomed over him as he’s tried to build his own life. We’ve seen Ben been put through the ringer for decades: from an unnamed, seemingly one-off adversary of the Webhead created by the Jackal (The Amazing Spider-Man #149, October 1975), to traveling the world searching for the key to unlocking his freedom, to becoming The Scarlet Spider, being led to believe he is NOT the clone, to becoming Spider-Man himself, dying, being resurrected in typical comic book fashion, the list goes on and on. Although the infamous The Clone Saga (1994-1996) is looked at today as a polarizing piece of the flagship wall crawler’s mythos, Ben has stood out as the crowned jewel of the storyline. 

In Ben Reilly: Spider-Man #1, we find ourselves back in 1996 after Ben has officially claimed the title of Spider-Man. Aunt May has passed. Peter and Mary Jane Watson have left New York City for Portland to prepare for a new phase of their lives. Ben is now left in a familiar scenario: he’s alone. Wandering the streets of New York City, he comes across J. Jonah Jameson who is convinced he’s Peter Parker. This scene is the epitome of Ben Reilly: trying to carve out his own place in the world, only to be torn down by someone mistaking him for his “brother”.  As Ben returns home and reflects on the craziness of the last few years, a news segment on television describes a series of murders that have been dubbed “The First Date Murders” and that an old foe named Carrion has escaped the Ravencroft Institute. Ben suits up and reflects internally on how donning the mask and webs are the only time he feels comfortable in his own skin. That swinging above the skyscrapers of New York is where he finds meaning and purpose. It’s a mirror to Peter’s feelings on being Spider-Man as the numerous times he felt that Spidey was a burden in his life. As Ben arrives to a graveyard where Carrion is fending off police officers, he attempts to help Malcolm McBride, Carrion’s alter ego, by pleading with him to show him what’s causing his pain. As Malcolm gives Ben a look inside his mind, he finds feelings all too familiar in his own life: grief and trauma. Feelings that Ben is afraid to confront within himself. Dr. Ashley Kafka arrives to take McBride back to the Institute where he’ll be treated to rid himself of the Carrion persona. Although there are members of the Ravencroft staff that are seemingly success stories to this kind of treatment, Ben is skeptical. His own insecurities leave him with a wall large and thick enough to find this sort of treatment only temporary. Denying treatment from Dr. Kafka, Ben returns to his life as a barista at the Daily Grind, striking up a friendly conversation with a regular customer. Later that evening, as the “First Date Murders” still run rampant and Ben wonders if forming relationships with anybody is worth it, he is interrupted by an unwanted houseguest. 

It was truly awesome to read a book about Ben Reilly set during such a tumultuous time in the Spider-Man canon. J. M. DeMatteis sets the tone for an interesting character driven story as Ben continues to question his life and how he will rid himself of the pain he’s been burdened with his entire existence. David Baldeon’s artwork transports you back to the 1990’s while at the same time providing something modern and exciting. A Spider-Man story is at its best when it’s not only providing excellent action sequences but also deep diving into the psyche of its cast and this ticks all those boxes from page one. This is a great first issue that sets the stage for a fascinating and tangled look into one of Spider-Man’s greatest characters.