Spider-Man is consistently Marvel’s most profitable character, but Peter Parker isn’t the only one who’s donned the suit. While Miles Morales is the second most well-known Spider-Man, before him, the other main hero was Peter Parker’s original clone, Ben Reilly. Created by the villain Jackal way back in Amazing Spider-Man #149 (1962), Ben was initially believed to have died, but he returned with a new identity during the complicated “Clone Saga.” He even briefly became the main Spider-Man, though he’s better known as the Scarlet Spider. More recently, he’s been operating under the name Chasm.
Working for the Beyond Corporation shattered Ben’s mind, erasing his memories and personality, and turning him into a shadow of his former self. Once a lesser-known but capable Marvel hero, he became a full-fledged villain, even leading a demonic attack on New York during the “Dark Web” storyline. His descent into villainy felt unearned and was a letdown for fans. Just when he seemed to be recovering, Marvel pulled him back into his villainous ways. It’s time for Marvel to finally give Ben a proper resolution.
Almost Redeemed, But Never Happy
After months of being trapped in Limbo, Ben managed to escape and became even more determined to recover his lost memories. During his journey, he rescued Peter after a transformation into the Spider-Goblin. He teamed up with Kaine to defeat the villainous Eternal Druig and battled to prevent Mole Man from invading the surface world. When Peter was unexpectedly sent far across the galaxy, Ben saw an opportunity to both live the life he’d always dreamed of and help his brother. He decided to pretend to be Peter, promising to maintain his life until Peter could return.
Ben wasn’t very convincing as Peter, particularly when he distanced himself from friends and ignored Mary Jane’s attempts to get back in touch, but he managed to keep things going. When he discovered Norman pretending to be Spider-Man, he immediately intervened, believing Norman was damaging Peter’s reputation. Ben proved he cared about Peter, even if his motives for impersonating him weren’t purely selfless – he genuinely tried to act as Peter would. It seemed like Ben was successfully leaving his villainous ways behind and becoming a complex, if somewhat flawed, hero. However, unexpectedly, he abruptly decided to stop pretending to be Peter.
Peter came home to a chaotic life and a note suggesting something was wrong with Aunt May. This immediately angered him, and he lashed out at Ben, who seemed unconcerned. It felt like a betrayal, especially after Ben had previously worked so hard to protect Peter. While Ben was glad to see Peter return, he also blamed Peter for the breakdown of his own relationships, revealing he’d ignored Peter’s friends for months. Although Ben isn’t necessarily a villain, this incident showed he’s still far from the person he used to be.
The Confusing Mess of a Cloned Character
Look, as a viewer, I’m really struggling with where Marvel is taking Ben Reilly. While he’s grown and become his own man, fundamentally, he is Peter Parker – same DNA, same core values instilled by Aunt May and Uncle Ben. The issue isn’t that he’s different, it’s that those foundational memories are messed up, causing him to act so strangely. But honestly, the story choices feel baffling. Peter has repeatedly shown he’s a hero through and through, yet Marvel just keeps piling on the negativity without offering any real redemption or growth. It’s frustrating to watch a character with so much potential constantly be held down.
It’s become a running joke how much Spider-Man struggles, but Ben Reilly seems to consistently get the worst of it. His life is always a mess, and writers frequently put him through intense mental and physical hardship. To make matters worse, he’s repeatedly denied the chance to fully embrace the heroic role he’s worked so hard to earn. Just when things were looking up, Marvel took away his heroism once again. Ben claims he’s finally free to define himself, but the person he always strived to be feels lost and distant.
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2026-03-02 22:16