Ben Reilly Scarlet Spider #8 Discussion/Spoilers

[MetalWoman]

Things are looking up for Ben, until they are not.
spoilers:

Ben and Kaine discuss the event's of issue 7, until Kaine swings away in a jealous rage over Ben getting a cosmic reward despite his crimes. Ben looks forward to things getting back to normal, until Secret Empire happens off page and Ben is left contemplating a devastated Las Vegas while Kaine beats up some thugs giving the vet he met in issue 6 a hard time. Meanwhile, Cassandra Mercury's brother tells Hornet that Cassandra has a caravan of food coming into the city that she is keeping from the desperate people of Las Vegas, when in truth she has turned her casino into a shelter and is using the food to feed the people there. Ben's research into Abigail's disease turns up a promising lead in the form of a doctor named Sheldon Sanders. When he reports this to Cassandra he learns of Hornet's attack on the food caravan and intervenes. The fight goes poorly, and in the end Ben is saved by Ricochet, who is looking into Hornet's identity.

end of spoilers
The interaction between Ben and Kaine remains one of the best things about the book. They seem to be masters of getting under each other's skins and calling each other on their crap. I like the idea of Ben and Kaine being brothers who fight all the time, but have each other's backs in the end.

I googled the name of the doctor Ben is looking for, but could not find anything, so he is likely a new character.

Finally, am I the only one who sees nothing different about Ben's hair despite Abigail's comment about him changing it? I wonder if he was supposed to have gone blonde, but the colorist messed up.

Metal Woman

[Huntsman Spider]

I'm just happy spoilers:

Kaine didn't die (again).

end of spoilers

[Pav]

So. Good.

-Pav, who has some nitpicks but like C'MON GUYS WHAT MORE IS THERE?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

[Michael Watkins]

i'll continue reading for the Slingers. not a fan of Kaine. how many edgy Spider-men do we need?

[SuperiorIronman]

i'll continue reading for the Slingers. not a fan of Kaine. how many edgy Spider-men do we need?

How many are actually considered edgy?

[Kurolegacy]

i'll continue reading for the Slingers. not a fan of Kaine. how many edgy Spider-men do we need?

Isn't that a question for like 4 years ago when Superior was still a thing? At this point, Kaine's edginess is what makes him unique among the Spider-Men.

[Michael Watkins]

How many are actually considered edgy?

enough to bother me, clearly.

[Aioros22]

Peter isn`t edgy. Superior was one long arc. Ben can be but it`s more existencial crisis. Kaine is the consistant edgy Spider of the bunch.

Cool setups. Ben and Kaine`s interaction was pretty good and straight to the point and I enjoyed looking at the Slingers altho I never warned up to the Hornet much. "Hornet Sting" is green pal!

And yeah I think the colorist messed up because Ben`s doesn`t look different. Will be interesting to see if they fix it next issue and subquently for a trade release.

[Outlaw22]

Will Sliney art is awesome.

[Thievery]

Another sold book in my opinion. I'm most happy that Kaine is alive. I didn't realize that this story took place after Vegas was wrecked in Secret Empire.

Are the Slingers meant to be adults now? Ricochet looked pretty muscular like an adult.

[classicgmer]

Another sold book in my opinion. I'm most happy that Kaine is alive. I didn't realize that this story took place after Vegas was wrecked in Secret Empire.

Are the Slingers meant to be adults now? Ricochet looked pretty muscular like an adult.

They've been adults since they were first introduced since they were all going to college.

[Scott Taylor]

Great book, love the brother thing with Kaine and Ben. I can just see them sitting at the dinner table:

"He got more potatoes than me!"
"No I didn't!" throws peas

[Thievery]

They've been adults since they were first introduced since they were all going to college.

Ah, thanks. For some reason I thought they were in high school and not collage.

[Pav]

Man, what a great week for comics! Iron Fists put out its best issue yet, I think, and Spider-Gwen was also pretty okay.

And, of course, our current issue here.

As I said before: So. Good.

Here's what I liked:

1) Kaine laughing, and Ben's response to it is fantastic. Great work by PAD there; his writing of Ben and Kaine together has been entertaining as all get out.

2) The cocky pose that Hornet is in when we are (re-)introduced to him. If he really is Eddie back from the dead, it harkens back to his lack of confidence in life - except for when he's the high-flying Hornet!

3) This is more of a wonder than a like, really: what's the deal with the doctor that Ben works with? Dr. Ryder? That can't be a coincidence. I don't trust the dude: looks too much like Miles Warren hahaha

4) Seeing Ben break the desk when he got excited. That's a total Peter Parker move. Another good bit of characterization from PAD.

5) NEW LOVE INTEREST!

6) The change of the Hornet's speech when he's actual out in the field. It sure could be Eddie.

7) THE NO HYPHEN JOKE!

Now, some nitpicks:

1) PAD (like Dan Slott) is sometimes guilty of giving the characters information that they probably shouldn't have. In this case, I doubt that Ben would know who the Hornet was, let alone that Wolverine killed him. Why would he? He was dead when it happened. I mean, I guess it's the kind of knowledge one could stumble upon...but... not really. It's more for exposition than anything - a storytelling tool - but I didn't care for it, especially because then Ben didn't recognize Ricochet. I suppose he didn't get a good look at him, falling to his death and all.

2) Ricochet looks more like Peter Parker / Ricochet than Johnny Gallo / Ricochet. I think it's the build and the hair: Johnny needs to be drawn with a slimmer body and white hair.

3) Speaking of hair, were we supposed to see the return of Blonde Ben this week? That would've made some fans excited!

Anyway - great issue overall. I was actually giddy before I started reading. I feel very lucky to have this storyline in front of me/us! All my favorites, together for the first time.

I hope the Slingers stick around with Ben and Kaine for the long haul

-Pav, who can't wait for the next issue...

[Vegeta]

Eh, I was kinda hoping Marlo-Death was going to be a reoccurring supporting character. This felt like a step down from last issue, even though it was nice to see "Slingers" again. (Provided it isn't a pair of dopplegangers.)