Quote Originally Posted by Huntsman Spider View Post
Ben Reilly didn't have to have actually been dead. Given that he was supposedly a "perfect clone," he ought not to have turned to dust and ash even at the moment of his death. Ergo, my personal theory was that after beating nine levels of hell out of him, Osborn had him hidden away to serve as a living voodoo doll for Peter, and then swapped him out with a hastily made clone that he killed to throw Peter off the trail while spending the next several years torturing Ben himself. For what end? A backup plan in the eventuality Peter turns down his "generous" offer of becoming his new son and heir? Just another means to get some sadistic satisfaction out of the suffering of a man with the same face as his simultaneously hated and admired, if not beloved, nemesis? A little of both?
look, i kinda get where slott was coming from. the idea of someone being killed and resurrected a dozen or so times in a row is interesting to explore in a sci fi-ish way. problem was: it wasn't explored. it was just sorta dumped in our laps.

maybe this is one of those times where the fan theory was more interesting than the eventual in-universe reveal.