Happy Ben-sday, fellow Spider fans! Once again, we receive another chapter of the Beyond arc featuring Benjamin Reilly, the Sensational Spider-Man!
Does the issue have its, uh... issues? Certainly. A pet peeve of mine is a comic that reads too quickly, and this one certainly does. In fact, I can imagine this issue being merely a page or two of an issue from way back in the day. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the issue and am engaged by the predicament in which Ben finds himself.
So, let's get to it!
1) This cover is the main reason for my belief in the VampLizard being Marcus: the shape of its head. I just feel like it resembles Marcus' big 'ole noggin!
2) The issue starts with action: Peter and the Daughters of the Dragon are being attacked by VampLizard, who was released last issue by Ben so that he could head off to get his memories back unhindered by the others.
3) Colleen has no qualms with chopping off arms, and does so -- only to see VampLizard instantly regrow them almost instantly, in a panel that I found very amusing due to the face the VampLizard is making.
4) This fight is really more about the Daughters of the Dragon than either of our Spider-Men -- which I guess makes sense, considering the enemy being fought is a giant reptile with wings!
5) Eventually, the ladies uncover the truth behind VampLizard when they discover Morbius, seemingly in some kind of induced coma by Beyond!
6) Cut to Ben, breaking into Beyond HQ -- and I do mean "breaking." I actually think we get some decent narration from Ben here: without his memories of Peter's life, Ben has no moral identity on which to stand on, and while he wishes it were otherwise, he acknowledges that maybe it's currently a benefit. "After all, if I could feel bad for the things I'm doing, this would be a whole lot harder."
7) Say what you will about the Beyond arc, but I think the above narration from Ben has more depth than anything PAD wrote in BR:SS.
8) We then get a single page of Maxine Danger, who is being told by the higher-ups at Beyond to get rid of all evidence of Beyond's actions, or at least presumably the ones that are her fault.
9) Back to the DotD, who contemplate waking up Morbius for help. Peter demands they speed up the decision-making process a bit, aaaaaaand YAY it's "back to his old self" Michael Morbius! Seems that Beyond undid some of his monstrousness (for their benefit, not his, of course), so he's game to help the DotD and Spidey, who can't hold back VampLizard for much longer. Now, speaking as huge Morbius fan, getting back a sane, humane Morbius instead of a mindless monster made me grin like an idiot although I'd still like to see him lose the wings.
10) Back to Ben: "I need my memories back. The ones from Peter. The ones that tell me who I am. How I'm supposed to live."
11) On this page, we get one of my favorite things: a Ben Reilly Spidey costume colored red and black instead of red and blue. It looked badass back in the 90s when Ben fought the CyberHobgoblin, and it looks cool on the new Beyond suit! Of course, we all know Ben's costumes are the best Spidey costumes!
12) OH NO MONSTER SANDWICHES!
12) Back to the pseudo- Lethal Protectors, who realize the VampLizard has escaped the facility. Misty Knight tells Peter to go after Ben, while she, Colleen, and Morbius go after their quarry. And at this point, I'm all in on Mobius joining the probably-not-happening new Nextwave team featuring Ben, Misty, Colleen, and Monica Rambeau!!!
13) I don't love the art.
14) Ben is struggling against the evil sandwiches, but LUCKILY JANINE SAVES HIM! CUE HEARTWARMING SCENE.
15) Meanwhile, Maxine decides the best way to protect herself is to get the help of... oh wait! It's Marcus! HE'S NOT THE VAMPLIZARD, YOU GUYS. DISAPPOINTING. Although certainly good for Marcus, who I'm sure would prefer to remain a human. Anyway, he kind of stands up to Maxine while kind of also doing exactly what she wants.
16) Colleen loves hitting things with her Beyond car -- but the VampLizard isn't fazed, and we'll find out how THAT battle goes in the next .Beyond issue! Count me as someone who really wants to know what's up with that Star thingy from earlier in the arc!
17) "I don't remember right from wrong. I don't remember all the lessons that taught me how to live. But Janine, all my memories of her -- those are mine. Only mine. That's what I've got to anchor me."
18) THAT LAST PAGE LEAVES ME WITH HOPE THAT THINGS WILL BE OKAY.
Now, for something a little random that I hope you'll find interesting: I remember a podcast -- maybe Radiolab? -- about a guy who lost his memories because of head trauma. And here's the thing: it's not that he didn't know right or wrong -- he couldn't even make decisions! The memory loss took away his past experiences from him, and along with his memories went all the context for decision-making. He essentially became paralyzed by his lack of knowledge of the world! And that's not all -- he also couldn't plan for the future! He was, in essence, trapped in a pleasant but somewhat confusing present, forever.
Not exactly Ben's situation of course, but I thought I'd mention considering the similarities.
Anyway! We only have a couple of issues left, and I'm really hoping the creative team sticks the landing! I think a lot of us will be more forgiving of the whole arc if it lands in a satisfying way. For now, I have plenty of questions. Will we get Nextwave-related continuity? Will we get a Slingers appearance? Will Ben get his memories back? What will be Ben and Peter's relationship at the end of the arc? Will Janine make it? What will happen to Maxine and Marcus? Will Aunt May, MJ, or Black Cat show up again? So many questions.
As always, thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts on the issue! I look forward to further conversation about Ben and Beyond!
-Pav, who loves seeing Spidey-suit-wearing Blonde Ben unmasked...