Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider Series from Peter David and Mark Bagley

[David_99]

The Costume... I don't know what's worse... The hood, the belt, the smile or the camel toe...

[Hypestyle]

The layout of Detroit isn't like NYC at all. Not remotely. Web swinging would be useless beyond the core of downtown.

I seem to recall the "Lost Years" mini focusing on Ben interacting in the Pacific Northwest: Seattle, Portland, something. Or maybe that was the first mini where Peter and MJ moved out that way.

I have no quarrel with Mark Bagley as an artist, but the visible smirk is a bizarre conceit. Is this some kind of "smart cloth" that totally clings to his face and lips? Never mind.

With the original ScarSpi outfit, he had the sweatsuit top but the hood really didn't cover his head at all, it just hung there. Also, if he's web swinging and moving/acrobatics, I don't see how it is going to "stay put" at all. Same with Gwen, really.

[Cloudman]

Personally, I'm not understanding the fuss about the costume. I think it looks great.

[David_99]

Personally, I'm not understanding the fuss about the costume.

[boots]

I'm just happy to know that not only Kaine didn't return only to die once more, but also that he will have an active and big role on a book. This is great.

yeah, i had a feeling that the usual fan panic wouldn't play out.

[Webhead]

I'll ignore the costume discussion since the majority of people have expressed my views on the matter.

I too believe this has something to do with "Spidercide 2.0", which would be a pretty grim and undesirable twist, but I'll trust PAD's writing. Plus, more Kaine!

[Proteus]

Personally, I'm not understanding the fuss about the costume. I think it looks great.

I feel the same.

[boots]

Lots of thoughts and feelings here, folks.

Gotta say, though: I think Slott decided - just as I did years ago - that the way to bring back Ben is to actually bring back Spidercide.

I mean, that costume! It's the only explanation.

-Pav, who is more excited than anything...

yeah, i remember we discussed how we both came up with similar ideas for ben's return. i had an amnesiac spidercide return thinking he was ben. it was the only fan fic i've ever written, it used be hosted on a ben reilly fan page, which i think shut down since.

considering all the elements and dangling threads from the 90s saga, it seems like a fairly natural idea

[boots]

that's the sensational scarlet cametoe to you

[Pav]

Perhaps this is what we'll get:

Ben is actually somehow Spidercide (too) and being manipulated by Miles Warren. Kaine helps to save him, but then this new version of Ben Reilly runs off, confused about who he is. He's presented as both a continuation of Ben Reilly and, paradoxically, a new character who is struggling with his identity, which explains why he isn't as sure of himself as Ben was/became during the Clone Saga. But, luckily for the more unsure Ben in the here and now, he has his older brother to watch over him - Kaine.

If so? Man, Slott's ideas will be pretty dang similar to the stories I wrote in my head over the years about bringing back Ben. The main difference is I would've had Spidercide try to replace Peter before "taking over" as Ben. But I liked Slott's Swanky Jackal.

-Pav, who would've given Ben the Carnage symbiote in his version though...

[Pav]

yeah, i remember we discussed how we both came up with similar ideas for ben's return. i had an amnesiac spidercide return thinking he was ben. it was the only fan fic i've ever written, it used be hosted on a ben reilly fan page, which i think shut down since.

considering all the elements and dangling threads from the 90s saga, it seems like a fairly natural idea

Ah, yes. The amnesiac Spidercide idea was a cool one!

What do you think is going on with Ben in Clone Conspiracy, boots? If this is somehow both Ben and Spidercide, what exactly is the situation?

-Pav, who can't wait to find out what the deal is...

[boots]

Perhaps this is what we'll get:

Ben is actually somehow Spidercide (too) and being manipulated by Miles Warren. Kaine helps to save him, but then this new version of Ben Reilly runs off, confused about who he is. He's presented as both a continuation of Ben Reilly and, paradoxically, a new character who is struggling with his identity. But, luckily for him, he has his older brother to watch over him - Kaine.

If so? Man, Slott's ideas will be pretty dang similar to the stories I wrote in my head over the years about bringing back Ben. The main difference is I would've had Spidercide try to replace Peter before "taking over" as Ben. But I liked Slott's Swanky Jackal.

-Pav, who would've given Ben the Carnage symbiote in his version though...

even if he is a ben reilly hybrid, spidercide would still have to account for all the...y'know...murder

[Pav]

even if he is a ben reilly hybrid, spidercide would still have to account for all the...y'know...murder

Yes indeed.

He killed that whole town with Jackal's Carrion Virus, which is what connected Scarlet Spider to the New Warriors in the first place.

Hm. Curiouser and curiouser.

-Pav, who loved Scarlet as a New Warrior...

[SpideyClone]

I think the city should be Salt Lake City. Both Ben and Kaine have history there. It's a city that's been touched on but not developed. In addition to the already mentioned supporting cast, you'd have Jacob Raven and possibly a freed Elizabeth Tyne/Janine Godbe (and for a twist, how about a New U resurrected Louise Kennedy)?

[Gotham Thrasher]

I'm glad this title is happening but hopefully this movement takes off https://www.bleedingcool.com/2017/01...s-new-costume/