Is it that terrible? I’ll probably just scroll through it until I get to the part about Ben Reilly. It’s not like it’s Dan Carlin or anything that important, so I usually have stuff like this on as background noise when I’m doing the dishes or working out at the gym. If it’s interesting, I might report back. But if not, I won’t.
I’ve read spoilers…
https://comicsheatingup.net/2022/01/...il/#more-46586
spoilers:end of spoilers
Ben remembers he’s a clone. He’s just surprised Kafka knows. He forgot he was the Jackal or about the events of Clone Conspiracy though (she tells Ben he made her). There’s a lot more. A couple worrying plot developments. But I’ll save comment for those until I see the full context.
spoilers:end of spoilers
Watch it turn out that Beyond's also been erasing Ben's IQ points one by one.
Real talk though, I don't think this is bad? Like the dialouge seems pretty on point, the plot seems to be progressing in a meaningful way, Janine has extra affirmation that Beyond sucks dick which she must love but also hate, Kafka doesn't seem to be an evil bitch (yet*), so that's nice too, and the ending has me intrigued. I honestly don't see that much of a problem. It seems to be slowly but steadily improving imo. Maybe I'm just fucking stupid though idk
*This is making me kinda wonder if the Queen Goblin solicits were misleading, and that she and Ben are somehow in cahoots or at least on the same side...
I’m fine with it, except for two things…
spoilers:end of spoilers
It makes it sound like Janine will betray Ben.
The ending makes me think they’re going to “break” Ben’s mind… again. I really don’t want a return of BenPool or worse, Evil Ben. Hope it’s misleading.
I do like a lot of the other plot points introduced for the reasons you mentioned. I’m looking forward to seeing these spoilers in fuller context when the issue drops. I’m so intrigued I may even read this before the first issue of the Ben Reilly mini.
That first reason you cited filled me with one of the most intense feelings of dread I have felt as a comic book fan in a while. Please, god, NO. That would actually sour my opinion on this run as a whole ngl.
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Fair play on the 2nd point too, but I personally don't think they'll do that. I don't think they'd do all this work with Ben and making him more like 90s Ben Reilly to make him evil again. The "breaking his mind" thing makes me think he will be more psychologically damaged than he was at the start of this run, sure, but I don't think it'll go as far as it did during PAD's run. At least I hope not. I don't wanna read about a reprehensible person.
(P.S. In the inevitable next Spider-Verse event I hope 616 Ben encounters a version of himself that's based off PAD's Ben (even has the shitty costume that was in like 3 issues), solely so we can all watch him die. Fuck Benpool.
Wells was notorious in nerfing Peter in BND, and writing a bad MJ.I won't be re-reading that but you can check it out.
Don't need to do that, even in his ASM 1 preview Peter isn't listening to his Spider-sense(even though he has to take a lot of effort to ignore his Spider-sense in general, I can provide scans if needed) and states so in his inner dialogue, and has 5 seconds before he passes out.He also dunked on Peter in the first issue of Beyond and the second one wasn't any better.
And Spider-sense can detect Security cameras and motion detectors. Again I'll provide scans if you want
And from spoilers his Spider-sense didn't ring when spoilers:end of spoilers
he Beyond says enough is enough
I thought #86 was alright but BR:SM #1 was on a different level altogether.
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JMD's handle on Ben is as usual excellent.
The Kafka retcon that Peter told her everything about him is perhaps not for everyone; but it seems feasible enough during those 90's issues where they "teamed-up" so often, that he'd eventually relent and let the truth out. And depicting psychological counseling as something "normal" people could undertake is rare, so kudos for that, Mr. DeMatteis.
Great week for Ben. Things are finally moving ahead in Beyond and BR:SM shows JDM still got it. I think Baldeon's art also improved nicely from what I remember of his work on other mags some years back, Kaine's included.
Discovering/CONFESSING! the nature of evil... one retcon at a time.
Dreadful implications for Ben as per the cliffhanger on ASM 86.