There are a lot of comics out there but some stand out head and shoulders above the pack. With “Don’t Miss This,” we want to spotlight those series we think need to be on your pull list. This week, we take a look at Marvel Comics’s “Ben Reilly: Spider-Man”
Who’s This By?
Writer J.M. DeMatteis takes on this return to Ben Reilly. An accomplished writer in the world of comics and television, DeMatteis is no stranger to the 90s era of comics, most notably penning clone stories for “The Amazing Spider-Man” and working on “Daredevil,” “Doctor Strange,” “Silver Surfer,” and more. Also known for his work at DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics, and writing for shows like Justice League Unlimited, The Real Ghostbusters, Thundercats, and so much more, DeMatteis is the perfect choice to come back for this walk down memory lane.
David Baldeon is an artist who is synonomous with Marvel superheroes, having worked on “Nova,” “Domino,” and “Avengers vs X-Men.” Baldeon brings his gorgeous pencil work to this story. While he has a fully modern style and sensibility to this mini-series, he has a way of grabbing you by the collar and dragging you back through the many decades of Spidey lore.
Colorist Israel Silva contributes some stunning work to this series. An artist who has worked on literally hundreds of Marvel books, he is yet another obvious choice to tackle this story and bring some really dynamic power to Baldeon’s already incredible work. Silva helps take this mini-series to the next level, even for those who may poo-poo the idea of going back to the Reilly era.
Rounding out the creative team is VC’s Joe Caramanga, letterer extraordinaire who gives us a wide array of lettering throughout narration, dialogue, sound effects, and set dressing. He takes the time to give the book a variety of styles and it is just one more thing that makes this book look as good as it does.
What’s This All About?
Remember when there was that super controversial time in Spider-Man’s history where we were led to believe that Peter Parker’s clone, Ben Reilly, was the real Spidey and Peter was just a clone? Then he and M.J. needed a break from the hardships of superhero life, so Ben took on the mantle of Spider-Man while Pete and M.J. took a sabbatical? And then it was later revealed that Ben really was the clone all along? This mini-series takes place in the middle of that moment in time, with a freshly blonde Ben assuming the hero life because he knows it’s the right thing to do. He also has nothing else going on in his life other than his day job of barista. While still a fairly maligned era in comic book history, there has been some nostalgia for it in recent years as fans have been through many equally bizarre and epic storylines, and “Ben Reilly: Spider-Man” is a chance to re-live those days with all new stories that don’t step on the existing continuity, but rather intermingle with it.
There is something really tragic about Ben’s story and, some insane 90s comic book choices aside, the idea of this fake Peter Parker living a fate that is both equal and lesser to Parker’s Spider-Man may have been too upsetting on a subliminal level for many readers back then. So, returning to a point when Ben is OK with who he is and making it on his own as his own person and superhero while still dealing with all the abnormal pitfalls of being a duplicate of another human being is both fun and endlessly intriguing.
So, Why Should I Read This?
Readers looking to either step back into a time that they may find oddly interesting or comforting will probably want to check this out, as those of a certain age will definitely remember the controversies of The Clone Saga. It is also a chance to read some fun Spidey action without having to know all of today’s canon or even all of the 90s era stuff. You get a quick lesson in who Ben Reilly is and what he is dealing with at this time in his life. There are plenty of familiar faces and some new (old) characters specific to his life away from Peter. He’s an angrier, more dangerous Spider-Man, which gets close to the line of trying too hard to be edgy, but it’s still a fun dive into what could have become of Peter Parker on just a slightly different path.
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Uneven history aside, this book is taking a chance on both fans’s nostalgia and ignorance. The only thing that doesn’t quite make sense is, why now? Are we going to meet Ben Reilly in an upcoming screen appearance? If that’s the case, the most likely would be in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. However it’s most likely just using this as a launch pad for fans to go back and read some earlier stuff that’s been recently collected in large omnibuses.
DeMatteis, takes us on a storied journey with quite a few interesting facets – mostly through the psychological look at who Ben Reilly is. It’s a chance to re-evaluate this character, to see what makes him tick, and what it is about him that either resonates with or turns off readers. Baldeon’s character designs, action scenes, and detailed environments make this a worthy pick up just for his pages. Silva’s killer colors bring out the many emotions layered into every panel.
How Can You Read It?
“Ben Reilly: Spider-Man” is set to be a five issue arc (with possibly another arc set to come later) and is currently on its third issue as of this week. Easy to pick up and easy to follow as it gives you a crash course in poor Ben’s life.
