Ben Reilly#Ultimate Marvel

Ben Reilly was first featured as Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man #149 as a nameless clone of Peter Parker who seemingly dies alongside his creator the Jackal, who had also created a clone of Parker's lost love Gwen Stacy. The events of the issue were later revisited in several comics such as What If #30. Asked why he created the character, writer Gerry Conway explained:

{{blockquote|One of the things I was trying to do at that time was take ideas to their logical, yet absurd conclusion, reductio ad absurdum. The idea was that if we have Gwen Stacy brought back as a clone, how can I up the stakes when I get rid of her? When I write her out of the book, what can I do to make that really effective and to punctuate it, to bring it to the next level? And I thought, if we can clone Gwen, we can certainly clone Peter. I was also at that time enamored with titles that played off of old, melodramatic Stan Lee titles of the past. ... I came up with the title, "If I Kill Me, Will I Die?"{{efn|The actual published title is "Even if I Live...I Die!". The source gives no indication whether the title was changed prior to publication or Conway simply misremembered it.}} It was basically a parody of an old overdramatic Stan Lee title, but I also thought it was a good title in general. So that's really what the impetus was - to raise the stakes, give us a good finish to the Gwen Stacy saga, and to allow me to have a little fun with the storytelling conventions of the time.{{cite journal|last=Veronese|first=Keith|date=October 2010|title=Spider-Man: The Beginnings of the Clone Saga|journal=Back Issue!|issue=44| pages=69–77|publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing}}}}

Though Conway had no intention of using the character beyond this initial story in which he dies, Reilly returned to the comics during the "Clone Saga", which ran from October 1994 to December 1996 through all five of the concurrent Spider-Man titles — The Amazing Spider-Man, Web of Spider-Man, Spider-Man, Spider-Man Unlimited, and The Spectacular Spider-Man. Editor Danny Fingeroth directed the Spider-Man artists to design a costume for the character which would stand out from conventional superhero costumes by emphasizing simple functionality rather than flash. The artists worked on costume ideas independently, and according to Mark Bagley, Tom Lyle's "hoodie" design won unanimous approval among them. The original costume was later replaced by an updated Spider-Man costume designed by Bagley with minor alterations by Bob Budiansky.

Between November and December 1995, the Scarlet Spider replaced Spider-Man in all five of the comics' titles, which were renamed The Amazing Scarlet Spider, Web of Scarlet Spider, Scarlet Spider, Scarlet-Spider Unlimited, and The Spectacular Scarlet Spider. Reilly was also featured prominently in the supplemental material provided for the storyline, including Spider-Man: The Lost Years and Spider-Man: Clone Journals. The storyline was later revisited in What If (vol. 2) #86. Reilly was passed the mantle of Spider-Man and was featured throughout the Spider-Man titles The Amazing Spider-Man, The Spectacular Spider-Man, Spider-Man, Spider-Man Unlimited, and The Sensational Spider-Man, which replaced Web of Spider-Man as an ongoing monthly title. Reilly remained as the featured Spider-Man between January and December 1996. During this period, the character also featured in two intercompany crossovers DC vs. Marvel with DC Comics and Backlash/Spider-Man with Image Comics.

Though the character has not been used in mainstream continuity since his death in Spider-Man #75, the character is often alluded to and provided the foundation to the backstory in the Spider-Girl mythology. In January 2009, Reilly returned to comics as Spider-Man in the third part of Marvel's X-Men/Spider-Man miniseries. Written by Christos Gage, the series explores episodes in the histories of both the X-Men and Spider-Man, sticking thoroughly to the source material of the time frames that the stories take place in. Issue #3 marked the first new adventure featuring Reilly in more than 12 years. Starting in 2009 and continuing into 2010, Marvel published a six-issue miniseries titled Spider-Man: The Clone Saga that was a retelling of the story as it had originally been envisioned. In 2010, Marvel began collecting the story in trade paperback and hardcover forms ({{ISBN|978-0785148050}}). The epic spans five books and covers Reilly's time on the road, through his encounters with Peter and Mary Jane Watson, up to his role as the Scarlet Spider, as the lone spider hero in New York.

On July 25, 2010, at San Diego Comic-Con, fans expressed their desire to see a return of Ben Reilly. To this, assistant editor Tom Brennan replied, "It's being worked on".{{Cite web |last=Wigler |first=Josh |date=July 25, 2010 |title=CCI: The Marvel: Spider-Man Panel |url=http://www.cbr.com/cci-the-marvel-spider-man-panel/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161122222405/http://www.cbr.com/cci-the-marvel-spider-man-panel/ |archive-date=November 22, 2016 |access-date=May 15, 2018 |work=CBR}} During the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con, a teaser image was posted on Marvel.com of Reilly's shirt in flames, entitled "The return of The Scarlet Spider?"{{Cite web |last=Markus |first=Tucker Chet |date=July 22, 2011 |title=Eat the Universe with John Urschel |url=http://marvel.com/news/story/16304/sdcc_2011_the_scarlet_spider |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107004353/http://marvel.com/news/story/16304/sdcc_2011_the_scarlet_spider |archive-date=November 7, 2011 |access-date=May 15, 2018 |work=Marvel.com}} It is revealed in The Amazing Spider-Man #673 and the Marvel Point One one-shot that Kaine will be the new Scarlet Spider in his own ongoing series, which was confirmed by editor Steve Wacker in the "Letters to the Editor" page of #673. Later, Ben Reilly in his Scarlet Spider uniform appears to be fighting Kaine on the cover of Scarlet Spider #21. At the climax of the issue it is revealed that this is Kraven the Hunter impersonating Reilly.

Ben Reilly returns in the storyline Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy, it revealed he was repeatedly resurrected, killed and resurrected again by the Jackal as the villain tried to perfect a new cloning process. Broken by the memory and experience of over two dozen deaths, Ben took control of the Jackal's scheme, even adopting the villain's name for himself, and created a new cloning process that included a better memory transfer but required the clone to ingest a pill on a daily basis to maintain their cellular composition, lest their flesh, muscles, organs, and bones deteriorate until only the nervous system, eyes, and brain remain. He eventually planned to save the human race from death and disease by killing everyone and transferring their memories to super-clones who could then continually have their mind transferred to new bodies if they ever suffered fatal injury, continuations of the original person rather than copies and calling them "reanimates." After a final confrontation with Peter forces him to abandon his plans and resources, Ben relocates to Las Vegas. He initially tries to escape his past and punishment for his actions while being haunted by hallucinations, adopting the Scarlet Spider identity again. His experiences eventually help restore some of his sanity and set him back on the path to be a hero, before learning he has been favoured by Lady Death as her new favourite person from how many times he had died and returned, and how many people he had revived via his reanimations, to whose bodies their souls returned. Death warns Ben that since his soul has degraded with each death and revival, in spite of his wish to return to heroism, his next death and return will lead him to a path of villainy, a plotline followed up on in Spider-Man Beyond, at the end of which Ben is rendered a bitter partial amnesiac, as the villain Chasm.

Professor Miles Warren, unhealthily obsessed with his late student Gwen Stacy who died at the Green Goblin's hands, attempts various experiments, learning Peter Parker was Spider-Man. Blaming the web-slinger for marking Gwen as a target, Warren (taking on the villain alter ego the Jackal) attempts to clone the hero. Parker's first clone, Kaine, suffers from clone degeneration and is dismissed, but successful clones of both Parker and Stacy with stable cell structures are later created. After multiple attacks on Spider-Man, the Jackal forces the hero and his clone to fight, each believing the other is the clone. The two team up to save Parker's colleague Ned Leeds and Gwen's clone. In the process, Warren and Spider-Man's clone appear to be killed in an explosion.The Amazing Spider-Man #149 (October 1975) Spider-Man's clone survives and realizes he is not the real Peter Parker. Rather than attempt to replace Parker, he leaves New York to embark on a nomadic life, dubbing himself "Ben Reilly" as a nod to his original self's uncle Ben Parker and May Parker's maiden surname.The Spectacular Spider-Man #223 (April 1995)

During his travels, Ben Reilly befriends geneticist Seward Trainer, becoming the man's lab assistant and honing his scientific prowess to university graduate level under his mentorship. Ben trusts Trainer with his secrets and the man becomes a father figure.The Amazing Spider-Man #405 (September 1995)Spider-Man #62 (September 1995) Reilly is hunted by Kaine, the scarred and resentful failed clone of Peter Parker. Later, Reilly works with scientist Damon Ryder, who mutates himself into a dinosaur hybrid. An attack by Kaine causes a fire that kills Ryder's family, though the scientist blames Reilly for this tragedy.The Amazing Spider-Man #608-610 (December 2009 - January 2010) At one point, Reilly finds love with college student Janine Godbe who then reveals her true identity is Elizabeth Tyne, a fugitive who killed her father after enduring incestuous rape. After Janine apparently commits suicide out of guilt for her crime, Reilly continues his travels.Spider-Man: The Lost Years #1 (August 1995)Spider-Man: The Lost Years #2 (September 1995)Spider-Man: The Lost Years #3 (October 1995)

Five years after leaving New York City, Ben Reilly discovers May Parker suffered a stroke and may not recover. He returns to New York City, leading to a confrontation with the original Peter Parker who at this time is bitter, angry, and prone to violent rages following recent traumatic events. After the two handle a hostage situation at Ravencroft, Peter attempts to reclaim his humanity and Ben decides to remain in the city for a while.Web of Spider-Man #117 (October 1994)Spider-Man #51 (October 1994)The Spectacular Spider-Man #217 (October 1994)

When Venom (Eddie Brock) goes on a rampage, Reilly decides to stop Venom, donning a red bodysuit along with a blue spider hoodie he buys at a museum.Web of Spider-Man #118 (November 1994) Armed with improved web-shooters he developed, he defeats Venom and is dubbed the "Scarlet Spider" by Daily Bugle reporter Ken Ellis.Spider-Man #53 (December 1994) Ben and Peter later reunite and come to believe that Peter is actually the clone and Ben the original.The Spectacular Spider-Man #226 (July 1995)

Scarlet Spider joins the New Warriors for a brief time and develops an attraction to teammate Firestar.New Warriors #61 (July 1995) After a few more adventures, Peter is nearly killed in action and decides to retire as Spider-Man to be a better husband and father.The Spectacular Spider-Man #229 (October 1995) He and Mary Jane leave New York City. During gang warfare between Lady Octopus and Alistair Smythe, a holographic duplicate of the Scarlet Spider ruins Ben's reputation, causing him to drop the Scarlet Spider identity.Web of Scarlet Spider #4 (February 1996)

File:Spider-Man (Ben Reilly).jpg. Art by Dan Jurgens and Klaus Janson.]]

Ben Reilly adopts the Spider-Man identity with a new costume. Only a few heroes and villains realize this equivalent of Spider-Man is a different person than before. In his civilian life, Ben dyes his hair blonde and starts working at a café called the Daily Grind.The Sensational Spider-Man #0 (January 1996) He bonded with the Carnage symbiote as Spider-Carnage which John Jameson helped in removing.The Sensational Spider-Man #3 (April 1996)The Amazing Spider-Man #410 (April 1996)The Spectacular Spider-Man #233 (April 1996) He starts a relationship with Jessica Carradine, a student at Centennial University with a personal vendetta against Spider-Man, convinced the hero is a murderer. Ben later discovers her late father was the burglar who killed Ben Parker and went into foster care after the man's arrest. Jessica then reveals her father told her he had been framed for Ben Parker's murder. She blames the wall-crawling vigilante not only for taking away her parent, but for his death during another encounter with Spider-Man, unwilling to believe it was simply a heart-attack brought on by stress. After Jessica discovers Ben is Spider-Man, she confronts the truth of her father. Ultimately accepting that Spider-Man is a hero when she sees him risk his life to save people from a burning building, she decides to start a new life on her own rather than remain with Ben.The Sensational Spider-Man #4 (May 1996)The Sensational Spider-Man #6 (July 1996)

Ben's life and work are targeted by the Hobgoblin on orders of Spider-Man's old enemy Mendel Stromm, now called Gaunt.Spider-Man #68 (May 1996) After Peter and Mary Jane return to New York, Ben realizes Seward Trainer has been working with Gaunt for years.The Amazing Spider-Man #412 (June 1996) Peter and Ben cement their relationship, now regarding each other as brothers and enjoying that they share the same childhood memories. Ben introduces Peter to the Daily Grind staff as his "cousin".Spider-Man #69 (June 1996) Reilly's former lover Janine Godbe is revealed to be alive, forced to fake her death years ago by Kaine as a means of hurting Ben. After multiple confrontations, Kaine accepts he has been avoiding responsibility for his actions and turns himself over to the authorities. Inspired, Janine does the same.Spider-Man: Redemption #4 (December 1996)

Norman Osborn reveals himself to be the architect behind Parker's last few years of trauma, all part of a plan to drive the hero insane, including having Seward Trainer create false lab results so he would mistakenly believe he was the clone and Reilly the original. Since Peter has withstood his many trials, Osborn has lost patience and decided to act directly. While Mary Jane is poisoned and loses her child in stillbirth, the original Goblin fights Parker. The battle ends when Reilly takes a fatal wound intended for Peter. He dies and his body decomposes rapidly, confirming he was actually a clone. Peter reclaims the Spider-Man identity.Spider-Man #75 (December 1996)

File:Jackal (Ben Reilly).png #4 (Jan. 2017) by Jim Cheung.]]

Ben Reilly returns in the 2015 All-New, All-Different Marvel branding, where he assumes the alias of Anubis, the jackal-headed Egyptian god of death. It is revealed that Miles Warren survived the events of Maximum Clonage and resurrected Ben in a clone body. When the new body has problems with cellular degradation, Warren kills Ben and tries again. He does this many times, with Ben's memory transfer ensuring he recalls each death leading up to his stable 27th body. Traumatized by the memory of 26 deaths, Ben breaks free, defeats Warren, and decides to use his technology and operation to prevent anyone else from suffering the tragedy of death. He adopts a mask of Anubis and as the new Jackal he improves the cloning process, now seeing his new clone creations as "reanimates," continuations of the original person rather than simply copies. His reanimates seem improved in many ways but carry a latent form of a new Carrion virus in their cells.The Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 4) #16 (October 2016)The Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 4) #19 (December 2016)

Publicly, Reilly uses the company New U Technologies to offer cutting edge healing and organ replacement for people, even those with terminal conditions. Peter Parker, head of Parker Industries at the time, becomes suspicious and investigates. Reilly later reveals himself and shows he has resurrected people whose deaths have caused Spider-Man guilt, all of whom now live in a neighborhood-like facility called Haven. Reilly asks Peter to join him and but the latter concludes the new Jackal is using power without considering the responsibility of his actions. A signal is activated that destabilizes the bodies of the reanimates, meaning the new airborne Carrion virus will now activate in most if not all of them. Reilly decides to let this plague spread across Earth so he can replace everyone with genetically improved reanimates, but his plan is stopped. With his own body breaking down, Reilly saves himself using New U Pills and Webware Technology, but now bears scars all over his face and body.Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy #1-4 (December 2016 - March 2017)The Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 4) #24 (April 2017) After a brief confrontation with the original Jackal, Ben leaves to start a new life, still believing his work was for the good of humanity.Clone Conspiracy Omega (May 2017)

Relocating to Las Vegas, the disfigured Ben is tracked down by former New U Technologies client Cassandra Mercury, owner of the Mercury Rising casino, who wants revenge for his failure to cure her daughter Abigail's terminal disease. Ben buys time by telling Cassandra he can develop a cure in exchange for a lab and resources. He lives and works in the Mercury Rising casino, identifying himself as "Peter."Ben Reilly: The Scarlet Spider #2 (July 2017) During this time, Ben is haunted by hallucinations of his old self telling him to be more heroic and his Jackal self defending their actions. He steals a Spider-Man cosplayer's hooded costume, then later takes a copy of his original Scarlet Spider outfit from a Spider-Man fan. Operating at times as a vigilante, he uses harsher methods than before, sometimes using a gun to deliver nonlethal injuries.Ben Reilly: The Scarlet Spider #3 (August 2017)

Kaine Parker arrives in Las Vegas, desiring Ben's death for his actions as the Jackal. Reilly argues he is trying to cure Abigail Mercury's condition, but his untested serum backfires and kills the girl. Kaine attacks, only to be seemingly killed by Death.Ben Reilly: The Scarlet Spider #6 (October 2017) Death explains no other person has been brought back to life as often as Ben and this has corrupted his soul; one more resurrection will likely shatter his soul and sanity. She offers to restore Abigail or Kaine to life, but Ben asks her to save both and take him instead. Impressed, Death heals Kaine and Abigail and removes Ben's scars.Ben Reilly: The Scarlet Spider #7 (November 2017) During a later battle, Ben uses excessive force and regains scarring around an eye. Death explains he is still being tested and will manifest more scars again if he engages in corrupt behavior.Ben Reilly: The Scarlet Spider #11 (February 2018)

Some time later, Ben injects Abigail with what seems to be a blood sample from the angel Gabriel, though Abigail succumbs to her fatal disease. The demon lord Mephisto then tricks Kaine into killing Reilly.Ben Reilly: The Scarlet Spider #24 (November 2018) However, the blood had indeed saved Abigail, but not in the form everyone thought. Abigail ascended to an angelic level of existence and decides to resurrect Ben since Mephisto overstepped his bounds by arranging the man to die earlier than he should. Ben refuses, remembering Death's warning that his soul will be shattered and he might become evil. Abigail assures him he's still a hero at heart and soon afterwards Ben awakes in a body bag in an ambulance. After escaping from the ambulance, he is confronted by Misty Beck, only for him to punch her through the stomach and exposes her true nature as an android. Ben quickly discovered that he had been driven sociopathic and he enjoyed it. He assaults Kaine and injures him, threatening him to leave Las Vegas if he survived. However, after he leaves, he breaks down in an alleyway, crying.Ben Reilly: The Scarlet Spider #25 (December 2018)

During Spider-Geddon, Otto Octavius recruits Kaine to help fight the Inheritors, vampiric beings who feed on the life force of animal totems, particularly Spider heroes across reality. Overhearing that the Inheritors plan to use New U Technologies to rebuild their cloning machine to ensure they cannot die, Ben, still suffering from his evil soul, volunteers his services, wishing to prevent his technology from causing more harm.Spider-Geddon #2 (December 2018) Octavius begrudgingly agrees only to apparently betray Ben later, by offering him to the Inheritors in exchange for leaving other Spiders alone.Spider-Geddon #4 (January 2019) The Inheritor called Jennix takes Ben's life force, but also absorbs the experience of Ben's 27 deaths which drives the Inheritor insane, just as planned. Following his sacrifice and Jennix absorbing his death traumas, Octavius resurrects Ben a 28th time with his mind restored.Spider-Geddon #5 (February 2019)

At an unspecified point, Ben is recruited by the Beyond Corporation, taking on the mantle of Spider-Man for a second time. He takes a newly modified costume designed by Beyond into the field when Bushwacker seizes control of a building in Dallas. To assure Ben's unwavering loyalty, the Beyond corporation arrange for the prison release of Elizabeth Tyne, Ben's true love.The Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 5) #74 (November 2021) The Beyond Corporation alters Ben's memories to maintain control over him, causing him to lose his sense of responsibility.The Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 5) #86 (March 2022) The Corporation pits Ben against Peter, telling him they've built a device that can restore his memories. In the ensuing conflict, Ben is exposed to special matter-manipulating polymers that the Beyond Corporation created and disappears. Ben resurfaces months later, having deteriorated further and become unable to perceive his own face. Additionally, he is bathed in green and black energy that seems related to the shifting properties of the polymers. Donning a twisted green and purple version of his Spider-Man suit, Ben declares his old self "dead" and assumes the villainous persona of Chasm.The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 5 #92-93 (May 2022)

As Spider-Man's clone, Ben Reilly possesses proportionate spider-like abilities and traits identical to Peter Parker's, including superhuman strength, speed, reflexes, stamina, resiliency, and agility, along with the ability to cling to almost any surface granted by consciously commanding his body to do so (the process seems similar to the van der Waals force and has been described as "the ability to mentally control the flux of the inner-atomic attraction between molecular boundary layers).Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Spider-Man (June 2004) Reilly's reflexes and stamina operate up to 40 times faster than an average person's, while his strength allows him to lift 150 times his own weight (approximate limit of 10 tons). He can leap thirty feet into the air from a standing position. Ben's superhumanly enhanced muscles, bones, and body are more resistant to injury than the average human.Spider-Man #26 (September 1992) Like Peter, Ben has a precognitive "spider-sense" warning him of incoming danger and threats, manifesting as a buzzing in the base of his skull. In battle, Ben can allow this sense to guide his reflexes to help dodge attacks.

Ben possesses Peter Parker's genius-level scientific intellect with particular talents towards applied science, chemistry, biology, engineering, physics, mathematics, and mechanics. During his travels, Ben was able to spend more time improving his scientific knowledge and experience and came to surpass Peter's skill in some fields. Because Reilly was not in the role of Spider-Man for five years while traveling, and didn't engage in regular combat during his time as the Jackal, his fighting style is less polished than Parker's. Kaine notes that Reilly is more reliant on tactics rather than his physical skill and is a calculating and cunning combatant.

Like Peter Parker, Ben is armed with wrist-worn web-shooters that each holds several cartridges of "web-fluid", a chemical mixture that solidifies on exposure to air. Released from a pressurized valve, the web-fluid can (depending on the valve's adjustment) become an expanding net, a thin web-line, or an adhesive, malleable goo. Reilly's web-shooters use more advanced triggers than Parker's and include features such as "impact webbing", temporary paralysis-inducing "stingers", and "mini-dot" tracers (a smaller version of Parker's spider-tracers). Due to these advances, Reilly's web-shooters are bulkier than Parker's, so he wears them on the outside of his costumes. Like Parker, Reilly wears a belt that carries spare web-fluid cartridges.Spider-Man: The Jackal Files (August 1995)

{{See also|Marvel Zombies}}

Ben Reilly is one of the heroes on the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier who survived the zombie plague. He is seen battling the zombies; however, this plan falls apart. Reilly's fate is unknown.Marvel Zombies: Dead Days (July 2007)

{{main|Spider-Man: Life Story}}

Spider-Man: Life Story features an alternate continuity where the characters naturally age after Peter Parker becomes Spider-Man in 1962. Miles Warren was ordered by Norman Osborn to create clones of Norman and Peter. In 1977, Norman convinced Harry to attack Miles after discovering that Warren had created a clone of Gwen as well. Harry deduces that Norman had Miles clone Peter because Norman still viewed Peter as a more worthy successor over him and blows up the containment tubes with the clones. Peter's clone was the only survivor thanks to inheriting Spider-Man's powers. However, Miles reveals that the "Gwen" Peter was with was actually her clone while the real Gwen died in the explosion. A year later, Peter and Gwen's clones rename themselves as Ben and Helen Parker (later Reilly) and move out of New York for a second chance at life. In 2006, Ben is murdered by Morlun.Spider-Man: Life Story #2-5 (June - September 2019)

{{main|The Clone Saga}}

In September 2009, a six-issue miniseries based on the Clone Saga comics of the 1990s, titled Spider-Man: The Clone Saga, was issued. The purpose of the miniseries was to tell the story as it was initially conceived. It is a condensed version of the Clone Saga without the plot points involving Traveler, Scrier, and covers several months of a fictional time period. The first issue introduces readers to the characters Ben Reilly and Kaine, and addresses Mary Jane's pregnancy and Aunt May's hospitalization. Reilly and Parker bond after Kaine attacks them, and Reilly decides to stay in New York, pretending to be Peter's blonde-haired cousin so that he can build his own life. Reilly adopts the identity of the Scarlet Spider and begins working at the Daily Grind.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=April 2017}}

Reilly and Parker later work with Kaine to reach the lair of the shadowy figure responsible for infecting Mary Jane and Aunt May with a deadly genetic virus. The mysterious villain is revealed to be the Jackal, who captures all three and reveals his plans to make an army of Spider-Man clones to take over the world. Since Reilly is the only stable clone, the Jackal takes a sample of his blood to perfect his cloning technique. When the Jackal reveals another stage of his plan, to clone Gwen Stacy and another unknown figure, Kaine goes berserk and breaks himself, Parker and Reilly free. During the subsequent fight, the clones dissolve and the Jackal plants the first seed of doubt over who is the original Peter Parker. After Kaine kills the Jackal, Reilly and Parker escape with the cure for Aunt May's and Mary Jane's virus. Parker retires and hands the Spider-Man identity to Reilly. Reilly spends several months in the role, while Parker gets ready to become a father. Reilly is shown as a less-polished Spider-Man and is somewhat insecure due to his relative inexperience because of his exile. Eventually, Mary Jane gives birth, Allison Mongrain kidnaps the baby, and later gives it to Kaine.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=April 2017}}

When Reilly goes searching for the baby, he is attacked by the Green Goblin, who is revealed to be Harry Osborn and working with Kaine. Though Reilly appears to gain the upper hand in the ensuing fight, the Goblin impales him in the back with his Goblin Glider. Miraculously, Reilly survives the attack. Osborn had been plotting his revenge against Parker since his apparent heart attack. Osborn creates a clone of his father, Norman, to help him defeat Parker and Reilly; however, Norman jumps in front of Harry's Goblin Glider as it is about to hit Parker and is impaled in the back. Afterwards, Kaine returns baby May to Parker and Mary Jane, Aunt May survives and wants to help raise the child, and Ben Reilly leaves once again to travel the world and find a life for himself.Spider-Man: The Clone Saga #1–6 (November 2009 - February 2010)

{{main|Spider-Verse}}

During the 2014 "Spider-Verse" storyline, Ben Reilly of Earth-94 was recruited into a team of multiverse Spider-Totems who were teaming up to fend off the Inheritors, who were trying to devour each and every Spider-Totem.Spider-Verse Team-Up #1 (January 2015) In this particular universe, Peter Parker's powers did not return, with Peter remaining in Oregon while Ben has developed into a far lighter character without the burden of Peter's past, particularly aided by the string of successes that he had as Spider-Man, including saving Marla Jameson from Alistair Smythe and preventing Doctor Octopus from taking his body.Scarlet Spiders #3 (March 2015)

This version of Ben Reilly lead a team featuring fellow clones Kaine of Earth-616 and the Jessica Drew of Earth-1610 who are sent on a mission that requires their 'expertise' as clones of Spider-Man.{{Cite web |author=Sunu |first=Steve |date=July 25, 2014 |title=SDCC EXCLUSIVE: Costa Assembles 'Scarlet Spiders' For 'Spider-Verse' |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=54306 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726193415/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=54306 |archive-date=July 26, 2014 |work=CBR |publisher=}} Their mission sends them to Earth-802, a world conquered by the Inheritors and ruled over by the Inheritor Jennix, whose efforts to clone Spider-Totems failed to clone the Spider-Essence itself. Despite their best efforts to infiltrate said world, the Spider-Clones would end up doing battle with the dimension's versions of Iron Man and the Human Torch, as well as Jennix himself, before Reilly later sacrificed himself to destroy the Inheritors' cloning facility; which they used to resurrect themselves if they fell during their trips to other worlds.

{{Main|Ultimate Marvel|Ultimate Spider-Woman|Carnage (character)#Ultimate Marvel{{!}}Ultimate Carnage}}

In Ultimate Marvel (Earth-1610), Ben Reilly is introduced as an African-American scientist who worked with Curt Connors at Empire State University. He created the Carnage organism, which he nicknames "Little Ben" Reilly after himself.Ultimate Spider-Man #61 (September 2004) Reilly later works with Doctor Octopus, creating five clones of Spider-Man while employed by the CIA.

• What If? #30, "What If Spider-Man's Clone Had Lived?", depicts a world where, after the Jackal's bomb explodes at Shea Stadium, both Spider-Men are knocked unconscious and the clone awakens before the original. The clone, believing that he is the original Peter Parker, puts the unconscious Parker into stasis in one of the Jackal's clone-growing devices for safety and attempts to continue with life as normal. However, the clone has no memories from the time before the cell samples he had been grown from were taken, and is confused and lost in the world of the real Peter Parker. This memory gap and the discovery of the Jackal's notes on his cloning process, leads the clone to realize what he truly is. After some hesitation, he frees the real Parker in time for both of them to confront the Kingpin.What If? #30 (December 1981)
• What If? vol. 2 #86, "What If Scarlet Spider Killed Spider-Man?", gives an alternate ending of the "Clone Saga". During the time Spider-Man is under the Jackal's control, the Scarlet Spider and Spider-Man fight until there is an explosion. Ben Reilly's body is later found washed ashore and Peter Parker is believed to be dead.What If? #86 (June 1996)

File:Ben Reilly TAS.jpg]]

• Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the X-Men: The Animated Series episode "One Man's Worth".
• Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the Fantastic Four episode "Nightmare in Green".{{Cite web |last=Allan |first=Scoot |date=August 22, 2020 |title=The Scarlet Spider's '90s Animated Debut Wasn't in an Episode of Spider-Man |url=https://www.cbr.com/scarlet-spiders-debut-wasnt-in-spider-man/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827211936/https://www.cbr.com/scarlet-spiders-debut-wasnt-in-spider-man/ |archive-date=August 27, 2020 |access-date=February 5, 2024 |website=CBR |language=en}}
• Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider appears in the Spider-Man: The Animated Series two-part series finale "Spider-Wars", voiced by Christopher Daniel Barnes.{{cite web |title=Scarlet Spider Voices (Spider-Man) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Spider-Man/Scarlet-Spider/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021065736/https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Spider-Man/Scarlet-Spider/ |archive-date=October 21, 2017 |access-date=May 27, 2025 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.{{Cite web |title=Spider Wars, Part One – I Really, Really Hate Clones review |url=http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/episode/hateclones/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080220204827/http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/episode/hateclones/ |archive-date=February 20, 2008 |access-date=February 21, 2008 |work=Toonzone.net}}{{Cite web |title=Spider Wars, Part Two – Farewell Spider-Man review |url=http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/episode/farewell/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080220204816/http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/episode/farewell/ |archive-date=February 20, 2008 |access-date=February 21, 2008 |work=Toonzone.net}} This version is from an alternate reality where Miles Warren created a clone of Peter Parker and altered both his and the original's memories. Unsure of whether he was the clone or not, the original changed his identity to "Ben Reilly / Scarlet Spider" in an attempt to escape the confusion. Despite eventually discovering he was the original from the start and recovering all of his memories, he ultimately chose to continue his new life. When the clone becomes Spider-Carnage and nearly succeeds in destroying the multiverse, the Beyonder and Madame Web recruit the Scarlet Spider, the "prime" Peter Parker / Spider-Man, and several of their multiversal doppelgangers to stop Spider-Carnage.
• Additionally, Spider-Carnage appears in "Spider-Wars", also voiced by Barnes. Hailing from the same alternate reality as the Scarlet Spider, the aforementioned clone went mad with jealousy upon learning of his true status and attempted to kill the Scarlet Spider before the Carnage symbiote emerged from an interdimensional portal, bonded to the clone, and turned him into Spider-Carnage. He nearly succeeds in destroying the multiverse, but the Beyonder and Madame Web work to stop him, as stated above. Eventually, the "prime" Parker finds a living version of Ben Parker, who convinces Spider-Carnage to stop, though the clone sacrifices himself to stop Carnage after failing to regain control from the symbiote.
• Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider appears in the fourth season of Ultimate Spider-Man, voiced by Scott Porter. This version sports Kaine Parker's facial scar, modern Scarlet Spider costume, and aggressive personality, and is a synthezoid created by Doctor Octopus using Peter Parker's DNA who possesses stingers under his arms. Throughout the season, he reluctantly works with the Web Warriors to stop Hydra and Doc Ock while hiding his allegiance with the latter. Additionally, Reilly receives his name from May Parker. Eventually, Reilly is revealed to be a mole within S.H.I.E.L.D. during the Sinister Six's attack on the Triskelion, but the Parkers appeal to his better nature, inspiring Reilly to betray his creator and fake his death while defeating the Sinister Six to work alone from the shadows. While investigating his origins however, he resurfaces and joins forces with Spider-Man to battle the imperfect synthezoid Kaine, during which Reilly learns the truth of his synthezoid origins and that he was intended to lead a team of synthezoid Spider-Slayers, which the Web Warriors eventually defeat. Sometime later, he becomes a teacher at the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy.

Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider appears in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,{{Cite web |last1=Polo |first1=Susana |last2=Patches |first2=Matt |last3=McWhertor |first3=Michael |date=December 13, 2022 |title=Every new Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse character, explained |url=https://www.polygon.com/23505869/spider-man-across-spiderverse-characters-cast |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213214905/https://www.polygon.com/23505869/spider-man-across-spiderverse-characters-cast |archive-date=December 13, 2022 |access-date=December 13, 2022 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}{{cite web |last=Hickson |first=Colin |date=April 25, 2023 |title=Across The Spider-Verse Teases Scarlet Spider's Top Secret Voice Actor |url=https://www.cbr.com/across-the-spider-verse-scarlet-spider-top-secret-voice-actor/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425190358/https://www.cbr.com/across-the-spider-verse-scarlet-spider-top-secret-voice-actor/ |archive-date=April 25, 2023 |access-date=April 25, 2023 |website=CBR}} voiced by Andy Samberg.{{Cite web |last=Ellinidis |first=Thomas |date=April 28, 2023 |title=Andy Samberg To Voice Scarlet Spider in 'Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse' (Exclusive) |url=https://onetakenews.com/2023/04/28/andy-samberg-scarlet-across-the-spider-verse/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428133504/https://onetakenews.com/2023/04/28/andy-samberg-scarlet-across-the-spider-verse/ |archive-date=April 28, 2023 |access-date=April 28, 2023 |website=One Take News |language=en}} This version is a member of Miguel O'Hara's Spider-Society who serves as a parody of 1990s comic tropes and makes internal monologues. Director Joaquim Dos Santos confirmed their version of Reilly was "representing an era in comics. That's one of the key things with the character is that Ben Reilly was an era when super duper ripped characters were like the norm. Muscles on top of the muscles on top of muscles and being in positions that were not physically possible. And we were just like we really wanted to capture that."{{cite web |last=Paur |first=Joey |date=May 26, 2023 |title=SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE Directors Discuss Scarlet Spider and Capturing the Awesomeness of the Character |url=https://geektyrant.com/news/spider-man-across-the-spider-verse-directors-discuss-scarlet-spider-and-capturing-the-awesomeness-of-the-character |website=Geek Tyrant}}

• Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider and Spider-Man appear as alternate costumes for Peter Parker / Spider-Man in Spider-Man (2000) and Spider-Man 2: Enter Electro.
• Ben Reilly as Spider-Man and Spider-Carnage appear as alternate costumes for Peter Parker / Spider-Man in the Wii version of Spider-Man: Web of Shadows.
• Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider appears as an alternate costume for Peter Parker / Spider-Man in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Spider-Man: Edge of Time, Spider-Man (2018), and Spider-Man 2 (2023).
• Ben Reilly as Spider-Carnage appears as an unlockable alternate costume for Peter Parker / Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man 2.
• Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider and Spider-Man appear as separate playable characters in Marvel Super Hero Squad Online, voiced by Chris Cox and Yuri Lowenthal respectively.
• Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider appears as a non-playable character in Lego Marvel Super Heroes.
• Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider, Spider-Man, and Spider-Carnage appear as separate playable characters in Spider-Man Unlimited.
• Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider appears as a playable character in Lego Marvel's Avengers via the Spider-Man DLC pack.{{Cite web |last=Makuch |first=Eddie |date=May 26, 2016 |title=Free Spider-Man DLC Comes to Lego Marvel Avengers |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/free-spider-man-dlc-comes-to-lego-marvel-avengers/1100-6440117/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526105030/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/free-spider-man-dlc-comes-to-lego-marvel-avengers/1100-6440117/ |archive-date=May 26, 2016 |access-date=August 3, 2024 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}}
• Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider appears as a playable character in Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2.
• Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider appears as a playable character in Marvel Future Fight.
• Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider appears as a playable character in Marvel Strike Force.
• Ben Reilly as Chasm appears as an unlockable skin for Peter Parker / Spider-Man in Marvel Rivals.

• 1996: Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider received an action figure in Toy Biz's "Marvel OverPower Card Game – PowerSurge Invincibles" toyline.
• 1996: Ben Reilly as Spider-Man received an action figure from Toy Biz.
• 1997: Ben Reilly as Spider-Carnage received an action figure in Toy Biz's Spider-Man/Venom – Along Came a Spider toyline.
• 2002: Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider received a KB Toys exclusive action figure in the Spider-Man Classics toyline.
• 2004: Ben Reilly as Spider-Man received an action figure in Toy Biz's Spider-Man Classics.
• 2004: Ben Reilly as Spider-Man received an action figure as part of a Kubrick / Medicom Toy five-pack.
• 2005: Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider received an action figure in Kubrick / Medicom Toy's Marvel Super-Heroes toyline.
• 2005: Ben Reilly as Spider-Man and Spider-Carnage received action figures from Minimates.
• 2007: Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider received a figure from Minimates as part of a two-pack with the Hobgoblin.{{Cite web |title=Hobgoblin/Scarlet Spider Minimates Exclusive |url=http://www.oafe.net/yo/mmmhss.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203211618/http://oafe.net/yo/mmmhss.php |archive-date=February 3, 2009 |access-date=February 2, 2009 |work=OAFE.net}}
• 2008: Ben Reilly in his redesigned Spider-Man suit and designated as "Scarlet Spider" received an action figure in the Marvel Legends line via the Ares Build-A-Figure series.{{Cite web |title=ML: Scarlet Spider |url=http://www.oafe.net/yo/mlhwm_ss.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205111326/http://oafe.net/yo/mlhwm_ss.php |archive-date=February 5, 2009 |access-date=February 2, 2009 |work=OAFE.net}}
• 2009–2010: Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider, designated as "Ben Reilly Spider-Man", and wearing a redesigned Spider-Man suit, received figures in the Super-Hero Squad line, with the first figure being released as part of a two-pack with Bullseye while the latter was released individually and as part of a two-pack with Carnage.
• 2016: Ben Reilly as Spider-Man and Spider-Carnage received figures in the Marvel Legends.
• 2018: Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider received a mini-figure in Lego's Spider-Man: Web Warriors Bridge Battle set.{{cite web |title=Spider-Man™: Web Warriors Ultimate Bridge Battle - 76057 - Marvel Super Heroes - LEGO Shop |url=https://shop.lego.com/en-US/Spider-Man-Web-Warriors-Ultimate-Bridge-Battle-76057 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610124410/https://shop.lego.com/en-US/Spider-Man-Web-Warriors-Ultimate-Bridge-Battle-76057 |archive-date=June 10, 2016 |access-date=September 8, 2018 |website=Shop.lego.com}}
• 2021: Ben Reilly as Spider-Man received an action figure in Medicom Toy's Mafex toyline.{{cite web |title=MEDICOM TOY MAFEX Spider-Man™ NO.143 |url=http://www.medicomtoy.co.jp/prod/dt/27/1/15666.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129112423/http://www.medicomtoy.co.jp/prod/dt/27/1/15666.html |archive-date=November 29, 2021 |access-date=December 5, 2021 |website=www.medicomtoy.co.jp/}}

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20071013091005/http://www.freewebs.com/bringbackben/ Bring Back Ben Petition]
• [http://benreillytribute.x10host.com/ Ben Reilly Tribute]
• [http://lifeofreillyarchives.blogspot.com Life of Reilly]
• [http://www.spiderfan.org/characters/ben_reilly.html Ben's Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805211813/http://spiderfan.org/characters/ben_reilly.html |date=2018-08-05 }} at Spiderfan.org
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20091027092331/http://geocities.com/area51/chamber/5057/scarlet.htm Brief Bio] at Insania 1998
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060906095823/http://www.samruby.com/Heroes/ScarletSpider/scarletspider.htm Brief Bio] at SamRuby.com
• {{Marveldatabase|Ben Reilly (Earth-616)|Ben Reilly}}

{{Spider-Man characters}}

{{Symbiote Family and Hosts}}

{{Goblin (Marvel Comics)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Reilly, Ben}}

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