Marvel Editor Addresses Spider-Man's Shocking Heel Turn As Scarlet Spider Embraces the Dark Side

Well after his supposed death, the long-time equally heroic clone of Spider-Man, Ben Reilly, returned to the comics in what is considered one of the franchise’s most critically disappointing stories. Transformed into a villain determined to destroy Peter Parker, Ben Reilly had become just another crazed nemesis for the true hero. Now, Marvel Editor Tom Brevoort is taking his stance on the controversial Spidey story.

On his Substack page, Marvel Editor Tom Brevoort answers questions from fans and fellow Marvel readers about his perspective on the state of comics. As one of Marvel’s highest ranking editors, Brevoort offered a unique perspective that only someone in the industry could provide.

Upon being asked aboutthe Clone Conspiracy story and the villainous return from beyonf the grave of Ben Reilly, Brevoort explained Marvel's creative thought process behind the move, giving readers an alternative take on the importance of Reilly’s return and why it happened.

According To Tom Brevoort, Making Ben Reilly An Antagonist For Peter Parker "Made An Awful Lot of Sense"

"A Dark Opposite," According To The Editor

As Tom Brevoort explained:

“I can’t really say too much about how it all ultimately worked out, but I thought at the idea of bringing Ben Reilly back and crafting him into a dark mirror image of Spider-Man, an antagonist, made an awful lot of sense, Alvaro. As Nick Lowe has said on a couple of occasions, especially given the success of Miles Morales and Spider-Gwen, there really isn’t a whole lot of room on stage for yet another middle-of-the-road spider character, especially not one with all of the history baggage that Ben brings with him. But as an enemy who believes that Peter Parker stole his life and whom readers at one point followed as a lead character, there’s a lot of strong emotional grist to play with. And Kaine continues to be Kaine, which is fine. I don’t really think that his transition into becoming the Scarlet Spider himself worked all that well.” - Tom Brevoort

It can be difficult to introduce new and intriguing characters into franchises that have been running that many readers have been alive.Any misstep could set off a wave of negative reactions from lifelong readers, much like what happened to Clone Conspiracy. Readers were happy with Ben Reilly's death; it was a satisfying end to a tragic story, which reinforced the emotional weight that heroes endure. However, Brevoort offers that Reilly’s return served as a foundation for other writers to be able to play with the character.

With the success of Miles Morales and Spider-Gwen, Marvel was looking for another opportunity to introduce the next Spider-Person into the comics. However, as Brevoort mentions, there have been so many Spider-Man adjacent characters that any new character needs to remain iconic and distinct. Thus, the return of Ben Reilly. While it’s difficult to shake away the memories of Reilly’s heroic trials during a time when Peter Parker was wholly unreliable, Ben Reilly does make for a great villain; he’s not just another Spider-Person, but instead a reflection of Peter Parker’s best and worst qualities.

Tom Brevoort's Explanation For Why Ben Reilly Is A Good Foil For Spider-Man Makes Sense

He Can Still Be Made Into A Good Villain

During the initial Clone Saga which Ben Reilly and Kaine Parker made their original debuts, Peter Parker had been roughing it. His mind was falling in a failing battle with psychosis and his relationships were crumbling in front of him. When Ben arrived it was an opportunity for Peter to remember what a heroic Spider-Man was supposed to look like. Years later, when both Peter and Kaine had long-found redemption, it was time for a grim reminder of what the worst version of Peter could look like. Like Brevoort says, “There’s a lot of strong emotional grist to play with.”

Reilly has since remained as a consistent villain for Spider-Man. Constantly deprived of any sense of truth and clarity, Reilly has been torn apart by doubt and confusion. His mind is either filled with memories that aren’t his or he’s deprived of his memories altogether. Since being brought back as a villain, Reilly has only fallen further. Now calling himself Chasm, only Kaine is left to save his fellow clone brother. The Clone Conspiracy may not have been the most popular Spider-Manseries, but Tom Brevoort’s editorial perspective does deliver credence to the choices the controversial series made.

Source: Tom Brevoort, Substack

Spider-Man

Alias

Peter Parker, Ben Reilly, Otto Octavius, Yu Komori, Kaine Parker, Pavitr Prabhakar, William Braddock, Miles Morales, Kurt Wagner

Created By

Stan Lee, Steve Ditko

Franchise

Marvel, Spider-Man

Race

Human

First Appearance

Amazing Fantasy

Alliance

Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men, Secret Defenders, Future Foundation, Heroes for Hire, Mighty Avengers, New Avengers, Web-Warriors

Spider-Man is the name given to several individuals who have employed a spider-moniker throughout Marvel Comics. Typically gaining their powers through a bite from a radioactive spider, the different Spider-Man heroes employ super-strength, agility, and intellect while utilizing webbing to swing and tangle up their foes. The most notable of these Spider-Men is Peter Parker, who remains one of the most popular superheroes throughout the world.

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