SCARLET SPIDER (Ben Reilly)

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Real Name: Benjamin “Ben” Reilly
Aliases: Spider-Clone, Spider-Man, Scarlet Spider, Jackal, Chasm
Identity: Secret
Occupation: Server at the Daily Grind Coffee Shop, Crime Fighter
Citizenship: None/United States Citizen with no criminal record.
Place of Birth: The Jackal’s Lab in New York City
Known Relatives: Jackal (Miles Warren, creator), Peter Parker (“Brother”, clone of), Mary Jane Watson Parker (sister in law), Richard Parker (father), Mary Parker (mother) May Parker (Aunt), Ben Parker (Uncle), Kaine, Spidercide (and several other clones from Jackal)
Group Affiliation: Former New Warrior
First Appearance: Amazing Spider-Man #149 (original Spider-Clone); Web of Spider-Man #117 (as Ben Reilly)
Final Appearance: Spider-Man (Vol. 2) #75
History: After surviving the battle against Spider-Man, Reilly spent the next five years in exile from New York, believing himself to be a worthless clone until he met a friend, Seward Trainer, who inspired him with confidence to be his own person. Returning to New York when he found out about Aunt May’s failing health, Ben came face-to-face with Ben (Web of Spider-Man #117) and had to explain his reasons for returning.

After an initial distrust of each other, they became friends and worked side by side as Spider-Man and the Scarlet Spider, until after some tests by Seward Trainer, it was revealed that Ben was the clone and Ben had been the real Ben Parker. This drove Ben almost insane and left Ben stunned. They agreed to keep their names, since Ben still didn’t feel like he deserved the name.

Ben soon gave up the webs when he found out that Mary Jane was pregnant, allowing for Ben to become Spider-Man. Ben enjoyed life as Spider-Man and had his own adventures, but meanwhile Ben was getting suspicious over the results that he was a clone. He began delving into Seward Trainer’s past in order to find out if he was to be trusted. Eventually, it was revealed that Trainer was working for Gaunt and Norman Osborn. Norman had survived the glider to his chest all those years ago (Amazing Spider-Man #122) and created the whole clone saga in order to drive Ben mad.

During a confrontation between the Green Goblin and the two Spider-Men, Norman impaled Ben Reilly with his glider and Ben watched as he disintegrated away, proving that Ben was the clone all along.

Miles Warren, better known as the Jackal, had collected Ben Reilly’s remains, after he’d turned to dust, after being killed by Norman Osborn, and managed to resurrect Ben Reilly. However, in an effort to be rid of the cellular degeneration that the clones suffered, Jackal would repeatedly kill Ben Reilly’s clone, even though, each new clone recalled its previous deaths – and it was at the twenty-seventh clone, where Ben Reilly had managed to break free and defeats Warren Miles. He then takes on an Anubis mask and takes the name of the Jackal, with the intention of using the cloning process for good; and manages to improve the cloning process in doing so.

Ben uses the company called New U Technology in an effort to offer those with failing organs or terminal disease a chances to be healed and live a normal life, free of the disease or failing organs. Peter Parker, who at the time, was running his own company called Parker Industries, investigates these claims. Ben Reilly reveals himself to Peter Parker, revealing who he really is and explains that he has resurrected a number of people whose deaths have caused Spider-Man guilt. Peter Parker tries to explain to Ben that he’s not considering the consequences of his action.

When the Carrion Virus is released, it attacks Ben’s own body, but Ben uses the “New U” Pills and technology to save himself, however, the consequences is that his face and body are badly scarred from the reaction and side effects.

Relocating to Las Vegas, he comes to work for Cassandra Mercury, who runs Mercury Rising Casino – she’d originally wanted to get revenge on Ben for failing to save her daughter, Abigail, but he explains that it’s not too late – he can do something about Abigail’s terminal disease – he just needs a lab space in order to do it. During this time, he adopts the Scarlet Spider persona again, however, applying more direct force, using a gun and delivering non-lethal methods to stop criminals he encountered.

Kaine Parker arrives in Las Vegas, looking for Ben Reilly, furious at what he’s learned about Reilly’s behavior. When the two begin fighting, Ben explains that he’s trying to heal Abigail’s condition, but the untested serum results in Abigail’s death, which only infuriates Kaine further – when suddenly the embodiment of death appears and seemingly kills Kaine. Death then explains that no one has died and return as many times as Ben Reilly – and that the process has corrupted his soul. Death offers to resurrect either Kaine or Abigail, and Ben offers himself in place of both of them. Death, impressed by Ben’s willingness to sacrifice himself, resurrects both Abigail and Kaine and explains that if Ben continues down the path of evil, he will suffer great consequences.

Ben then injects Abigail Mercury with, what appears to be the blood of the angel, Gabriel, Abigail however succumbs to her fatal disease and passes away. However, the blood saved Abigail in a different way – she ascended into a higher form of existence and witnessed as Mephisto tricked Kaine into killing Ben, and she attempts to restore Ben – but he declines, remembering Death’s warning. Abigail promises that because he’s been a hero, he will be fine; however, when Ben awakens in an ambulance and escapes, he discovers he’s developed psychopathic behavior after all.

During an event, in which vampiric beings known as the Inheritors attack, Otto Octavius betrays Ben, and offers Ben’s life force to one of the Inheritors known as Jennix, who absorbs Ben’s life force – as well as his memories of his previous deaths – which drives the Jennix insane. Octavius then resurrects Ben for the twenty-eighth time, but this time he’d managed to stabilize Ben’s body and mindset.

Ben returned to New York, where he was recruited by Tony Stark and be a part of an assembled team consisting of Gargoyle, Frog Man, Misty Knight, Hellcat and Halycon in an effort to save James Rhodes from Korvac.

Ben is hired by the Beyond Corporation and through them, takes on the mantle of “Spider-Man” again and is given a brand new modified costume, designed by the Beyond Corporation. In the new costume, he is sent to face off with the villain Bushwackler, and during the fight – he shoves his fists into Bushwacker’s morphed gun-hands; and the explosion rips Bushwacker’s arms apart and causes a massive explosion. The Beyond Corporation promises to clean up the mess and pay for all medical bills that hostages endured, including any mental therapy they might need after witnessing what they had. The Beyond Corporation tells Ben he needs to get rid of his Scarlet Spider outfit and only use the one they had provided him. He expresses some concern with being confused with the “real” Spider-Man (Peter Parker), but the Beyond Corporation explains that as far as they’re concerned – Ben is the real deal.

Ben’s concern becomes a reality, when later, Peter Park spots this new “Spider-Man” and gives chase. Ben is able to lose Peter Parker, but later confronts him and explains that he’d been hired by the Beyond Corporation, which recently acquired Parker Industries, and now has the right to use the name “Spider-Man.” Parker explains that Ben can’t just come take this piece of his life back, and Ben explains that he can – and he will – with the backing of the Beyond Corporation.

However, the fearsome enemies known as the U-Foes attack Empire State University, and both Peter and Ben rush to engage them. One of the members unleashes a radio-volatile gas explosion that protects Ben, however, Peter becomes violently ill, as he’s poisoned by the gas’ effects.

At the hospital, Peter gives Ben his blessing to take on the Spider-Man mantle and take the fight to the U-Foes. Ben swings away to confront them, and as he does so, Peter Parker confesses to MJ, who had just arrived with Aunt May, that he can’t feel anything, before suddenly going into violent convulsions.

Ben manages to defeat the U-Foes, and returns to the Beyond Corporation where he continues training with Colleen Wing and Misty Knight. Later, he runs into Morbius who is in the middle of a feeding. Moribus turns his attention to Ben and sinks his teeth into him, but the costume protects Ben yet again. He lures Moribus to the Beyond Corporation, where the defenses there help ward off Moribus. Ben then collapses and is rushed to the medical facilities, as they discover the bite had done more than they’d imagined. Ben is medically treated and released.

Later still, while on a date with Elizabeth, they are both unaware that they’re being observed by the latest version of Kraven the Hunter. Ben is initially defeated by Kraven and captured and taken to an island, where Ben escapes and manages in turn to defeat Kraven, who also then manages to escape capture. Returning back to the Beyond Corporation, he learns that Maxine, who helps run the Beyond Corporation is going to go after Miles Morales, because the youngster has declined legal requests to cease using the “Spider-Man” trademark, which is licensed to the Beyond Corporation.

Ben and Felicia Hardy run into each other at Peter Parker’s room and she makes it very clear how she is not pleased with Ben running around using the “Spider-Man” moniker that belonged to her former lover, Peter Parker. They are both, however, whisked away and recruited by Doctor Strange to perform a number of deeds, and by the time that is completed, Felicia admits that perhaps Ben has earned the right to use the “Spider-Man” name for now.

Later, Ben is called to the Beyond Corporation to stop a burglary in process and encounters none other than Doctor Octopus, who makes his get away with some stolen data. Maxine demands that Ben get that data back, no matter the cost. Ben and Doctor Octopus collide again, and Doctor Octopus offers why the Beyond Corporation has selected Ben as the new “Spider-Man” citing that Ben was emotionally compromised and easy to manipulate.

Realizing that Ben is onto them, the Beyond Corporation tampers with Ben’s memories, and removes all the good traits and memories that had been bestowed by Uncle Ben’s teachings, and they turn Ben’s therapist, Doctor Kafka, into a monstrosity known as the Queen Goblin. Chaos erupts, and when Peter Parker finds Ben, Ben has only fractured memories of who Peter Parker is due to Beyond Corporation’s memory tampering. They still team up and head for Beyond Corporation to take the fight to them and are joined by Colleen Wing and Misty Knight. Maxine threatens to open a “Door Z” – but Ben opens it and fights a genetic mutation of Lizard and Moribus combined!

In the ensuring madness, Ben is swept into something known as “quantum-shifting polymers in a psycho-reactive medium” and seems to perish as a result. Ben, however, would resurface again, but the state of his memory has rapidly declined, as well as his body seemingly bathed in green and black energy.

When he arises, he adopts the name “Chasm” and proclaims that the person who he was before is dead, and all that’s left is a gaping “chasm” (from which he drew his new name). Unable to see faces, even his own, due to his memory suffering greatly, Ben adopts a villainous attitude. Ben would go on to make an unlikely ally in another clone, by the name of Madelyne Pryor.

In the Limbo realm, Madelyne explains that with her Scythe of Sorrow, she rules over the Limbo and all the demons in Limbo. Through Madelyn, she creates an exact replica of New York, trapped in the Limbo, and manages to trap Peter Parker and many of his friends. Ben attempts to get Peter to eat a fruit that will rob Peter of his soul and give Peter’s memories to Ben, since Ben feels as though Peter deliberately smashed the memory transfer helmet during the fight with the Beyond Corporation, forever damning Ben to never reclaim the memories he was rapidly losing. However, Peter resists all of Ben’s trickery, and later, the X-Men manage to appeal to Madelyne’s good side, and convince her to stop – but in an effort to prevent that, Ben steals her Scythe of Sorrow, and becomes the new lord of the Limbo and ruler of demons; but this doesn’t last long as Madelyne reclaims the Scythe and Ben is captured and taken prisoner.

An anti-mutant organization known as the Orchis attempt to free Ben from his prison, but he refuses. Madelyne allows Ben to later escape on his own, feeling that his time as a prisoner has been fulfilled. Ben returns to Earth and discovers that his love, Janine/Elizabeth is now a super-being herself, known as “Hallow’s Eve.”

Chasm and Hallow’s Eve survive through committing a string of robberies. Kaine Parker tracks him down, yet again, and tries to set Chasm and Hallow’s Eve right, but he fails to do so, suspecting that someone is still controlling Ben’s mind.

Height: 5’10”
Weight: 165 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown (Dyed Blond)

Powers: Scarlet Spider can cling to most surfaces, has superhuman strength and is roughly 15 times more agile than a regular human. He has been able to lift 15 tons under optimal conditions. The combination of his acrobatic leaps and web-slinging enables him to travel rapidly from place to place. His spider-sense provides an early warning detection system linked with his superhuman kinesthetics, enabling him the ability to evade most any injury, provided he doesn’t cognitively override the autonomic reflexes.

Accessories: Scarlet Spider designed and constructed several devices that he traditionally carried as part of his full costume. This included twin artificial web shooters worn at the wrists, spare web cartridges attached to his belt, spider-tracer devices attuned to his spider-sense. He has reconstructed his web shooters out of a high density plastic to avoid metal detectors, and has added modifications to detect low web-fluid levels, and propel spider-tracers.

Note: Ben is an accomplished scientist and inventor.