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Ben Reilly Reading Order, The other Spider-Man… or is it? (Scarlet Spider)

Ben Reilly - Spider-Man FCBD 2021

Ben Reilly is back! He can die, go live in another city, disappear for years, but he always comes back. But who is Benjamin Reilly? His story can be a little convoluted because it’s about clones, fake deaths, mistaken identity, and more.

Created by Gerry Conway in 1975, he first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #149… and is immediately killed. But he came back years later during the (in)famous “Clone Saga” storyline (see reading order) as the “Scarlet Spider,” an ally of Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Together, they fought against The Jackal and Kaine, the unsuccessful first clone of Spider-Man, but also another clone of Spider-Man who became the villain Spidercide, and more.

After some confusion about the identity of the real Peter Parker and other complicated twists and turns, Peter left his superhero life behind him and Ben Reilly became the official Spider-Man. Until his death. After that, he just appeared in the occasional flashbacks. Then he returned to life in 2010 during The Clone Conspiracy (see reading order). Once again, things got complicated for Ben, but he stayed alive this time and got his new ongoing series for a while, then he faded away.

With the new Spider-Man Beyond storyline (that began with The Amazing Spider-Man #75), Ben Reilly came back again as Spider-Man again, for a short time, then came the Dark Web. When will he be back again?

Ben Reilly Reading Order:

Don’t forget to check our article introducing the several characters part of the Spider-Verse to learn more about the members of the Spider-Man Family.

The Ben Reilly Omnibus

First, let’s take a look at the omnibus edition, a new way to collect Ben Reilly’s story as those Omni will be released between December 2023 and February 2024!

  • Spider-Man: Clone Saga Omnibus Vol. 1
    Collects Web of Spider-Man (1985) #117-125, Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #394-401, Spider-Man (1990) #51-58, Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) #217-224, Spider-Man Unlimited (1993) #7-9, Spider-Man: Funeral for an Octopus (1995) #1-3, Spider-Man: The Clone Journal (1995) #1, material from Spider-Man Collectors’ Preview.
  • Spider-Man: Clone Saga Omnibus Vol. 2
    Collects Sensational Spider-Man (1996) #4-11, Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #411-418, Spider-Man (1990) #68-75, Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) #234-241, Spider-Man Unlimited (1993) #12-14, Spider-Man: Redemption #1-4, Daredevil (1964) #354, Spider-Man Team-Up #4-5, Spider-Man: Revelations Tpb, Spider-Man: The Osborn Journal, Spider-Man: 101 Ways To End The Clone Saga And Spider-Man: Dead Man’s Hand.
  • Spider-Man: Ben Reilly Vol. 1
    Collects Web of Scarlet Spider (1995) #1-4; Amazing Scarlet Spider (1995) #1-2; Scarlet Spider (1995) #1-2; Spectacular Scarlet Spider (1995) #1-2; Scarlet Spider Unlimited (1995) #1; Green Goblin (1995) #3; Sensational Spider-Man (1996) #0-3, Wizard Mini-Comic; Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #407-410; Amazing Spider-Man Annual ’96; Spider-Man (1990) #64-67; New Warriors (1990) #67; Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) #230-233; Spider-Man/Punisher: Family Plot (1996) #1-2; Spider-Man Holiday Special (1995) #1; Spider-Man: The Final Adventure (1995) #1-4; Spider-Man Unlimited (1993) #11; Spider-Man Team-Up (1995) #2-3; material from Venom: Along Came a Spider (1996) #1-4.

The Clone Saga Years

Years, not months… Yes, the ’90s were complicated and what motivated The Clone Saga is not an exception. The story went on for a long time. For more information, we already published a Clone Saga Reading Order. With Ben Reily, there’s no short way around it, so it is a repeat.

  • Spider-Man: The Complete Clone Saga Epic Book 1
    Collects Spider-Man: The Lost Years #0-3, Web Of Spider-Man #117-119, Amazing Spider-Man #394, Spider-Man #51-53, Spectacular Spider-Man #217, Material From Spider-Man Unlimited #7.

  • Spider-Man: The Complete Clone Saga Epic Book 2
    Collects Amazing Spider-Man #395-399, Spectacular Spider-Man #218-221, Spider-Man #54-56, Spider-Man Unlimited #8, Web Of Spider-Man #120-122, Spider-Man: Funeral For An Octopus #1-3.
  • Spider-Man: The Complete Clone Saga Epic Book 3
    Collects Amazing Spider-Man #400-401, Super Special, Spectacular Spider-Man #222-224, Super Special, Spider-Man #57-58, Super Special, Spider-Man Unlimited #9, Wed of Spider-Man #123-124, Super Special, Spider-Man: The Clone Journal and Venom Super Special.
  • Spider-Man: The Complete Clone Saga Epic Book 4
    Collects Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #402-404; Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) #225-227; Spider-Man (1990) #59-61; Web of Spider-Man #125-127; New Warriors (1990) #61; Spider-Man: The Jackal Files; Spider-Man: Maximum Clonage Alpha, Omega.
  • Spider-Man: The Complete Clone Saga Epic Book 5
    Collects Amazing Spider-Man Super Special, Spider-Man Super Special, Venom Super Special, Spectacular Spider-Man Super Special, Web of Spider-Man Super Special, New Warriors (1990) #62, Web of Spider-Man #128-129, Amazing Spider-Man (1962) #405-406, Spider-Man (1990) #62-63, Spider-Man Unlimited (1993) #10, Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) #228-229, Spider-Man Team-Up #1, Spider-Man: The Parker Years.

If you want a bit more, in 2022, Marvel launched a new Ben Reilly series written by J.M. DeMatteis set during that period:

Ben Reilly Reading Order

The Alternate Ben Reilly

Before making his comeback, we were introduced to another Ben Reilly during The Spider-Verse Event (see reading order). During that storyline, Spider-Man and other spider heroes from all over the multiverse united to fight a common enemy. An alternate Ben Reilly teamed up with Kaine and Ultimate Jessica Drew for the miniseries Scarlet Spiders.

 

  • Spider-verse
    Collects Amazing Spider-Man (2014) #7-15, Superior Spider-Man #32-33, Spider-Verse #1-2, Spider-Verse Team-Up #1-3, Scarlet Spiders #1-3, Spider-Woman (2014) #1-4, Spider-Man 2099 (2014) #6-8 And Material From Free Comic Book Day 2014 (Guardians Of The Galaxy) #1.

Ben Reilly Reading Order

Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy and the Return of Scarlet Spider

Yes, Ben Reilly is no longer dead. It would be too spoilery to enter into the details of his return during this Spider-Man story written by Dan Slott, with Christos Gage, and Jim Cheung as the artist. But here is our full reading order for more information and the official synopsis: Amidst a gauntlet of his deadliest rogues, an old foe returns to the fore. Loved ones lost are dead no more as Peter Parker plunges headlong into The Clone Conspiracy! The Jackal has returned, more driven and determined than ever. He’s offered Spidey’s greatest rogues a chance to reunite with their loved ones in exchange for loyalty. But to what end? With the Rhino, the Lizard, Electro, and even Doctor Octopus at his side, things are looking bleak. But who else from Spider-Man’s past has reappeared?!

  • Amazing Spider-Man: The Clone Conspiracy
    Collects Amazing Spider-Man 19-24; The Clone Conspiracy 1-5; The Clone Conspiracy: Omega; Silk 14-17; Prowler 1-5; Material from Free Comic Book Day 2016 (Captain America) 1.

As usual, there can be only one Spider-Man in New York. After The Clone Conspiracy, Ben Reilly moved to Vegas to live his own adventures in the new Scarlet Spider Series:

Alert Event! During the Secret Empire event (reading order here), a lot happened in Vegas. This is not a necessary read, because Ben Reilly is not in it, but if you want to know why there are changes in the Scarlet Spider series, it’s because of it.

This is where the Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider ended. After that, Ben made a comeback during the Spider-Geddon event, the sequel to Spider-Verse. You can find the reading order here.

 

Ben Reilly Reading Order

Guest-starring Ben Reilly

After all that, Ben Reilly mostly disappeared for a while. He made two appearances in other non-spider series as a guest star:

Ben Reilly Reading Order

Ben Reilly, The Amazing Spider-Man

With the end of Nick Spencer’s Run on The Amazing Spider-Man (reading order here), a new creative team took over and put Peter Parker on the sideline. Ben Reilly is back as the official Spider-Man, backed up by the Beyond Corporation.

You can find more information in our Amazing Spider-Man Beyond Reading Order.

  • Amazing Spider-Man Beyond Omnibus
    Collects Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #75-93, 78.BEY, 80. BEY, 88. BEY, 92. BEY, 74 (Ben Reilly Story); Free Comic Book Day 2021: Spider-Man/Venom #1 (Spider-Man Story); Mary Jane & Black Cat: Beyond (2022) #1.

Following the events that took place during the Beyond era, Ben Reilly made a tragic comeback during the short event Spider-Man Dark Web (you’ll find the full reading order here).

  • Dark Web
    Collects Dark Web #1, Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #15-18, Venom (2021) #14-15, Dark Web: X-Men #1-3, Dark Web: Ms. Marvel #1-2 and Dark Web Finale #1.
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