Ben Reilly: Spider-Man #3 sees the return of the most evil Spider-Clone, and his reappearance bodes nothing good for the newest webslinger.
WARNING: The following article contains spoilers from Ben Reilly: Spider-Man #3, on sale now from Marvel Comics.
Ben Reilly’s entire life has been defined by his struggle to build an identity outside of Peter Parker. This is made even more difficult by the resurfacing of even more Spider-Man clones in the Marvel Universe. Things get even more complicated in Ben Reilly: Spider-Man #3 (by J.M. DeMattis, David Baldeon, Israel Silva, and VC’s Joe Caramagna) in which the worst Spider-clone of all makes his return. After investigating the reappearances of several personal villains from his past, Ben discovered that they were all one particular villain in disguise: the clone Spidercide. It has been many years since this copy of Peter Parker made an appearance, but his return means only disaster for Ben from here on out.
Spidercide debuted in Amazing Spider-Man #399 (by J.M DeMattis, and Mark Bagley) as one of the Jackal’s successful clones of Spider-Man. Like his predecessors, this clone believed himself to be the true Peter Parker, but unlike his siblings he was obsessed with proving it. Above all else he tried to prove it to Peter’s wife, Mary Jane Watson. In the ensuing conflict with Peter, Ben, Mary Jane, and Peter’s other clone, Kaine, the genetic trigger Jackal placed in Spidercide was activated, unlocking shapeshifting abilities. Kaine would seemingly kill the clone, but this was not the last Ben would see of him.
The clone was eventually revived, no longer obsessed with proving himself as the true Peter, but instead serving the Jackal as his “son.” The Jackal saw the clone as nothing more than an experiment, mockingly calling him “Spidercide” as a play on what he would have the clone do to Peter and Ben.
Things would come to a head when Spidercide eventually betrayed Jackal, having realized that his creator never truly valued him. This spiraled into a final confrontation between himself and the Jackal at the Daily Bugle. The hatred between the two men resulted in them falling out of the building. Ben tried to catch them, but could only manage to catch Jackal. Spidercide hit the pavement, but due to his incredible regenerating abilities, was placed in stasis to be absolutely sure he would not return.
Clearly, that hope did not hold out. Spidercide has returned, most likely having escaped his prison and regained his strength. With the Jackal gone, the only thing left to him now is his hatred of Ben, who he blames for his abandonment. With his shapeshifting abilities he has been using Ben’s most traumatizing memories against him in an effort to destroy him. Those plans haven’t panned out however, forcing him to take the direct approach and attack Ben himself.
With all the same abilities of Spider-Man as well as his unique shapeshifting powers, Spidercide has a big advantage in his pending battle against Ben. The question still remains as to how the evil clone managed to escape his stasis pod, but the answer will have to wait, as Reilly must first find a way to defeat his powerful “sibling.”
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