Comics Official Fans of Reilly Thread

[Venom160]

so it was actually Ben? Not just some crappy cop out?

 

[Themanofbat]

The name Ben Reilly was mentioned in the comic... by the bad guy... in front of Spider-Man.

Very nice moment in the book...

Spoiler

It would appear that the preview was as shown... someone that was probably Ben had something to do with that guy in Portland, and he now comes looking for Ben Reilly (and finds Peter Parker) with some powers... the issue ends with Peter looking into the fire from a few years ago questioning what Ben did to that guy... it's going to continue sometime in ASM in the fall.

 

[JewishHobbit]

I've decided I'm not picking this arc up unless he physically comes back, but I did want to skim it. Unfortunately, my shop got a lot of damaged ones in so it sold out and I have to wait until next week when their replacements show up. I still won't buy it though, still mad at Spidey due to OMD.

I might buy that Clone Saga mini though. I'm still debating due to the $4 price tag.

 

[Themanofbat]

Here's a spoiler review of the issue...

Spoiler

It starts out pretty much as seen in the preview... a mystery man fights another guy while the house is on fire several years ago in Portland... the mystery man looks like Peter Parker, so we could "assume" that it was Ben Reilly.

We then move to today in Boston where JJJSr. has flown everybody to a restaurent for a surprise for May, which turns out to be a Reilly family reunion headed by May's sister Jan. There's a mention of another sister April that is the black sheep of the family and nobody talks to her. We get to see Peter's newfound cousins, especially some "hot" ones that Peter can't help take his eyes off of... Meanwhile, the villain "Raptor" is watching this because he's been watching the Reilly family for 6 months, and he's pleased because the reunion has finally drawn "him" out...

When Peter ducks into the bathroom, Raptor attacks Peter, there's a minor scrimmage and Peter throws them both out the window (as he would if he didn't have powers and was just scared). Raptor crashes to the pavement only to find himself attacked by Spider-Man. There's a big fight all the while Raptor claims he's not the bad guy and he wants Spidey to back off. This goes on for a while until Spidey finally asks to the guy what he had against Peter Parker... to which the guy responds... "His name's not Peter Parker! His name is Ben Reilly!".

Naturally, hearing the name sends Spidey into a semi-state of shock as memories of the Clone Saga fill the next few pages with various pics of Ben and the Scarlet Spider. "Ben Reilly" he thinks... "A name I haven't heard in years. A name I thought I'd never hear again."...

Spidey then tells the guy Ben Reilly is dead, he flips out and calls Spidey a liar and escapes.

Though thanks to police reports, Spidey gets the name of his assailant... Damon Ryder.

When Peter gets back to NY, he googles the name, and it gives him the story about the fire in which Ryder's family died and he was the sole survivor.

It ends with Peter questioning to himself... "Ben... What did you do?"

Continued in Amazing Spider-Man!

 

[roni14]

I've decided I'm not picking this arc up unless he physically comes back, but I did want to skim it. Unfortunately, my shop got a lot of damaged ones in so it sold out and I have to wait until next week when their replacements show up. I still won't buy it though, still mad at Spidey due to OMD.

I might buy that Clone Saga mini though. I'm still debating due to the $4 price tag.

How weird! All of the ones at my shop were damaged too! Was the top right corner bent up a bit?

 

[JewishHobbit]

I didn't get to see what was wrong with them. They had those set aside by the time I got in.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

Could anyone scan me the cliffhanger page with Pete reading about the fire? Not asking for the whole issue, but that page sounds really cool, and I'm not going to be able to get my own copy for over a month. :-(

 

[Themanofbat]

I'd do it if I had a scanner...

Spoiler

The last panel is a police sketch of Ben that was on the internet (based on the story listed in the Portland Post about the fire)... the before last one is of Pete looking at the monitor... of course, they practically look the same.

 

[imdaly]

Could anyone scan me the cliffhanger page with Pete reading about the fire? Not asking for the whole issue, but that page sounds really cool, and I'm not going to be able to get my own copy for over a month. :-(

Spoiler

 

[JerseyJoker]

I thought it was a great issue.

Bringing Ben Reilly back is really a gamble, but this prologue to his return was a great read. You really feel shocked, just like Peter when the name is heard. Can't wait to see hsi return in the fall, see how Peter and Ben interact at all.

 

[iloveclones]

The only problem with the issue is that sometimes Oliffe draws characters very similar. So the new character looks very much like Pete. In fact, I was wondering if it was (another) clone. The clincher is when Pete says that he doesn't recognize him (I think editorial made them put that line in so readers wouldn't be thinking the same thing that I was...)

 

[JerseyJoker]

Yeah, i was thinking that too, before reading closely i was confused to see ... is that ben for a second? But then read description. But you probably get more distinction in the looks of the characters when Ben returns to Amazing.

 

[Ultra Magnus]

I loved the issue, the story and the storytelling was great.
Haven't been that emotionally attached to a comic book since Ben died.
Well done! Can't wait for the continuation in ASM.

 

[Themanofbat]

Let's see if all the Ben Reilly fans can support his character with an increase in ASM Annual #36 sales wise...

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

I thought it was a great issue.

Bringing Ben Reilly back is really a gamble, but this prologue to his return was a great read. You really feel shocked, just like Peter when the name is heard. Can't wait to see hsi return in the fall, see how Peter and Ben interact at all.

Okay... do you know for sure he's coming back from the actual dead?

 

[JerseyJoker]

Nope, we as the audience know just as much as Peter Parker does ... and i enjoy that. I hate being ahead of the curve and knowing these things before they happen. Hopefully they do bring him back, or it could just lead Parker down a road to discover what role Ben had with that arson.

 

[uchiha_itachi]

i really do hope this is a resurection story

 

[Venom160]

Honestly I think how well the six issue CS mini sells will be the deciding factor on whether or not Ben will come back in the flesh.

 

[uchiha_itachi]

i dont even collect singles, but for this i think i will.

 

[Ultimate Kaine]

Hot damn! Just got done reading the comic I've most anticipated since Ben died, and it did not let down! "Raptor" and the mystery of Ben in Oregon are great expansions of the clone mythology. A few thoughts:

1. Rapture seems to have similar flesh-warping creature features and costume/tech as the new (red) Vulture. Wonder if there's a link there - could The Jackal be back, secretly creating new animal-themed villains for Spider-Man!?

2. I truly hope Ben was not responsible for the deaths of Damon's family. If so, I guess this is a set-up for Ben to return as a villain. Not a retcon I'd be happy with, but I would be happy with Ben returning in any fashion so I'll be along for the ride. Beggers can't be chosers.

3. If Ben wasn't responsible, this is a good mystery and set-up to get audiences invested in Ben again. So who would be responsible then? The one and only, KAINE! Either Slott or Weber professed an interest in the character in an interview so I'm crossing my fingers, here!

All in all, a fantastic read, I wasn't happy with Guggenheim's previous revelation-based stories (Jackpot, Menace) but in this one he hit the nail on the head and successfully brought the clone saga back into view in a respectful, non-pandering way - the complete opposite of the double-edged sword we expected over the years if they ever brought Ben back into play. Thank you Guggenheim!

 

[Spider-ManHero12]

Honestly I think how well the six issue CS mini sells will be the deciding factor on whether or not Ben will come back in the flesh.

That's a possiblilty, but I'm not sure. I mean, doesn't Marvel already realize the fanbase for Reilly? You do have a point though. Maybe this will make them realize it even more.

 

[Venom160]

I mean it makes sense. They're testing the waters with Reilly in Sm/Xm #3, now this story with Ben in atleast flashback form, and now this retelling of the CS. It definitely looks like Marvel is testing the fanbase.

 

[Spider-ManHero12]

I mean it makes sense. They're testing the waters with Reilly in Sm/Xm #3, now this story with Ben in atleast flashback form, and now this retelling of the CS. It definitely looks like Marvel is testing the fanbase.

Yeah, that's true, actually. I guess we'll just have to wait and see, but I have a feeling we'll be seeing something special in the future due to this response, as you said. Well, atleast, I'm hoping it's a test that we get something.

 

[moraldeficiency]

I've got to agree with the others that when I first read it I thought that raptor guy was a clone of pete as well, other than a slightly different haircut they were identical. At first I thought it was several clones fighting it out with an evil clone killing the family of a good one. When pete ripped his mask off and didn't recognize the guy was when I realized it was just some other guy.

 

[SpideyInATree]

I loved the annual. Very awesome. Whether Reilly comes back or not it's finally, FINALLY amazing to see them freakin' acknowledge the Clone Saga in current continuity.

The battle with the Raptor guy was a little too drawn out to me though. I am sitting here thinking, "Come on, Spidey, take this guy out and lets get to the Ben Reilly sweetness!". Though I found myself laughing out loud because Peter wanted to nail his cousins. Heh.

But I agree with a poster earlier in the thread. It looks like Ben won't be coming back. Just seems like a person from the Lost Years days coming back for revenge and Peter, obviously being the original, will get caught up in this mess.

Though if they do bring Reilly back I will definitely be giving Marvel a double thumbs up. Should have been done a long time ago instead of treating the Clone Saga like a red headed stepchild. That belongs to Sins Past.