Scarlet Spider
| Scarlet Spider | |
|---|---|
The four versions of Scarlet Spider in the main Marvel Universe. Counter-clockwise from top left:
Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider on the cover of Web of Scarlet Spider #1. Art by Steven Butler. |
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider on the cover of Web of Scarlet Spider #1. Art by Steven Butler.
Joe Wade as the evil cybernetic Scarlet Spider. Art by Paris Karounos.
Red team Scarlet Spiders on the cover of Avengers: The Initiative #7. Art by Stefano Caselli.
Scarlet Spider is a fictional character who appeared in Marvel Comics series starring Spider-Man. Scarlet Spider's costume was designed by Tom Lyle and the first appearance of the hero is in Web of Spider-Man #118. The identity of the Scarlet Spider has been used by several characters: Ben Reilly, Peter Parker (while Ben posed as him in prison), Joe Wade (a villain), a group of three Michael Van Patrick clones working with the Initiative, and Kaine.
Ben Reilly was the first Scarlet Spider and was a clone of Spider-Man created by the Jackal (Miles Warren). The Jackal created the clone to fight and defeat the original Spider-Man, but since the clone and Peter both shared the same memories, they confused themselves in the battle. The original Peter Parker emerged victorious and the clone was left for dead and dumped into a smoke stack of a factory. The clone managed to escape and assumed the alias Ben Reilly, a combination of his Uncle's first name and his Aunt's maiden name. He wandered around aimlessly for five years before returning to New York City, and found himself once again wanting to be a hero. He fashioned his own costume, and became the Scarlet Spider. He fought alongside his "brother" Spider-Man and proved himself to be such a great hero that Spider-Man asked him to watch over the city while he and his wife Mary Jane tried to start a family. When his name was smeared by a second, evil Scarlet Spider, he assumed the identity of Spider-Man, until his death at the hands of Norman Osborn. His body subsequently disintegrated, proving once and for all that he was the clone.
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