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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?

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.

To discover all Spidey’s adventures during this era, check out our Complete Spider-Man Reading Guide!

Ben Reilly Omnibus Collection

Thanks to Marvel Comics reprinted the whole Clone Saga and the Ben Reilly years in Omnibus the past few years, you can now read and collect a good batch of Ben Reilly’s story in Omnibus. Here’s a little guide to Ben Reilly in this particular collection: 

  • The Amazing Spider-Man #149, Ben Reilly’s first appearance, is collected in The Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus Vol. 5.
  • Spider-Man: Clone Saga Omnibus Vol. 1 (1994-1995)
    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 (1995)
    Collects Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #402-406, Super Special; Spider-Man (1990) #59-63, Super Special; Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) #225-229, Super Special; Web Of Spider-Man (1985) #126-129, Super Special; Venom Super Special; New Warriors (1990) #61-66; Spider-Man: The Jackal Files; Spider-Man: Maximum Clonage Alpha, Omega; Spider-Man Unlimited (1993) #10; Spider-Man Team-Up 1; Spider-Man: The Lost Years 1-3; Spider-Man: The Parker Years
  • Spider-Man: Ben Reilly Vol. 1 (1995-1996)
    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.
  • Spider-Man: Ben Reilly Omnibus Vol. 2 (1996-1997)
    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.
  • An alternate Ben Reilly is introduced during Spider-Verse.
  • Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy marks the Return of Scarlet Spider, but has not been collected in Omnibus yet.
  • Likewise, the Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider series has not been collected in an Omnibus.
  • After, Ben Reilly appears in Spider-Geddon, the follow-up to Spider-Verse. 
  • Amazing Spider-Man: Beyond Omnibus (2021-2022)
    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.
  • Dark Web Omnibus (2022-2023) [2025]
    Collects Dark Web #1, Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #14-18, Venom (2021) #13-16, Dark Web: X-Men #1-3, Dark Web: Ms. Marvel #1-2, Dark Web Finale #1, Mary Jane & Black Cat #1-5, Gold Goblin #1-5 And Material From Free Comic Book Day 2022: Spider-Man/Venom.

Ben Reilly Complete Reading Order Guide

Introduced as Peter Parker’s clone, Ben Reilly has been The Scarlet Spider, took over Peter the role of Spider-Man, make a controversial comeback as a villain and has recently took the name of Chasm! Here’s our complete guide to Ben Reilly in trades!

Ben Reilly: 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 have a Clone Saga Reading guide. With Ben Reilly, there’s no short way around it; you have to read it all. So, what follows is a little bit of a repeat! 

Ben Reilly Reading Order

With the release of Volume #27, the ongoing Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection series entered the Clone Saga. Over time, this collection will replace the many volumes of the Marvel Complete Collection. However, it’s still early days, so for now, the two collections co-exist in our guide.

  • 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.
  • The Amazing Spider-Man – The Complete Ben Reilly Epic vol. 1
    Collects Spider-Man: The Parker Years, New Warriors #65-66, Scarlet Spider Unlimited #1, Web Of Scarlet Spider #1-2, Amazing Scarlet Spider #1-2, Scarlet Spider #1-2, Spectacular Scarlet Spider #1-2, Green Goblin #3 and Sensational Spider-Man (1996) #0.
  • The Amazing Spider-Man – The Complete Ben Reilly Epic Vol. 2
    Collects Amazing Spider-Man #407-408, New Warriors #67, Sensational Spider-Man #1, Spectacular Spider-Man #230, Spider-Man #64-65, Spider Man/Punisher: Family Plot #1-2, Web Of Scarlet Spider #3-4, and material From Spider-Man Holiday Special And Venom: Along Came A Spider #1-4.
  • The Amazing Spider-Man – The Complete Ben Reilly Epic Vol. 3
    Collects Amazing Spider-Man #409-410, Sensational Spider-Man #2-3, Spectacular Spider-Man #231-233, Spider-Man #66-67, Spider-Man: The Final Adventure #1-4, Spider-Man Team-Up #2 and Spider-Man Unlimited #11.
  • The Amazing Spider-Man – The Complete Ben Reilly Epic Vol. 4
    Collects Amazing Spider-Man #411-413, Daredevil #354, Sensational Spider-Man #4-6, Spectacular Spider-Man #234, Spider-Man #68-70, Spider-Man: Redemption #1-4, Spider-Man Team-Up #3 And Spider-Man Unlimited #12.
  • The Amazing Spider-Man – The Complete Ben Reilly Epic Vol. 5
    Collects Amazing Spider-Man #414-416, Sensational Spider-Man #7-10, Spectacular Spider-Man #235-239, Spider-Man #71-72, Spider-Man Team-Up #4, Spider-Man Unlimited #13 and material from Amazing Spider-Man Annual ’96.
  • The Amazing Spider-Man – The Complete Ben Reilly Epic Vol. 6
    Collects Amazing Spider-Man #417-418, Sensational Spider-Man #11, Spectacular Spider-Man #240-241, Spider-Man #73-75, Spider-Man Team-Up #5, Spider-Man Unlimited #14, Spider-Man: 101 Ways To End The Clone Saga and material from Spider-Man: Revelations & Spider-Man: The Osborn Journal.

Marvel Comics invites readers to “journey back in time to another sensational era of Spidey storytelling” with Ben Reilly: Spider-Man, a limited series written by J.M. DeMatteis and starring Ben Reilly during his first stint as Spider-Man. While the events referenced in the story make it difficult to really pinpoint where it takes place, we invite you to check it out at least after Spider-Man: Redemption, as there are explicit references to that story (or simply after finishing this era): 

Ben Reilly Reading Order

The Alternate Ben Reilly

Before making his comeback, we were introduced to another Ben Reilly during Spider-Verse, an event full of Spiders! When Spider-Man and other Spider heroes from all over the multiverse are under attack, they unite to fight a common enemy. An alternate version of Ben Reilly teams 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

The world of Spider-Man is put upside down when an old foe makes his return! 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?!

You guessed it… Ben Reilly is no longer dead! But what is Peter’s clone’s role in this Clone Conspiracy? 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. Only one choice: read this divisive story among fans!

  • 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. 

In the aftermath of The Clone Conspiracy, Ben Reilly has a whole new take on life…and he’s not the same Scarlet Spider he was before. As there can be only one Spider-Man in New York, he moved to Vegas to live his own adventures in the new Scarlet Spider Series from Peter David and Mark Badgley. This series also delivers two Scarlet Spider for the price of one, as Kaine has a supporting role in it! 

Alert Event! During the Secret Empire event, 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.

It’s time for Spider-Geddon! The Spider Army must reunite to keep their enemy at bay in the follow-up to Spider-Verse. Ben Reilly is approached by Superior Octopus to play a major role in this event, one that has also an impact on the character. Check out our reading order here for the complete event with all the tie-ins!

Ben Reilly Reading Order

Guest-starring Ben Reilly

After those recent events, Ben returned to Las Vegas for a short stint in Conan before taking a part-time job in New York and appearing in Iron Man! 

Ben Reilly Reading Order

Ben Reilly, The Amazing Spider-Man Once More

Following the end of Nick Spencer’s run on The Amazing Spider-Man, a new creative team took over and brought back Ben Reilly to the forefront, as the official Spider-Man! Backed up by Beyond Corporation, Ben Reilly soon discovers he has a target on his back. Worse, it is not maybe the worse as something more insidious is going on in the halls of Beyond. And what exactly happened to Peter Parker? The answer to that question and more in Amazing Spider-Man Beyond!

Ben Reilly Reading Order

Ben Reilly is Chasm

Peter Parker has retaken the costume of Spider-Man, and Ben Reilly has, once again, taken a wrong turn, as Chasm! He first enters a partnership with the Goblin Queen, before complicating Peter’s life in the main title and going against Kaine. 

  • 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.
  • The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 10: Breathe
    Collects Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #45-49, and material from Free Comic Book Day 2024: Ultimate Universe / Spider-Man #1 and Web of Spider-Man (2024) #1.
  • The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 11: Going Green
    Collects Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #50-54. Ben appears in issues #51-52.
  • Chasm: Curse of Kaine [2025]
    Collects Chasm: Curse of Kaine #1-4 and material from Web of Spider-Man (2024) #1.

The end… For now? 

Spider-Man Comics Guide

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