Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider #12

Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider #12 comic reviewAlready confused about what direction to take now that the Slingers have kidnapped Cassandra Mercury as leverage to force the Scarlet Spider to turn himself in for the brutal attack on Thorne, the sudden return of Kaine (who has his own agenda in freeing the kidnapped club owner) only further complicates the situation. In the end the two Scarlet Spiders agree to work together.

The murky reality of Ben Reilly continues here as he’s talked into saving Cassandra from would-be-heroes who, let’s face it, are no more heroic than either of our web-slingers. This leads to some heavy action in the later-half of the comic between the Scarlet Spiders and the group along with some serious questions about just who or what some of the Slingers are and what they are truly after.

Kaine’s return makes me wonder how Ben’s clone brother may play into his attempt at redemption. After the current conflict will Kaine disappear for another few issues, or will the title get a co-star as the two flawed copies of Peter Parker try to make good together? Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]