Web of Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #118

Background

Ben Reilly - Peter Parker's clone originally thought dead way back in ASM #150 - has just returned. He was seemingly blown up in the previous issue but instead has gone off wandering on his own.

Story 'Memories'

Ben is in the Museum of Natural History in NYC. He sees some sort of robbery going on and doesn't want to jump in because it would compromise Peter's identity and he knows Spider-Man is Pete's life, not his. Luckily he doesn't have to as the police deal with it. But he remembers that with great power must come great responsibility and is tied over what he should be doing.

Elsewhere in the city, Venom swings down to help the police out chasing a suspect. His help isn't too welcome, however, and he is shot at. He ends up on the roof where Jean DeWolff died and remembers how it was that saga that eventually led to him (Eddie Brock) becoming Venom.

Ben has returned to the hospital where May is and is watching her through the window. Betty turns up and has a chat with Anna Watson. Ben runs off, clinging to buildings and swinging from lines as he goes. He ends up back at the warehouse where Spidey first cornered the burglar who murdered Uncle Ben.

Venom returns to the church where the symbiote first possessed Eddie while Ben returns to the bridge where Gwen was thrown off by the goblin. He sees another woman about to jump and swings down to save her. He drops her off at a hospital. After that he hears a report about Venom being on the upper east side, so goes back to his flat and puts on his variant of a Spidey. He swings off ready to take on Venom.

General Comments

The Ben stuff at the beginning is a nice touch and really begins to make him appealing to the reader. Venom is beginning to get a bit overused but the story has started well, so let's see how the rest of the arc pans out.

Overall Rating