Comics and other entertainment based on comic properties are not typically the medium for a Cinderella story. Once a character is perceived in a negative light, it can be quite hard for fans to turn in their favor. In an era where entertainment from the 1990s is at times looked at through rose-tinted glasses, Marvel's Spider-Man made the right call to include some great nostalgia-inducing nods to the past. Broadly speaking, a good example of this phenomenon comes from the comics character of Ben Reilly, aka The Scarlet Spider.
Ben Reilly's first appearance and origin come from the controversial Spider-Man Clone Saga comics published between 1994 and 1995. Created by The Jackal as a perfect clone of Peter Parker, Reilly was intended to fight and kill Spider-Man but instead ended up becoming an ally and eventually donning the Scarlet Spider mantle. Ben Reilly has gone on to garner fan favor through his reappearances in newer runs of Amazing Spider-Man as well as with the inclusion of the Scarlet Spider suit in Marvel's Spider-Man after initially being a polarizing character. With trailers now confirming his appearance in the upcoming Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse film, it's the perfect time for Ben Reilly to see his own video game.
An Across the Spider-Verse tie-in Could Make the Perfect DLC for Spider-Man 2
The Scarlet Spider isn't the only 90s-era Spider-Man variant to feature prominently in the new trailers for the upcoming sequel to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The latest trailers for Across the Spider-Verse have established that Miguel O'Hera, Spider-Man 2099, will seemingly be the film's antagonist. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is set to release this fall and it's very likely that there will be DLC expansions released for the title after launch. A sizable expansion based on the events of the Across the Spider-Verse film would be the perfect tie-in and an excuse to have Spider-Man 2099 and the Scarlet Spider be playable characters.
Insomniac Games' Spider-Man titles feature multiple suits that reference various eras of Spider-Man's history in the comics and each have their own unique abilities. Having Ben Reilly and Miguel O'Hera be separate playable characters with their own move sets and skill trees, instead of just a cosmetic re-skin, could potentially be a massive expansion to the base game of Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and establish connection and continuity between two massively successful entertainment properties based on the comics.
The Clone Saga Could Make a Compelling Spider-Man 3 Storyline
The success of 2018's Marvel's Spider-Man all but ensured that players would receive a sequel and spin-offs based on other Marvel characters. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is set to release in fall of this year and Insomniac's next Marvel game based on Captain Canada himself, Wolverine, is projected for 2024. If Insomniac is going to continue making third person action games based on Marvel properties, it follows that a potential Spider-Man 3 is a very real possibility. With both Marvel's Spider-Man titles taking inspiration from the comics, the third game in a potential trilogy should adapt and improve the Clone Saga storyline.
Part of the initial cool reception from readers to the Clone Saga storyline was caused by how confusing and convoluted the story was in the comics. Insomniac Games has proven itself adept at writing a version of Spider-Man that resonates with fans, enough for the PS4 Spidey to be featured in the upcoming Across the Spider-Verse. Between the resurgence in popularity of Ben Reilly and the opportunity for Insomniac to improve on an important piece of Spider-Man's cannon, the Clone Saga would be an excellent basis for the narrative of a Spider-Man trilogy. Whether in an expansion to this year's Marvel's Spider-Man 2 or his own standalone game, Ben Reilly deserves his due.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is currently in development for PS5.