Ben Reilly (Scarlet Spider)
The clone who took the name and the hoodie.
The clone from the original Gerry Conway storyline, years before he was named Ben Reilly.
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Why Ben Reilly (Scarlet Spider) matters to collectors
The Clone Saga is the most argued-about storyline in Spider-Man history, and Ben Reilly is why. For a stretch in the mid-1990s Marvel told readers that Ben was the original and Peter was the copy, and whatever you think of that decision, the Scarlet Spider costume - blue suit, red hoodie, external web-shooters - is one of the best designs the character family ever produced.
Key issues and milestones
- The Amazing Spider-Man #149 (1975) - The clone appears in the original Conway story, the thread Marvel pulled on twenty years later.
- Web of Spider-Man #117 (1994) - The Scarlet Spider costume debuts and the modern Clone Saga begins in earnest.
- Spider-Man: The Lost Years #1 (1995) - The limited series that fills in where Ben went during the missing years.
- Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider #1 (2017) - A solo ongoing two decades later, proof that the character outlived the storyline that made him controversial.
The hoodie was a practical story detail rather than a style choice. Ben had no money and no gear, so he pulled a sweatshirt over a homemade costume, and it became one of the most copied looks in Spider-Man design.
Collecting Ben Reilly (Scarlet Spider) through the years
ASM #149 was a normal 1975 monthly that gained a second life once the 1990s Clone Saga made it retroactively important. The mid-90s Ben Reilly books were printed in the enormous quantities typical of that era and are mostly common, with the exception of a handful of variant and foil covers that were distributed unevenly. Web of Spider-Man #117 is the one collectors single out for the costume debut. The whole run is a good reminder that 1990s books are graded strictly, because the paper and printing of that era rarely produce top grades.
Read Ben Reilly (Scarlet Spider) comics on VeVe
VeVe also runs a digital comic store, separate from its collectible drops. Search it for Amazing Spider-Man comics Single issues we checked on 25 September 2026 ran from US$3.99 to US$8.98, so a new collector's US$10 credit covers one outright.
Ben Reilly (Scarlet Spider) on VeVe
VeVe has released Ben Reilly as a figure, and the Scarlet Spider design is the reason it works - the hoodie over the suit gives a sculpt actual cloth geometry instead of a painted-on bodysuit, and the external web-shooters are visible hardware. Drops are scheduled with tiered rarities and a limited premium sculpt.
A Ben Reilly figure. Check the drop calendar for upcoming Marvel releases - drops sell out in minutes, and reminders keep you ahead of them.
New to digital collecting? Start with what VeVe is and why first appearances are the rookie cards of comics.
Before you collect Ben Reilly (Scarlet Spider)
- Claim your free US$10 - new collectors start with credit toward a first piece, no card required.
- Is VeVe legit? - our honest review, including the parts VeVe would rather we skipped.
- How to start on VeVe - signup through first drop, step by step.
- Are VeVe collectibles worth it? - who genuinely enjoys this hobby, and who should pass.
Ben Reilly (Scarlet Spider) collector FAQ
Where can I buy Ben Reilly (Scarlet Spider) digital collectibles?
Ben Reilly (Scarlet Spider) digital collectibles release on VeVe through scheduled drops and the in-app marketplace. A Ben Reilly figure.
What is Ben Reilly (Scarlet Spider)'s first appearance?
Ben Reilly (Scarlet Spider) first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #149 (1975). The clone from the original Gerry Conway storyline, years before he was named Ben Reilly.
Are Ben Reilly (Scarlet Spider) collectibles on VeVe officially licensed?
Yes. Every Marvel collectible on VeVe is produced under official license with the rights holder - that licensing is the core difference between VeVe and unlicensed NFT projects. More on licensed vs unlicensed.
Are Ben Reilly (Scarlet Spider) digital collectibles NFTs?
Technically yes - VeVe collectibles are NFTs recorded on blockchain for provenance. In practice they work like licensed digital collectibles: bought in-app with a custodial wallet, no crypto knowledge needed. How VeVe NFTs actually work.