Everything We Know About Scarlet Spider – The Most Complex Spider-Man In Across The Spider-Verse
From Spider-Punk to Spider-Man 2099, the animated sensation Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse introduces to us the vast world of Spider Society, with millions of different Web-Slinger variants working together to ensure the balance of the Multiverse. A lot of beloved and iconic Spideys are brought from the comic to the big screen, and that includes Scarlet Spider. One of the most famous variants in the comic, Scarlet Spider has more than just a cameo role in Across the Spider-Verse, as he is one of Miguel O’Hara’s trusty right-hand men (or Spider-Men?), who joins in his mission to find Miles Morales after the latter escapes from Nueva York.
Throughout the movie, Scarlet Spider serves mostly as a comedic relief character, but Marvel comics fans would know that the hero is actually one of the most twisted and complex Wall Crawlers in history. In this article, we will tell you everything we know about Scarlet Spider, and what role he may have in Beyond the Spider-Verse.
#1. He has a quite complicated origin in the comics.
Source: Marvel Comics
Scarlet Spider’s real name is Ben Reilly, who’s actually a clone of the original Spider-Man, Peter Parker. Making its debut in the controversial Clone Saga comic, Ben was created by Miles Warren, aka the Jackal, one of Peter’s most iconic arch-nemesis. The clone has all of Peter’s memory and strongly believes himself to be a real Spider-Man.
Throughout the story, Ben was struggling with his identity crisis, dying and getting resurrected many times in the process. He also takes on many different monikers, from the original Spider-Man when he was out cold, or even the Jackal himself, and finally, the villainous entity known as Chasm. Having died so many times, Ben Reilly slowly loses his sanity, and eventually becomes evil thanks to the Beyonders. No wonder he has a mental breakdown in Across the Spider-Verse.
#2. What’s his power compared to other Spider-Men?
Source: Marvel Comics
As a clone of Peter Parker, Ben wields the same powers and abilities that the original Web-Slinger does, for example, super strength and agility, wallcrawling, and Spider-Sense. However, when he was turned into Chasm in the comic, these powers are greatly enhanced, especially his Spider-Sense, which now allows him to automatically launch psionic energy back at the enemies. He can also transform his webbing into physical weapons and swing them with ease.
#3. He’s not the only Scarlet Spider in the comics.
Source: Marvel Comics
The other Scarlet Spider, Kaine Parker, another artificial clone of Peter Parker made by Warren, takes on the moniker while Ben was away. Much like Ben, Kaine also carries a dark past behind his back, and is also somewhat mentally unstable. In combat, Kaine is brutal, unforgiving, and even fights both Spider-Man and Scarlet Spider a few times.
Kaine’s power is also somewhat similar to Peter’s, but later gains some huge upgrades, one of them even allows him to see glimpses of the near future, or the Mark of Kaine which leaves a burning mark just by touching his enemies. In Across the Spider-Verse, Kaine has a brief cameo as one of many members of the vast Spider Society.
#4. Scarlet Spider’s role in Across the Spider-Verse.
Source: Sony Pictures Entertainment
In the movie, Scarlet Spider has a more prominent role and is voiced by the Brooklyn 99’s star Andy Samberg. Not just any member, Ben Reilly is one of Miguel O’Hara’s higher-ranked elites, as the latter let him join in the mission to stop Miles Morales from reaching his father. However, Ben doesn’t get much chance to showcase his abilities, as Gwen easily dispatches him later on and sends him back to his universe.
When Miles first counter Scarlet Spider, the latter seems to having a mental breakdown at the point, keeps mumbling and reminiscing about his dark past and origins. It was a hilarious scene to see, but considering how twisted and convoluted his past really is, we got to feel for him a little bit. Hopefully, Ben will have a more serious and significant role in Beyond the Spider-Verse, where we can discover more about his backstory.
#5. Which Spider-Man variant will appear in Beyond the Spider-Verse?
Source: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Across the Spider-Verse ends with a cliffhanger, which sees Miles being captured by his counterpart in Earth-42, who turns into the Prowler, while still having the Spider Society, led by Miguel, behind his back. Meanwhile, Gwen and Peter B. Parker are rallying a team of Spider-People to save her friend, which includes some familiar faces like Spider-Ham, Spider-Man Noir, and Peni Parker, along with some recruits such as Spider-Man India and Spider-Punk.
The third part might include some new Spider-Man variants to come to the fight against The Spot, and Scarlet Spider might make a return as well. The movie is set to release in March 2024, being the grand finale of Miles Morales’s animated trilogy.
Do you think Scarlet Spider will return in Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse? Share your theories in the comment.