Spider-Noir Cleans Up Marvel’s Most Notorious Clone Debacle on TV

The gritty, stylized world of Spider-Noir is already a masterclass in superhero TV, bringing a fresh, hardboiled take to the Web-Slinger’s mythos. But amidst its dark alleys and fedoras, a recent twist involving Nicolas Cage’s Ben Reilly has set off alarm bells for dedicated Spider-Man fans – and perhaps offered a long-awaited redemption. It appears the series is bravely tackling one of Marvel Comics’ most infamous storylines, The Clone Saga, head-on.

In a truly shocking reveal, our trench-coated hero, Ben Reilly, encounters an elderly stranger. This “Freckles” character drops a bombshell: Ben Reilly isn’t the name he was born with, but one he adopted after the war for a clean slate. This seemingly simple revelation immediately dredges up decades of convoluted comic book history.

Any mention of Ben Reilly and a mistaken identity sends shivers down the spines of readers remembering “The Clone Saga.” This multi-year epic, born in the mid-70s and resurrected in the mid-90s, became a benchmark for editorial chaos. It began with the tragic death of Gwen Stacy.

Blaming Spider-Man, biology professor Miles Warren – the nefarious Jackal – cooked up a clone to destroy Peter Parker. This original clone saga seemed neatly tied up in 1975, with the clone meeting an explosive end. Little did anyone know, the story was far from over.

Fast forward to 1994, and a mysterious figure looking exactly like Peter Parker emerges, eventually adopting the name Ben Reilly. He was named after Uncle Ben and Aunt May’s maiden name. This individual became the Scarlet Spider, a new hero swinging through New York.

Then, things got… messy. Marvel Comics editorial, worried about Peter Parker’s aging and marriage to Mary Jane, saw Ben Reilly as their ticket to “reset” the character. Their grand plan? To declare Ben Reilly the “real” Peter Parker and the Peter we knew as the clone.

Fans revolted en masse, rejecting this audacious switcheroo. The ensuing scramble led to countless retcons, a narrative spaghetti mess, and the resurrection of previously dead villains like Norman Osborn. Even Aunt May seemed to die and then live again!

The Clone Saga remains a cautionary tale of editorial interference, yet its shadow looms large. It’s been adapted, remade, and even given sequels across various Spider-Man media, including The Animated Series and the Ultimate Universe. Poor Miles Morales even got his own version recently.

Now, Spider-Noir appears to be offering a streamlined, elegant solution to the “who is Ben Reilly?” conundrum. By having him simply choose the name after escaping the horrors of war, the series sidesteps the genetic shenanigans and existential crises of the comics. It’s a compelling narrative choice for television.

This innovative approach suggests Spider-Noir isn’t just a great show, but also a clever way to honor Spider-Man lore without replicating its most confusing missteps. For fans burned by past clones, this fresh take is a breath of fresh air. Catch the suspense and unravel the mystery of Ben Reilly on Spider-Noir, now streaming on MGM+ and Prime Video. It’s truly compelling TV.

The Nerd Bureau Take: Spider-Noir’s savvy handling of Ben Reilly’s identity is a testament to smart TV adaptation. It takes a known comic book problem and delivers a compelling, character-driven solution that respects the source material’s spirit without getting bogged down in its most infamous baggage. This is how you do a superhero show right.