Ben Reilly: The Scarlet Spider #21 // Review

What can possibly go wrong does go wrong when Murphy’s Law strikes the Scarlet Spider Brothers!

Peter David is behind the writing wheel, while Will Sliney and Rachelle Rosenberg are doing their best to draw the environment on the crazy train that is this issue of Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider.

Having infiltrated Nellis Air Force Base just outside Las Vegas, Ben Reilly’s quest to find a cure for Abigail has to be put on hold. Sauron, the hypnotic were-Pterodactyl is in town, and now he can breathe fire. Meanwhile, Kaine continues trying to save an ungrateful child from the Mindless One he’s accidentally taken control of.

Needless to say, few things go right.

Peter David has a knack for cliffhangers right now, with the last several twists in his comics being incredibly cool. The one leading into this issue with Sauron revealing himself was no exception, and it’s great to see an issue actually deliver with the cliffhanger written. Ben’s fight with Sauron is fantastic, taking advantage of close quarters combat and Ben’s science background. Kaine’s plot from last issue becomes a solid subplot here, and the cliffhanger for this issue really makes it look like the two clone brothers will be taking down some mysterious foe together.

Sliney and Rosenberg are having a ball with this issue. Sauron is rendered beautifully--for a were-Pterodactyl in tiny shorts, anyhow. The action is fast and frantic, but Sliney took a breath long enough to make sure Ben was also in tiny shorts for his fight with Sauron. It adds this lovely level of absurd to an already absurd situation, and makes this comic a delight.

If short, this issue has Sauron, which instantly gives it a cheesy goodness that Peter David thrives on. If Spider-Man’s clone fighting a were-Pterodactyl in tiny shorts isn’t enough for you to at least leaf through it at the local comic shop, you just don’t like comics.

Grade: A-