Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider - Back in the Hood Review

Finished reading Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider - Back in the Hood, spinning out of the pages of the Spider-Man: Clone Conspiracy event writer Peter David continues Ben Reilly's story as he finds himself once again becoming the Scarlet Spider. The book opens with Ben meeting with his former employee Dr Rita Clarkson, who gives Ben some money after he helps her with some angry people and makes his way to Las Vegas wearing a different version of a Spider-Man costume he stole. While in Vegas Ban makes his way to the Mercury Rising casino to hopefully meet with its owner Cassandra Mercury which Ben does when helps to stop an armed robbery within the casino. When Cassandra realises who Ben is, he uses the gun that Cassandra points at him as a means to she her daughter, who he cloned instead of curing the Crook' disease she has. When her daughter awakes from her coma Cassandra ask if Ben could cure her, only for Ben to lie and say that he can with the promise of money and equipment from Cassandra, who puts a tracker inside Ben's neck convincing him that it's also a bomb as collateral. Meanwhile back in San Francisco Kaine is trying to track down Ben's whereabouts with Rita being the first person he visits to get any information she has on Ben and with her password in the her computer back at New U, Kaine realises that Ben went to Vegas and decides to follow him. Overall this was a good book as it continues Ben Reilly's story as he heads to Las Vegas which give him a new direction in life that's leads to some very interesting setups for future story thanks to the introduction of a new supporting cast. The inclusion of Kaine into the book is great as it allows for some great interactions between the two Scarlet Spider's when they come into conflict with one another within the second part of the book while also giving Kaine his own story with the series. The art by Mark Bagley throughout the book is amazing as the actions scenes with Ben and Kaine puts their powers and abilities on show extremely well within the fight scenes along with how each character of the character designs and the way they emote is great thanks to the rest of the art team being able to elevate the story. 7/10.