How The Original Scarlet Spider Returned To The Marvel Universe

12/21/2016 12:01 pm EST

Readers were shocked to learn that the identity of the Jackal the one behind the cloning techniques of New U, was none other than Ben Reilly. Reilly is Peter's long lost clone, who sacrificed himself to save Peter once upon a time, but it turns out that Reilly would have preferred death over the torture he would face at the hands of Miles Warren.

Spoilers from here on out, so if you haven't read Amazing Spider-Man #22 or The Clone Conspiracy #3, you've been warned.

Reilly discovered he was indeed the clone when he started disintegrating in Peter's arms. The story did not end there, however, as after Peter left Dr. Miles Warren went and collected samples from what was left. He was able to clone Reilly once more but this time he was able to retain all of his memories in the process. Warren held him captive as he sought to get rid Reilly's body of the elements that cause cellular degradation over time. To find those elements, he had to go over every option, and that meant killing Reilly.

Again...and again...and again.

In fact, he killed him 27 different times, in all manner of ways. Reilly was electrocuted, he was drowned, burned, injected with poison, frozen, and gassed, all reducing the degradation but not getting rid of it. Reilly is finally able to get out of his restraints and takes Warren down, enclosing him in the same pod he was tested in. When Warren wakes up, Reilly has already figured out the issue and has successfully cloned Warren numerous times.

It certainly puts things into perspective and gives Reilly's case much more ammunition. You can view some images in the gallery.

Amazing Spider-Man #22 is in stores today.

Written By: Dan Slott & Christos Gage

Art By: Giuseppe Camuncoli

Colored By: Jason Keith

Inked By: Cam Smith

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