Spider-Man Needs to Leave Marvel's 90s Excess Where it Belongs
Warning: contains spoilers for Amazing Spider-Man #93!
The latest Spider-Man narrative from Marvel Comics brings back a story element that fans of the character never wished to see again: 90s angst. Peter Parker's perpetual popularity plummeted precipitously during the dark decade of decadence and despair, aptly remembered as the Dark Age of Comics, as past stories about a more nuanced Spider-Man took a backseat to edginess, aggression and shock-value moments during the infamous Clone Saga. With a single moment, Amazing Spider-Man #93 manages to bring the 90s back to Spider-Man comics in a way that will shock some fans and confuse most everyone else.
The current Spider-Man: Beyond story arc continues where it left off, with Peter Parker once again donning the Spider-Man mask after making an almost-full recovery from a deadly radiation-based attack. In his absence, Ben Reilly was courted by the Beyond Corporation to act as New York City's official new Spider-Man. But Beyond has seemingly edited Ben's memories, taking out certain elements of his past (including his knowledge that he was a clone of Peter); when he realized the truth, he sought out Peter and the two fought in the Beyond headquarters.
CEO Maxine, seeing the situation get out of hand, escapes while destroying the Beyond facility. Ben Reilly accepts that his life has been "stolen" and seemingly perishes as chemicals released by Maxine destroy all of Beyond's records...including the people. But somehow Reilly survives; in a short coda at the end of the issue, Reilly's girlfriend Janine seeks him out, but he's nowhere to be found. "Ben is gone. And where you were...there is only a Chasm." thinks Ben. Such is Reilly's new supervillain name.
"Chasm" is about as 90s of a name there is; the title fits perfectly among the likes of Darkhawk, Grifter, Geist the Twilight Man, and every hero in Rob Liefeld's Youngblood team. Coming back from the dead full of revenge is a trait shared by Spawn and even Reilly himself in the 90s (and again in 2017). The new costume, sporting the green and purple colors used by practically every villain, doesn't help matters at all. Add in some ammo pouches and shoulder pads and Reilly would fit perfectly among the New Blood heroes from the early 90s, or the New Mutants.
The Clone Saga is despised by Spider-Man fans because of a meandering storyline, reveals upon reveals, a story with a desire to shock rather than say anything important, and copious amounts of angst. Ben Reilly has seemingly experienced character regression rather than development, and in his new villainous role will most likely see to take back the life he believes was stolen by Peter Parker. Chasm is not the first Spider-Man villain to wear a darker version of the hero's suit, but he's certainly the most angst-ridden.