Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Kaine would be like the Player-3 version, but I wouldn't say that to his face.


One of the last comics I picked up before the quarantine was Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown #2 (which I may have to scan the cover for!) which featured guest-star the Scarlet Spider getting, to use the wrestling parlance, mercilessly jobbed by Conan. (Written by Saladin Ahmed, art by Luke Ross.) Conan's partner Nyla (a deep-cut from Ann Nocenti's Daredevil) hits Scarlet with a flare for the assist; but it's a cheap loss. Kind of feel like the Kaine Scarlet Spider might've done better, though. So let's check out a comic with them! From 2018, Ben Reilly: the Scarlet Spider #22, written by Peter David, art by Will Sliney.

I don't recall all his backstory, but Kaine was a meaner clone of Peter Parker, but was also trying to redeem himself under the Scarlet Spider moniker. He seemed to be doing a better job than Ben, though, since the recap page mentions Ben trying to avoid damnation, so...Kaine also had some bonus powers, like invisibility and maybe bone claws? We don't see those this time, but I seem to recall his figure had them. Trailing a military convoy to a secret base in the suburbs, Kaine is confused, then runs into a guard dog. A two-headed one!

Getting past the dog for the moment, outside a door labeled "work room," Kaine notices a strange smell: cotton candy, specifically from Coney Island. It's a fond memory the clone has from Peter's childhood, but they were in Nevada, why would that smell be there? The smell intensifies inside, as Kaine finds a white room filled with anachronistically-dressed office workers, before he's attacked by the dog again. The workers do not seem particularly bothered or interested, except for one woman who gives him a jab with a spear!

Weakened, Kaine realizes the spear--excuse me, naginata--was poisoned, and accuses her of cheating. Incensed, Nakano knocks Kaine out, but is stopped by her boss, a smiling man in a white suit with a bad haircut. Meanwhile, Ben Reilly takes an Uber, to threaten a little girl? I'd say this is what happens when you miss an issue; but I did have a couple of the issues prior, so I'm not sure what's up with this, except Ben does block the girl's mouth to prevent her using some power. Still, she appears to have the same boss, who introduces himself as Gabriel. The angel Gabriel. A bright light seems to convince Ben; and Gabriel explains he's there as a counter to the forces of evil in the world. He also gives him a vial of his blood, to save a sick girl; and gives him Kaine as well, teleporting them both back to Ben's surprised Uber.

Gabriel's organization was described as the Diogenes Initiative, and it seems pretty obvious there was going to be something more to them. This series had three issues left, so maybe it wrapped that up.

1 comment:

  1. This is the complete history for that company that I could find:
    https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Diogenes_Initiative_(Earth-616)

    The name sounds familiar, and I could've sworn it's been used by DC in the past. I could be wrong tho.

    Yeah the Kaine version of would've definitely fared better against Conan, and honestly so should've Ben, but the writers just HAD to make Conan look badass and strong, so there you go. Conan's not superhuman tho. Damn good fighter, but not a superhuman. He shouldn't have won, at least not so easily and not w/o an assist and some cheating.

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