Other Ways The Clone Saga Could've been handled

[Russell]

One thing I am wary of when it comes to Ben is that his return (or even if he never died) would have overshadowed/prevented Kaine from becoming what he is today, and I love the current Scarlet Spider book. Even in the clone saga Kaine was cool, but now he's comics best hero in my opinion.

[Jim Thompson]

Having Ben be alive would have opened up more story possibilities. I think the presence of Kaine makes a pretty good case for the potential long-term viability of a clone of the hero. Ben was a unique enough character to carry it off.

Well, I'd be all for Ben's return.

[Chris S.]

I think Marvel should have milked the cow that was The Lost Years for all it was worth. That story might be in my top 5.

[Venomous Mask]

Ben should have returned as the Scarlet Spider and given his own series. To please the fans who were sick of the clone stuff (by that time, probably most of them), he should have been sent to another city where he had the bare minimum contact with Peter, like is being done with Kaine. That being said, maybe it was best to keep him dead, since soon after, all of the Spider titles took a big dip in quality that last until JMS came along.

And yeah, The Lost Years Was an amazing story, possibly the vest arc of the Clone Saga.

[Russell]

What makes Kaine good right now is that he has to redeem himself, for Peter and for Ben.

If Ben moved to a new city, he would essentially be giving up and going back to a life he didn't enjoy. I don't think it made sense for the character to leave New York after returning because going back there was what he always wanted AND he had family now: Peter & MJ.

Either Peter moved to another city and Ben remained in New York, one of them died or they both stayed in New York and had Spidery adventures interdependent of each other.