Warning! Spoilers ahead for Amazing Spider-Man #76
The latest Spider-Man storyline from Marvel Comics has the potential to be really smart... or really dumb. In the current Spider-Man Beyond arc, Peter Parker is in critical condition while Ben Reilly is taking over as the new Spider-Man in New York City. However, it's important to note that Reilly was set up as a new Spider-Man before Peter Parker was hospitalized. As a result, Ben Reilly being positioned as Peter Parker's replacement is either highly coincidental (which is ridiculous), or the result of a direct attack by Ben's employers, who are sponsoring his new role as New York's official Webslinger.
In the first chapter of Spider-Man Beyond in Amazing Spider-Man #75, Peter Parker was surprised to find his clone Ben Reilly swinging around New York in a brand new spider-suit, having taken the name Spider-Man. When they eventually meet up, Ben reveals that he's working for the Beyond Corporation, an organization looking to get into the superhero game. They've chosen Ben to be their corporate-backed Spider-Man, seeing as how they possess the trademarked name and likeness (an act courtesy of Doctor Octopus when he took over Peter's body as the Superior Spider-Man). While the original Spider-Man wasn't sure about how he felt about sharing his superhero life with Ben, he still teamed up with the new Webslinger all the same to take on the U-Foes. However, an attack from X-Ray sees Peter becoming deathly sick from radiation poisoning, resulting in Ben rushing him to the hospital.
With Peter out of commission, he gave his official blessing for Ben to take on the Spider-Man title, seeing as how he needed a replacement. However, the timing of it all is incredibly suspicious. Did the Beyond Corporation secretly hire the U-Foes to take Spider-Man off the board, allowing their Spider-Man to take all the spotlight without any competition? Ben's handler and company man Marcus certainly didn't show any remorse for the original Webslinger in Amazing Spider-Man #76 from Zeb Wells and Patrick Gleason.
It makes sense that the Beyond Corporation would want the original Spider-Man gone while also keeping their actions a secret from their hired hero who may as well be Peter's brother. For his part, Ben certainly seems remorseful, regretting what happened to the original Spider-Man, an indication that if there was foul play involved he wasn't a part of it. That being said, fans know that the Beyond Corporation has less than altruistic goals, and poisoning the undesired Spider-Man wouldn't be outside of their wheelhouse.
Essentially, if Ben Reilly's being set up as a new Spider-Man right before Peter needed someone to replace him is just a coincidence, that feels forced (and rather dumb). In contrast, making the Beyond Corporation responsible for Peter Parker on the verge of death in the hospital is a dynamic and smart plot point, especially considering that they're giving Ben a chance to be a true hero (just like he's always wanted). Only time will tell as Spider-Man Beyond continues.