Warning! Spoilers ahead for Devil's Reign #2
In the latest issue of Marvel Comics' Devil's Reign, Ben Reilly's Spider-Man faces off against Taskmaster when he learns a brutal lesson about what web-swinging truly entails. Taking place during New York's citywide ban of superheroes and vigilantes thanks to the Powers Act signed by Mayor Wilson Fisk (Kingpin), Taskmaster is a newly deputized Thunderbolt with orders to arrest superheroes on sight which includes Spider-Man. Unfortunately, their subsequent battle didn't go in Spider-Man's favor, leading to an unfortunate scenario where Ben's webs weren't enough to save him from a major defeat.
In recent issues of The Amazing Spider-Man, Peter Parker's clone Ben Reilly has taken over as the official Spider-Man while Peter recovers in the hospital (due to radiation poisoning). Working for the Beyond Corporation, Ben is seeking to be the best Spider-Man he can be, though Devil's Reign is his first big crossover event with other heroes such as Daredevil and the Avengers. However, while Ben and Daredevil provided support to Miles Morales and Captain America in the event's first issue, Ben may already be out for the count in Devil's Reign #2.
Coming from Chip Zdarksy and Marco Checchetto, Ben has no choice but to take the bait in this new issue laid out by Thunderbolts Taskmaster and Whiplash who have Daily Bugle employees as hostages. Even though the Bugle was chosen based on Kingpin's intel about the original Spider-Man's comings and goings, it doesn't change the new Spider-Man's responsibility to save them. While Ben takes Whiplash down rather quickly, he wasn't prepared for Taskmaster who slaps a power-dampening collar on his neck before kicking him out the window. Naturally, Spider-Man tries to shoot a web to catch his fall but without his usual spider strength, his arm is brutally ripped from its socket before he lands on a car on the street below.
As such, this new issue proves that super strength is a much-needed prerequisite for web-swinging, though it certainly comes at the absolute worst time for Ben to be reminded of this lesson. Granted, Ben's options were limited as he was falling while powerless thanks to Taskmaster, though perhaps he could have webbed the ground beneath him to cushion his fall instead? Either way, it does seem logical that a higher than average amount of physical strength would be required from whoever's wearing the classic web-shooters.
In any case, it looks as though Ben Reilly will likely be arrested in upcoming issues of Devil's Reign. Likewise, it's also possible he could also be unmasked by Taskmaster to complete Kingpin's records, even if Ben's not the original Webslinger. Regardless, whatever happens next for Ben Reilly's Spider-Man he's certainly going to need some time to heal after his painful attempt to web-swing without his normal strength.