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Parts of this article's contents have been retconned from the main continuity. The retconned information can be found on a separate page here.
link={{{main}}} This article is about Ben 10,000's son. You might have been looking for Gwen's brother from the Classic Continuity, or the character from the Reboot Continuity.

After you took away my Omnitrix, I wanted to prove to you that I was ready to be a hero.

– Ken, revealing his identity as Spanner to Ben 10,000.[2]

Kenneth "Ken" Tennyson, also known as Chrono Spanner[1] or simply Spanner,[2] is Ben and Kai's son and Gwendolyn's brother.[note 1][note 2]

Appearance[]

Ken bears a striking resemblance to his father as a teenager. He wears a black and white shirt. The cuffs near his leg as well as his belt are green, and he has black pockets. The circle around his belt buckle is white. His eyes are a darker green. His skin tone is slightly tanned, and his hair is dark brown in color.

As Spanner, he wears a white armored jumpsuit, along with a green scarf and a white helmet. He appears to have some sort of equipment on his wrists.

Personality[]

Ken is generally much like his father was when he was younger, albeit slightly more intelligent and resourceful.

Though he cares for his parents, this love can reach extreme levels. For example, he made many attempts to ensure present-day Ben and Kai Green became a couple.[7]

History[]

Background[]

At some point, Ken received his father's Omnitrix. However, at a later point, Ken went on a mission he was not allowed to go on and got in over his head. As punishment for his disobedience, Ben and Kai took his Omnitrix from him.[DJW 16]

Despite this, Ken wanted to prove himself to be a true hero. When Professor Paradox gave him a device that would allow him to travel through time, Ken became a mysterious superhero named Spanner and traveled to the present day.

Omniverse[]

Ken first appeared in Something Zombozo This Way Comes as Spanner, where protected Ben from getting hit with a shoe from one of the Zombie Clowns. However, by the time Ben could turn around to see who was behind him, he vanished in a green light.

In And Then There Was Ben, Ken appeared briefly on a video call from his father telling him that he had to "run an errand".

In Cough It Up, Spanner appeared frequently to aid Ben and Rook while they defended Argit. Because he and Jimmy Jones never appeared at the same time, Ben and Rook believed that Spanner was a disguised Jimmy, though Jimmy stated he did not even know who Spanner is.

In Fight at the Museum, Spanner helped Ben and company save the first alien artifact that Kai and her grandfather found together. However, after trying to make sure Kai becomes Ben's significant other instead of Ester, Spanner admitted he comes from a future where the two are married. Knowing that it was for the greater good, Spanner stole the emptied artifact and returned to his future, where he saw that his parents are still married.

In Animo Crackers, Spanner attacked Dr. Animo and his future self before revealing his alias to Ben. The Animos split up, with Spanner immediately pursuing the future Animo. Both he and Ben were subdued by this Animo. Spanner then instructed Ben to contact Lt. Steel, which led Ben to discovering that the SECT was under attack. Ben, Rook, and Spanner arrived at the scene, Ben using Gutrot to defeat the Animos. Spanner then teleported away with the future Animo, and Ben wondered who he was.

In The End of an Era, Spanner returned the future Animo to his timeline after the events of Animo Crackers. He later assisted Ben 10,000 in battling Maltruant before revealing himself to be Ken. He was instructed to bring present day Ben, Rook, and Skurd to the future to help before being defeated by Maltruant.

After being returned to his family by present Ben in A New Dawn, Ken was grounded shortly after the battle by Ben for neglecting to tell him that he was Spanner.[DJW 17]

Powers and Abilities[]

Ken is highly acrobatic, as shown during his fight with Subdora.[7]

Ken has enhanced reflexes, as shown when he was able to dodge one of SixSix's attacks.[11]

Equipment[]

Ken possesses a technologically advanced, full-body suit provided by Professor Paradox, which he dons while assuming his Chrono Spanner identity.

The Chrono Spanner suit has blasters on the wrists, allowing Ken to fire lasers[11] and electricity.[1]

The Chrono Spanner suit comes with jet boots, granting Ken the ability to fly.[11]

Using his Chrono Spanner suit, Ken can travel through space[1] and time.[7]

Ken possesses a Dehydrated Techadon Army Cube which he can use to create Techadon Robots that can carry out orders for him.[2]

Ken formerly wielded the Omnitrix, which was confiscated by Ben and Kai.[2]

Appearances[]

Omniverse[]

Season 5[]

Season 6[]

Season 7[]

Season 8[]

Trivia[]

Notes[]

  1. The Omniverse crew brought back the Ben 10,000 from the Original Series instead of working on a new one like in Ultimate Alien.[DJW 2][DJW 3][DJW 4][DJW 5][DJW 6][DJW 7][DJW 8][DJW 9]
    • He is from further in the future, after having learnt the lessons from his encounter with his 10 year old self[DJW 9] and lightened up.[DJW 10]
    • This is due to:
      • The executives' push for having everything more like the Original Series, which was the most successful of the franchise.[DJW 7]
      • The crew's preference of the original Ben 10,000[DJW 6] over the Ultimate Alien portrayal.[DJW 8][DJW 11]
    • Derrick J. Wyatt made several further statements to corroborate this, expanding on what was known from the Original Series, such as the backstories for the Biomnitrix and Kevin Levin invoking the plotlines of Ben 10,000[DJW 10] and Ken 10[DJW 12] respectively, the defining tragedy in Ben 10,000's life having now occurred at the age of 20,[DJW 13] "shifted" from the original age of 15,[pop-up 1][5] etc.
    • The writing of the show also explicitly called this out, such as when Ben identified the future Dr. Animo in Animo Crackers as the same person who he encountered in Ben 10,000,[1] and other efforts were made throughout the last few seasons to align the story with the original future timeline, in terms of character designs, set designs and plot lines.
  2. Ben 10,000 is stated to be Ben Prime's true future self.[DJW 5][DJW 14]
    • This is evidenced in-show in Omniverse by the fact that both the Ben 10,000[6][2] and the future Dr. Animo[1] recalled characters and events from the present day. Chrono-Spanner also frequently visits present day with effects of his actions manifest in his present.[7] This would not be possible if these characters belonged to an alternate timeline.
    • It was pointed out by fans that this created a plot hole with the Original Series, as Ben 10,000 was from an alternate timeline[8][9][pop-up 2][10] in which he never travelled to the future when he was 10, and consequently did not give Max a cake on his 60th birthday, while Ben Prime did.[5] Thus, Ben 10,000 did not recall the events of the episode from his younger self's perspective.[9][DM 1][DM 2][DM 3]
    • Derrick responded to the matter by saying: "Your 'plot holes' are irrelevant. Time isn't completely fixed, it's shifting. Events can be subtly altered. But Ben 10,000 is the future for the Ben Prime timeline."[DJW 5]
    • He further explained that future is always in flux,[DJW 15] and is constantly affected by current events, especially by the meddling of the present by time-travellers.[DJW 14] This was also showcased in Ben 10,000. Thus, Ben 10,000, ie, Ben's current true future will always be changing, depending on the future writers of the show.
    Therefore, it is an unintentional retcon by the Omniverse crew. Due to the logical inconsistency introduced by this retcon, the Wiki treats the Original Series and Omniverse versions of the character, and by extension, his timeline, separately.

References[]

Crew Statements[]

Derrick J. Wyatt[]

Dwayne McDuffie[]

Duncan Rouleau[]

Pop-Up Trivia[]

Characters
Prime Timeline
Tennyson Family Ben TennysonBetty Jean TennysonBig Chill's OffspringCamille MannCarl TennysonClyde FifeFrank TennysonGordon TennysonGwen TennysonJoel TennysonKen TennysonMax TennysonNatalie TennysonSandra TennysonVera TennysonVerdona
Levin Family Harvey HackettKevin's MotherKevin LevinZedDevin Levin (retconned)
Rook Family Rook BenRook BlonkoRook BrallaRook DaRook SharRook ShiRook Shim
Secondary Characters Alan AlbrightAzmuthBlukicCash MurrayCooperDribaEsterHelen WheelsHexHobbleMr. BaumannJTJimmy JonesJulie YamamotoKai GreenManny ArmstrongPakmarMagister PatellidayPierce WheelsProfessor ParadoxRad DudesmanReinrassig IIIShipSkurdTetrax Shard
Plumbers Magister ArnuxBel Biv KaboomBromebaBranniganBrykChortleMagister CoronachDraxBig EdElliotFistinaGalvan TeacherMagister LabridMagister HulkaI.M. WerfzelJerryLeadfootLucy MannMagistrataMedicMolly GuntherMortyMagister Prior GilhilMagister PykeRobucketScoutSecurity AliensStick DougTackVictor ValadisWat-SennWes GreenXyleneZorian
Forever Knights foreverduke838SquireSir Winston
Galactic Enforcers UltimosSynaptakTini
Sentient Ultimate Forms Sentient Ultimate Big ChillSentient Ultimate CannonboltSentient Ultimate Echo EchoSentient Ultimate HumungousaurSentient Ultimate SpidermonkeySentient Ultimate Swampfire
Galvan Azmuth's FatherChadzmuthDuffyFergiLuhleyDrill InstructorUjinY-itZennith
Arachnichimps HaplorHaplor's DaughterHaplor's Wife
Atrocians Blue-WorstOrange-WorstPink-WorstPurple-WorstShe-WorstSlim-WorstViolet-Worst
Gourmands Private BrownbagSergeant Cast IronSergeant CookmeisterQueen Voratia Rumbletum
Highbreed Bailiff (Don't Fear the Repo)Bailiff (Universe vs. Tennyson)Bunker HighbreedFormer Highbreed Supreme
Lewodans CaitiffCicelyPrince of LewodaZaw-Veenull
Kinecelerans DJE-NK8-EML-EN-8N-DT8-M
Tetramands BahrvadGar Red WindLooma Red WindTetramand Priest
Bellwood Residents Alton AlabasterBen's Teacher (And Then There Were 10)Ben's Teacher (Destroy All Aliens)Bill GacksDr. BorgesCarol SmithChet RigbyEmilyExasperated GuyJamieMrs. JonesJonesyJuliusMadisonMadison's FatherMollyNatalie AlvarezPierce's GirlfriendMrs. RheaultSenseiSparring PartnerTeejThaddeus J. CollinsTrinaWaltWatchmakerMr. WebbMr. Yamamoto
Undertown Residents Alien Incidental 15BlowfeldBuzzFruit VendorGenerator VendorGenghis KenGilford BromleyGil SteptoeLacknoLillimusha DiForestiniLoovis SlerdlerkMedicPaxSmoothie VendorSock VendorSponge GorbTentacle VendorToby MonitorWhalium Whalace
Actors Abel NorthCerebrocrustacean ActorDeefus VeeblepisterFridgeGourmand ActorGwenettesHughJennifer NocturnePiscciss Volann ActorSwampsVilgax Actor
Genetic Donors Alan's DonorAndreasBivalvanDignitary 16GalapagusHelen's DonorManny's DonorP'AndorRa'adSmuggled PsycholeopterranSugilite
Government Air Force Major GeneralAgent BrysonEarlGeneral GroffHugoCouncilwoman LiangAgent LockeOfficer LouSheriff MasonOfficer MullenPresidentRangerDr. ShuemanLt. SteelOfficer Wells
Magic BezelElsgoodElvesIgnaceousSpellbinderThomas Jingles
News Steve CummingsVance VetteroyWolf Blitzer
Other Humans Amazing AlanAndyProfessor AnicetoBarryBobBradDoddsDonovan Grand SmithEddie Grand SmithEdithErinErin's BoyfriendEuniceMrs. FangFitzFlorenceFritzGaterboyGenaroGilbertHaroldHectorHelena XaglivH.E. GradyHelioHervéHotel GuardImmovable ObjectJeffJoan MaplewoodJoeDr. KellyLarryLawrence WainrightLucyMandyMargieMartyMaureen NocturneOliver ThompsonPorcupineRegisRogerMrs. RozumSandwich VendorCaptain ShawShelbyShip-It EmployeeSumo Slammer Collecting BoyTiffanyTim DeanTodd MaplewoodTylerValadis Laboratories JanitorMr. Zu
Other Aliens Artie the ArtifactBlowfishCentur SquaarChicken AlienCosmic MomCow AlienDeckaJudge DomstolDragonDubbaFrolicGlutoGrackGrickIncursean WarriorKwarrelKyle MonitorLuLukikMalliceMechamorph GuardMoleyMouldywarpMyaxxNosedeeniansNull Void SettlersOrbParts DealerProbityPyxiQuinceRayonaScreegitSentinelSentinels of MonawkSerfSheelaneStar ChildTechnorgTinyTiny's FatherTiny's MotherTrukkTwoTwoVexxViktoriaWarden K'dakYetiZavinZex TannersnedeZs'iza and Zs'oiseZzzakt
In-Universe Media Doggy BuddyFiery BuddyHandy BuddyIshiyamaKappaKenko
Alternate Dimensions/Timelines
Original Series Future Timeline Ben TennysonDevlin LevinGalactic Enforcers (UltimosSynaptakTini)Gwendolyn TennysonGwendolyn Tennyson (Ben's Daughter)Ken TennysonKen's PetMax TennysonMaxatomar Kid
Race Against Time Timeline Ben TennysonCarl TennysonMrs. CarlyleCash MurrayConstantine JacobsDoris DaltonEdward WhiteMr. EnguellsGwen TennysonMr. HawkinsMr. JenyxJTMax TennysonOld ManSandra TennysonMr. Whittington
Dimension 23 AzmuthBen TennysonSevenSevenTetrax Shard
Omniverse Future Timeline ArgitBen TennysonBlukicGwendolyn TennysonJ. Jonah JonesKai TennysonKen TennysonKevin LevinMax TennysonRook BlonkoWill Harangue
No Watch Timeline Ben TennysonGwen TennysonJTKevin LevinMax Tennyson
Gweniverse Gwen Tennyson
Argitrix Timeline Argit
Mad Ben's Dimension Mad HarangueMad Rook
Aborted Timelines
Time Heals Timeline Ben TennysonGwen TennysonKevin Levin
Ultimate Alien Future Timeline Ben Tennyson
Non-Canon
Gwen 10 Ben TennysonGwen TennysonMax TennysonThe Seer
Goodbye and Good Riddance ArnoldBen TennysonBen's DogBen's TeacherCarl TennysonCash MurrayGwen TennysonJamieJTMax TennysonPetersonSandra TennysonThe Seer
Books Alien ContractorsDinosaur EVOGladiatorGuardIlma NarLonnieLorelaiPlen StroffPresidentPrisoner From the Planet DustovRobotic BullSoolSkraprr ByakkoElena ValadisTimothyTini Rau
Other 10/10/10 Box Aliens
Non-Ben 10
Generator Rex Agent SixBobo HahaCaesar SalazarDiane FarrahRebecca HolidayRex SalazarWhite Knight
The Secret Saturdays Doc SaturdayDrew SaturdayFiskerton SaturdayKomodoZak SaturdayZon
MAD Benjamin Franklin
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