Ever since Norman Osborn's sins were supernaturally cleansed, he's been a force for good in the Marvel Universe, both as the ethical C.E.O. of Oscorp and as the heroic Gold Goblin.
To ensure Norman wouldn't fall into old psychotic habits, Peter agreed to work for him at Oscorp and the two have since bonded. However, thanks to Kraven the Hunter, the former Green Goblin's sins recently returned and inhabited Spider-Man for a time.
That turned him into a very sinister Spider-Man, leaving Norman and Kraven to use a sci-mystical spear to remove the sins from Peter. Or did they? Norman has been acting strange lately. But, then again, so has Peter.
In today's Amazing Spider-Man #50, The Living Brain begins malfunctioning and declares, "Peter Parker Is Not Spider-Man." It also prints out a series of random words which, when read in Norman's office, reveal his cache of Green Goblin weaponry.
With that, we learn the Goblin is back and fully in control. He proceeds to depower and beat Spider-Man, though the wall-crawler fools the villain into taking him to his laboratory. There, he manages to dampen the Goblin's abilities, only for us to learn that The Living Brain's message was a warning, not a statement.
While Norman's sins were in Peter's mind, he used the brainwashing Winkler Device to toy with Peter's mind and turn him into a fellow Goblin (similar to how Ned Leeds was fooled into becoming Hobgoblin by Roderick Kingsley).
It's a shocking development and one which gives the Marvel Universe not one, but two Green Goblins. This is another major status quo shift for Spider-Man and, while we don't expect it to be permanent, this story has a distinct Superior Spider-Man feel to it.
Check out some pages from Amazing Spider-Man #50 below.
GUESS WHO'S BACK?! THE GREEN GOBLIN RETURNS in this landmark and massive issue of ASM that boasts not only a double-sized main story but some instant Spider-Man classics by legends and legends to be! The Sins of Norman Osborn have found their way home and Norman shows his true color - green. But is it truly that simple? Spidey and Gobby's brutal fight is one for the ages and you don't want to miss this ending. PLUS! MARV WOLFMAN RETURNS TO SPIDER-MAN! NIKESH SHUKLA tells a story that will stay with you for a long time. And more!
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #50
Written by ZEB WELLS
Art & Cover by ED MCGUINNESS
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