The sins of Norman Osborn have returned to their rightful host, unleashing the Green Goblin on the world once more. Peter Parker had been planning for this eventuality and managed to corner Norman in his lab, where Spider-Man was able to even the playing field to get the upper hand.
Unfortunately, the Green Goblin had a trick up his own sleeve. When Peter had taken the sins of Norman Osborn into himself months ago, his twisted persona preserved itself via the Winker Device, brainwashing Peter to switch back to it when a code phrase is said.
Green Goblin activated the phrase and brought Spider-Goblin to the forefront of Peter's psyche. In today's Amazing Spider-Man #51, we see the Sinister Six plotting to take revenge on The Living Brain (which, in the previous issue, became The Walking Brain).
Kraven the Hunter tries to warn the Six of the threat Osborn's sins pose to them, only to be mocked by his teammates. With that, Doctor Octopus takes a call from Norman Osborn: he's sent in the Spider-Goblin to deal with the group and the former superhero makes short work of them.
He easily disables Doc Ock before knocking him out, forces The Vulture to fly headfirst into a wall by bounding his arms, and turns Sandman to glass after tricking Electro into losing control of his powers.
Mysterio's attempt to distract Spidey with "The Avengers" fails and the Goblin proceeds to beat his head in. Kraven soon learns his magic spear is useless; Peter has been brainwashed and doesn't have Norman's sins in him, meaning there's no simple fix for this dilemma.
However, just as Spider-Goblin is about to crush Kraven's head, Ben Reilly, a.k.a. Chasm arrives and prepares to battle his clone.
Elsewhere in Amazing Spider-Man #51, Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel figures out that Norman has been replaced by the Goblin. The Walking Brain, meanwhile, visits J. Jonah Jameson to retrieve Otto's old arms, presumably because they have Peter's original brainwaves stored in them.
Not everyone will be happy seeing Spider-Man head down a villainous route, but this is only going to be temporary...we think! Writer Zeb Wells has taken some big swings with the series and that looks set to continue in the coming weeks and months.
Check out highlights from Amazing Spider-Man #51 below.
THE SINISTER SIX IS BACK! As if the Green Goblin weren't enough, the Sinister Six has returned too!!! When it rains, it pours - and this rain is going to put Spider-Man into a world of hurt!