A couple of years ago, Marvel Comics shocked everyone by resurrecting the Sin-Eater in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man. At the behest of Kindred, he was able to purge Norman Osborn of his sins, setting the former Green Goblin on a righteous path.
After rebuilding Oscorp and finding an unexpected ally in Peter Parker (who was initially keeping an eye on the reformed villain before bonding with his former foe), Norman is now the heroic Gold Goblin. However, his evils didn't just vanish from the world.
Instead, the Beyond Corporation got their hands on the concentrated physical manifestation of those sins and injected them into therapist Ashley Kafka, transforming her into the monstrous Queen Goblin.
With help from Kraven, she recently removed those and placed them within a spear that, despite being meant for Norman - in order to bring the Green Goblin back - ended up being plunged into Spider-Man's soul. Now, he's carrying Norman's sins and today's Amazing Spider-Man #33 shows the impact it's had on the hero.
Deciding to punish Kraven for what he did to him during "Kraven's Last Hunt," Spidey dons his black suit and hunts the villain down.
The web-spinner injects him with a serum we learn was meant to attract Vermin and his family, all of whom start tearing Kraven apart. Spider-Man intervenes before they can deliver the killing blow, and drags an unconscious Kraven away.
When he wakes up, he's inside a coffin. Spider-Man throws a rifle in and offers the Hunter the opportunity to skip to the end of this story by taking his own life. With that, Peter buries Kraven alive in a twisted mirror image of what happened all those years ago when their roles were reversed.
This change to Spider-Man isn't going to be permanent, though the covers of upcoming issues suggest we could see the wall-crawler embrace his inner Goblin. Will Norman eventually take back his sins, once again becoming the man who murdered Gwen Stacy? It seems like a natural end point for his arc but we'll see.
Check out some pages from today's issue #33 below.
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #33
ZEB WELLS (Writer), PATRICK GLEASON (Artist)
Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR.
SPIDER-MAN’S FIRST HUNT!
• The hunter is now the prey.
• Can Kraven survive?
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #34
ZEB WELLS (Writer), PATRICK GLEASON (Artist)
Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR.
SPIDER-MAN’S HUNT CONTINUES!
• Who is Peter’s next victim?
• The penultimate chapter of a story you’ll never forget!