Customer Reviews

Peter Parker, Spider-Man: Return of the Green Goblin

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
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In issue #39 of "The Amazing Spider-Man" the web-head's arch enemy the Green Goblin learned Spider-Man's secret identity and captured Peter Parker. At the end of that stunning issue, the first drawn by John Romita, Sr., he took over as the artist for the comic book from Steve Ditko, the Goblin unmasked himself and was revealed to be Norman Osborn. Clearly this was the greatest "to be continued" moment in the history of the character, and when Spider-Man defeated the Goblin and Norman Osborn conveniently ended up with amnesia, it was only delaying the inevitable. However, it was not until the Green Goblin killed Gwen Stacy that the secret of Spider-Man's true identity would die with Norman Osborn. Every Green Goblin encounter after this one has only been a shadow of the original, although the twin deaths of Gwen and Norman Osborn was rather significant. Peter Parker carries the scars of Gwen's death to this day, but with the death of the Green Goblin the "Spider-Man" comic had killed off its prime villain, something that as a general rule comic books try to avoid doing.

"Return of the Goblin" presents the four-part story "A Death in the Family" from "Peter Parker: Spider-Man" issues #44-47 from 2002. Yes, on one level this was certainly a marketing ploy, designed to take advantage of the summer blockbuster "Spider-Man" film last summer. But there are also some strong echoes from the classic Green Goblin stories of the past and even if you have not been keeping up to date on either Spider-Man comic book during the Volume 2 era as long as you know the key elements of the Spider-Man mythos you can appreciate this story. Written by Paul Jenkins with the distinctive pencils of Humberto Ramos inked by Wayne Faucher, the story begins with Norman Osborn expressing some harsh words at the grave of his son Harry and then going off to confront Spider-Man during a driving rainstorm. The initial battle is inconclusive: Spider-Man refuses to play Osborn's game, but he insists that he will get the web head's undivided attention. The Goblin does this by going on television and claiming it was Spider-Man who was responsible for the death of Gwen Stacy. However, that lie is only the first of several buttons Osborn starts pushing on Peter. Osborn's hirelings grab Flash Thompson, get him drunk, and put him behind the wheel of a tanker truck that is driven right through Peter Parker's classroom at school. Flash survives, but as sustained permanent and irreversible brain damage. Spider-Man has gotten the message loud and clear.

Clearly the importance of this story line is that it provides a fresh new tragedy for Peter Parker to feel guilty about. However Jenkins is also trying to make this more a contest between Norman Osborn and Peter Parker, which means it is more of a psychological duel for most of the story. But the end game still begins once the Goblin has pushed Spider-Man over the line. The ending might strike you as being a bit unbelievable, but then we have endured almost four decades of the Green Goblin remembering, forgetting, re-remembering, re-forgetting, etc., so at least Jenkins gets point for being creative and coming up with something different. Given that he was redefining the contest as more of a psychological battle of wills, you have to admit there is a logic to the outcome. The art by Ramos is perfect for the fights between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin, especially the initial contest in the downpour. Actually, I really like the way Ramos draws the Goblin, who has never looked more like a psychotic killer. Not a great story, but certainly an intriguing one and a better battle between the two arch enemies than the "Spider-Man" flick.

Good Piece of Work, My brother also has his own copy, Storyline well...But still a Must for any Spidey Fan.

Look, this is really quite simple. If you want an entertaining romp through the Spider-Man/Green Goblin history, read the Death of Gwen Stacy, then read Spider-Man: Blue, and finish your reading off with this book.

When I was a kid, Spider-Man was always my favorite super hero because he had the coolest powers, that and he was human... Not human like Batman, but he was a real guy with real problems. That's the beauty of the character. And now that I'm older, what keeps me coming back are the ways in which the good writers tell a story of a real person, who just happens to be a hero... That's why this book is good... Forget about the "Spider-Man continuum" that "purists" will blab about. If comics were meant to be that pure, there wouldn't be half a dozen different Spider-Man serials running at the same time. These are stories about good and bad, and this happens to be a very entertaining one. And before I forget, Ramos does an excellent job as usual.

Don't listen to the other readers who downplay this book, give it a chance, it's worth every penny.

Let me set one thing straight, Norman Osborn was brought back from the dead 7 or 8 years ago. And that has nothing to do with this story. Over the years there have been a lot of Spider-man vs. Green Goblin fights, but this one was original in itself. The story starts off with Norman drugging Flash Tomphson (long time bully, but in recent years a friend to Peter), who works for him, and putting him in a truck which he directs toward the school were Peter works. The ensuing accident puts Flash in a coma, and Peter decides its the last straw
Jenkins is a great writer. He's funny and original. Throw in Huberto Ramos' quirky and completely different art style, and you have one great TPB. This one is definitely worth picking up.

Fantastically well told, this is not your typical Spidey-Goblin conflict. This particular duel is a psychological one, and really gets to the heart of both the individual characters, and the relationship Peter and Norman have. Jenkins makes great use of supporting characters, Ramos's art is phenomenal, and the story is gripping. Perhaps my favorite story arc in the Spider Anthology.

I enjoyed the artwork in this comic more than I enjoyed the story. I felt like the intensity of The Green Goblin's plan just never really came through. I guess I expected the story to have a bit more weight considering the premise. That aside, its still a fun read and Ramos's artwork is as fun as ever.

While the art is cartoonish (my apologies to Ramos fans:()....the story is rock solid. From the sense of dread brought about by Norman Osborn's deliberate open taunts and threats...a true sense of menace and forboding is set from the onset of this graphic novel. You might have read every comic ever written,but you do not expect what Norman delivers to Peter.... The parallels with Batman: Killing Joke are warranted but necessary to examine the deep hatred between two enemies as well as equally profound respect...the scene when the Goblin and Spiderman calmly and exhaustedly sit side by side and have a discussion about their long time war and even share a laugh is both genuine and downright mythic. While the book might have a lot of sound and fury...the end result including the final "gift" from Peter to Norman is epiphanic...this is truly one of the greatest Spiderman books ever put out and acknoweldges Jenkins' credit as a renowned story teller to be included in the upper eschelons along with Stan Lee and the more recent Strasynski. Truly a good read and must have for any long time Spider fans.

This is just about the best Spider-Man TPB I own. It has intense fight scenes, well drawn art, lots of emotion and rage, and on top of it all, many things you'd never expect. I especially like this comic because (A Spider-Man's my favorite male comic book character (since Tigra, the only one I love more, is female) (B Norman Osborn AKA Green Goblin is my favorite Spider-Man villain OF ALL TIME, and the only villains I like better are X-Men's Magneto and Fantastic 4 foe Dr. Doom, and (C The determination, the vicious fighting, the scary scenery, the hatred, the anger, the suspense, the tricks, the traps, the graphics, nothing says Peter Parker and Norman Osborn like this comic book collection. Buy this book for any Spider-Man lover or anyone who likes the idea of fighting, for that matter. Oh, and in case you are all wondering, the two Spidey-Villains I like most next to Green Goblin are Doctor Octopus, # 2, and Venom, # 3. Whatever, this book is a classic, and I recommend it thoroughly. End of story.

This graphic novel is a reprint, in a book form, of Peter Parker: Spider-Man #44-47 (2002). In this story, Peter Parker feels that he has hit bottom - his marriage to MJ is on the rocks, the death of Gwen Stacy still haunts him, and his life has turned out worse than he could ever have imagined. But, just when he thinks that things can't get any worse, they do. Norman Osborn has picked up the costume of the Green Goblin again, and has woven a web around the Spider-Man. Can Peter overcome his arch-enemy? But what will be the cost?

This book has a great story: intense, with plenty of suspense to keep you reading. Overall, I think that this is one of the best Spider-Man stories I have read in a while. My one complaint is with the illustration-work. The images are drawn somewhat idiosyncratically, looking like caricatures, which my eleven-year-old son found quite disappointing. But, that said, we did enjoy the book, and recommend it to you.

The conflict between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin has been an integral part of the Spider-Man mythos since close to the beginning. And this story is the best example of it since "The Night Gwen Stacy Died".

Norman Osborn again takes on the mask of the Green Goblin and decides to draw Spider-Man in a conflict that if Norman has his way will only end in death. But Norman's true target is not who it appears to be until the very end, and shows just how deranged he truly is.

But Paul Jenkins also establishes a deeper, more psychological conflict between the two men. Really, at the very heart, they are just two grown men who dress up in strange, garish costumes and work out their own psychosis on each other by beating each other up, and drawing others into it.

As great as Dr. Octopus, Venom, Carnage and the Hobgoblin are, none will ever have that twisted connection to Spider-Man and will ever be able to get under his skin like Norman Osborn has.

If you're looking for a great, psychological, emotional drama, then I suggest you pick this up. Some say they were disappointed by the ending, but really, if you think about it, it was the only way this story could end.