Justice is Frightening

I’m a Spidey nut born and breed. Due to that I am bound by law to enjoy the Green Goblin. Norman Osborn is a fabulous character. He is a bitter and tormented sole but with reason to be so. He is the flip side to Peter, using his brains and strength to try and gain him money rather then use it to help the world. But let’s face it, he was stale.

His return at the end of the Clone Saga was shocking and was cool to see for the thousands of people who weren’t around when Osborn was first tormenting Peter. After an interesting run as co. owner of the Bugle who spent every waking hour making Spider-Man’s life a living hell he fell into a rut of popping up every few years, pulling the crazy card and being beat by Spider-Man.

We got the odd great story like Jenkin’s Death In The Family but for the most part they were all the same story. Every other good villain Spider-Man had seemed to be neglected to nostalgia and beat down. They filled time until Green Goblin was going to ruin Peter’s life again.

During this time I stuck by theory that Osborn is a great character and would work wonders if only the writer’s took him out of his safety zone. Get him away from Peter and let the other heroes of the Marvel Universe feel the wrath of the Green Goblin.

At the time he was focused on Peter, but all it would take was a good writer with the right idea to make him a villian in the grander scheme of things. He did start of wanting to be a crime boss after all.

This year with the fall out of the Civil War we got my hopes and dreams for Norman in Thunderbolts. Over half a year in and I still can’t figure out if Ellis is writing this whole book tongue in cheek (some parts definitely are… Stabby Joe, anyone?) but either way I’m enjoying it.

Thunderbolts #116 was a great issue for me that proved that Green Goblin in the Marvel Universe can and does work. The issue was mostly a discussion between Norman and Moonstone. Fairly mundane and easily to make boring but Ellis pulled it off perfectly. This issue reminded me of a serial killer couple. Criminal experts have taken real life examples and claim that if the two disturbed minds hadn’t met they may not of had a chance to reek such havoc. This issue showed these minds meeting and I boy do I feel sorry for the first person who tries to cross these two.

Make Mine Goblin, Marvel. But please… don’t make him a Skrull.