I managed to get ASM way out ahead of PPSM last block, so there are big chunks of PPSM in this one. And here we are. Not satisfied with just providing some terrible covers, Humberto Ramos is on deck for interiors, inked by Wayne Faucher and colored by Studio F, as the Green Goblin returns yet again. This is the storyline I thought was the “Revenge of the Green Goblin” miniseries awhile back. Given the complete anti-climax and general disappointment of that whole storyline, it’s maybe not surprising I forgot about it, and transposed this actual, legit return of the Goblin onto it. Much like that last story, this was billed as a super important, dark, serious rematch between the 2. This one almost has to be better, storywise. Artwise, tho…
Aunt May looks more like a goblin than the issue’s villain. Art is subjective, and while I would never tell anyone what they can or cannot like, I will never, ever understand the appeal of this art. While whatever’s happening there happens there, we cut to Norman Osborn, also out in the rain, but telling a lackey he likes it. He’s having random flashbacks to being the Goblin as he visits Harry’s grave.
“All these years,” eh? Something like 8 years in the real world, as I recall, which, in Marvel time, has to be 1-2 years, tops, and shrinking all the time. We really are just right back where they left off 19 issues ago. Considering how that encounter ended with Norman just leaving for no reason, this story could have happened that same night and made a lot more sense. Back at May’s house, the utterly hideous Peter is distant and unable to tell the even more hideous May why he came over. He says he keeps having this dream, but he can’t tell her what it is. He says there’s only one person who would understand, he can’t reach him. Meanwhile, Norman suits up in his terrible new Green Goblin suit, Ramos’ lasting contribution, has his secretary cancel his appointments “for the next few days,” and flies off into the night. Peter calls MJ, who, let me tell you, looks insane, but he can’t speak when she answer (As “Mary Jane Watson”), and hangs up.
We’re sure having fun.
You can’t really see it in this scenario, but he’s got a new look. The original look is, admittedly, rather dated. It could use an update. Ramos’ idea was to make him look like a He-Man villain. It’s not great! Anyway, fight fight fight, depressive narration, cryptic Goblin comments, it’s all very familiar.
Nearly impossible to tell what’s happening in panels 2 and 6. Another Ramos speciality, although the murky color isn’t doing him any favors. Goblin seems to have stabbed Peter with… something or other. A broken pipe? A soda can? Ramos draws it 3 times and there’s still no way to tell what it is.
I just cannot with this. So awful. The rest of this issue is part 3 of a series of Spider-Man backup stories that ran in most Marvel comics, for some reason. Weirdly, tho, I never saw part one in any Spider-Mans this time out. I saw part 2 in block 57, but I assumed I could find part one and do them all in a single post. Not sure now, tho. I’ll have to look through some other titles and see if I can find part one. It’s really bad, is the thing. Makes Fast Lane look really great by comparison. So I’m not super motivated.