Spider-Man: Revenge of the Green Goblin by Howard Mackie

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book collects Issues 20-29 of the relaunched Amazing Spider-man series the 2001 ASM annual, the Spider-man: Revenge of the Green Goblin Mini-series, and Issues 25 and 29 of Peter Parker, Spider-man. The issues are set during a time when Mary Jane is presumed dead.

The book opens up with a two-parter in ASM #20 and #21 where Alistair Smythe is out of his wheelchair and blackmailing J Jonah Jameson and has hatched yet another spider-slayer plot. This isn't particularly original, but it's enjoyably done.

ASM #22-24 is a three-part story which involves a U.S. Senator who is really a traitor from his SHIELD days and Arthur Stacy (Gwen's uncle) is determined to kill him and says he's the most dangerous man in America. It turns out Arthur's right. I like the scope of the story as it has Spidey saving the world, but there are a lot of plot points that are nonsense.

Revenge of the Green Goblin Mini-Series (#1-#3): Written by Roger Stern, this mini-series tells how Norman Osborne is crazy, hates Spider-man, and plans to bring him down through his revenge plot. The focus of these issues is squarely on Norman as he monologues and reveals his evil plan. This really does feel like it could have been condensed to a one-shot if this weren't the early 2000s and Marvel was trying to bleed readers for every penny. There's a very thin romance plot with Norman and a nurse that is supposed to give some pretext of a plot to keep this going three issues. We also learn how Norman is able to get through Peter. Peter Parker's poisoned by using a free toothpaste sample he got in the mail. Peter and his love of crummy toothpaste almost proves to be his downfall.

Darkness Calling/Trick of the Light (AS #25, PPS #25): Two double issues tell the story of Norman Osborne's revenge plot as Spidey races to find out about the returned Green Goblin. It leads to a very long psychological showdown between Peter and Norman. On one hand, there are some pretty clever and twisted ways Norman takes to obtain revenge and some dramatic moments. On the other hand, there's a lot of monologuing and repetition and retcons of the Goblin's past that are meant to make him darker and edgier but are kind of dumb when you think about it. It also ends on a really negative note. This one kind of left me with a meh feeling.

The Mask (ASM #26): After Peter's battle with Norman, who tried to put himself up as Peter's father figure, Pete sets out to find out about his real father and finds an old friend of his dad who runs a bar. Unfortunately, said friend's neighborhood is being terrorized by a lame Squid villain who gives Spidey more trouble than he should to set up a contrived parallel to his dad.

The Stray (ASM #27): Randy Robinson has decided that he is the arbiter of how long Peter has to grieve and has decided after six months, it's time for him to date again and he creates an awkward uncomfortable situation. Meanwhile, a cat rescue goes wrong and Peter has to protect a stray cat whose had some weird stuff done to it from being killed by AIM who has sent assassin because of unspecified reasons. The story has two two-page spreads that have turned to be read. Neither are all that amazing. It's a transparently lazy attempt to pad out the page count.

Distractions (ASM #28): Randy decides to take awkward new level when he tricks Peter into meeting up with a very intense woman whose under house arrest. He no more has chewed him out for setting him up with a woman whose into witchcraft, has piercing, and tatoos (something Peter wouldn't say today because Marvel doesn't want to offend the fans) before he has to go and save a friendly mobster from the Enforcers. Overall, probably my favorite issue in the book.

Mary Jane/Destinations (ASM #29/PPs #29): In this issue, it's revealed what happened to Mary Jane and boy is it anti-climatic. The man behind it is some random guy who monologs and whines a lot. At the end of the day, the issue is resolved in a way in which Peter doesn't save the day or do anything, but at least Mary Jane and Peter are back together until...

Passages (ASM Annual 2001): Peter and Mary Jane are together again and making plans to move back in, laughing and having fun, and then it all goes abruptly downhill. This wasn't really an attempt to end the marriage. If it was, it was a heck of a lot better and realistic to the characters than One More Day, but that's damning with faint praise. Still, I think if this had been how it ended, fans would be upset but they would move on. That doesn't make it a good issue. It screams editorial mandate. It ended Howard Mackie's run on Spider-man and that's the best thing about it.

Overall, this book isn't horrible, but there are lots of problems. If you're a fan of the Green Goblin or a Spidey completist, this could be a worthwhile read. Otherwise, I'd give it a pass.



View all my reviews