The sins of Green Goblin continue to ruin Peter Parker’s life, it seems, as Zeb Wells and Patrick Gleason explore its lingering effects. Now contained inside Spider-Man, everyone is in danger due to Peter’s rampant rage and violent ideas. In Amazing Spider-Man #35, it’ll take unexpected heroes to stop Spider-Man from doing the unthinkable: Killing Paul.
Given the public outcry surrounding Paul, that’s probably what many fans want, but certainly not at the expense of Spider-Man becoming a killer. This issue opens with a nice reminder of the spear and how it transferred sins into Spider-Man. This opening page also ties into a choice Spider-Man gave Kraven. Kill himself in a grave, or rise up.
After a brief blip of a scene with Hammerhead clearly setting up the “Gang War” event, the story smash-cuts to Spider-Man confronting Queen Goblin. In an epic panel, we see Spider-Man swing a road ramp like a baseball bat at her, laughing hysterically thanks to Joe Caramagna’s lettering. There’s some interesting stuff going on with Spider-Man’s eyes and expressions through them in this scene showing the emotional range he’s going through.
Home run!
Credit: Marvel
This issue is all about confrontations. Spider-Man fights multiple characters, including Mary Jane. Gleason does well to show Spider-Man’s speed and agility in these battles as well as how unhinged he is beating Kraven, for instance, with his own head. Could the narrative explore more deeply how with the right push even Spider-Man can become a killer? Sure, but at the end of this arc, it’s clear this was more about showing how Green Goblin’s sins may be more dangerous inside anyone other than Norman, let alone Spider-Man.
There are three things going on at the core of the issue. One involves character growth for Kraven, another is Peter’s behavior with MJ, and finally, Norman Osborn continues to edge closer to wanting all those sins back inside him. The Kraven growth is the most surprising giving this clone a little more depth. His actions to wrap things up do come at a convenience leaving Queen Goblin sort of just exiting the book. Thankfully, Wells at least explains how Spider-Man’s cred with the public isn’t tainted, and the issue wraps up to a Norman moment that feels earned.
I think most will be wanting wherever you stand with MJ, Paul, and Peter. It’s nice to see the creative team at least acknowledge the strange turn MJ has taken with another guy, but here we get mixed signals. From Peter wanting to kill Paul yet it never being his fault, or Peter clutching Mary Jane and her hugging back there’s no clear answer as far as where any of them stand. MJ is with Paul, we know this, but the acts of this issue seem to only muddle things. Hell, even Paul tells Peter he’s gotta do what he’s gotta do.
Amazing Spider-Man #35 continues to show Green Goblin is on a slow climb back into Norman’s heart and mind. By the end of the issue, Spider-Man goes through great trauma while the villains, Norman and Kraven, grow in meaningful ways. The story wraps up too conveniently, but you can’t say the action doesn’t look good while juggling so many conflicts.
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