As Amazing Spider-Man barrels towards issue #1,000, writer Joe Kelly still needs to rectify Norman Osborn taking up the mantle as that thread continues in Amazing Spider-Man #20, out today. The latest story arc on Earth has Norman facing off against Goblin Slayers, a play on the classic Spider-Slayer story, and his lack of powers puts him at a huge disadvantage. A loner for years, this latest issue shows that being part of the Spider-Man family has its perks.
Amazing Spider-Man #20 opens at Oscorp, where Aunt May is looking for Norman. He’s a bit tied up, literally, as Goblin Slayers made up of wires and monitors smash him through the ceiling about Aunt May. We soon learn there are multiple slayers being controlled by victims of Norman’s, with ex-Hobgoblin Kinglsey running the show. This opening sequence does well to remind us of the various ways Norman has tormented people throughout the years, from leading the Avengers to his days as the Green Goblin.
Outside of the revelation of who is behind the Goblin Slayers, including a new villain, Kelly continues to use flashbacks to reveal the humanity of the characters. In this instance, it’s Norman, a young boy who was taught to conquer weakness. These flashbacks help humanize Norman, making his utter shock at Kingsley’s endgame plan all the more painful for Norman.
The tangled web of Goblin Slayers.
Credit: Marvel
While most of the issue is focused on Norman fighting Goblin Slayers, Kelly weaves in the Spider-Man family, which feels earned since they pressed Norman to give up the Spidey tights in an earlier issue. Their inclusion also hints that Norman will eventually lead these characters, which was revealed last week. Their inclusion keeps the shield-wearing young hero on our minds, a casual mainstay of the series for some time, as well as the impact of Spider-Gwen on Norman, top of mind.
The plot doesn’t move forward much, however, making this more of an extended fight scene than an important chapter in Norman’s ongoing struggle to be Spider-Man.
This issue is mostly drawn by John Romita Jr., although Paco Diaz and Todd Nauck pitch in for the last six pages. The art styles don’t match Romitas, whose does, creating a jarring change even if Diaz and Nauck’s styles are great in their own right. The jarring final few pages aside, Romita draws a heck of a chaotic full-page splash of five heroes mixed up in a scrum with the Goblin Slayers. Nauck does a good job with the battle damage Norman has taken, while Diaz’s level of detail feels right at home for a superhero book.
Amazing Spider-Man #20 is more reflective than revelatory, using action and flashback to deepen Norman Osborn’s internal conflict rather than push the narrative closer to its endgame. While the pacing stalls and the art transition distracts, Kelly’s continued focus on accountability, trauma, and uneasy redemption keeps the Osborn storyline compelling as the series races toward issue #1000.
You must be logged in to post a comment.