60 Years Later, Spider-Man’s Most Famous Quote Just Redefined His Greatest Enemy

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For years, Norman Osborn, also known as the Green Goblin, was Spider-Man’s greatest foe, responsible for tragedies like the death of Gwen Stacy and the downfall of Harry Osborn. He even created the complicated “Clone Saga” just to torment Peter Parker. However, after a transformative experience that removed his evil side, Norman became a reformed character. Now, he’s attempting to atone for his past actions and surprisingly stepping up as Spider-Man while Peter is off-world. Despite a more serious and less humorous approach, he’s doing a decent job, and the latest issue of *The Amazing Spider-Man* continues this unexpected turn of events.

It’s clear Norman Osborn isn’t the real Spider-Man, and his attempt to fill in as the hero has made Peter Parker act much more aggressively. Other Spider-People in New York noticed this change and decided to investigate, leading to a confrontation. What they discover is a shocking betrayal – Norman isn’t just a part of the Spider-Family, he’s become its strongest member in a long time. In the process, Marvel has offered a fresh and relevant take on Spider-Man’s famous motto: “with great power comes great responsibility.”

Norman Osborn’s Past Almost Defeats Him

Norman is having a hard time juggling his work as a superhero with running his business, and he’s amazed Peter Parker ever managed it. Frustrated after failing to prove Roderick Kingsley was the Hobgoblin in court, Norman spends the night dwelling on his feelings of powerlessness and the difficult experiences that shaped him. During this, other Spider-People – Miles, Silk, Spider-Boy, and Arachne – arrive, wanting to know who’s pretending to be Peter Parker. Norman won’t tell them who he is, and when Miles tries to stop him from leaving, Norman loses control and attacks, even though he knows it’s wrong.

Lost in battle, Norman Osborn reverts to the lessons of his past – that showing anger and fear earns respect and affection. However, when Ghost-Spider (Gwen) arrives and he hears her voice, he’s reminded of the hurt he’s caused. He decides to reveal his face, pleading with the other Spider-People to give him a chance to redeem himself, just as Peter once believed he could. Instead of fighting him, they listen. Norman continues fighting crime as Spider-Man after this, effectively becoming part of the Spider-Family, despite reservations from the others. Ultimately, Norman embodies the core principle of Spider-Man – a lesson learned from Uncle Ben about responsibility and doing the right thing.

Osborn Chooses to Have Great Responsibility

Norman and Peter share a surprisingly similar story. Peter received great power but made a mistake – letting a criminal go free, who then caused a tragedy that motivated him to become a hero. Norman, on the other hand, had all the advantages he needed to make a positive impact, but he chose to prioritize his own desires instead.

Now that Sin-Eater has removed the worst parts of his personality, Norman is determined to become a hero, much like Spider-Man. His journey is essentially an amplified version of Peter Parker’s internal struggles, making his fight for redemption even more challenging, but also highlighting how well he embodies the Spider-Man spirit. While Norman hasn’t always been a good person, he possesses power and is now embracing the responsibility that Peter always stressed was crucial.

Everyone doubts Norman’s ability to be Spider-Man, and he doesn’t have a personal reason to take on the mantle of his former rival. He does it simply because it’s the right thing to do, mirroring what Peter Parker would have done. This selflessness – stepping up because you *can* – is at the heart of being Spider-Man, and it makes Norman’s journey from villain to struggling hero even more compelling.

This character understands, logically, that Uncle Ben’s beliefs are right, but struggles to truly accept them when faced with difficult situations. It’s a compelling dynamic, reminiscent of Peter Parker’s past struggles with anger and resentment, but on a much larger scale. Norman is trying to take ownership of his actions and atone for his mistakes, which is precisely the kind of growth we expect to see in Spider-Man.

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2025-09-18 19:14