As previously revealed, after being on the side of the angels for the last few years, Norman Osborn will be returning to his villainous ways later this year. Before then, Marvel has announced that legendary comic creator J.M. DeMatteis is exploring the early days of Osborn with Spider-Man: Shadow of the Goblin, a 4-issue miniseries debuting this March. Joined by artist Michael Sta. Maria, DeMatteis will be bringing Norman Osborn’s research assistant Nels van Adder a.k.a. the Proto-Goblin and revealing secrets between him and the Osborn family. The first issue features a cover drawn by Paulo Siqueira.
Official press release below:
Writer J.M. DeMatteis, one of the most influential creators in Spider-Man history, returns next year to spin a new web of lies, secrets, and revenge in SPIDER-MAN: SHADOW OF THE GREEN GOBLIN! The mind behind groundbreaking Spidey tales like Kraven’s Last Hunt continues to add to his iconic legacy and the mythos of classic Spider-Man lore following retro stints like Ben Reilly: Spider-Man and Spider-Man: The Lost Hunt. This time, DeMatteis is paired with rising star artist Michael Sta. Maria for a story set during the beginning of Peter Parker’s adventures as Spider-Man. Still finding his footing as a super hero and dealing with grief over Uncle Ben’s death, Peter will find himself entangled in a dark drama involving his best friend’s family—the Osborns. The saga will revisit the now classic Spider-Man -1 and tie up a plot thread that’s been dangling since 1997 involving the tragic truth behind Norman Osborn’s research assistant Nels van Adder, the first test subject for the “Goblin formula” which transformed him into PROTO-GOBLIN!
NORMAN OSBORN WAS NOT THE FIRST GOBLIN! Norman Osborn is the Green Goblin you know. But he is NOT the Original Goblin! It’s time to learn the shocking secrets of the Proto-Goblin, and its dramatic connection to the Osborn family! What role does a young Peter Parker, who has not yet understood his great power and responsibility, play in this unfolding of events?
“I’ve always been fascinated with Peter Parker’s early days as Spider-Man, a time before he fully understood what it meant to be a super hero,” DeMatteis shared. “SHADOW OF THE GOBLIN allows us to take a deep dive into Young Peter’s mind and emotions as he makes his way through this exhilarating, and sometimes terrifying, new world. We take an equally-deep dive into the dysfunctional dynamic of the Osborn family, seeing how that generational pain sowed the earliest seeds of Norman’s Green Goblin identity and left its traumatic imprint on Harry. If you think you know everything there is to know about Peter and the Osborns, think again!”
Look for Spider-Man: Shadow of the Goblin #1 (of 4) to arrive in stores and digitally on Wednesday, April 3rd, 2024.
