Thread Drift: The Man in the Coma Ward (Amazing Spider-Man #697 Spoilers)

[Scott Taylor]

I am starting to think someone is going to be thrown off of a bridge next issue. Maybe Doctor Octopus, dressed as Gwen?

[Dr. Chaos]

She'd just ask him for one last interview before he tosses her.

*starts strangling Hubbs*

[CyberHubbs]

And I don't think Norman is really much of a potential Superior Spider-Man. Sure, he ran around as Iron Patriot, but he wasn't trying to disguise himself as Iron Man.

[Dr. Chaos]

And I don't think Norman is really much of a potential Superior Spider-Man. Sure, he ran around as Iron Patriot, but he wasn't trying to disguise himself as Iron Man.

Well, that was before he had brain damage.

Heh.

[CyberHubbs]

*starts strangling Hubbs*

Can I -- HRK! URK! -- quote you on that?

[Stars 'N Stripes]

I am starting to think someone is going to be thrown off of a bridge next issue. Maybe Doctor Octopus, dressed as Gwen?

A de-powered Peter gets thrown off the bridge, for role reversal.

[stillanerd]

And I don't think Norman is really much of a potential Superior Spider-Man. Sure, he ran around as Iron Patriot, but he wasn't trying to disguise himself as Iron Man.

Yeah, but Norman also doesn't have an unhealthy fixation on Iron Man, either. Remember these scenes from Dark Avengers #11?


Still, the other thing is that if Harry does hear about his dad's escape and Peter and Spidey's disappearance, that could bring him back to New York and be forced to take over as the new Spider-Man, whether he wants to or not. Either way, I think there's now a very strong possibility that the new Superior Spider-Man is going to be an Osborn.

[Dr. Chaos]

I'm hoping this does lead to goblin shenanigans in 698-700 but I got a sad feeling the hospital scene was just foreshadowing for future stuff.

Would be nice if Norman came out of the coma remembering the secret identity, told Doc Ock and then snuck off to enact some secrety shadow stuff. I always preferred him and Venom being the two big villains that knew.

Though I understand why they don't anymore, kind of hard to keep that up and not have everybody Peter knows or loves not constantly on the verge of dying a horrible painful death.

[David Walton]

Nah...definitely NOT Norman Osborn.

Phil sure turned out to be even more of a bastard than we thought, so no redemption for him anytime soon!

John Jameson still seems like a good candidate, except he hasn't shown up in a while.

[stillanerd]

Nah...definitely NOT Norman Osborn.

Phil sure turned out to be even more of a bastard than we thought, so no redemption for him anytime soon!

John Jameson still seems like a good candidate, except he hasn't shown up in a while.

Well, John Jameson has been around during "Big Time" and was last seen in that one story in which Spidey and Human Torch rescued him from space.

But yeah, just the mere fact that Harry Osborn, after being gone for approx. 50 issues, just so happens to return right on the eve of a story in which is supposedly going to be Peter's "last time" as Spider-Man definitely seems more than a bit coincidental, doesn't it?

[CyberHubbs]

Yeah, but Norman also doesn't have an unhealthy fixation on Iron Man, either. Remember these scenes from Dark Avengers #11?


Still, the other thing is that if Harry does hear about his dad's escape and Peter and Spidey's disappearance, that could bring him back to New York and be forced to take over as the new Spider-Man, whether he wants to or not. Either way, I think there's now a very strong possibility that the new Superior Spider-Man is going to be an Osborn.

Wasn't that just Molecule Man screwing with his head? If Norman wants to be Spider-Man, putting him in the costume is the wrong way to go about showing him his innermost fears or trying to scare him.

[stillanerd]

Wasn't that just Molecule Man screwing with his head? If Norman wants to be Spider-Man, putting him in the costume is the wrong way to go about showing him his innermost fears or trying to scare him.

Yeah, it was a hallucination brought about my the Molecule Man. But it does emphasize just how extensive Osborn's obsession with Spider-Man if he, on some level, identifies himself with Spider-Man. Heck, given the results of his coma, his dissociative identity disorder, and his Super-Adaptoid powers, I don't think it's much of a stretch that "Spider-Man" is now one of his personalities alongside the "Green Goblin."

[ViewtifulJC]

I'm glad to see Norman is back in Spidey's world. You can tell Slott had something planned for him with all the Goblin Gang stuff, but Bendis overruled that with ANOTHER Dark Avengers retread he just had to do again, for whatever reason. Well, now we got Norman back, and I can't wait to see what he does next. It's a big anniversary issue, I have a feeling lots of Spidey's rogues will be involved.

And if he's Superior Spider-Man, that would be the funniest shit ever. ESPECIALLY if he's making out with Mary-Jane. Peter's old girlfriends can't help but fall for this guy.

[Shade 20x6]

A couple of questions:

- Why was Norman being kept in a public hospital?
- How did Norman get out of the hospital? Did he have a goblin glider stationed somewhere outside the window or something? Did someone abduct him while he was in the coma?

[IronMagnus]

Shut down all the bridges in new york and hide your blondes, gentlemen.

But this is why Peter should date Carol Danvers. Norman tries to throw Carol off a bridge, so Carol throws Norman into orbit.