The Amazing Spider-Man’s divisive nature has been a defining characteristic of the ongoing run for nearly two decades. Of course, after nearly 63 years, Peter Parker has been depicted by countless creative teams, and the character has come a long way (or regressed, depending on who’s asked) since he was bitten by a radioactive spider in the mainline Earth-616 continuity. Lately, however, Peter hasn’t felt like the main character of his own book, and especially not with a new red-and-blue-costumed web-slinger having temporarily replaced him.
Norman Osborn has arguably played as big a role as Peter Parker in The Amazing Spider-Man, and his recent arc as the Resolute Spider-Man has even solidified him as a primary Spider-Man character for a period in the book. Norman is an introspective work-in-progress, and even the future of The Amazing Spider-Man, as we can foresee via comic book solicitations, determines that it’ll continue to situate him as a key character.
Spider-Man is No Longer the Main Character of His Own Book
Ever since donning a Spider-Man costume and literally becoming a substitute Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man #9 (LGY #972) and the reveal that neither Spider-Man nor Peter were their true selves in issue #10 (LGY #973), Norman has occupied half of The Amazing Spider-Man’s issues, with Peter and Norman’s stories being featured in every second issue. The run is currently on issue #20 (LGY #984), and Peter is apparently on his way back from leading a motley crew of characters in a superb outer-space chapter that’s arguably ending far too soon.
Here, Peter’s been phenomenally written (with Pepe Larraz’s art being brilliant for Peter’s half of the run), but he’s also been sharing half the book with another Spider-Man. In fact, The Amazing Spider-Man’s ‘Previously’ pages have recently started to feature an alternate biography for Norman in the issues where he is the respective Spider-Man protagonist:
After the explosion of a secret formula, Norman Osborn gained super-speed, strength, agility, durability, stamina, reflexes, and a healing factor. After years of using the powers for evil, Norman has changed, and Peter Parker’s legacy inspired him to try to be a hero. Augmenting his powers with tech giving him adhesive fingertips and toes and web-shooters with various settings, Norman is living by the lesson that with great power there must also come great responsibility. He became the crimefighting super hero called… THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN.
Norman Osborn is a Key Protagonist
Norman is a self-proclaimed “petulant billionaire with unresolved trauma,” but he’s learned that he can adopt Peter’s role as Spider-Man by being a leader. In particular, this means being a leader to the plentiful Spider-Heroes who’ve been involved in his journey of self-discovery in the last 11 issues. Norman’s development has been intriguing, fortunately, yet it is threatened by the idea that he could succumb and turn evil at a moment’s notice.
This will take shape via The Amazing Spider-Man: Spider-Versity, a five-issue limited series. Theoretically, The Amazing Spider-Man: Spider-Versity is going to be Norman’s formal induction into the Spider-family, though it can be argued that he’s already an established, official Spider-family member as of issue #20, when he and the Spider-family fought the Goblin Slayers’ Spider-Slayers.
Norman may not be taking part in the upcoming Amazing Spider-Man/Venom: Death Spiral event, but Peter is still teaming up with Mary Jane Watson/Venom and Eddie Brock/Carnage, as well as who knows who else. This all goes to show that The Amazing Spider-Man has gotten comfortable being an ensemble book, much less having Peter not be the main character or focal point.
- First Appearance
-
Amazing Fantasy
- Alias
-
Peter Parker, Ben Reilly, Otto Octavius, Yu Komori, Kaine Parker, Pavitr Prabhakar, William Braddock, Miles Morales, Kurt Wagner
- Alliance
-
Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men, Secret Defenders, Future Foundation, Heroes for Hire, Mighty Avengers, New Avengers, Web-Warriors
- Race
-
Human