Go back to Spider-Man’s beginnings next year with Shadow of the Green Goblin

Writer J.M. DeMatteis is back for another webbed-retcon with a story exploring Peter Parker’s early career, and the… proto-Goblin?

This might be one to watch

So on the one hand, yes this is a retcon of Spider-Man’s first days as a crime fighter, and that does come with certain caveats. On the other hand though, it’s not only from the creator of the legendary Spidey story Kraven’s Last Hunt, but the subject matter actually sounds pretty neat.

From the aforementioned J.M. DeMatteis, this new yet retro tale heads back to a time when Pete was still dealing with the death of his Uncle. In it, he finds himself embroiled in a bit of the old family drama, only we’re not talking about the Parker clan.

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!”

Marvel Comics press release

Spider-Man: Shadow of the Green Goblin #1 (of 4) lands in stores this April 3rd.