Norman Osborn as Spider-Man? You read that right! But the burning question is: Can a reformed supervillain truly embrace the hero life? Amazing Spider-Man #14 dives headfirst into this dilemma, forcing Osborn to confront not only his past but also the man currently hijacking Peter Parker's identity. Get ready for some serious moral quandaries and unexpected team-ups!
This latest issue, brought to us by the creative team of writer Joe Kelly, pencilers Ed McGuinness and Todd Nauck, inkers Mark Farmer and Wade Von Grawbadger (plus Nauck and McGuinness contributing to inking duties), colorists Marcio Menyz and Erick Arciniega, and letterer extraordinaire Joe Caramagna, throws Ben Reilly (as Peter Parker) and Norman Osborn (as Spider-Man) into a collision course. It's a tangled web, indeed, especially with Peter Parker still off on cosmic adventures! (If you're curious about Peter's intergalactic escapades, check out Amazing Spider-Man #13.)
But here's where it gets controversial... Remember Jim Shooter's famous (or infamous, depending on your perspective) rule from his time at Marvel? The one where every character had to explicitly state their name and demonstrate their powers in each issue? The idea, of course, was to make comics as accessible as possible to new readers. While the intention was good, it sometimes led to clunky and repetitive exposition, especially in team books. Our author, Brian Cronin, feels that it's generally unnecessary now, but points out that Hallow's Eve and Chasm (Ben Reilly) haven't had their powers clearly explained in this current storyline, so maybe a quick refresher wouldn't hurt. Hallow's Eve, for example, gains different powers by wearing different magical masks – a pretty unique ability that warrants a bit of explanation for those just jumping in. What do you think? Is explicit power explanation necessary, or should comics trust readers to catch on?
And this is the part most people miss... The issue also delves into Ben Reilly's life as the faux Peter Parker. We see him actually fighting crime (good to know he's not completely gone over to the dark side!), and we get a glimpse of his complicated relationship with Hallow's Eve, his old flame from the Clone Saga days. She's back in the picture and seems none too pleased with Ben's interactions with other women, including Peter's girlfriend, Shay, Black Cat, Mary Jane, and even his boss, Maira. Jealousy abounds!
Speaking of Maira, she becomes a key player when Norman Osborn confronts Ben at lunch. Norman's intention is to tell Ben to back off from impersonating Peter, but from Maira's perspective, it looks like Norman is trying to steal one of her star employees! This confrontation reveals to Ben that Norman is the new Spider-Man – a secret that could have explosive consequences. Ben, naturally, tells Norman to take a hike.
Things escalate quickly when Norman and Maira are attacked by a mysterious robot. It seems someone is gunning for Norman! This leads to Norman's first daytime superheroics, as he transforms into Spider-Man to save Maira. And here's the kicker: Norman enjoys the adoration and appreciation he receives. This is huge for a character who has spent so much time as a villain. The internal conflict is palpable, and it raises a fascinating question: Can someone with such a dark past truly redefine themselves as a hero?
The artwork, with Ed McGuinness handling the action-packed Spider-Man sequences and Todd Nauck focusing on the more grounded character interactions, is top-notch. While the author notes that Peter's space adventures might be more compelling at the moment, he finds the Norman/Ben dynamic to be engaging. He's less enthused about Captain Kintsugi, but remains optimistic that the character will grow on him.
So, what are your thoughts? Is Norman Osborn a worthy Spider-Man? Can Ben Reilly find redemption? And who's pulling the strings behind the attacks on Norman? Let us know in the comments below!
