Here are my responses as they occur to me in real time, as I read the issue.
The cover: is it just me, or does the border of tiny spideys now look like a pack of peeping Toms? The one at the bottom center is spreading his arms wide, as if to say "BEHOLD: The ass cheeks of our giant master!" It's a good piece of art, though, as always!
Panel 3: Harry, still with the handkerchief, grabs the Cosmic Cube from MJ’s hand as the desk begins to slide back.
HARRY CAP:
But I am not the Green Goblin anymore. I am better than that. Better than my father.
Interesting glimpse into Harry's mind, here. He kind of comes off as a rebellious teenager, telling himself that he's broken free from his parent's control, but in reality he's totally fixated and obsessed with his parental relationship, even after his father's death. There's something pathetic about how he's trying so hard to tell himself that he's overcome his father's shadow when he's actually more controled by it than ever.
HARRY CAP:
I promised myself I’d never even use any of his technology again. That was my old life.
But when I was down here before, I instinctively grabbed that pumpkin bomb.
I’m a little confused by this line. He’s saying he promised not to use Norman’s technology, but a second later he hops on a glider. Is he saying that when he became the Goblin King he didn’t want to use Norman’s tech because he’s stepped out of his shadow, but now he realizes that using his father’s stuff is part of who he is, his instinct, so why fight it? It could be a little more clear.
Panel 2: As Harry is flying through the air, another figure on a glider is coming up from his side, still too far away to make out in detail, but wearing black, purple, and red. Harry is looking over at him.
HARRY:
Oh who the hell is this now?
Panel 3: Close on the figure coming towards Harry. It is the Goblin King, flying fast and looking angry.
WHA???
TOXIN:
And second, you’re supposed to be asleep when I get ‘alone time’ with my wife!
TOXIN THOUGHT:
Don’t worry, buddy, your ‘alone time’ with Gina puts me right out.
That’s not creepy or anything...
Panel 1: Ext. Night. Close on the Goblin King, with the Cosmic Cube in one hand and a fireball in the other. There is fury on his face.
Can we get a fan artist on this, like, RIGHT NOW? This image would be kick ass to see.
GOBLIN KING CAP:
My name is Harry Osborn.
I am the son of Norman Osborn, the original Green Goblin.
He’s dead now – I cut his head off.
Two Harrys? This is getting really interesting.
GOBLIN KING CAP:
But I guess that’s the risk you take when you clone yourself.
I think that’s what I figured the explanation would be. The part earlier on that I was confused about makes a ton more sense now. He was saying he promised himself he wouldn’t use Norman’s tech because he wanted to start fresh from his days as the second Goblin, but using all the tech was still coming naturally to him. The Goblin King has nothing to do with it because this Harry doesn’t know about the Goblin King. The line where he said he was BETTER than his father was very clever because it leads the reader to assume he means he’s better because he’s the Goblin King, but that’s not what he meant at all. This is a totally different Harry who thinks he’s better because he’s trying to reform, or at least that’s what it seems like at this point.
SPIDER-MAN:
I don’t know if it’s gonna work, but I’ve got a better idea than just that.
And as much as I trust her, I don’t trust anybody but myself to try this when we probably only have one chance at it!
Peter Parker trusts himself? That’s a first.
Panel 1: The clone holding Black Cat from behind pulls back on her arms, snapping them.
SFX:
KRACK
BLACK CAT (burst):
AAAHHH!
Panel 2: That same clone lets her go, and she stumbles forward, with clones around her still punching and kicking her.
Panel 3: The clone behind Black Cat that just let her go is kicking her in the back, hard, on her upper spine.
SFX:
KRACK
Panel 4: The Black Cat is on the ground, and clones are kicking her all over.
Panel 5: Spider-Man is still fighting his way through the clones, almost to her. Clones are turning to dust all around him with their masks falling to the ground (as he’s pulled them off), and he’s punching the ones in front of him hard, still being held back by too many.
SPIDER-MAN (burst):
CAAAAAAT!
Panel 6: Small, completely blacked-out panel.
This sequence is damn intense. Right now I’m thinking this is the best issue you’ve written.
Panel 4: Tight shot of the Goblin King, utterly pissed off.
GOBLIN KING CAP:
I could kill you both. But if I kill my clone, all he’s accomplished goes down the drain. Even if he is doing far too good a job of earning Peter’s trust.
Right now I’m wondering why Harry needed a clone to earn Peter’s trust instead of just playing the part himself.
And that means…?
Panel 6: Close-up on Toxin’s face.
TOXIN:
I think the Goblin King may have created these things.
The reasoning that leads Toxin to this conclusion is pretty good. Toxin is a perceptive guy.
WHO HURT SEXY KITTY?!
How do we make this an internet meme?
Panel 5: Same as 1.
SPIDER-MAN:
Bring back Ben Reilly.
Whoa. That came out of nowhere. Let’s see where this goes...
HARRY:
Who the hell was that?
My thoughts exactly.
Fantastic work, man! As you can tell from this post, this one had me going back and forth pretty much through the whole issue. You really kept me guessing. Now, more than ever, I REALLY wish I could see this thing fully drawn. I know that’s not feasible, but someone HAS to draw the panel with GK holding the cube in one hand and a fireball in the other!
![[smilie=greengoblin.gif]](./images/smilies/greengoblin.gif "greengoblin")
. And the big twist at the end was awesome, definitely very interested to see what becomes of this Kevin.![[smilie=spidey_thumbs.gif]](./images/smilies/spidey_thumbs.gif "spidey_thumbs")
![[smilie=spidey_caught.gif]](./images/smilies/spidey_caught.gif "spidey_caught")
That's you walking away with the awesome. You have officially became my 2nd favorite Spidey writer, right after JMD
![[smilie=spidey_clap.gif]](./images/smilies/spidey_clap.gif "spidey_clap")
