Red Goblin, Vol. 2: Nature/Nurture

Red Goblin (2023)

by Alex Paknadel, Jan Bazaldua (Illustrator), Chris Campana (Illustrator)

Nature vs. nurture? CARNAGE REIGNS may be over, but Normie Osborn and the Rascal symbiote's problems are only just beginning! For weeks, Normie has pacified the symbiote and managed to keep the rabid killing machine inside it under control. He's been trying to do the right thing and, in the process, has had to face down small-time criminals and lowlifes. But that leaves him poorly prepared when the bloodthirsty and brutal mercenary Crossbones tracks him down, intent on taking both Normie's symbiote and his life! In a battle for survival, Normie is about to learn that you can't fight nature - but if he starts losing himself to the corrupting influence of his symbiote, his family and pal Dylan Brock are prepared to mount a final push to save the Red Goblin from himself! Collecting RED GOBLIN #6-10.

Genres: Comics

112 pages, Paperback

Published February 13, 2024

Reviews

[Adam Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars.
Another end of a short lived title. We get the same "early bonding to a symbiote" drama with Normie here, where he doesn't want to do violence, but sometime its a must. The most important and best issue of this Volume is the last one where there's a fight and team-up with Venom (Dylan Brock) to discover how to be both a violent symbiote and a hero.
Not sure what will happen with Red Goblin now, but I'm sure Marvel will put him somewhere in the various Spidey books.
Recommend, but might be better to read both Vol 1 and 2 at the same time.

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sim, aparentemente o gibi do Duende Vermelho pode ser algo que vai fazer você torcer o nariz. Mas para quem acompanha a saga do Venom, sabe que o alter-ego atual do simbionte é o neto do Duende Verde, o garotinho Normie Osborn. O guri anda com o simbionte Zueiro, dado a ele por Dylan Brock, o filho do Venom original. E são duas crianças compartilhando a mesma existência, mas sendo perseguidos por gente grande e perigosa. Isso torna as histórias do Duende Vermelho um pouco mais divertidas do que as tramas de simbiontes aracnídeos que querem sugar o cérebro de qualquer um que cruzar o seu caminho. Além disso, a série do Duende Vermelho só tem dois volumes, compilando os dez números publicados lá fora (um deles saiu no encadernado do Miles Morales e tem a ver com uma saga esquecível do Carnificina), então é fácil financeiramente de fechar a coleção. Os diálogos e enredos de Alex Paknadel são gostosos de se acompanhar e a gente simpatiza com o protagonistas e os personagens coadjuvantes. Então você pode ler um gibi de um personagem relativamente novo sem compromisso de saber toda uma história pregressa ou ter que ler revistas concomitantes para entender. Só vai!

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second half of Red Goblin's solo series is collected here, as Normie battles the Crossbones, the Goblin King, Venom, and himself!

I said in my review for the first half of this series that I had no expectations going in, and they were certainly exceeded. It's little books like this that I really like, where writers are given a chance to do something different and unexpected, with characters on the peripheries that have a bit more freedom than the big-name stars that have to remain basically immutable. Normie Osborn is never going to top any Favourite Character lists, but his adventures as Red Goblin will definitely make people sit up and take notice of him.

Things do come to a bit of an abrupt stop, but like the Misery series, there's a promise of more to come for these characters, and I can't wait to see what's next.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dylan is still reeling from 'Carnage Reigns'. Rascal has been getting increasingly anxious as their new bond got tested. Those pesky hormones that Dylan's body makes can REALLY do a number on the Rascal symbiote. Through all this, Dylan is coming to terms with being an Osborn and what that means. So much history ...and baggage.

There's no going back. Things are what they are. They'll have to push on through and make this work one way or the other.
_______
Bonus: Phil Urich ...is gross, now? That Goblin Formula sure does a LOT of work
Bonus Bonus: Miles Morales to the rescue! At this point, Miles has the most symbiote experience

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably give this a 3.5, but I'm not going to round up. This wasn't bad at all, even though all the symbiote stuff running through the recent Marvel comics output has gotten to be a bit of a drag, hitting the same beats over and over. This is the story of Normie Osborn, grandson to the controversial Norman Osborn (aka, The Green Goblin), coming to terms with his symbiote, Rascal, and figuring out how the two of them are going to be. Will they be villains? Or heroes? Good artwork in this and the story is well-handled, though it comes to a bit of an abrupt end. I wonder when/if we'll see this character again?

[James DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't nearly as fun as the first volume but still good. The character of Normie is still great, love the look of the Red Goblin, but this felt like they rushed the pacing big time. Mostly to probably avoid having unfinished business since it ended so quick. But Overall hope this character gets some more love in the future.