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The Amazing Spider-Man: Worldwide #8-9
The Amazing Spider-Man: Red Goblin
Norman Osborn is back - deadlier than ever! Dan Slott brings his spectacular decade-long run as Amazing Spider-Man writer to a blockbuster finish by combining two of the wall-crawler's greatest foes into one nigh-unstoppable killing machine! Norman Osborn has been scouring the globe for a source of power with which he can exact his final revenge on Peter Parker - and he's about to find it! But when Osborn bonds with the Carnage symbiote, he'll no longer be the Green Goblin - he'll be something new. With all the strengths of both villains, but none of the weaknesses, he takes to the skies as the Red Goblin! And now none of Peter's friends or family are safe. Spidey is in for the fight of his life as Slott signs off in exhilarating, emotional style! COLLECTING: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 794-801
264 pages, Paperback
First published September 19, 2018
72 people are currently reading
172 people want to read
About the author
Dan Slott
1,998 books453 followersDan Slott is an American comic book writer, the current writer on Marvel Comics' The Amazing Spider-Man, and is best known for his work on books such as Arkham Asylum: Living Hell, She-Hulk, Silver Surfer, The Superior Spider-Man, and Ren & Stimpy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
December 28, 2023
I was hoping this would be better than it was. It isn't terrible, but it had the potential to be good. It just never lives up to its potential.
Norman Osborn is back. He has merged with the Carnage symbiote and become the Red Goblin. The Goblin/Carnage mix is a mess. As if the writer thought "Ohh..we can do a story about Norman Osborn as Carnage" and that was the extent of it. The whole JJ Jameson working with Spiderman is silly, the fact that a model like Mary Jane Watson is now running Stark Industries (yeah? seriously?!!!) and a bevy of Spider people (Anti-Venom? really?) make for a decent story at best. It reminds me of a movie that has great effects but a piss poor story.
Ironically the last two stories are actually good- without really being about Spiderman. An ok collection, at best.
Norman Osborn is back. He has merged with the Carnage symbiote and become the Red Goblin. The Goblin/Carnage mix is a mess. As if the writer thought "Ohh..we can do a story about Norman Osborn as Carnage" and that was the extent of it. The whole JJ Jameson working with Spiderman is silly, the fact that a model like Mary Jane Watson is now running Stark Industries (yeah? seriously?!!!) and a bevy of Spider people (Anti-Venom? really?) make for a decent story at best. It reminds me of a movie that has great effects but a piss poor story.
Ironically the last two stories are actually good- without really being about Spiderman. An ok collection, at best.
December 13, 2018
So I haven't read all of Slott's run. I'm actually kind of all over the place. Two volumes of Worldwide, Two volumes of superior, and read all of his Big Time. In reading his run I found things I loved (his villains) and things I didn't really enjoy (His Peter/Spider-man) But I was focused on getting the 2018 best Marvel comic list done so I skipped ahead a bit and went right for his final two arcs. Did Slott finish strong?
This starts off as Spider-man doing, well Spider-man things. Little missions here and there, saving the day, you know, friendly neighborhood things. In the background though Osborn, now unable to become the green goblin, has been planning his big comeback. He fuses himself with carnage to become the RED GOBLIN. A Green Goblin with the craziness of carnage. What could go wrong, right?
When the Red Goblin finds out who Spider-man is, the fight begins. Peter calls in all the favors he has and his friends, including Human Torch, Miles, Silk, and Anti-Venom all come to his aid. Red Goblin isn't just a simple foe though and he soon begins to wreck havoc on everyone in Peter's life to the point the Spider just might snap.
Good: The Red Goblin is a great villain. Dark and errie, but with just enough insane moments to make him different than just the Green Goblin. His fights are a lot harsher here, and when Red Goblin attacks, it leaves Spider-man nearly defenseless half the time. The team up and hero moments are simply magical in this story arc. Watching multiple heroes come to the rescue and some big moments for even Venom, Anti-venom, and Dr. Ock are all highlights of this nail-biting finale. The art is great and even the change of artist doesn't hurt this title much at all.
Bad: The build up issues here are okay. They could have done more to be a tad more interesting. Also, the very ending, while sweet, didn't really hit the emotional levels I was hoping for in those final few pages from a 10 year run.
So did Slott come through in the end? I believe he did. While I've been a bit harsh on some of his Big Time work, and worldwide, I really enjoyed Superior (From what I read) and this final arc is pretty fantastic. A few issues (see what I did there?) aside, this was a strong goodbye. A 4 out of 5.
This starts off as Spider-man doing, well Spider-man things. Little missions here and there, saving the day, you know, friendly neighborhood things. In the background though Osborn, now unable to become the green goblin, has been planning his big comeback. He fuses himself with carnage to become the RED GOBLIN. A Green Goblin with the craziness of carnage. What could go wrong, right?
When the Red Goblin finds out who Spider-man is, the fight begins. Peter calls in all the favors he has and his friends, including Human Torch, Miles, Silk, and Anti-Venom all come to his aid. Red Goblin isn't just a simple foe though and he soon begins to wreck havoc on everyone in Peter's life to the point the Spider just might snap.
Good: The Red Goblin is a great villain. Dark and errie, but with just enough insane moments to make him different than just the Green Goblin. His fights are a lot harsher here, and when Red Goblin attacks, it leaves Spider-man nearly defenseless half the time. The team up and hero moments are simply magical in this story arc. Watching multiple heroes come to the rescue and some big moments for even Venom, Anti-venom, and Dr. Ock are all highlights of this nail-biting finale. The art is great and even the change of artist doesn't hurt this title much at all.
Bad: The build up issues here are okay. They could have done more to be a tad more interesting. Also, the very ending, while sweet, didn't really hit the emotional levels I was hoping for in those final few pages from a 10 year run.
So did Slott come through in the end? I believe he did. While I've been a bit harsh on some of his Big Time work, and worldwide, I really enjoyed Superior (From what I read) and this final arc is pretty fantastic. A few issues (see what I did there?) aside, this was a strong goodbye. A 4 out of 5.
January 13, 2019
A strong finish to Dan Slott's epic run on Spider-Man. The 3 Threat Level issues read better when read with the rest of the Red Goblin story. They didn't feel quite as much like filler. Red Goblin looked a bit goofy, especially that tail that made no sense, but the writing more than made up for it. Slott did a great job of bringing Spider-Man's supporting cast into the book and making them all feel threatened. That surprise ending has me a little ticked, just because I'd really grown to like him/her/it. I'm glad Slott didn't completely reset Spider-Man's world before he left which is what the whole fall of Parker Industries felt like. He should give Spencer some things he needs to work through on his run. I'm going to miss Dan Slott on the book. He made me really enjoy Spider-Man again after decades of mediocrity. I always been a loyal fan but Amazing Spider-Man hasn't been really good before Dan Slott's run since the 80's.
January 1, 2019
Threat Level Red (794-796). Slott's penultimate arc feels a bit like the Land of Misfit Toys. He returns to a bunch of plots that were never as great as he thought they were, and even manages to anticlimax them. So, Scorpio is back, but they just talktalktalk about his year of foreknowledge without every showing it. Then Loki is back and his favor turns out to be a trick. And then we get a mashup of Alchemax, Agent Anti-Venom, and the Goblin King that doesn't go anywhere. Really, the biggest point of all of this is a slow walk of the next arc's villain, the Red Goblin [3+/5].
Go Down Swinging (797-800). Slott's last major arc for Spider-Man is a strong one: it focuses on Peter's biggest foe, Norman Osbourne, but simultaneously returns to many of the peoples that were important on his run. The 800th issue runs a little long, but the surprise returns (and shock ending) make up for it. All around, this is a fine capstone to Slott's run, and even though there's been way too much reset button in these last years, it's good to see some things stick around, like Peter's new relationship with Jonah. [4+/5].
There for You (801). A nice, short coda reminding us who Spider-Man is [4+/5].
Go Down Swinging (797-800). Slott's last major arc for Spider-Man is a strong one: it focuses on Peter's biggest foe, Norman Osbourne, but simultaneously returns to many of the peoples that were important on his run. The 800th issue runs a little long, but the surprise returns (and shock ending) make up for it. All around, this is a fine capstone to Slott's run, and even though there's been way too much reset button in these last years, it's good to see some things stick around, like Peter's new relationship with Jonah. [4+/5].
There for You (801). A nice, short coda reminding us who Spider-Man is [4+/5].
August 16, 2018
[Read as single issues]
It had to happen eventually – Dan Slott is leaving Amazing Spider-Man, but he’s got one last story to tell. When Norman Osborn combines his insanity with that of the Carnage Symbiote, the Red Goblin is born and no one is safe – especially after one of Spidey’s closest friends accidentally divulges his identity to the menace and puts everyone Spidey cares about at risk. The stage is set for one final battle between Spider-Man and his greatest nemesis, and if this is how it all ends, then he’s going to Go Down Swinging.
It’s no secret that I’ve loved almost all of Dan Slott’s Spider-Man run, so to see it finally coming to an end is pretty devastating. But it most definitely goes out on a high, and these eight issues are a superb way to finish out everything that Slott has set up over the last ten years.
Before we hit Go Down Swinging however, this volume also includes Threat Level: Red, a three part arc that addresses some dangling plot threads and manoeuvres a few characters back into the spotlight in case we’d forgotten about them. The first issue resolves that Zodiac plot thread from near the beginning of Slott’s Worldwide arc in a satisfying (if a little truncated) manner, while the second brings back Agent Anti-Venom from Venom Inc. so that he’s in play for the next arc. Finally, the third issue features Loki, who’s currently the Sorcerer Supreme at this point in Marvel continuity and actually ties up a loose end from JMS’s run waaaay back when, so props to Slott for doing this before he goes, and for making it an entertaining issue at the same time.
And then Go Down Swinging erupts, and Spidey finds himself face to face with the Red Goblin. Symbiotes are something that Slott has been unable to use throughout his run due to other books already having them on lock down, so it’s no surprise that he’s jumped at them now that he’s been given the chance. Having the Carnage symbiote be the one thing that drives Osborn back over the edge into insanity and goblin-ness is a great idea, and it’s played out in epilogue pages throughout Threat Level: Red so the tension builds just enough to make the Red Goblin’s first appearance truly terrifying.
The momentum builds over the following issues, culminating in the extra-sized eighty page issue 800, a knockdown brawl between Spidey and the Goblin for the ages. This is one of those battles that’ll go down in history, and even this late in the game Slott manages to throw out at least three surprise twists, keeping you guessing right down to the final few pages. Slott has written three centennial Spider-Man issues now (#600, #700, and now #800), and each has topped the previous one – Amazing Spider-Man #800 is a perfect capstone to his ten year run.
But he’s not quite done. There’s one more issue after #800, which is a day-in-the-life type issue, that once again hammers home just how good a fit for Spidey that Slott is. He knows this character inside and out, and this final issue is just the icing on the cake after everything we’ve already read up to this point. It’s not even told from Spidey’s point of view, but it’s everything Spider-Man is meant to be about and more.
Mike Hawthorne tackles the second two issues of Threat Level: Red, while Stuart Immonen pencils the first issue, and the entirety of Go Down Swinging, up to and including issue #800, which also includes contributions from Humberto Ramos, Guiseppe Camuncoli, and Jim Cheung, all of whom have been mainstays (or at least very important, in Cheung’s case) on the title since Slott took over. It’s like one of Bendis’s jam issues, but with each artist taking a full issue’s worth of pages, so it all gels together a lot better. Marcos Martin returns for issue #801, a beautiful companion piece to his previous efforts such as Torch Song and Matters Of Life And Death from way back at the beginning of Slott’s tenure. This is a beautiful looking volume, no matter who’s drawing it, and the phenomenal Alex Ross covers on each issue are nothing to sneer about either.
Dan Slott’s run will enter the annals of Spider-History, whether you liked it or not. Personally, I thought it was always entertaining, never afraid to try new things and shake up the status quo, and was the very definition of someone who understood the core of the character writing their heart out. Slott’s passion for Spider-Man is clear in every page he’s ever written, and these last few issues are a fond farewell from his biggest fan, and a love letter to everything spider-related.
It had to happen eventually – Dan Slott is leaving Amazing Spider-Man, but he’s got one last story to tell. When Norman Osborn combines his insanity with that of the Carnage Symbiote, the Red Goblin is born and no one is safe – especially after one of Spidey’s closest friends accidentally divulges his identity to the menace and puts everyone Spidey cares about at risk. The stage is set for one final battle between Spider-Man and his greatest nemesis, and if this is how it all ends, then he’s going to Go Down Swinging.
It’s no secret that I’ve loved almost all of Dan Slott’s Spider-Man run, so to see it finally coming to an end is pretty devastating. But it most definitely goes out on a high, and these eight issues are a superb way to finish out everything that Slott has set up over the last ten years.
Before we hit Go Down Swinging however, this volume also includes Threat Level: Red, a three part arc that addresses some dangling plot threads and manoeuvres a few characters back into the spotlight in case we’d forgotten about them. The first issue resolves that Zodiac plot thread from near the beginning of Slott’s Worldwide arc in a satisfying (if a little truncated) manner, while the second brings back Agent Anti-Venom from Venom Inc. so that he’s in play for the next arc. Finally, the third issue features Loki, who’s currently the Sorcerer Supreme at this point in Marvel continuity and actually ties up a loose end from JMS’s run waaaay back when, so props to Slott for doing this before he goes, and for making it an entertaining issue at the same time.
And then Go Down Swinging erupts, and Spidey finds himself face to face with the Red Goblin. Symbiotes are something that Slott has been unable to use throughout his run due to other books already having them on lock down, so it’s no surprise that he’s jumped at them now that he’s been given the chance. Having the Carnage symbiote be the one thing that drives Osborn back over the edge into insanity and goblin-ness is a great idea, and it’s played out in epilogue pages throughout Threat Level: Red so the tension builds just enough to make the Red Goblin’s first appearance truly terrifying.
The momentum builds over the following issues, culminating in the extra-sized eighty page issue 800, a knockdown brawl between Spidey and the Goblin for the ages. This is one of those battles that’ll go down in history, and even this late in the game Slott manages to throw out at least three surprise twists, keeping you guessing right down to the final few pages. Slott has written three centennial Spider-Man issues now (#600, #700, and now #800), and each has topped the previous one – Amazing Spider-Man #800 is a perfect capstone to his ten year run.
But he’s not quite done. There’s one more issue after #800, which is a day-in-the-life type issue, that once again hammers home just how good a fit for Spidey that Slott is. He knows this character inside and out, and this final issue is just the icing on the cake after everything we’ve already read up to this point. It’s not even told from Spidey’s point of view, but it’s everything Spider-Man is meant to be about and more.
Mike Hawthorne tackles the second two issues of Threat Level: Red, while Stuart Immonen pencils the first issue, and the entirety of Go Down Swinging, up to and including issue #800, which also includes contributions from Humberto Ramos, Guiseppe Camuncoli, and Jim Cheung, all of whom have been mainstays (or at least very important, in Cheung’s case) on the title since Slott took over. It’s like one of Bendis’s jam issues, but with each artist taking a full issue’s worth of pages, so it all gels together a lot better. Marcos Martin returns for issue #801, a beautiful companion piece to his previous efforts such as Torch Song and Matters Of Life And Death from way back at the beginning of Slott’s tenure. This is a beautiful looking volume, no matter who’s drawing it, and the phenomenal Alex Ross covers on each issue are nothing to sneer about either.
Dan Slott’s run will enter the annals of Spider-History, whether you liked it or not. Personally, I thought it was always entertaining, never afraid to try new things and shake up the status quo, and was the very definition of someone who understood the core of the character writing their heart out. Slott’s passion for Spider-Man is clear in every page he’s ever written, and these last few issues are a fond farewell from his biggest fan, and a love letter to everything spider-related.
October 3, 2018
Fünf Sterne heißt bei GR: It was amazing - wie in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN !
Taschentücher raus! Mit Spideys Kampf gegen den Red Goblin (=Green Goblin + Carnage) endet der 10-jährige Run von Dan Slott, und er hat uns ein episches, fantatisches Finale beschert. Zehn Jahre, viele jüngere Leser werden gar keinen anderen Spider-Man kennen als den von Dan Slott. Ich gestehe, ich musste mich erst ein wenig an ihn gewöhnen, aber dann hat er mich zunehmend überzeugt und nach diesem Finale muss ich sagen: Schade, dass Dan Slott Spider-Man verlässt. Er hat Spidey amazing gemacht und Nick Spencer riesen Fußstapfen hinterlassen.
Den Red Goblin-Arc habe ich schon in den einzelnen Heften gelesen, aber ich habe den Kauf des Oversized Hardcover=Bandes nicht bereut: In diesem Format sind Artwork und Story noch einmal angemessen repräsentiert.
Taschentücher raus! Mit Spideys Kampf gegen den Red Goblin (=Green Goblin + Carnage) endet der 10-jährige Run von Dan Slott, und er hat uns ein episches, fantatisches Finale beschert. Zehn Jahre, viele jüngere Leser werden gar keinen anderen Spider-Man kennen als den von Dan Slott. Ich gestehe, ich musste mich erst ein wenig an ihn gewöhnen, aber dann hat er mich zunehmend überzeugt und nach diesem Finale muss ich sagen: Schade, dass Dan Slott Spider-Man verlässt. Er hat Spidey amazing gemacht und Nick Spencer riesen Fußstapfen hinterlassen.
Den Red Goblin-Arc habe ich schon in den einzelnen Heften gelesen, aber ich habe den Kauf des Oversized Hardcover=Bandes nicht bereut: In diesem Format sind Artwork und Story noch einmal angemessen repräsentiert.
November 26, 2021
Five stars not just for Red Goblin but for Dan Slott’s entire decade-long run overall. The man has done tremendous and creative things with Peter Parker and Spider-Man, and the last couple story arcs of his work on this latest volume of Amazing Spider-Man is a fantastic culmination of his work. Yeah, he has to put (almost) all his toys back in the box for the next creative team to take over, but it’s done with proper style a whole lot of emotional honesty, and plenty of big, bold action sequences. This has been an incredible record-setting run. Thanks for 10 amazing years, Dan!
November 29, 2023
What an amazing ride that was mr Slott!
April 13, 2020
This conclusion to Dan Slott’s best selling run on Spider-Man was one of the ten titles offered by Marvel to the pandemic confined. So, even if I’m not following Spidey that much, why not ?
It was worth it. The always stable genius Norman Osborn got in his head that it was a good idea to merge with the Carnage symbiote, hence becoming the Red Goblin, and launching an action packed story arc culminating in the anniversary issue #800.
Everyone is in there fighting, a whole bunch of the spider-verse, and even some improbable characters. All in all, it was quite entertaining even if not really mind challenging. With many references to previous adventures (retconned or not ? Who cares anymore ?), and trademark feel good moments, Dan Slott writing rings true, and he makes this last story an homage to Spider-Man as he sees it.
As a bonus, the volume ends with a nostalgia filled issue #801, using the point of view of the common man on Spider-Man. Not very original, but high points for execution.
It was worth it. The always stable genius Norman Osborn got in his head that it was a good idea to merge with the Carnage symbiote, hence becoming the Red Goblin, and launching an action packed story arc culminating in the anniversary issue #800.
Everyone is in there fighting, a whole bunch of the spider-verse, and even some improbable characters. All in all, it was quite entertaining even if not really mind challenging. With many references to previous adventures (retconned or not ? Who cares anymore ?), and trademark feel good moments, Dan Slott writing rings true, and he makes this last story an homage to Spider-Man as he sees it.
As a bonus, the volume ends with a nostalgia filled issue #801, using the point of view of the common man on Spider-Man. Not very original, but high points for execution.
February 20, 2021
3,5★
The premise is great, Norman Osborn merges with the Carnage symbiote and takes on Spidey. Slott shows his knowledge on the Spider-verse, delivering tons of awesome fanservice which is sure to please long time readers.
However, the dialogue felt very poor. Characters say stuff that they normally shouldn't. For example, Flash Thompson is now a Vet but he still talks like he is in high school. Norman Osborn's threats felt like it was meant for a 15 year old Peter Parker. Being a comic book, poor dialogue messes with characterisation and in turns ruins the story no matter how great the idea is.
I would recommend this issue for anyone looking to finish Slott's run. But if you were a casual reader and was atteacted that Carnage merged with Green Goblin. All I can say is avoid this. In fact, Slott's post Secret War Spidey stories have decreased in quality. So buy everything from Brand New Day up till the stuff from post Superior Spider-Man and before Worldwide. Everything else is just not worth your money.
The premise is great, Norman Osborn merges with the Carnage symbiote and takes on Spidey. Slott shows his knowledge on the Spider-verse, delivering tons of awesome fanservice which is sure to please long time readers.
However, the dialogue felt very poor. Characters say stuff that they normally shouldn't. For example, Flash Thompson is now a Vet but he still talks like he is in high school. Norman Osborn's threats felt like it was meant for a 15 year old Peter Parker. Being a comic book, poor dialogue messes with characterisation and in turns ruins the story no matter how great the idea is.
I would recommend this issue for anyone looking to finish Slott's run. But if you were a casual reader and was atteacted that Carnage merged with Green Goblin. All I can say is avoid this. In fact, Slott's post Secret War Spidey stories have decreased in quality. So buy everything from Brand New Day up till the stuff from post Superior Spider-Man and before Worldwide. Everything else is just not worth your money.
October 18, 2018
I guess this goes along with my review on the previous volume that all started with Red Goblin. \o/
Nice artwork and dialogue. Story was ok, mainly cuz personally I didn't like the Red Goblin.. Let's slap another symbiote on some villain once again and call it a brand new villain. meh.. it wasn't that interesting, though Slott's writing is GOOD and fun so that saved it!
\o/
Nice artwork and dialogue. Story was ok, mainly cuz personally I didn't like the Red Goblin.. Let's slap another symbiote on some villain once again and call it a brand new villain. meh.. it wasn't that interesting, though Slott's writing is GOOD and fun so that saved it!
\o/
August 25, 2019
Dan Slott's farewell volume, with a bevy of the best current crop of artistic collaborators, rocks. Violently... If you follow Spider-Man, this ties things up. If you don't follow Spider-Man, the final story drawn by Marcos Martin (collected from ASM # 801) is for you, for everyone.
I say this despite never wanting to read a story featuring the symbiote villain, Carnage. Carnage is all tied up with Norman Osborne/The Green Goblin and family, here, and it works.
Recommended.
Thanks to my public library for the loan.
I say this despite never wanting to read a story featuring the symbiote villain, Carnage. Carnage is all tied up with Norman Osborne/The Green Goblin and family, here, and it works.
Recommended.
Thanks to my public library for the loan.
March 6, 2019
I know Slott wasn't everybody's favorite, but I've really enjoyed the book 90% of the time since he's been on it, and it was always worth reading, and when you're talking about ten year run that's practically legendary praise.
This particular story is interesting, although I wish it had been given more time and attention--Norman Osborn gets hold of the Carnage symbiote and is able to use it to restore the effects of his own Goblin formula creating Spider-Man's new "worst-enemy-ever," Red Goblin. If my description makes presents all this in a way that makes it seem not all that great, it's because handled at length, with more attention and time it could have been absolutely brilliant. That said, told in the space it was given Slott does a great job, the art is solid, and Slott gets a big enough bang for his buck to tie in nearly all the major elements of Spider-Man's life as he leaves it: Silk, Clash, Agent Anti-Venom, MJ as a Stark employee, Ms. Marconi, the new, "youngified" Doc-Ock, Eddie Brock back as Venom, the Osborn family (Harry & his boys etc.). I just...over the years Norman has been the focus of several events, including a period as the bad guy in the overall MU as a whole. And Carnage got a massive crossover series for himself in "Maximum Carnage" back in the day. To feel done right and not a bit of a let down because there was some after-taste of "too easy" it would have had to involve...more. In my opinion. That said, I love what Slott does with the characters in the final moments. What in lesser hands would be superhero/super villain cliche in Slott's is a statement of truths about the nature of evil and the nature of heroism. Is it slightly predictable? Guessable? Yeah. But at the same time it is utterly believable and instead of feeling like the cliched deployment of a trope it feels like a statement about the banality of evil, about the fact that ultimately the same emotions, desires, etc. are at the basis of all evil actions, and the same basic honorable emotions, desires etc. underlie heroic actions. I don't know if Slott intended that, probably not, if he had it would almost certainly have felt obvious and pedantic rather than true and powerful. I loved the ending of the Red Goblin arc especially for these things. It made me re-consider my critique about size and scope of the narrative. I still think the story would have been stronger were those elements to have been increased, but Slott's story contains its own answer for why they might not be--even the brand new villain is an embodiment of the same banal evil mentalities and desires that we've seen forever and will see forever in these types of stories, and a statement, however implicit, however unintentional about the nature of evil is prettty darned cool.
The last (801) issue was a fairly successful goodbye issue, as those seem to be a thing of late in several Marvel books. This one certainly accomplishes what Slott wants to say about what he considers the essence of Spider-Man/Peter Parker. I enjoyed it, but Slott didn't do anything with it that I think he hadn't already accomplished in his last regular story, so the final, separate issue goodbye seemed slightly redundant.
This particular story is interesting, although I wish it had been given more time and attention--Norman Osborn gets hold of the Carnage symbiote and is able to use it to restore the effects of his own Goblin formula creating Spider-Man's new "worst-enemy-ever," Red Goblin. If my description makes presents all this in a way that makes it seem not all that great, it's because handled at length, with more attention and time it could have been absolutely brilliant. That said, told in the space it was given Slott does a great job, the art is solid, and Slott gets a big enough bang for his buck to tie in nearly all the major elements of Spider-Man's life as he leaves it: Silk, Clash, Agent Anti-Venom, MJ as a Stark employee, Ms. Marconi, the new, "youngified" Doc-Ock, Eddie Brock back as Venom, the Osborn family (Harry & his boys etc.). I just...over the years Norman has been the focus of several events, including a period as the bad guy in the overall MU as a whole. And Carnage got a massive crossover series for himself in "Maximum Carnage" back in the day. To feel done right and not a bit of a let down because there was some after-taste of "too easy" it would have had to involve...more. In my opinion. That said, I love what Slott does with the characters in the final moments. What in lesser hands would be superhero/super villain cliche in Slott's is a statement of truths about the nature of evil and the nature of heroism. Is it slightly predictable? Guessable? Yeah. But at the same time it is utterly believable and instead of feeling like the cliched deployment of a trope it feels like a statement about the banality of evil, about the fact that ultimately the same emotions, desires, etc. are at the basis of all evil actions, and the same basic honorable emotions, desires etc. underlie heroic actions. I don't know if Slott intended that, probably not, if he had it would almost certainly have felt obvious and pedantic rather than true and powerful. I loved the ending of the Red Goblin arc especially for these things. It made me re-consider my critique about size and scope of the narrative. I still think the story would have been stronger were those elements to have been increased, but Slott's story contains its own answer for why they might not be--even the brand new villain is an embodiment of the same banal evil mentalities and desires that we've seen forever and will see forever in these types of stories, and a statement, however implicit, however unintentional about the nature of evil is prettty darned cool.
The last (801) issue was a fairly successful goodbye issue, as those seem to be a thing of late in several Marvel books. This one certainly accomplishes what Slott wants to say about what he considers the essence of Spider-Man/Peter Parker. I enjoyed it, but Slott didn't do anything with it that I think he hadn't already accomplished in his last regular story, so the final, separate issue goodbye seemed slightly redundant.
October 3, 2019
Dan Slott goes out with a bang, making sure that he leaves The Amazing Spider-Man book with a rip-roaring and emotionally riveting story worthy of his brand.
June 6, 2021
Κριτική σύντομα στο περιοδικό 'Αλλόκοσμες Ιστορίες'
October 21, 2020
So I hated everything with a vengeance in this trade... except for the relationship dynamic between JJJ and Pete and issue #801. Those two things were pretty great, especially issue #801. That shows me that Dan Slott isn’t a terrible writer, I just hate his writing on the Amazing monthly and his characterisation of Spider-Man. Even in #801 that story isn’t really about Spider-Man it’s about the lives spidey saves and changes by his actions.
As for what actually happens in this trade, I can’t even be bothered getting into it, it was so shallow and contrite that it’s honestly not worth mentioning.
As for what actually happens in this trade, I can’t even be bothered getting into it, it was so shallow and contrite that it’s honestly not worth mentioning.
May 7, 2024
After a long run on the amazing Spider-Man, Dan Slott bows out on a great story.
Norman Osbourne taking one last effort to get revenge joins with the symbiote Carnage and becomes Red Goblin, completely off the rails and bent on hurting Spider-Man by going after those he loves.
It's low key compared to some but it has something that just felt great.
And wisely done by Slott instead of finishing on a great big fight and bang, the last issue of his is a somewhat love letter to what Spidey means to him and to everybody.
Norman Osbourne taking one last effort to get revenge joins with the symbiote Carnage and becomes Red Goblin, completely off the rails and bent on hurting Spider-Man by going after those he loves.
It's low key compared to some but it has something that just felt great.
And wisely done by Slott instead of finishing on a great big fight and bang, the last issue of his is a somewhat love letter to what Spidey means to him and to everybody.
April 19, 2020
I haven’t read Spidey since Ultimate ended really but this was beautifully drawn. It is eye catching and exciting. The ideas seem to have gotten stale after 800 issues and a slew of movies and Peter Parkers. So what do you do?
Bring in all the Spideys. And mix powers into bad guys. And give J a Jonah some more fighting action.
And it works well.
Bring in all the Spideys. And mix powers into bad guys. And give J a Jonah some more fighting action.
And it works well.
December 29, 2021
Pretty good. The story was somewhat all over the place at first and probably required previous reading, but it was a lot of fun down the stretch and the art was stellar. Everything needs more Loki though.
November 11, 2020
4.5 Stars
April 26, 2021
Issue 801, the last issue is one of the finest comics ever put into the Spider-Verse. It’s damn beautiful on its own and caps off this collection and Slotts many years on the title perfectly.
December 7, 2020
The end of Dan Slotts run on Spider-Man and what and ending it was. To sum it up, it's a roller coaster of emotions, it made me laugh, smile and nearly tear up, especially the last issue collected in it called "There for you". Goddamn this was a good read. After over 10 years of being away from Marvel, this was a great entry back in and as an older fan adjusting to, the current continuity, I didn't once feel alienated by the changes I'm characters from were I left off to where they are now, such as Flash Thomson being a new version of Venom which was awesome. I really enjoyed this and I could definitely see myself going back and re-reading it again and again.
August 26, 2020
I'm never going to be a big Marvel fan (my heart belongs to DC) but this volume was enjoyable.
December 26, 2018
While Spidey takes down Scorpio again (It's been a year!) and cashes in a favor from Sorcerer Supreme Loki (to save a man's life that wouldn't have been in trouble had Loki not put him in the situation), something terrifying is happening across town... Norman Osborn has obtained the Carnage Symbiote!
AND that's not all... Carnage has helped him purge the nanites from his system that prevent him from becoming the Green Goblin again!
Enter the perfect hybrid: Red Goblin! All of the powers, none of the weaknesses.
Abduction of JJJ, death of the current Goblin King, Peter back with MJ (kind of... going to happen sooner or later), Norman finds out Peter is Spidey, Anti-Venom and other Spidey friends to help out... how is Peter going to get past this huge threat?
Which character dies?
Why is Spider-Man in the black suit? (This is so incredibly awesome to see....seriously, read this!)
Will things ever be the same?
Dan Slott's multi-year run on Amazing Spider-Man ends with one of the best Spider-Man stories of recent years. I can only hope that the next run of Amazing Spider-Man is as good and that... if I had my way.... Peter and MJ need to get back together.
High Recommend!
AND that's not all... Carnage has helped him purge the nanites from his system that prevent him from becoming the Green Goblin again!
Enter the perfect hybrid: Red Goblin! All of the powers, none of the weaknesses.
Abduction of JJJ, death of the current Goblin King, Peter back with MJ (kind of... going to happen sooner or later), Norman finds out Peter is Spidey, Anti-Venom and other Spidey friends to help out... how is Peter going to get past this huge threat?
Which character dies?
Why is Spider-Man in the black suit? (This is so incredibly awesome to see....seriously, read this!)
Will things ever be the same?
Dan Slott's multi-year run on Amazing Spider-Man ends with one of the best Spider-Man stories of recent years. I can only hope that the next run of Amazing Spider-Man is as good and that... if I had my way.... Peter and MJ need to get back together.
High Recommend!
December 27, 2018
A strong conclusion to Dan Slott's 10 year run on Spider-Man. Slott's tenure had a number of highs (Superior Spider-Man) and lows. Any arc that involved Norman Osbourne was a highlight for me and this volume was no different. What has impressed me the most with Slott's time with Spidey is how he has utilized almost every character in the toy chest from Spider-Man's long history. Along the way he has added different wrinkles and twists to the narrative while also moving Peter Parker in surprising directions.
For me I really enjoyed seeing him reach the top as an inventor and researcher. While the "Parker Luck" is a defining trait of the character, Peter has demonstrated he is one of the smartest people in the Marvel Universe and it was rewarding to see what he could achieve. Per usual Slott is supported with an excellent art team throughout this volume.
For me I really enjoyed seeing him reach the top as an inventor and researcher. While the "Parker Luck" is a defining trait of the character, Peter has demonstrated he is one of the smartest people in the Marvel Universe and it was rewarding to see what he could achieve. Per usual Slott is supported with an excellent art team throughout this volume.
August 25, 2021
Gave me a similar feeling as season 7 of GoT, a lot exciting sounding things were happening, but they were jumping from one beat to the next so quickly that none of them really had a chance to resonate.
Also, they kept saying how terrifying, and dangerous the Red Goblin was, yet he seemed like he was practically going out of his way to keep the body count to a minimum.
Also, they kept saying how terrifying, and dangerous the Red Goblin was, yet he seemed like he was practically going out of his way to keep the body count to a minimum.
May 6, 2024
I liked this book because I'm naturally attracted to violence like that tho it's a good book so read now or else
October 8, 2018
This book is all one big mistake. When Slott did Superior Spider-Man, it worked because Spider-Man acted like Octavius had been acting for the past few years. He built a base. He gathered/conscripted allies. He blackmailed. He has an army of thugs. He used his scientific genius. He was not afraid to murder. Every issue made you say, "He's really doing it."
Here, the Red Goblin set up is pretty quick. And the set up is that Osborne, who is crazy and has killed on a whim before, is bonded with Carnage, a monster devoted to random killing. In the set up, they make it clear that this results in, as one would expect, MORE KILLING. This is a Green Goblin that KILLS MORE PEOPLE.
Then, when the story gets going, Red Goblin hardly kills anyone. There are a couple of people the author does not care about. (One character in particular was a DeFalco/90's fave and he has just been abused throughout Slott's whole run.) But most of the time the Red Goblin wounds people a little and then walks away, gloating.
That might make sense if it were just the Green Goblin (and, even then, just the Green Goblin before Brian Michael Bendis's Pulse series.) But it doesn't make sense now. The behavior is so confusing that someone will have to redeem it by showing that Osborne wanted to be defeated for some reason.
I don't think we needed a villain that is really into killing. I don't think we needed a story where the villain murders a whole bunch of important characters. I think it probably made the most sense for Slott to to back to the beginning of his run (e.g., Mephisto/Brand New Day) or focus on the height of his run (e.g., Superior Spider-Man.) But kills-all-the-time-villain was the set up.
Here, the Red Goblin set up is pretty quick. And the set up is that Osborne, who is crazy and has killed on a whim before, is bonded with Carnage, a monster devoted to random killing. In the set up, they make it clear that this results in, as one would expect, MORE KILLING. This is a Green Goblin that KILLS MORE PEOPLE.
Then, when the story gets going, Red Goblin hardly kills anyone. There are a couple of people the author does not care about. (One character in particular was a DeFalco/90's fave and he has just been abused throughout Slott's whole run.) But most of the time the Red Goblin wounds people a little and then walks away, gloating.
That might make sense if it were just the Green Goblin (and, even then, just the Green Goblin before Brian Michael Bendis's Pulse series.) But it doesn't make sense now. The behavior is so confusing that someone will have to redeem it by showing that Osborne wanted to be defeated for some reason.
I don't think we needed a villain that is really into killing. I don't think we needed a story where the villain murders a whole bunch of important characters. I think it probably made the most sense for Slott to to back to the beginning of his run (e.g., Mephisto/Brand New Day) or focus on the height of his run (e.g., Superior Spider-Man.) But kills-all-the-time-villain was the set up.
April 17, 2020
What an incredible Spider-Man story! This is all you could ask for in a modern in-continuity story. Although I don't know anything about Spidey's continuity I wasn't lost, but instead rather enjoyed weird scenarios like MJ being head of Stark (These Marvel writers are not leaving any stone unturned) and all the necessary facts were presented in great interactions or woven well into the story in another way.
Obviously the entire Red Goblin story is awesome, but I was flabbergasted by the incredible issue 800. It was quadruple sized, but it both didn't feel like that, and felt like it a ton. So much story was packed into those (80-100?) pages I was blown away. I was never bored and I barely notices I read 4 issues worth of story, but it was such a huge story as well, so I'm kinda impressed they packed it into this little space.
I gotta say though, that the best part of this collection was issue 801. Drawn by Marcos Martin and it's a super sweet one shot by Dan Slott. It radiated Spidey energi so hard, I was blown away. And Marcos Martin is probably one of my favourite Spidey artists. He clearly takes a lot of inspiration from Ditko and it's awesome.
Speaking of art, I couldn't possible mention everyone who did something in this, but know that they all did amazing. In #800 there was a bunch of different artists, but they all flowed together so well I barely notices the changes.
I could go on, but this is awesome! Go read it.
Obviously the entire Red Goblin story is awesome, but I was flabbergasted by the incredible issue 800. It was quadruple sized, but it both didn't feel like that, and felt like it a ton. So much story was packed into those (80-100?) pages I was blown away. I was never bored and I barely notices I read 4 issues worth of story, but it was such a huge story as well, so I'm kinda impressed they packed it into this little space.
I gotta say though, that the best part of this collection was issue 801. Drawn by Marcos Martin and it's a super sweet one shot by Dan Slott. It radiated Spidey energi so hard, I was blown away. And Marcos Martin is probably one of my favourite Spidey artists. He clearly takes a lot of inspiration from Ditko and it's awesome.
Speaking of art, I couldn't possible mention everyone who did something in this, but know that they all did amazing. In #800 there was a bunch of different artists, but they all flowed together so well I barely notices the changes.
I could go on, but this is awesome! Go read it.
May 5, 2020
First off, this was free from Marvel - so thanks for that! A nice gesture during coronavirus lock-down. This is the end of Dan Slott's ten year run as Spider-man writer and while it may not be his best arc he's definitely leaving quite the legacy. One problem I have with this arc is how it's undone all the developments where Peter was essentially an Iron Man millionaire which I thought was an interesting dynamic. Obviously things always revert back to the status quo in superhero comics so I can't complain too much. I also appreciate why Dan wanted to put all the toys back in the sandbox himself rather than let the next writer do so. The idea behind Red Goblin is quite fun in a "surprised no-one thought of that before" way however I'm one of those people who doesn't buy that Green Goblin is Spider-man's greatest foe (I think Dr Octopus fits that role better) so I'm always a but tired when he's trailed out as the ultimate foe behind everything. There's also the tendency to make Green Goblin the poor man's Joker and this is the case here. What is enjoyable about the book is how the expanded cast are used so effectively giving the sense that Spidey is surrounded by a world of people with their own lives and motivations. The artwork is also pretty strong despite there being several artists and the Marcos Martin epilogue story is an outstanding homage to Steve Ditko and John Romita Sr.
A decent end to and excellent run by Dan Slott.
A decent end to and excellent run by Dan Slott.
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