Writer: Tony Isabella
Artists: Gil Kane & Frank Giacoia
Colorist: Gafford
Review: Madman
The Green Goblin, aka Norman Osborn, had discovered Peter was Spider-Man and had kidnapped Gwen, the love of Peter’s life, in order to hurt him. During the faceoff Osborn knocked Gwen off the top of the bridge and Parker webs her, saving her from falling to her death, but in doing so inadvertently snaps her neck. Everyone that knows anything about Spider-Man knows this, but I figured I’d catch up the DC fans...
This event is arguably the largest influence (next to Uncle Ben’s death) that shaped Peter Parker into the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man we know and love today.
In this issue of What If…? that infamous battle still happens but with a different outcome.
In this version everything transpires as in the original story up to the point where Parker goes to web-snag Gwen’s legs as she falls. Here, Parker instead jumps after her and cradles her body as they hit the water. Of course they both live and Goblin leaves the scene thinking he had actually killed the Wall-Crawler and his lover.
After the two lovebirds make it to shore Gwen learns Peter is Spider-Man and promptly freaks out, well, because she still blames Spider-Man for her fathers death.
After a lot of squirming and explaining, Gwen actually forgives Peter, and he proposes to Gwen right there on the dock, stinking like river water. In classic Parker fashion he then takes off to find the Goblin and finish the fight.
Peter tails Osborn (who has mailed a package en route) back to his ample mansion and, after a short battle between the two arch-rivals and a heartfelt interaction between Norman and Harry, Norman promises not to be the Green Goblin anymore.
Soon thereafter Peter and Gwen get hitched and all is right with the world...until JJJ. That’s right, JJJ shows up and crashes the wedding along with a gaggle of cops.
The package Osborn mailed was to JJJ and contained the secret of Spider-Man’s identity.
So here Gwen might have lived and Osborn “saw the light” leading him to retire as the Green Goblin, but JJJ really screws Parker over, forcing him to live as a vigilante from the law dogs.
Overall this book was a pretty fun read, and the artwork was classic O.G. Marvel. In this case this is one, “What If”, I’m glad never really happened due to the previously stated importance of Gwen’s death.
Meh, the Jackal clones her and brings her back to life anyways, more then once...
Plus, we have Spider-Gwen (not a fan at all) if you need your Gwen fix.
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