19 Years Later, Marvel’s Best Villain Death Is Still One Of Their Biggest Mistakes

Published Aug 30, 2026, 11:20 AM EDT Jared is a writer, editor, and Communications Studies graduate who loves popular nerd culture (almost anything to do with Marvel, DC, Star Wars, or The Lord of the Rings) and the interactive storytelling medium. Jared's first console was the PS1, wherein he fell for Spider-Man, Spyro the Dragon, and Crash Bandicoot. Sign in to your ScreenRant account The Ultimate Earth-1610 universe’s Green Goblin rivals the mainline Earth-616 universe’s as the most sinister and cruel iteration of the Marvel antagonist, which is remarkably impressive, as all that malevolence is condensed into a decade’s worth of Marvel comic book continuity, as opposed to seven and counting. Unfortunately, this Norman Osborn was scraped far too thinly across too much bread, anyway, blemishing how phenomenal the ending of his story could have been. Besides the OZ Experiment Arachnid No. 00, Norman is one of the first characters to appear in the series, and has the honor of being treated to the book’s first lines of dialogue, regaling an associate of his named Justin with the Greek myth of Arachne. It’s not a coincidence, perhaps, that he’s also the last character we see in this book, grinning satisfyingly as his body is engulfed in flame. Of all the times Norman appeared to die yet didn’t in Ultimate lore, though, the worst offense ruined an otherwise perfect ending for the character. Ultimate Spider-Man Wasted A 10/10 Green Goblin Death In Ultimate Spider-Man #117, Part 6 of the “Death of a Goblin” arc, Norman’s Green Goblin battles Harry Osborn’s Hobgoblin aboard a S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier. Spider-Man is featured briefly, but it’s chiefly a fight between the green and red Goblins, father and son, and it’s as brutal as it is short. The fight ends with Norman killing Harry. However, readers aren’t given a second to reconcile with such an iconic character’s alarming death because, immediately after, a remorseful Norman powers down and requests to be killed, with Carol Danvers of S.H.I.E.L.D. granting that request by shooting him. It’s the suddenness and convincing definitiveness of Norman’s death that made it so special. Just like that, the Osborns were wiped out in one fell swoop, fulfilling the title of the arc when Norman realized that he had landed a deathblow on his son, and again when Norman unhesitatingly submitted to being put down. Disappointingly, while Harry’s death was permanent for the remainder of the series, Norman’s wasn’t. Ultimate Marvel’s Lack Of Commitment Soiled It This would’ve been an incredible and shocking death, had the series not brought Norman back later on. In Ultimate Spider-Man #156, Part 1 of the “Death of Spider-Man” arc, it’s revealed that Norman had apparently been alive the whole time and secretly kept in S.H.I.E.L.D. custody at the Triskelion, robbing him of a death that was unpredictable, meaningful, and heartbreaking. To be fair, it’s poetic that Norman would be Peter’s last villain in this series, as no other enemy affected him nearly as profoundly or was as paramount to the overarching story—he’s the author of all of Peter’s pain, since Peter never would’ve been bitten by a genetically modified spider if it wasn’t for him, and was a blight on his life since Ultimate Spider-Man #1. You could argue that some of the highest highs of the series’ villains belong to Dr. Otto Octavius’ Doctor Octopus, but Norman being able to say he killed both Otto and Peter (even if he and Peter technically traded in Ultimate Spider-Man #160, with neither of them actually dying) allows him to win that debate fairly squarely. But no. Again, Norman’s supposed death was retconned, and so was Peter’s, tarnishing how climactic their final battle was, let alone how phenomenal and earned the conclusion of their shared story was in Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man. If Shailene Woodley’s Mary Jane scenes from The Amazing Spider-Man 2 were officially released, how interested would you be in watching them? Very interested — I’d seek them out as soon as they’re available Very interested — I’d seek them out as soon as they’re available 50.0% Somewhat interested — I’d watch if they were easy to find Somewhat interested — I’d watch if they were easy to find 33.3% Mildly curious — I might check them out eventually Mildly curious — I might check them out eventually 16.7% Not interested — I don’t feel a need to see them Not interested — I don’t feel a need to see them 0.0% If Sony announced The Amazing Spider-Man 3 with Andrew Garfield returning and Shailene Woodley finally playing MJ, how would you most likely watch it? See it in theaters as soon as possible See it in theaters as soon as possible 50.0% Wait to stream it at home on a subscription service Wait to stream it at home on a subscription service 33.3% Wait for digital rental or purchase only if reviews are strong Wait for digital rental or purchase only if reviews are strong 16.7% Skip it unless buzz is overwhelmingly positive Skip it unless buzz is overwhelmingly positive 0.0% multi-answer Thinking about revisiting The Amazing Spider-Man 2 or a potential sequel, where are you most likely to watch it next? On a major streaming service (Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, etc.) On a major streaming service (Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, etc.) 66.7% By renting or buying it digitally (Apple TV, Amazon, etc.) By renting or buying it digitally (Apple TV, Amazon, etc.) 0.0% On live TV or cable when it’s airing On live TV or cable when it’s airing 0.0% On Blu-ray/DVD that I own or would purchase On Blu-ray/DVD that I own or would purchase 33.3% Movie(s) Spider-Man, Spider-Man Strikes Back, Spider-Man: The Dragon's Challenge, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 3, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, Spider-Man: Far from Home, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse TV Show(s) Spider-Man, Spider-Man, Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, Spider-Man: The Animated Series, Spider-Man Unlimited, Spider-Man: The New Animated Series, The Spectacular Spider-Man, Ultimate Spider-Man, Spider-Man, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Spider-Noir Comic The Amazing Spider-Man First Film Spider-Man First TV Show Spider-Man Genres Superhero, Action, Adventure, Science Fiction, Drama, Coming-of-Age Cast Tom Holland, Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, Shameik Moore, Zendaya, Kirsten Dunst, Emma Stone, Marisa Tomei, Rosemary Harris, Sally Field, Jacob Batalon, J.K. Simmons, Willem Dafoe, Alfred Molina, Michael Keaton, Jamie Foxx, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jon Favreau, Tony Revolori, Laura Harrier, Angourie Rice, Benedict Cumberbatch, Nicholas Hammond Director Sam Raimi, Marc Webb, Jon Watts, Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman, Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson Writers Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, Brian Michael Bendis, jonathan hickman, Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller Created by Stan Lee, Steve Ditko