World Famous Comics: Spider-Man: Goblin Moon (Spider-Man)
Spider-Man: Goblin Moon (Spider-Man)
By: Kurt Busiek, Nathan Archer Publisher: Berkley Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Berkley Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 279 Publication Date: July 01, 2000 Release Date: July 10, 2000
Product Description: Spider-Man versus his most implacable enemy! Norman Osborn is a respected businessman, the owner of several companies, including the New York Daily Bugle. He is also secretly the super-villain known as the Green Goblin--a foe who has turned Spider-Man's life upside down more than once, and one who knows that Spider-Man is really Peter Parker! Osborn's latest scheme is his most ambitious yet: to make himself mayor of New York. But where many see that as a laudable goal, Spider-Man knows that Osborn's goal is nothing less than absolute power. Spider-Man can defeat the Green Goblin, but Osborn refuses to act himself, preferring to remain above the fray and let the mercenaries known as the Rat Pack do his dirty work. The wall-crawler must find a way to stop Osborn's machinations before it's too late!
A tangled web of intrigue and lies... Spider-Man has always been my most favorite comic-book super hero (in the Marvel universe). This book has confirmed for me just why he's my favorite. This time, the web-slinger is against an implacable foe who can't be so easily disposed of because he's successfully convinced nearly everyone that he never was the Green Goblin. Worse, he strikes at Spider-Man and his alter ego with impunity, given that if Spidey tries to do anything about him, then he'll be seen as a criminal and Norman Osborn will get away clean. The dilemma he presents Peter with is diabolically clever: Either take the opportunity for financial security and leave behind his responsibilities, or continue being Spider-Man and possibly jeopardize his current position at the Daily Bugle. I was really rooting for Spidey to take down Osborn after he secretly poisoned Mary Jane. All in all, this is a very satisfying novel.
Well Written Story I really enjoyed this book. The story wasn't earth-shattering, but what really made the book for me was the writing. Busiek and Archer made the characters very real and interesting. For the first time I felt that I really had a sense of what it would be like to swing through New York on web lines or see the world through Spidey's mask.
True to Spider-Man's legacy this book wasn't about the hero as much as it was about Peter Parker. Also, I thought it brilliant that the villian in the book was Norman Osborn and not really his alter-ego, the Green Goblin.
I enjoyed the detective-type efforts that Peter went through to figure out the case. The books seemed as much of a mystery as it was an action story. I'm glad that I read it and would definitely recommend it.
Parker vs. Osborn in a battle of wit I, like a lot of Spidey fans, think Peter Parker is a pretty smart guy. But, up until the very end, Parker is made out to be a no-brain super-hero who can't stand up to the intellect of his opponents. But hey, Norman Osborn ain't no fool, and he is depicted in the book as one of Spidey's greatest foes. And in this, I think Busiek is right on the button. But still, I think Peter is depicted all wrong for most of this book, but I guess he comes out alright in the end.
Goblin Moon The book was very good. But if you knew anything about Spidey than you would know Norm's behind the Rat Pack...
Ok, but plot drowns it Something as played out as the Spider-man/Goblin wars has always been a plotline for novels, and this one is no exception. The problem is that sometimes they get stupid. How could the Green Goblin get unmasked as Norman Osborn, "come back from the dead," and all he does to get away with it is lie? Oh, come on, how stupid are the people in these books? Note: the last two sentences don't tell anything about the book, just the history before it. Now as for the book itself, it does okay with the plotline. The story begins as a group of terrorists called the Rat Pack spring a reign of terror, not even Spider-Man can stop it. Meanwhile Norman Osborn is running for mayor and his Green Goblin persona seems to have resurfaced, leaving Spider-Man on edge. But that's only the begining of this attempt at a thriller. I say this because one big problem is the plot is way too predictable. You know what's going to happen before it does. Plus, another problem is that it's not very thrilling; Spidey stays on edge the hole book and doesn't actually fight the Goblin until near the end. They also add extra little parts here and there, which have nothing to do with the overall story. Yes, despite all I said, I still give it 3 stars, but only because the writing quality is pretty good and I like Spider-Man novels. Otherwise, the plot just isn't that good.