Summary

• A major shift in Spider-Man's dynamic with the Green Goblin's host suggests a potential friendship, sparking heated fandom debates.
• Baggage from past traumatic events complicates the idea of a friendship between Spider-Man and Norman Osborn.
• Despite their tumultuous history, a friendship between Spider-Man and Norman isn't entirely impossible, leaving room for reconciliation.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Amazing Spider-Man #54!Spider-Man is about to spark major fandom wars over four words no fan ever thought he would say. The animosity between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin has become a staple in Spider-Man's lore since the infamous villain killed Gwen Stacy. He was able to get Spider-Man to vow death and revenge over this tragic event, establishing a rivalry that lasted for decades. Now, things are looking to change with four words that could change Spider-Man's relationship with the Goblin's host forever.

In The Amazing Spider-Man #54 by Zeb Wells and Ed McGuinness, Spider-Man and Norman Osborn successfully put an end to the Goblin once and for all by forcing him to confront Peter's soul. As the dust settles and the two go their separate ways, Norman pulls Spidey aside to thank him for the sacrifices he made to save him from his curse. He then proposes that he hopes the two could become friends one day, to which Peter responds "Crazier things have happened."

This is a major shift in the dynamic between Spidey and Osborn as it establishes that they may want to put their past behind them. However, given how traumatizing that past is, it's likely to cause an outcry among Spider-Man fans.

A Friendship Between Norman and Spider-Man Would Be a Difficult Road

There's Too Much Baggage Between Them

The biggest problem a potential friendship between Norman and Spider-Man has is how much painful history the two share. Norman was the culprit behind one of Spidey's most defining moments with "The Night Gwen Stacy Died." It was the cornerstone behind Spider-Man realizing he can't save everyone, and it turned the Green Goblin into his greatest nemesis. Plus, in the Dark Reign saga, Norman showed just how villainous he could be without the Goblin persona by becoming the story's primary antagonist.

"It's a little hard to believe that Peter would even consider giving Norman a chance..."

Even the current iteration of Norman Osborn has been met with skepticism by Peter. While the two worked together and gave Norman a new persona as the Gold Goblin, Peter was still pretty apprehensive of him. In fact, the only reason he worked close with Norman was essentially to keep an eye on him in case the Green Goblin made a return. Now that the Goblin is dead for now, it's a little hard to believe that Peter would even consider giving Norman a chance, even if his alter ego never returns, because of how complicated their history is.

A Friendship Between Spider-Man and Norman Isn't Impossible

There's a Case to be Made About a Friendship Between the Two Working

Despite all the negative implications a friendship between Norman Osborn and Spider-Man could have, it's not exactly out of the cards. Now that the two have vanquished the villain once and for all, it's possible that they could reconcile. After all, it was the Goblin that killed Gwen Stacy. Norman was simply his puppet. This doesn't discount his other villainous deeds he's done in the past without being under the Goblin's influence, but for what it's worth, anything is possible.

It will be interesting to see how Spider-Man and Norman interact going forward now that the Goblin is officially gone. A friendship between the two won't happen overnight, seeing how even Spidey is hesitant to give a yes-or-no answer. However, anything can happen, and despite the arguments in the fandom that could ignite from this decision, Spider-Man's future is officially heading in new directions with just four words no one thought he'd ever say.

The Amazing Spider-Man #54 is available now from Marvel Comics!