Marvel officially makes theGreen Goblinjust as sadistic and terrifying as DC Comics’Joker. Introduced twenty-four years after the Joker made his comic debut, the Green Goblin has risen to the top of Marvel Comics' most iconic villains, with a similar personality and a similarly cruel approach to villainy.
Throughout the years,Green Goblin has committed some of the most disturbing actsin Marvel history, from selling his own son’s soul to Mephisto to abducting Peter Parker and Mary Jane’s newborn child.InBring on the Bad Guys: Green Goblin #1, written by Ethan S. Parker & Griffin Sheridan, Norman Osborn once again gives in to his Green Goblin persona, incited by his deal with Mephisto.
Norman Osborn is used to the Green Goblin’s bloodthirst, and he even thrives in it despite his attempts to restrain it. Yet,Norman’s pending deal with the Devilleads him to be more cold-blooded than ever when he sacrifices an innocent life to Mephisto.
Green Goblin Cements Himself As Marvel’s Joker
InBring on the Bad Guys: Green Goblin #1, Norman Osborn breaks into a work colleague’s home, throws him onto the street, and executes him with a blade. The Green Goblin preys on Alan and his family in the dark of the night, and he sneaks up on his victim like a monster.The image of a smiling, knife-wielding goblin appearing out of nowhere to murder an innocent man while his wife plays with their kids is spine-chilling, to say the least.
The Green Goblin’s murder of Alan is on par with the Joker’s attack on Barbara Gordon inBatman: The Killing Joke.Like the Joker, Green Goblin sports a permanent smile on his face while he savors every second of his crime.Only instead of leaving his victim with permanent injuries, Green Goblin takes pleasure in mocking him before delivering the final blow, saying,“keep those eyes open, I don’t wanna do this alone.”
Green Goblin Puts An Even Darker Spin On DC’s Joker
Norman Osborn’s Duality Makes His Cruelty More Hard-Hitting Than The Joker’s
The Joker never shows remorse for his crimes, whereas Norman Osborn often tries to keep his dark alter ego at bay, if only to protect his personal life. However, Norman Osborn’s double life only makes him scarier.AsBring on the Bad Guys: Green Goblin #1shows, many of Norman’s victims live their final days right next to the Green Goblin, unaware of the dark desires Osborn harbors deep within.
In the Amalgam universe, Marvel and DC paired Green Goblin and Two-Face to create the Two-Faced Goblin, and the Joker with Sabretooth to create Hyena.
Even with the mask off, Norman Osborn can’t help but laugh at the situation, still wielding the knife. What’s worse, Norman Osborn rips his own face off to reveal the Green Goblin laughing underneath. Metaphor or not,the Green Goblin does live permanently below the surface. Norman is always aching to spill blood and theGreen Goblinmask is only an excuse for him to embody those desires in a separate, Joker-like persona.
Bring on the Bad Guys: Green Goblin #1is now available from Marvel Comics!
