Its still shocking that Marvel Studios weakened one of Peter Parkers most iconic and powerful villains when bringing him into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2021s Spider-Man: No Way Home . No Way Homes intense story saw Tom Hollands wall-crawler come to blows with several supervillains from previous non-MCU Spider-Man movies. This marked the triumphant returns of Alfred Molinas Doctor Octopus, Jamie Foxxs Electro, Rhys Ifans Lizard, Thomas Haden Churchs Sandman, and, perhaps most excitingly, Willem Dafoes Norman Osborn. Unfortunately, however, No Way Homes Green Goblin wasnt what we expected.
Throughout his initial appearance in Sam Raimis Spider-Man in 2002 opposite Tobey Maguires Peter Parker, Norman Osborn got many chances to show off his unhinged and violent persona and impressive strength. In one very memorable scene, Osborn uses a Pumpkin Bomb to disintegrate a group of innocent bystanders, including his companys board of directors, at Oscorps Unity Day festival. It would have been brilliant to see this brutal and limitless evil repeated in Spider-Man: No Way Home, but Marvel Studios made the Green Goblin much weaker in the Phase 4 trilogy-capper.
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Of course, in Spider-Man: No Way Home, the Green Goblin persona did take over Norman Osborn in order to kill Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) and turn the other multiversal villains against Peter Parker and his friends. However, Mays death was the only one caused by the Green Goblin, and this wasnt nearly as brutal as one of his Pumpkin Bombs eradicating Oscorps board of directors members skin, muscle, and organs, leaving just their skeletons behind. Norman Osborn is perhaps Spider-Mans best and most well-known adversary, so its a shame his MCU debut wasnt more impactful.
Now, the version of Norman Osborn depicted in the animated Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man series, voiced by Academy Award-nomination Colman Domingo, has displayed his more manipulative and scheming persona. He hasnt yet adopted the Green Goblin persona, but this could occur in season 2 or beyond, and the violence already seen in the animated Multiverse Saga series means this Green Goblin could be incredibly brutal. If Colman Domingo makes the jump to live-action to portray the official Norman Osborn perhaps after Avengers: Secret Wars reset of the MCU this same manipulation and brutality can finally be delivered.
Spider-Man: No Way Home marked Norman Osborns first appearance and mention in the MCU proper, so its a shame he didnt show off all his violent tendencies. He was perhaps dulled down to make the other villains specifically Lizard, Electro, and Sandman more powerful, as Tom Hollands incarnation of Peter Parker would have typically been able to easily take down these less-powerful foes. The MCUs upcoming reset provides the perfect opportunity for a new Norman Osborn to be introduced, which gives us hope hell be just as terrifying as Willem Dafoes version from 2002s Spider-Man.
Do you want to see a more brutal Green Goblin debut in the MCU? Let us know in the comments!
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