From 2015,
What If? Infinity Dark Reign #1, "What If? the Green Goblin stole the Infinity Gauntlet?" Written by Joshua Williamson, art by Goran Sudzuka.
Ambrose Osborn is about to lay a whuppin' on young (and disobedient) Norman, when he's unexpectedly transported to the future, and the middle of the big fight towards the end of
Siege. Which I know I have, but I'm not positive I've actually read? I know Norman goes off the rails pretty hard there, but here he's getting things under control, like taking down the Sentry with the Infinity Gauntlet! Captain America points out, maybe a lunatic like Norman shouldn't have that, but the assorted heroes are wiped out and Norman's Dark Avengers sent home, so Norman can have some time with his dad. Who maybe should've believed in him more: his kid grew up to be God! A petulant, fallible God, but still. Ambrose isn't overly impressed with Norman's tyranny, and that's before he shows him his greatest work...of art: the death of Gwen Stacy, a moment Spider-Man is locked in, forever.
Since that doesn't bring dad on board, Norman uses the Gauntlet to change his mind, turning him into a sycophantic yes-man. But, when they return to Norman's tower, the Dark Avengers are dead, slaughtered by Thanos. Norman knows Thanos can't touch him while he has the Gauntlet, but Thanos might think he can get in his head: Daddy's never going to love you, even with the Gauntlet...it maybe doesn't play out soon enough, and Norman melts Thanos.
Ambrose is proud of Norman, but when pressed "Why?" says it's because he's his son. Norman feels he should be proud of his accomplishments, and wipes him out of the timeline. It takes Norman a moment too long to realize, maybe he shouldn't have retroactively killed his dad, as he fades from existence, leaving the Gauntlet floating empty in space...
The
Mystery Science Theatre 3000 episode Reptilicus features the line "A fire in an aquarium? Eh, that'll sort itself out." Which is pretty much what happens here?
The Mystery Science Theatre 3000 episode Reptilicus features the line "A fire in an aquarium? Eh, that'll sort itself out." Which is pretty much what happens here?
Yeah I'll never understand how Norman was written so dumb here. No way in hell he gets easily tricked into unintentionally erasing himself. Just plain dumb, lazy writing on display here.
ReplyDeleteThe Doctor Doom one where he wins everything was much better in comparison.
I don't know if Norman's dumb, but he's definitely crazy enough to do something shortsighted because of a wound to his ego without considering the consequences until it's too late.
ReplyDeleteOr maybe I'd just really like for him to be erased so writers would stop using him. That stretch after the '90s Clone Saga where he was just around all the time, trying to be Peter's Kingpin, was exhausting, and the stretch with him as Govt' Appointed Boss of All Superheroes wasn't much better.
He definitely probably should’ve stayed dead considering how overused he was in the 90’s, then JMS writing him to have an affair with Gwen.
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