The following contains major spoilers for Gold Goblin #5, on sale now from Marvel Comics.

Norman Osborn has turned his life around and is spending his days as the superhero Gold Goblin, even using the infinite resources of Oscorp at his disposal to help out his former archenemy Spider-Man in his heroic pursuits. But as he tries to atone for his past sins, he makes new mistakes, with the latest one bound to make an indelible blemish on his reputation.

As Peter Parker starts his life anew, so does his worst-enemy-turned-friend Norman Osborn. Since the Sin Eater purged Norman of his countless sins back in The Amazing Spider-Man #50 (by Nick Spencer, Patrick Gleason, Edgar Delgado and VC's Joe Caramagna), the former supervillain has been remorseful of his actions and wants to build a legacy that his deceased son Harry and his grandson can be proud of. To that effect, Norman has tried to change his entire outlook and personality, but some pasts are too hard to shake off.

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The Gold Goblin Has Fallen From Grace

Norman Osborne Kills Queen Goblin

Removed of all his sins, Norman Osborn is left with nothing but overwhelming guilt. And like Spider-Man before him, that guilt drives him to become a superhero, donning a white and gold costume and flying on a gold glider, hoping that his new persona can help change public perception of his former Goblin self. But the general populace is still wary of him, with the newspapers dubbing him the Gold Goblin, much to his chagrin. On paper, Gold Goblin #1 (by Christopher Cantwell, Lan Medina, Antonio Fabela and VC's Joe Sabino) may feel like the start of a redemption arc. Yet, the haunting sins of the past manifest around Norman reminding him of the cruel wounds he had inflicted upon his victims.

The Queen Goblin's existence gives verity to Osborn's dark past. When the Beyond Corporation forcefully bonded Dr. Ashley Kafka to Osborn's sins, the immensity of his crimes turned her into a demonic entity called the Queen Goblin. Since the start of Osborn's solo series, she has been a constant thorn in his side. Repeatedly fighting criminals while keeping the darkness festering within him at bay takes its toll on Norman's fractured psyche, who feels himself slipping into his old personality. Finally, in Gold Goblin #5, everything comes to a head. The Queen Goblin has been hounding him to take back his sins and release her of the torment. Norman fights back as the Gold Goblin along with Spider-Man at his side, but when the odds turn in the Queen's favor, he has no other option but to snap her neck to save Peter's life.

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Norman Osborn is on the Verge of Becoming the Green Goblin Again

Norman Osborn is tempted by his Green Goblin suit in Gold Goblin #5 in Marvel Comics

Kafka's death may not be a cold-blooded murder, but the blood is still fresh on Norman Osborn's hands. There has been a rage building inside him since the day he first felt remorse for his actions, and sadly, he had no way of channeling it except for lashing out at his supervillain enemies. The more he tries to restrain himself, the deeper he falls into the pit, barely clamoring out of it with his sanity in one piece. The most damning fact remains that Norman, despite all his best efforts, is addicted to his former personality. Now, this latest development can play a role in his relapse into his old murderous persona.

In the eyes of the world, Norman Osborn has always been guilty. Even in his new costumed identity, the public consensus has been very much against him as the authority finds his vigilantism a threat. Now they have video proof of him reverting to his old tricks, albeit in a new costume. Earlier in the same issue, Norman had a moment with one of his old green suit when he almost succumbs to its temptations. And now, with Kafka's death, the beginning of the end has already started. While all clues indicate the Green Goblin making an unceremonious return, Norman's fight to keep his narcissistic amoral side caged within him instead of processing through his trauma will become his unfortunate undoing.