The following contains spoilers for Superman #1 and Gold Goblin #4, now on sale from DC and Marvel Comics, respectively.
Superman and Spider-Man, two of the flagship characters of DC and Marvel Comics, respectively, are going through similar storylines wherein their sworn enemies have handed over their company's assets and resources to them. This development not only opens up the possibilities for new storytelling but also explores the changing dynamics in their relationships long spent in opposition.
Whether they are swinging by or flying over, both Spider-Man and Superman are very much working-class superheroes with their ears to the ground. Meanwhile, their archnemeses, Norman Osborn and Lex Luthor are wealthy industrialists who have always put their selfish needs first. Naturally, their unaligned interests have put them on collision courses on multiple occasions over the decades and comic eras. This has led to many personal grudges, especially on the part of the villains. To see the latter make amends, offering the resources at their disposal as a gesture of goodwill certainly comes out of the blue and gives them a chance at redemption.
Norman Osborn And Lex Luthor Have Turned Over Their Lives' Work
In Gold Goblin #4 (by Christopher Cantwell, Lan Medina, Antonio Fabela, and VC's Joe Sabino), Norman Osborn admits to Peter Parker that their painful history is making it hard for either of them to forge a real partnership. But he still holds Peter in high regard and wants to make amends. In the previous issue, Norman had taken out all his rage on Jack O'Lantern, who crashed Normie's birthday party at Alchemax. Seeing the parallels between him and Peter, Norman makes a pivotal decision to give his former archenemy carte blanche to use his company's assets as he sees fit. He acknowledges his young employee's brilliance, and it seems like the gesture is genuine to boot.
Coincidentally, something similar transpires between Superman and Lex Luthor over at DC. The events of Action Comics have led to the incarceration of Luthor following his murder of Manchester Black. As the Man of Steel begins his journey anew in Superman #1 (by Joshua Williamson, Jamal Campbell, and VC's Ariana Maher), he is met with a surprising new prospect from none other than Luthor himself. Despite the supervillain industrialist being in prison, a plan has been set into motion to transfer the ownership of Lexcorp to Superman, with a new rebranding under CEO Mercy Graves. While Luthor sells it as an opportunity to do good, the arrangement feels more like a ploy to safeguard his vested interests from whatever's coming for him. But either way, it puts Clark Kent in a similar position as Peter Parker, with only the latter being more welcoming of the change.
Spider-Man And Superman Have Control of Their Enemies' Fortunes
Although guilt-ridden, Norman's decision shows that he recognizes the fallacy behind his past actions, which has resulted in Parker losing much time wallowing in grief. Osborn has always prioritized personal profits over others, but as he looks to move forward, he has to let go of his narcissism and allow others to reach their true potential. For Peter himself, this is not a new scenario. In the past, he has tried to run his own company (Parker Industries, founded ironically by Doctor Octopus), but his disastrous executive decisions and superhero double-life have run it into the ground. Hopefully, these hard-learned lessons have made an impact on Peter, proving in the future that he is as good a scientist as he is a superhero. With Oscorp already crossing frontiers in innovations, Peter's influence over certain projects can have humanitarian approaches in mind.
Unlike Osborn, Lex Luthor's plans for his company smell more like self-preservation. LexCorp has always stood as an antithesis to Superman's ideals, showing the strength of corporate gain over any moral victory. To completely rebrand it as SuperCorp and hand it over to the Kryptonian seems out of character for Luthor. As for Superman himself, he has S.T.A.R. Labs and the newly inaugurated Steelworks to assist him. Even with his supercomputer brain and the scientific wonders holed up in the Fortress of Solitude, Superman has never been an out-and-out science guy. The new takeover opportunity offers him a chance to remove the poisonous influence of LexCorp from the lives of Metropolis residents and perhaps redirect those resources to something meaningful.