I’m Disappointed Norman Osborn’s First Appearance In The MCU Is As Iron Man’s Replacement

[[{“value”:”

Normal Osborne’s MCU debut resembles Iron Man’s role and I hope this isn’t a trend that continues in Spider-Man stories. Iron Man’s MCU legacy is practically unassailable after being positioned as the de facto protagonist of the Infinity Saga and sacrificing his own life to destroy Thanos. So far, this posthumous legacy has been explored in Spider-Man: Far From Home, where his tight-knit relationship with Peter Parker saw the young protégé dealing with the death of his mentor and the fact that he was chosen as his successor, being bequeathed Stark’s EDITH glasses and control over his tech.

It was an off-piste move from Marvel Studios and one that still sparks healthy debate among Spider-Man fans today. Combined with the conspicuous absence of characters typically integral to Peter Parker’s story, like Uncle Ben and Harry Osborne, the MCU’s willingness to deviate from comic book precedent feels particularly pronounced with this character. Now, it looks as if Marvel is doing the same with Norman Osborne, AKA Green Goblin, a character many would call his arch-rival. While I’m always open to the proper use of creative license, I can’t help but feel like Marvel is now repeating itself.

Norman Osborn Is One Of Spider-Man’s Best Villains For A Reason

He Shares A Deep Relationship With Peter Parker

Norman Osborne (and his Green Goblin alter-ego) is Spider-Man’s foremost rival in Marvel Comics. This isn’t because he was Spider-Man’s first (that accolade goes to the Chameleon), but because the two share a particularly deep and nuanced relationship. Osborn’s respect for Peter Parker seemingly supersedes that of his son and Peter’s best friend, Harry. This respect for Peter is perfectly expressed in both Spider-Man and Spider-Man: No Way Home, making their subsequent tussles pack an extra punch when Osborn relents to his villainous alter-ego. His immense resources and megalomania have also led to clashes with multiple other Marvel heroes.

The Green Goblin is also responsible for some pivotal moments in Spider-Man’s most famous stories. For instance, while it fell to his son, Harry, to cause Gwen Stacy’s death in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, this was originally Norman’s doing in Marvel Comics. The Green Goblin alter-ego may be inherently psychotic enough to inflict some of the most egregious acts of villainy in Marvel Comics, but Osborn is himself a particularly formidable and shrewd villain, whose overall villainy is rarely up for debate. Nevertheless, the MCU has seemingly resolved to make him more akin to Iron Man.

Even His Introduction Is A Shot-For-Shot Recreation

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man has landed on Disney+ and depicts Spider-Man’s origins in an alternate universe. Unlike his Sacred Timeline counterpart, this show briefly depicts how Spider-Man received his powers, though his genesis is brief before Spider-Man is seen embracing his titular role. Making Nico Minoru his high school best friend is just one way the show has detracted so far from the Sacred Timeline. Nevertheless, there is one particularly conspicuous parallel in Norman Osborn and how he has taken on Iron Man’s role as Peter Parker’s mentor.

I’m particularly struck by just how much Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man leans into this parallel. Parker’s first meeting with Osborn is almost shot-for-shot identical to Parker’s first meeting with Tony Stark in Captain America: Civil War, entering Aunt May’s apartment while listening to music, and being initially oblivious to and then surprised by his mentor-to-be’s presence beside Aunt May on the couch. They then discuss an internship before Parker brings up the topic of money.

Both mentors are also privy to Spider-Man’s secret identity. Iron Man is aware of this before meeting with Peter, whereas Osborn discovers it later in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man episode 2. These parallels between Osborn and Stark aren’t completely out of the blue. Both characters are highly intelligent industrialists, after all. Still, I am slightly concerned that Marvel Studios is covering the same ground while depriving audiences of a truer depiction of Norman Osborn.

Marvel Needs To Give Norman Osborn His Due In The MCU

He Can’t Be Another Iron Man Replacement

Thankfully, the fact that Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man takes place in a different universe means that the MCU can still deliver with its own live-action version of Norman Osborn. When it does, I’m hopeful that he won’t be a stand-in for Tony Stark in the Sacred Timeline, despite their apparent similarities. If the theories that the MCU’s version of Norman Osborn had bought Avengers Tower were vindicated, this might have been more of a risk – particularly if he got his hands on some Stark tech in the process.

It wouldn’t make much sense, either, given that Peter Parker has outgrown the need for a mentor figure. Instead, there is a far greater cause for the MCU to lean into the bad blood between Osborn and Parker, now that an Osborn variant was responsible for Aunt May’s death. Given there is no sign of Norman Osborn on the Sacred Timeline so far, the MCU could debut its live-action Osborn in Spider-Man 4, which may incorporate a new Osborn from another universe. Whatever the case, I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a more unique depiction.

Upcoming MCU Movies

“}]] Is Norman Osborn the new Iron Man?  Read More