Warning: Spoilers for Gold Goblin #2 ahead!Although Norman Osborn is trying his best to atone for his crimes as the Green Goblin, he unconsciously knows that his heroic redemption isn't likely to last. Sadly, this isn't due to any evil scheme or long-planned betrayal on his part. Norman simply isn't able to live with the full comprehension of his crimes, and his desperation to escape his past is setting him up to fall.
Although best known as Spider-Man's nemesis the Green Goblin, Norman's sins were "eaten" in Nick Spencer, Patrick Gleason, and Edgar Delgado's Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #50, leaving him clear-headed and fully cognizant of the extent of his misdeeds. Since then, Norman has attempted to atone for his villainous past. Haunted by visions of the murdered Gwen Stacy, Norman's latest attempt at redemption has been to use his arsenal of "goblin" technology to right wrongs as the heroic 'Gold Goblin.'
But Gold Goblin #2 by Christopher Cantwell, Lan Medina, and Antonio Fabela shows just how deeply the sins of the past still weigh on Norman's soul. Brutally beaten down by Spider-clone Ben Reilly (now known as 'Chasm'), Norman is tormented by visions of his misdeeds as he tries to work out how best to save the city from Madelyne Pryor's demon invasion. Atop the Alchemax building, he meets with Dr. Ashley Kafka, begging her to use the same technology she used to wipe Ben Reilly's memories on him. "$#&% atonement!" he screams. "I want to forget!"
Norman Doesn't Want Redemption, He Wants To Escape
This cry of despair is damning as it reveals that Norman's obsession isn't with atonement, but to be made as though he had never committed his crimes. Atonement means shouldering the burden of one's actions, acknowledging them, and owning them as your own, but Norman's past is too painful for him to live with. Rather than owning up to his misdeeds, Norman instead is desperately searching for a means to escape them.
As Gold Goblin, Norman could do real good for the city of New York - not to mention the technological advancements he can supply through Oscorp. The sad truth, however, is that no amount of good deeds can ever change the past (time travel in these situations tends to cause more problems than it solves) and the easiest out available to Norman would be to seek refuge in madness once again.
Norman will struggle every day with the specter of the Green Goblin, and while he has a genuine chance at being able to change his ways, all signs point to his efforts being doomed to fail.
Gold Goblin #2 is now available from Marvel Comics.