Review: ‘Red Goblin’ #1 Is The Most Unexpected Of Spin-Offs

Red Goblin is a strange story when you think of it. It’s a spin-off of a spin-off, starring a character assuming the identity of an old villain, while said villain is starring in his own spin-off. If that’s a little confusing, I get it, but best of all this story rises above all that to be much greater than the sum of its parts.

Alex Paknadel, Jan Bazaldua, David Curiel and Joe Caramagna debut Normie Osborn’s new identity with a bang.

Normie Osborn is no longer just the grandchild of one of the world’s great villains. He’s bonded with a baby symbiote, one that’s still wild and predictable. Regardless, he has a legacy to face, one that he has to decide whether to reject or embrace, right alongside his new companion. He needs to make up his mind fast though, because the legacy of the Green Goblin is about to come crashing into his life again.

Sure, this is a Spider-Man story, featuring a Venom symbiote bonding with the son of a villain. On the surface, it sounds like something out of the 90’s at the height of Marvel’s boom. Instead Paknadel is able to create something that’s much more than the sum of its parts. Normie Osborn has always been an interesting character full of potential, but he’s seldom gotten the spotlight. The closest he’s ever come was as a supporting character in the long-running alternate universe series Spider-Girl. 

Here, Paknadel captures the voice of a kid who’s needed to grow up too quickly, balancing superheroics with the new responsibility of training an alien that’s equal parts pet, weapon and partner. He’s also able to build an interesting set-up around him, with Norman trying to make amends alongside the reemergence of the Goblin Nation and a familiar villain. It shouldn’t work as well as it does, but Paknadel shows how skilled a talent he is in making it work, and work so well that I’m thrilled to see what’s next.

Bazaldua’s art is a great fit for the script. She has great energy in the action scenes- Rascal’s design feels dangerous, and he moves in a way that feels feral but still graceful. She also is able the make the scary moments- like Rascal transforming into the Red Goblin, or the Goblin Nation’s terrorist acts- genuinely scary. Even better, Normie looks like a real kid, not just a small adult.

Curiel’s colors set tones for scenes- having reds pop off the page as the action intensifies, making blues practically glow. It’s the kind of color work that elevates already good line art. Caramagna does the same with the letters, incorporating sound effects and emphasis with the art.

This is a pleasant surprise for a launch. I’m excited to see what this story builds to from here.

Red Goblin #1 is available now from Marvel Comics.