Appearing in 1st story
Featured Characters:
- ⏴ Gold Goblin (Norman Osborn) ⏵ (First appearance as Gold Goblin) (As Green Goblin and Goblin King in recap only)
Supporting Characters:
- Normie Osborn
- Oscorp
- ⏴ Peter Parker ⏵ (As Spider-Man in recap only)
- Barb (Osborn's secretary)
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Sin-Eater (Stan Carter) (Only in recap)
- Green Goblin (Harry Osborn) (Death in recap and as hallucination in main story)
- Flash Thompson (Only in recap)
- Monster (Carlie Cooper) (Only in recap)
- May Parker (Only in recap)
- Gwen Stacy (Death in recap and as hallucination in main story)
- Hobgoblin (Ned Leeds) (Only in recap)
- Mr. Antonio (Voice only)
- Andreas Strucker (Named only) (Deceased)
- Phil Urich (Named only) (Deceased)
- Mary Alice Burke (Named only) (Deceased)
- Terri Kidder (Named only) (Deceased)
- Lyle Krane (Name revealed) (Deceased)
- "The Baby" (Named only) (Deceased)
- Lindy Reynolds (Named only) (Deceased)
- Mary Jane Watson (Named only)
- Dr. Albert Bendix (Named only) (Deceased)
- Seward Trainer (Named only) (Deceased)
- Alison Mongrain (Named only) (Deceased)
- Jack O'Lantern / Hobgoblin (Jason Macendale, Jr.) (Referenced)
Races and Species:
- Humans (Main story and recap)
Locations:
- Earth (Main story and recap)
- United States of America (Main story and recap)
- New York (Main story and recap)
- New York City (Main story and recap)
- Long Island (Only in recap)
- Queens (Only in recap)
- Forest Hills (Only in recap)
- 75th & 193rd (Only in recap)
- Queens (Only in recap)
- Manhattan (Only in recap)
- Brooklyn Bridge (Only in recap)
- Long Island (Only in recap)
- Westchester County (Only in recap)
- Ravencroft Institute (Only in recap)
- New York City (Main story and recap)
- New York (Main story and recap)
- United States of America (Main story and recap)
- Hell (Invoked)
Items:
- Goblin Armors (Main story and recap)
- Goblin Formula (Only in recap)
- Spider-Man's Suits and Web-Shooters (Only in recap)
- A copy of The Daily Bugle
- Jack O'Lantern's Suit
- Pumpkin Bombs
- Spider-Bots
Vehicles:
- Goblin Gliders (Main story and recap)
- Jack O'Lantern's Platform
Events:
- Last Remains (Only in recap)
- A Death in the Family (Only in recap)
- Darkest Hours (Only in recap)
- The Final Chapter (Only in recap)
- The Night Gwen Stacy Died (Only in recap)
- A.X.E.: Judgment Day (Mentioned)
Synopsis for 1st story
As Norman oversees his grandson Normie's batting cage practice, cheering him on, he ponders to himself about being without sin and throwing stones at himself. After giving notes and commenting on playing to win, Norman course corrects that having fun is what matters and lets Normie just hit them. Norman self-reflects that it has nearly been a year since Sin-Eater cleansed him[1] but has felt a gaping gnaw within himself instead of a sensation of feeling more free. Going to get some ice cream, Norman realizes that without his sins he can feel the pain he's caused, and has tried not to laugh as it scares people. Having tried to fill his emptiness with good, Norman can't help but recall the evils he's done. As Normie "bats a thousand," Norman is caught in a repressive memory loop of when Gwen died, encouraging Normie to hide his wailing guilt. Later, Norman admits to himself that it felt good when he helped Peter defeat Hobgoblin (Ned Leeds), because it felt like he was punishing himself.[2]
Returning to Oscorp, Norman asks Barb to message Mister Antonio for an update on his project by end of day before meeting Peter in his office with a Daily Bugle paper, shocked at his identity being discovered and his being dubbed the "Gold Goblin," sending Norman into a quiet panic as he wanted divorce from the Goblin moniker. But while Peter notes that the new Spider-Suit can now be traced to Oscorp, Norman's anxiety soars, Peter snaps him back as his concern is that, despite Norman doing good is great, the "fool me once" addage plays and Peter feels that since it was a hundred times for him, that addage may as well end with "I'm Spider-Man." As Norman wants to be a hero now, Peter understands and takes his leave having concluded his business. However, Norman has a mental break and is met by Harry as Green Goblin berating and mocking his want to "be good." Exiting in a worry, Barb gets Mister Antonio on the line for Norman, who confirms to have found the samples norman wanted and the merchant is selling at $400,000 a piece. Norman orders Antonio to set up the buy, and tells Barb he'll be unreachable for the rest of the day.
In the elevator, Norman is haunted by a vision of Gwen Stacy, who Norman saw talking to Peter a short time ago[3] and she tells Norman that he isn't going insane, as he's not a real victim here. Snapping her neck to remind him of his sin upon her, Gwen tells Norman that she is talking about guilt and welcomes Norman to it. Norman rides the elevator in silence with Gwen staring at him, realizing the hole in him is getting worse. At his home, Norman can't find evidence of a break-in but knows someone got inside and is messing with him. As his operators confirm the merchandise, Norman concludes not to tell Peter about seeing Gwen, and agrees with Peter that he needs to let go of the Goblin tech. However, his field operators come in contact with Jack O'Lantern, and Norman recalls the last one being Jason Macendale who momentarily upgraded to Hobgoblin. But having tracked this new one going around collecting in the black market skeleton trade, Norman's operators radio for orders but find themselves at Jack's mercy. Thankfully, Norman arrives as Gold Goblin and saves his men from Jack O'Lanterns Pumpkin Bombs and disables Jack's gear during the chase. When Jack crashes, the flame feature on his helmet explodes and breaks open his mask. When Norman has a momentary relapse of character to berate Jack, mocking him for being no goblin, a pair of kids see him and ask for his autograph on a skull that fell from Jack's bag. As the kids race off with a cool souvenir, Norman sees the ghosts of those he's hurt in his head and accepts no more goblins, just guilt and welcomes himself to it.
Solicit Synopsis
IT'S NOT EASY BEING...GOLD?
Norman Osborn's sins may have been cleansed, but his memories weren't and he's done plenty of horrific things to remember. Norman's worked hard to avoid all things "Goblin" and to stay on the straight and narrow. Consequences in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN pushed him to try super-heroing, and he liked it. But when the media dub him the Gold Goblin, he has to start wondering – can he ever get away from the Goblin inside?