Spider-Man: Shadow Of The Green Goblin #1 Review

Written by: J.M. DeMatteis
Art by: Michael Sta. Maria
Colors by: Chris Sotomayor
Letters by: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Cover art by: Paolo Siqueira, Rachelle Rosenberg
Cover price: $4.99
Release date: April 3, 2024

Spider-Man: Shadow Of The Green Goblin #1 recounts the early days of Spider-Man’s career when a 15-year-old Spider-Man encountered the Proto-Goblin.

Is Spider-Man: Shadow Of The Green Goblin #1 Good?

It pains me to say this. Spider-Man: Shadow Of The Green Goblin #1 is a well-drawn comic but a mostly boring read. J.M. DeMatteis does wonders taking readers back to a simpler time in Ol’ Web Head’s life with a lot of talking and narration before settling into a basic Spider-Man adventure.

DeMatteis’s story centers on a 15-year-old Spider-Man months after the death of Uncle Ben but before Norman Osborn becomes Green Goblin. We learn a lot about the lingering grief Peter Parker and his Aunty May endure. We see Peter struggling to earn enough money to keep the bills in check. And we witness is starting to turn on this new superhero, thanks to the outrageous castigations by J. Jonah Jameson and the Daily Bugle.

Watch our Spider-Man: Shadow Of The Green Goblin #1 Video Review

After 20+ pages establishing Peter Parker’s daily life with and without the mask, he encounters Nels Van Adder, aka Proto Goblin. Nels looks like Red Hulk with long, blonde hair who was discarded and presumed dead after a failed experiment by Norman Osborn. Now, Nels is contacted by an ally who promises to undo the damage and reunite Nels with his family, as long as he kidnaps and turns over Harry Osborn. In a surprise twist, Nels’s employer is none other than [REDACTED].

What’s great about Spider-Man: Shadow Of The Green Goblin #1? Again, DeMatteis does wonders in rebuilding the early world and characters in Spider-Man’s career. You get all the weight, relationship dynamics, ups, and downs that made Peter Parker such a relatable character. In effect, this issue serves as a strong jumping-on point for new readers who want to know what Spider-Man is all about. As a bonus, the last page twist is intriguing.

What’s not so great about Spider-Man: Shadow Of The Green Goblin #1? If you’re already familiar with Peter Parker’s history, two-thirds of this issue will feel like a slower-paced, low-energy trip down memory lane. In fairness, the emotional beats are well done, so the technical execution of the scenes is excellent, but there’s no story here. It’s all recap and information dump without a plot until the Proto Goblin shows up. You might as well be reading a history textbook.

How’s the Art? No complaints whatsoever. Michael Sta. Maria is more commonly known in recent years for his stellar work on Vengeance of Vampirella for Dynamite, and here, he shows the same excellent mastery of figure work, dynamic action, and imaginative character designs.

About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

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Bits and Pieces

Spider-Man: Shadow Of The Green Goblin #1 is a loving homage to the early years of Spider-Man’s career, with great art and excellent character moments. That said, the first two-thirds of this issue is a lengthy recap and summary of familiar information for Spider-Man fans, so seasoned readers may find themselves tuning out.