Comic Book / Last Remains

"Speak of the devil and he appears."

We’ve been waiting for you, Pete. Waiting for so long. It was cold and dark at first, then it was bright, burning fire. We fought through all of it, just to get to this moment. There was heartbreak and pain, and tears but that’s all behind us now. And since you finally arrived, well— Now it’s a party!

— Kindred, TASM Vol 5 #51

Last Remains is a 2020 Spider-Man storyline. It is the third major storyline event for The Amazing Spider-Man (2018) and the direct sequel to Sins Rising. It starts in issue #50 of The Amazing Spider-Man Volume 5 and ends in issue #55. This comic was released alongside five tie-in issues comprising a story called Last Remains: Fallen Order. Furthermore, a pair of follow-up issues called Last Remains: Post-Mortem, which comprises issues #56 and #57, serve as an epilogue to the narrative. The story also doubles as a belated sequel to the One More Day storyline, building upon several allusions to the controversial story earlier in Spencer's run.

After the choices made by Peter Parker during his campaign against the returned Sin-Eater, Kindred steps out into the open to make his coup de grâce against the web-head by taking him to a dark corner of his soul. As his plans come to fruition, the revelation of Kindred's true identity will leave an impact on Spider-Man's life. During this event, The Order of the Web works to aid Spider-Man, while their involvement assisted by Doctor Strange, and their own limits pushed to the edge against Sin-Eater and more.

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Last Remains showcases examples of these tropes:

• Ain't Too Proud to Beg: Norman tries putting up a front when confronted by Sin-Eater to work with him, and when that doesn’t work, tries making it look like he’s ending the matter on his terms by saying he doesn’t “need” the Green Goblin anymore.
• And I Must Scream: Norman and Kingpin immobilize Kindred thanks to the reluctant assistance of the Spot. Kindred entirely conscious and is able to control centipedes in spite of being locked up, although he notes to himself that he's right where he wants to be.
• Assimilation Backfire: The Sin-Eater absorbs the villain’s sins and burdens them himself. However when he purges Norman’s sins, they take physical form and destroy him.
• The Atoner: After being purged of his sins by the Sin-Eater, Norman Osborn is now forced to feel regret for his past actions and seeks some counsel in regards to Harry.
• Ate His Gun: The Sin-Eater commits suicide this way after absorbing Madame Web's powers and seeing the future, feeling his entire struggle was in vain.
• Big Bad: Kindred.
• Big Damn Heroes: Miles, Gwen, Anya and Julia come to Spider-Man's rescue as Norman tries to drown him in liquified concrete.
• Brainwashed and Crazy: The Order of the Web ends up possessed by Kindred.
• Break the Haughty: Kindred has the manifestations of Norman Osborn’s sins wipe out the Sin-Eater, calling him out for playing executioner on sinners with one sin in particular on his own shoulders he refuses to accept.
• The Bus Came Back:
  • After being absent from Amazing Spider-Man for over 20 issues, Mary Jane finally returns to New York in issue #51.LR.
  • After his fate was left unknown, it’s revealed that Morlun is still around on Earth-616, managing to escape the fate of his familial Inheritors. Issue #52.LR reveals he was left behind on Earth-616 after his defeat.
• Cliffhanger: The story itself ends with Fisk's men bringing Kindred's base down on top of everyone, Kindred and the Green Goblin fighting each other and Peter trying to kiss a wounded Mary Jane before a mysterious darkness surrounds them and the other Spiders. Somewhat justified in that the story itself carries over into a pair of follow-up issues called Last Remains: Post-Mortem.
• Crazy-Prepared: Norman wasn't really cleansed. Apparently, ever since Kindred confronted him in his cell all those months ago, he had been waiting for him to do something like that, so him and Wilson Fisk did something to render Norman immune to the cleansing/Kindred's magic.
• Curb-Stomp Battle:
  • Sin-Eater's battle with Morlun was this, only ending in his favor because he was able to activate a trap.
  • Kindred's battle with Spider-Man is this, with the supernatural demon just killing and resurrecting Spider-Man over and over again.
• Deal with the Devil: Spider-Man’s infamous involvement with this is the catalyst for the story, even if he doesn’t know it yet.
• Demonic Possession: Unfortunately happens to the Order of the Web since they’re now carrying Norman Osborn’s sins instead of Sin-Eater.
• Desecrating the Dead: Kindred's "intervention" has him digging up the corpses of people Peter failed to save: Marla Jameson, Flash Thompson, the Stacys and Ben Parker.
• Disney Death: Sin-Eater is revealed to be alive shortly after his apparent demise.
• Disappointed by the Motive: When Kindred, Peter, and MJ finally sit down together for the "dinner" Kindred had prepared, Harry proceeds to verbally chew out Peter for not handing Norman over to the authorities after first discovering his identity and using his Easy Amnesia as an excuse, thereby allowing Norman's issues to spiral out of control- which Peter after some severe reluctance concedes- but when Harry also goes into a tangent about how Pete and MJ were always close and how he felt left out Peter starts ripping into him for still being hung up on college romances and old mistakes-stuff Harry, as far as Peter knew, had long since managed get over. When Peter goes on to say Harry has no proper excuse or reason to turn himself into what he is now, however, Kindred says there is much more to his reasoning and that it's Peter's fault he became a centipede demon.
• Downer Ending: While at the end of the storyline Kindred is "defeated" the arc overall does not end on a happy note for Peter. He still is suffering shellshock from his Cold-Blooded Torture and Many Deaths Of You at the hands of Kindred, both Peter and Norman are still ultimately in the dark just what specifically drove Harry into this breaking point, and while Norman is still technically cleansed his sins are still out there. Peter also refuses to help Harry any further and threatens Norman if he ever escapes.
• Dramatic Irony: It's abundantly clear to most of the audience that Kindred is punishing Spider-Man for the events of OMD, but Peter himself has no way of knowing this since it never technically happened in the new timeline. This is made all the more infuriating by the fact the events of OMD are never actually called by name, but inferrred in various ways. During the climax, Peter is initially Disappointed by the Motive when Kindred brings up hangups from their college years, but when Kindred says there is much more to it it becomes clear to him that Peter doesn't remember.
• Driven to Suicide: After absorbing Madame Web's powers, Sin-Eater sees the truth behind Kindred and his purpose and is driven over the Despair Event Horizon that he shoots himself in the head with his shotgun.
• Evil Is Petty: Kindred refuses to address Gwen properly, since to him, she's not the real Gwen.
• Face–Heel Turn: Issue #53 reveals that, indeed, Harry Osborn is back on the side of the devils, complete with his catchprase "GOTCHA". This is particularly jarring since Harry implies he has only recently returned from hell to carry out his vengeance, when as far as Peter and MJ know Harry never died and was last seen rebuilding his family with Liz and Normie.
• Grave Robbing: Kindred has been digging up the corpses of Peter’s loved ones that had been killed since he got his powers and dressing them up at a dinner table for their eventual encounter.
• Guest-Star Party Member: Doctor Strange shows up to help Peter with Kindred.
• Heel–Face Turn: Norman Osborn, after getting cleansed by Sin-Eater. While issue #54 and 55 suggests this was faked, issue #56 reveals that he's still cleansed, but he doesn't know how long that'll last.
• How We Got Here: Issue #50 starts the arc off with Peter wandering New York beaten and barely conscious until he arrives at the Sanctum Sanctorum, home of Doctor Strange, where after he awakens from passing out explains what led to him being in that state.
• Hypocrite: Said by Kindred to Sin-Eater when he calls out how he’s judging others for their sins when he has sins he has to answer for himself.
• It's Personal: Kindred's entire issue with Peter, made all the more personal with the reveal that Kindred is really Harry Osborn.
• Lampshade Hanging: Kindred does not like Spider-Gwen, the main reason being that she's actually nothing like the "real" Gwen outside of being a young blonde girl with her name.
• Leaning on the Fourth Wall:
  • Doctor Strange to Spider-Man referencing what Peter had done to Norman in regards to Sin-Eater.
    Doctor Strange: You made a deal with a demonic entity. Did you really think it would not come back to haunt you?
  • Kindred does this a lot.
    Kindred: I can tell you are disappointed, Pete. I get that. But let's finally be honest. You always knew it was me.
• Let's You and Him Fight: Invoked by Kindred, by having the Order of the Web possessed and under his control to fight Peter.
• My Greatest Failure: Issue #53.LR reveals that Peter is, subconsciously, haunted by the events of "Back in Black" and "One More Day" with Aunt May, Jake Martino (the sniper who wounded May), the Kingpin and Mary Jane represented as demons. Sadly, the Order of the Web doesn't recognize the connection at all, with Miles only commenting that his dreams are weird.
• My God, What Have I Done?:
  • Peter’s reaction when he realizes that by leaving the Green Goblin for the Sin-Eater, he played into exactly what Kindred wanted.
  • Also expressed by Norman when he realizes his actions may have led to Harry going on the path to becoming Kindred.
• Neck Snap: Kindred apparently kills Peter by snapping his neck.
• Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Strange decides to help Spidey by using an artifact of his to break the deal, only to find out that it’s a fake. Issue #51.LR reveals that Black Cat stole it and replaced it with a 3D Printer look alike. When she tries to give him a second, he doesn’t mince words on how much danger Spidey’s in, leading to her to go and get the real one.
• No Ending: While the arc ultimately answers the question of who Kindred is, no resolution is given to how and why he became the way he is, other than his grudge against Peter driving him to it. It ultimate ends with more questions than answers.
• No-Holds-Barred Beatdown:
  • In Issue #54, Kindred does this over and over again, killing and reviving Peter to show him that just killing him has no real purpose to him.
  • Peter later does the same to Norman in Post-Mortem after refusing to accept his commitment to change his ways and for his part in messing Harry up so much.
• No Plans, No Prototype, No Backup: Averted again in Issue #52.LR. To lure out Morlun, Sin Eater retrieves a vial with a virus that turns them all into massive man-spiders. A note clarifies that this is the same virus used by the Spider Queen way back in Spider-Island.
• No-Sell:
  • Norman as it turns out was immune to Sin Eater's cleansing. It really goes to show what a monster Norman is, as it's not as if the spell had no effect, in fact Sin Eater absorbed so much sin from Norman that it manifested as physical demonic entities... But Norman is evidently such an evil bastard that shaving off that much sin from his soul still leaves behind a wicked man.
    • Subverted in that it turns out that Norman was just faking being back to "Normal" and he has been cleansed of his sins, minus the negative side effects others had to deal with, and only pretended to be his evil self to fool Kingpin into going along with his plan.
  • Literally nothing Spider-Man does even remotely phases Kindred, who is an immortal Demon.
• Not-So-Well-Intentioned Extremist: Sin Eater amasses a following of people who feel like he's the only effective option for stopping super crime. However, when he's incapacitated, one of his followers discusses how he just wanted power and an excuse to massacre people while waiting for him.
• Offscreen Moment of Awesome: Black Cat somehow manages to sneak into Dr. Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum and steal the Hand of Vishanti without Dr. Strange noticing. As she points out, this isn't even the first time she's stolen something from the Sanctum.
• Pet the Dog: Kindred/Harry Osborn might hate Peter and wants to destroy everything about him, but he refuses to harm Mary Jane. To him, she's an innocent caught in all this and he regrets any harm she might be put in, especially as he still harbours feelings for her himself.
• Properly Paranoid: Naturally, Mary Jane has great difficulty believing Norman is really cured of his evil ways by Sin Eater. In fact, she outlines how as an actress she can tell when someone is acting. Though the narrative presents it as her being (understandably) disbelieving a Cassandra Truth, it becomes apparent as soon as she's out of earshot that Norman is in fact lying.
• The Many Deaths of You: Kindred repeatedly kills Peter in many increasingly brutal and torturous ways, resurrecting him each and every time.
• "The Reason You Suck" Speech:
  • Kindred to Peter and Norman to Kindred in issue #55.
    • Kindred mocks Peter for having so many people with spider-themed names and suggests that he allows it out of guilt for his own failings and to have a family.
    • Norman mocks Harry for still being the weak little boy he's been and failing to do anything to prove himself better.
  • In issue #57, Peter gives one directed at Norman and Harry to a lesser extent, for blaming their problems on him and blowing any "second chance" that they've been given.
• Reformed, but Rejected: Peter doesn't buy the idea that Norman isn't a horrible person anymore and tells him that he's cutting the Osborns out of his life.
• Replaced with Replica: In issue #51 (LR), Dr. Strange comes to the Black Cat's apartment to take back the stolen Hand of Vishanti, only to find that the one she is holding is a fake and the real one is stashed somewhere only the Black Cat knows.
• The Reveal: In issue #50, Norman Osborn reveals that Kindred is his son Harry. When Mary Jane finds out, she's shocked and in disbelief since last she checked Harry was alive and on the side of good, while Kindred is neither.
• Two Roads Before You: The Order of the Web gathered to talk Peter out of saving Norman, because Madame Web foresees two outcomes based on whether he chooses to or not. They have some mild disagreement, with him and amongst themselves, but Peter chooses to save Norman, which is a decision whose consequences he can't go back on once he starts.
• Screw This, I'm Outta Here: One of Sin-Eater's followers wants to leave when it becomes clear that Kindred has abandoned Sin-Eater and openly admits he only joined his cause to get superpowers and cause violence. Sin-Eater kills him for this.
• Sequel Hook: Carlie discovers that Kindred uncovered another corpse of one of Peter's loved ones, but one of Kindred's centipedes knocks her out. Peter and MJ have a conversation afterward mentioning that it's not really over.
• Stealth Sequel: The entire story is one to One More Day.
• The Unreveal:
  • The Order of the Web set flashes of Peter, Mary Jane and Kindred's meeting but only Sin-Eater gets the full view.
  • While Kindred's identity is revealed, Peter and Mary Jane both note that the Harry Osborn they've known since One More Day is alive, redeemed, and putting his family life back together; and why he waited for so long before striking out at Peter as Kindred is ultimately unrevealed.
• Wham Shot: #54.LR ends with a possibly unaffected Norman Osborn side-by-side with Mayor Wilson Fisk, the mayor ready to get revenge on Kindred for using him as a pawn.
• Whole Episode Flashback: The majority of Issue 53 has Peter experiencing the end of One More Day all over again, namely Harry's welcome-home party. Except Peter and the reader just know something is very off. (Seriously, the similarities and changes are harrowing.)
• The Worf Effect: The New Warriors were reported to have confronted the demonic Order of the Web only to lose.
• Wounded Gazelle Gambit: Issue #56 reveals that the pumpkin bomb thrown at Mary Jane was actually a fake, intended on just dazing her. She gets Peter to play along.

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