Revenge of the Green Goblin is the name given to a five-part Spider-Man story arc that ran in a titular three-part miniseries, The Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 2) #25's "Darkness Calling," and Peter Parker: Spider-Man (Vol. 2) #25's "Trick of the Light." All five parts were collected in a trade paperback under the miniseries' title.
The story focused on Norman Osborn recovering from the Final Chapter/Gathering of Five storyline, where at a mystical ritual to gain power, he received the 'gift' of madness and was carted away. After extensive therapy, Norman recovers and sets his sights on Peter Parker, who is currently reeling from the apparent death of Mary Jane. Realizing Peter, not Harry, would be the perfect heir, Norman sets out to brainwash, gaslight, and manipulate Peter into becoming the new Green Goblin. The story climaxes at the Osborn mansion, where a psychological battle ensues for the fate of Peter's soul.
While the story itself is standalone for the most part, Norman desiring Peter as an heir became a key part of the Spider-Man mythos as a whole, as well as in adaptations such as Sam Raimi's Spider-Man and The Spectacular Spider-Man.
Revenge of the Green Goblin contains examples of:
- Abusive Parents: Norman's father locked him as a child in the dark mansion to make him a man despite his pleas.
- At Least I Admit It: The Goblin says that the main difference between him and Spider-Man is that he admits who and what he is.
- Bittersweet Ending: Peter survives Norman's torture and defeats him, but the Goblin escapes, and the moment of weakness Peter showed gives ammo to Norman's attack.
- Buried Alive: "Trick of the Light" starts with Peter hallucinating being buried alive at his own funeral.
- Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: The miniseries had Norman fall in love with his nurse, Kolina Frederickson, who reminded him of his late wife. Despite Norman inviting her to live with him and the fact that she wasn't killed after discovering his secret, she wouldn't reappear until 2023 as the leader of the Goblin Cult, 23 years after this story was published.
- Florence Nightingale Effect: Norman falls in love with his nurse, Kolina Frederickson, who is treating his insanity and reminds him of Emily Osborn.
- Freudian Excuse Is No Excuse: Norman's abusive father is brought up several times, but it doesn't excuse his horrific actions at all.
- Gaslighting: Norman uses Goblin serum-laced toothpaste, hypnotic CDs, and other tricks to make Peter doubt his reality and ultimately dress like the Goblin himself.
- Mind Rape: Norman uses shocks and mind games to erode Peter's resolve and make him choose darkness over light.
- Moment of Weakness: "Trick of the Light" has Peter briefly choose the darkness over light and nearly drink the Goblin serum, which Norman is happy to gloat over.
- "Not So Different" Remark: The Goblin accuses Spider-Man with this when they're dressed in their costumes and battling one another, acting out power fantasies.
- Nothing Is Scarier: Several pages in "Trick of the Light" have little to no dialogue as torture is inflicted and Peter's condition worsens.
- Time-Passage Beard: Peter's facial hair gradually increases in "Trick of the Light" to show the amount of time that's passed as he remains Norman's prisoner. By the end of it he has a full beard.
- Tomato in the Mirror: "Darkness Calling" reveals that Peter himself had been acting as the Goblin under the influence of the hypnotic CDs and toothpaste.
- We Can Rule Together: Norman's final offer is for Peter to drink the Goblin serum and join him.
- Why Are You Not My Son?: Norman realizes that instead of the disappointing Harry, Peter has the perfect qualities he's looking for in an heir and decides to make him an Osborn.
