Retcons can be a useful tool in the world of serialized storytelling. They can add important character details about characters, stories, and locales. Hell, one of the best stories of the last five years was a massive retcon, as House of X #2 permanently altered the history of Moira MacTaggert. Amazing Spider-Man #72 hands the Marvel Universe another retcon on the level of that revelation, but I have a feeling it’s going to be received much differently.
Amazing Spider-Man #72 is the antepenultimate issue of Nick Spencer’s 100-ish issue run on Spider-Man. Yes, that math might seem wonky, but trust me, I sat down and did it. With all the specials, .HU issues, and Giant-Size conclusions, it’s just about right. Unfortunately, it’s a generally unremarkable issue, outside of two absolutely bonkers pages. (I do want to make sure to mention- the art is solid throughout, but there are four pencillers and it creates a tonal whiplash through the issue.)
The bulk of this issue is a supplement to Sinister War (which Justin Partridge is talking about wonderfully here on the site). That means that the issue is largely Peter Parker getting beat up by the Six Sinister Sixes (though the Sinister Syndicate has seven members and Boomerang’s Six has only five). Meanwhile, other chess pieces are getting moved around. Mary Jane is watching the fight, Harry Osborn and Carlie Cooper are trying to escape, and so on.
However, the most significant plotline is following Norman Osborn. As he breaks into what I assume to be his old home (it’s not explicit, but it’s almost certain), we’re greeted by flashbacks featuring a financially ruined Norman being offered a business deal too good to pass up. And who is it offering?
It’s Mephisto.
And what does Mephisto want in exchange?
Harry Osborn’s soul.
Not Norman’s. Harry’s.
And thus, absolutely EVERYTHING about Spider-Man’s greatest enemy and his greatest friend is changed forever.
Mephisto did it.
He may not have directly guided Norman to the Goblin serum, or to Gwen Stacy that fateful night on the George Washington Bridge. He may not have made Harry follow in his father’s footsteps, or become an addict. But if it hadn’t been for Mephisto, Norman Osborn wouldn’t be the monster he is today.
A writer with skill or nuance could do something with this. They could potentially do something interesting and rewarding at that. A Zeb Wells, Jed MacKay, or Chip Zdarsky could make this idea sing.
But this is Nick Spencer we’re talking about- a writer who had clearly just thrown more than one plot point at a wall like overcooked spaghetti, hoping it would stick. On top of that, he has ONE issue of Sinister War left, and two issues of Amazing Spider-Man. There’s no way even the best writer in comics could actually do something significant with this plot point in that limited amount of page time.
This is Norman Osborn. A character who doesn’t need to be any more evil. I don’t need to make a list to illustrate why. This is an unnecessary addition to a character that has had nearly as much happen to him through Spider-Man’s publication history as Peter Parker himself. But now, with three issues of comics left, a writer has introduced the biggest retcon possible to a character whose publication history is already full of them.
Hopefully, most writers ignore it. Maybe a really good or great writer will remove it entirely. But for now, Norman Osborn has the ultimate “get out of jail free” card and that’s bad.
After all, if the devil literally made him do it, is it really his fault?
Tony Thornley is a geek dad, blogger, Spider-Man and Superman aficionado, X-Men guru, autism daddy, amateur novelist, and all around awesome guy. He’s also very humble.
