The Good

What makes this issue a real fun read is the fabulous art from Giuseppe Camuncoli, the inks of Jhn Dell, and the colors of Antonio Fabela. This book easily had my "favorite page of the week," which isn't a real thing, but for the sake of this review, I'm going to roll with it. A few pages in, we're treated to a beautiful, two-page spread featuring a dramatic looking Green Goblin head, locating in space. To the left of his head are five panels of buildings and places, and to the right, are those same places blowing up.It's a wonderful piece of art worthy to hang on anyone's wall. There's a ton of non-traditional page layouts which keep this issue really fresh and fun, but Camuncoli doesn't overdo it. It's a perfect balance to keep the reader invested.

Well, in this issue, you learn that Norman Osborn is the Green Goblin. There's a few people thinking "we knew a while ago!" However, writers Dan Slott and Christos Gage really keeps the reader on their toes with the twists and turns in his book. It's gotten to the point where I'm extremely skeptical of almost everything here, and while we may find out that Osborn isn't the Green Goblin at the end of it all, this issue really cements the fact Osborn is in that suit.

If you like stories with villains trying desperately one-up each other, then this is the issue for you! There's a lot of great back and forth play between Spider-Man and Green Goblin here and it really keeps the reader on their toes as they skim through the pages.

The issue is a bit of fun and it is great seeing Spider-Man 2099 back into the mix as well. Folks who grew up during the 90s era of "everything must be in the future!" will really appreciate this as well.

The Bad

As a whole, the book comes off as a bit chaotic because while the focus is mainly on Spider-Man, it also bounces around to secondary characters. The issue, as a whole, can be a bit tough because there is s much going on.

The other small problem with the issue is that I'm personally back and forth with this storyline. With some issues, I'm right on board, but others, like this one, I feel a bit jaded like the issue just isn't doing it for me. It simple doesn't live up to awesomeness that is the overall story.

The Verdict

While the third part of Goblin Nation didn't blow me away, it was still a very fun read. The art is dynamite throughout and the back and forth between Spidey and Goblin kept this particular issue in the fun zone. On the down side of things, the book gets a tad chaotic with everything going on and the individual issue isn't living up to the whole story. However, I still really recommend SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN.

The other small problem with the issue is that I'm personally back and forth with this storyline.

Very good observation,and it's the issue i have with the whole storyline....

This was awesome!

Man I thought this issue was stellar, thought it was penciled in for a 5-star review for sure. The strongest issue of the arc IMO.

I think this issue would've been a lot better without the Mary Jane scene, and without, or at least without as much of the Jameson stuff. I think in the last issue it already showed him getting ready to send the spider-slayers out, so it just felt like treading water here. I really like this storyline, I just think the focus should be a lot more on SpOck than Mary Jane or J. Jonah.

I'm so happy to see Green Goblin back, this being my favorite Superior arc out of the whole thing (damn you Slott, you let me down with Darkest Hours!). Gobs has been my favorite super-villain for a long time, and I'm happy to see him back making Peter's SpOck's life miserable. It's nice seeing someone deal with the mastermind that is Norman Osborne. It's funny that Ock might intellectually stand a chance if his ego wasn't so damn big. Loving Goblin Nation.

I had a feeling the GG was going to react that way knowing what Ock did to Spider-Man. Nice to see spidey 2099 is back.

who wants to bet peter has been brainwashed to think he's rock this whole time and not ock actually in his mind!!!

Besides slot tweet this morning there's a secret about superior spiderman coming out next issue

As a whole, the book comes off as a bit chaotic because while the focus is mainly on Spider-Man, it also bounces around to secondary characters. The issue, as a whole, can be a bit tough because there is s much going on.

You just described one of my major problems with Slott's Spider-man run in general. I still manage to enjoy the issues most times, but they do have a habit of feeling chaotic and having poor transitions between main and side characters

whaaaaat?!?!

my problem: Michael o'mara, instead of Miguel O'Hara!!!

@soa: That's Miguel's cover identity. Something about it would cause problems with the timeline if "Miguel O'Hara" appeared like 96 years before he was alive in his own time.

@soa: That's Miguel's cover identity. Something about it would cause problems with the timeline if "Miguel O'Hara" appeared like 96 years before he was alive in his own time.

Osborn's the Goblin? but Solits said the Goblin's identity wasn't going to be revealed until the final part

Man this book is great. I hope Otto survives past the return of Pete.

So Goblin/Osbourne knows Spider Man is Doc Oc in Spidey's body, but doesn't know that it's Peter Parker's body? Or he does? I've been confused on that....

Norman Osborn keeps outsmarting Spider-Man at every turn!

I'm betting it's someone else driving Norman's body too.

"We knew that a while ago." Or at least I did. I think people were mislead through their preconceptions of Slott being a tricksy writer. It was obvious from the start that Osborn was going to play a roll in this event. This series wouldn't feel right if it's not two of Spidey's top villains going at it in the end. Norman's face is not what makes him a threat. Sure he retains the knowledge, skills, and resources of his true name but with the Goblin face on he really is on another level of vicious and scheming. At the same time it feels like the only thing keeping him from putting together Spider-Man's identity is Mephisto's magic. Suspension of disbelief and all that noise.

I love how Otto's going full blown tunnel vision the more Osborn messes up his plans. He just can't handle the chaos and the Parker luck isn't cutting it anymore. He can't think of anything other than beating Green Goblin. The way it depicts their tech skills clashing against each other has been awesome. I literally can't decide who to root for in this fight. It's a bit weird that Otto is losing his hacking and counter-hacking skill checks but maybe that's indicative of him becoming more like Peter and less like his genius self as Parker begins to resurface. Both characters have been really awesome in this series and I'd really like to see a definitive winner in this fight.

"Well, in this issue, you learn that Norman Osborn is the Green Goblin."

euh... no... actually we learnt that after his fight against hobgoblin at the begining of Goblin Nation. I mean... he got the scar on his chest, you can't fake that.

@tximinoman: well of course you can fake that. He can do it through surgery or make-up.if someone with money and power really wants to trick everyone, I'm sure he could attempt anything.

Please GOD no more Norman Osborn! I'm hoping it's just his face projected on the Slayer and it's been one big assumption.

I read for the description on the next issue that the Green Goblin will be unmasked, so it might not be Norman.

please not Norman