What's the argument for saying the Green Goblin (Norman) should have stayed dead?  Just curious.

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Joe, I'll give my opinion, although others may have different reasons:

Once Norman Osborn murdered Gwen Stacy, he crossed a line and had to be written out of the series. I'm not sure the readers would have accepted him - he was too evil at that point.

Plus, from a storyline standpoint, Peter never would have been able to move on to Mary Jane if Gwen's killer had been at large.

His death also had tremendous meaning. Spider-Man initially wanted to kill him, but didn't because he realized that would make him no better than the Goblin. When the Goblin dies accidentally, Spider-Man realizes that vengeance is hollow and Norman's death won't bring Gwen back.

Plus, with Harry's descent into madness, we had a natural follow-up story (which also proved to be a classic). And Stern kept the Goblin legacy alive with the Hobgoblin, so there really wasn't any need to bring Osborn back.

QUOTE: Doctor Octopus was killed by Kaine, then resurrected by the Hand

... Why would the Hand give a fig about Dr Octopus?

Norman should've stayed as dead as Gwen is. Or else bring her back. I'd rather read about Gwen mind games on Peter than Norman playing mind games on Peter yet again. Isn't more natural to want that instead?

<<Sure he saw it...but like I said previously...Gwen was perfect.  Flawless.  Long time readers weren't going to forget about her.  Look at how much passion you have right now for a character that has been dead 30 years.  Something is not right about that.  I *think* JMS was trying to tear her down so that eventually long-time readers would quit clamoring for a new Gwen reference.>>

WHO was clamoring for them?  And clearly I haven't fogotten about her.  I wasn't going to forget about her whether this story was told or not.   All he did was leave such a bad taste in longtime readers' mouths 
that some of them dropped the Spider-Man books.
BTW, I wasn't one of them, probably because Gwen has been dead or over 30 years..

I was never advocating bringing Gwen back or continual Gwen references, but I don't think we ever had either.  Unlike many on this forum, I like the marriage.  This isn't about my liking Gwen more than MJ, it's about the integrity of the characters.


<<I can't make that point anymore clear.  If you don't agree, fine.  Move along.>>

I'll move along when I feel like moving along.  If you can't handle your opinions beng contested then don't post them on a public message forum.

"Once Norman Osborn murdered Gwen Stacy, he crossed a line and had to be written out of the series. I'm not sure the readers would have accepted him - he was too evil at that point.

Plus, from a storyline standpoint, Peter never would have been able to move on to Mary Jane if Gwen's killer had been at large."

In that sense, the Goblin's death served to reinforce the internal logic or reality of the Marvel Universe.  As opposed to what DC has done with the Joker or multiple Robins.

Mike