So apparently, originally, Gwen ran off to Europe confused because Peter got her pregnant.  Had the babies there, came back to tell Peter, but then was killed by the Green Goblin before she could.

This is revealed to Peter when the two adult kids arrive in town, possibly after being raised by Norman.

Thus, Peter's children were raised and work for the GG.

I don;t know that's what he had planned, but I'm assuming it was.  When Marvel nixed it, he did the switcheroo to save his story

To be fair, I don't think it was ever stated that Norman was the man to
whom Gwen lost her virginity.

As I recall, Peter wonders aloud if there had been anyone else that Gwen
had slept with, but he never gets an answer.

All that's said is that Peter and Gwen had never gone all the way.

********************

Which is the major plot problem: Peter and Gwen were in love. Yet they never had sex. The question would be why? If Gwen were the type to wait until marriage, that I can buy, but if she'd had sex before but wouldn't with Peter, well, that raises a question that can't be logically answered.

To be fair, there are girls who wait with a bf, then get scared and do something stupid and crazy and wild with someone else. It happens.

I just don't think it would happen with Gwen. Especially with Norman.  Even FLash or Harry would make more sense.

Making it Norman would be like making it Jonah. Out of the blue for shock value. Although I guess Norman has more story potential.  But at this point, how much more hate can these guys have for each other.

1. Killed his true love. Check

2. Slept with his true love first. check

3. Passed the legacy of craziness down to his best friend. Check

4. Killed his baby girl. Check.

5. Killed his clone. Check/

6;. Brought his parents back to "life" as a fake. CHeck.

7. "murdered" AUnt May. Check.

8. Crippled and gave brain damage to another old friend. check

9. found out his secret id first. check

"Mike,

JMS has apparently acknowledged in public (I think it was at the San Diego   
Con) that the original plan was for Peter to be the father of the children,
but Marvel nixed it."

Well, I gotta give JMS credit.  Peter being the father would have made sense and, frankly, I'm not sure how much of a problem most current readers would've had with it.  A bad idea to be sure, but not something that would send people screaming for the exits.

But why in the name of all that is holy would you even bother with the story after Marvel said no?  Whatever meaning or possible moral the story had with Peter as the daddy would seem to be completely obliterated by making Norman the father.  Why not just toss the idea on the trash heap and do something else?

Mike

Apparently, he wanted Goblin kids that Peter would feel conflicted about fighting, and perhaps one who would have a reason to turn good.  If he wasn't conflicted by them being his, then they;d be Gwens.

"Apparently, he wanted Goblin kids that Peter would feel conflicted about fighting, and perhaps one who would have a reason to turn good.  If he wasn't conflicted by them being his, then they;d be Gwens."

First, those are damn funny comic strips!

Second, Norman using Gwen and Peter's toddlers as a weapon against him might have made a good story.  You'd either need to kill the kids or have Peter and MJ raise them at the end of the story, so I'd understand Marvel saying no.  But if the whole "age them to maturity so they can fight Peter" was in the original proposal, that's still stupid.

Mike