Goblin Moon

I really enjoyed this book. The story wasn't earth-shattering, but what really made the book for me was the writing. Busiek and Archer made the characters very real and interesting. For the first time I felt that I really had a sense of what it would be like to swing through New York on web lines or see the world through Spidey's mask. True to Spider-Man's legacy this book wasn't about the hero as much as it was about Peter Parker. Also, I thought it brilliant that the villian in the book was Norman Osborn and not really his alter-ego, the Green Goblin.I enjoyed the detective-type efforts that Peter went through to figure out the case. The books seemed as much of a mystery as it was an action story. I'm glad that I read it and would definitely recommend it.

I thought this book was a very good.I am glad that they brought back the Green Goblin.It is one of the best Spider Man novels out there right now.Go get it now.

Kurt Busiek and Nathan Archer provide a fast paced enjoyable thriller pitting Spider-Man against one of his greatest foes. This time Norman Osborn presents perhaps a greater threat to Spider-Man than his alter ego, the Green Goblin. Osborn has managed to convince everyone that his prior unmasking was erroneous. Armed with the knowledge that the public will never believe he is the Goblin, Osborn proceeds to use this to his advantage against Spider-Man. This renders Spidey's knowledge of the Goblin's identity practically useless while maximizing the fact that Osborne knows Peter Paker is Spider-Man. Perhaps Busiek and Archer's greatest accomplishment is suceeding to make Osborn a bigger problem for Spidey than the Goblin. On the negative side, the plot involving mayorial politics echos that of "Wanted Dead or Alive," although this is the better book. The authors construct a prolonged action packed and satisfying climax. All in all a pleasurable read but not quite in the league with the best Spidey novels, "Venom's Wrath" and "The Gathering of the Sinister Six."

There is a note at the beginning of this novel indicating that this story takes place before "The Gathering of Five" and "The Final Chapter." Knowing this, I didn't have much hope for a suspenseful or interesting story (after all, the "end" of the Spidey/Goblin conflict is detailed in those stories, so how could this novel add anything of any importance?). Well, as I read the book, I became increasingly impressed with what was attempted and accomplished here. As a born-and-bred Spidey fan, I can honestly say that this was a great story which was well told. The characterizations of both Spider-Man and the Goblin captured their comic-book essence while enhancing them with the details that become possible only in a novel format. The manipulations of Osborn are frightenly real and well thought-out. Spidey himself is in great form in a tale that manages to become a milestone in his career. I was completely satisfied with the story and its ending. I believe that the target market for this novel will consider it a "must-have" and find it highly enjoyable. P.S. I did have a problem with the name "Rat Pack." I kept thinking of Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr.!

While the comics themselves, lately, have been disappointing, the Marvel Novels have never failed to surpass all expectations, outdoing their 32 page counterparts. I can't help but believe that Kurt Busiek, the writer of the critically acclaimed Iron Man, Avengers, Untold Tales of Spider-Man, and more, can make this story into what the comics should have been. Spinning straw into gold is what the man does. On the novel itself, it is too soon to actually say, but I look forward to seeing how it all turns out.