One of the most iconic moments inSpider-Manlore might be about to get rewritten yet again, possibly revealing that Mephisto’s been pulling the strings in Peter Parker’s life longer than anybody knew. Marvel Comics’ powerful and demonic villain is responsible for some of Earth-616’s darkest moments, and he may now be behind an iconic character’s tragic death.
Marvel’s preview forBring on the Bad Guys: Green Goblin #1teases the issue’s two parts, with the main story revealing moresecret history between Mephisto and Norman Osborn.Neither Body Nor Mind, written by Ethan S. Parker and Griffin Sheridan and drawn by Matteo Della Fonte, teases a previously unknown layer to a deal made by Norman years ago.
Fans knew that Norman had promised his son to Mephisto in exchange for power, but now it turns out he must also kill someone in the demon’s name. This meansthe demon could actually be responsible for the Green Goblin’s murder of Gwen Stacy. Regardless of who Norman’s victim is in this case, the secret murder being connected toMephisto and new villain Sister Sorrow’s evil plot could change the history of Spider-Man, his most famous villain, and the Marvel Universe overall.
Is Marvel Actually Revealing That Mephisto Ordered Norman Osborn to Kill Gwen Stacy?
Mephisto recently revealed thathis schemes around Spider-Manhave the purpose of erasing his potential daughter from history, since she is potentially destined to help defeat Mephisto once and for all. It’s therefore possible that Gwen Stacy’s death was Mephisto’s first attempt to stop Peter procreating. Of course, Gwen Stacy is not the only person that Norman Osborn has killed in the comics, but her death is by far the most significant, soit would make sense for Marvel’s sinister new retcon to revolve around the Green Goblin’s most famous kill. However, the largerBring on the Bad Guysstory suggests that she isn’t the only option.
In the first part of the villain-focused event,Bring on the Bad Guys: Doom #1by Marc Guggenheim and Stefano Raffaele, Mephisto and Sister Sorrow hunted down “soul daggers”. For the daggers to work in Mephisto’s evil plot, they must contain souls from a descendant of one of five mystical lords of darkness, so Norman may be asked to track one down.
Perhaps it’spart of Peter Parker’s classic bad luckthat his love interest also happened to be a descendant of one of these mysterious ancient lords, butthis might be yet another murder from Norman Osborn’s past that audiences simply don’t know about yet. However, if it was Gwen, that could mean that Norman is no longer fully to blame.
Gwen Stacy’s Death is Facing a Huge Marvel Comics Overhaul in 2025
The New Gwenpool Also Twists the Iconic Tragedy
Over half a century afterThe Night Gwen Stacy Died,Marvel is making new changes to Gwen Stacy’s lore on Earth-616, and a connection to Mephisto might be next.In Marvel’s newGwenpoolseries, her death is also being rehashed as she’s allegedly brought back to life as the publisher’s fiercest new anti-hero, revealing she even blames Peter for her passing.
Mephisto’s potential involvement in the infamous piece of comic book history would change everything, from Norman’s motivations to Gwen’s powerful lineage. The villain has already terrorized Spidey’s life in various ways, butthis shocking revelation would confirm that Mephisto is truly Peter Parker’s greatest enemy, and could even have supernatural ramifications for the many versions of Gwen in the multiverse.
A Major Mephisto Retcon Could Finalize Norman Osborn’s Redemption Arc
Or Is the Green Goblin Making a Comeback?
Even ifBring on the Bad Guys: Green Goblin #1actuallyreveals secrets around one of Norman Osborn’s evil actions,Mephisto’s orders could be yet another way that Marvel is redeeming the character from his villainous past. In the pages ofAmazing Spider-Man,Norman has actually become a strong allyfor Peter, and this could solidify the new bond by revealing that the Goblin wasn’t in total control of his actions.
In contrast, Norman Osborn made the initial deal with Mephisto of his own accord, and the preview shows that he was willing to trade more than readers knew about previously, which could prove his true villainy. As Marvel reveals details that might explain Green Goblin’s murderous past,Spider-Manlore could be facing a total overhaul, starting with the tragedy of Gwen Stacy’s murder.
Bring on the Bad Guys: Green Goblin #1will be available July 28, 2025, from Marvel Comics!
