DIrishB
The Timeline Guy
The more I think about it, I keep thinking Captain may have something. I was convinced Harry would be Hobgoblin, but the appearance of Shaw has got me thinking. Perhaps Bendis is going to do something similar to 616's Hobgoblin, where everyone thought they knew who it was and it turned out to be somone else. Maybe we're all supposed to assume its Harry, but it turns out Harry's only pulling the strings and Shaw is the one who is the Hobgoblin.
But then, I got to thinking about character motivations.
1.) Norman considered Peter to be his son because Pete inadvertently became SM due to Osborn's genetic research. So Norman thereby thinks he birthed Spider-Man, in a weird, sort of convoluted way.
2.) Norman never really looked at Harry as a son, as is evidenced in the first issue where Harry is reminding Norman about his class visiting Osborn Industries the next day. Norman is on the phone and yells out to his wife to "Get YOUR kid out of here!" **This may also tie into the BIG secret Bendis has been hinting about.** For whatever reason, its evident that Norman views Harry as weak.
3.) Despite this, its evident that Norman still held a place in his heart for Harry, as is evident in his restrain when Harry shows up in the middle of Norman's fights with Spider-Man in both Legacy and Ultimate Six. Its also evident Norman has future plans for Harry with the whole hypno-therapy thing, and the fact that the therapist is reporting directly to, and very possible following the direction of Norman. This is also evident in his having Shaw contact Harry (as seen in #73) and reveal Norman's big plans for him by taking him to that underground whatever-it-is.
So, perhaps since Peter rejected Norman's concept of "family" back in Legacy and Ultimate Six, Norman moved on in a sense. Maybe he gave up on Peter as his genetically enhanced "son", and decided Harry, as his biological son, would embrace his plans. His plans being for Harry to truly become his son and heir, and overcome his "human weakness" by taking the OZ formula and becoming something else (Hobgoblin). Of course, he'd have to come to this decision before Ultimate Six, as he's been in cryo-stasis ever since. But maybe his attempt at bringing Pete "into the family" in Ultimate Six was a last ditch attempt, and he'd set up the Harry becoming Hobgoblin plan with Shaw's assistance beforehand, in case Pete still resisted (which he did).
4.) Harry has shown already he's got a vendetta against Pete. For one, Norman chose Pete over Harry as his son - that kind of behavior tends to breed jealousy. Two, Harry has already threatened he'd "kill you all", something he said directly and discreetly to Pete alone at the end of Ultimate Six. Third, the whole MJ dating Harry before Pete is more motivation for Harry to want to rub Spider-Man out.
Point is, I really don't see Norman entertaining the thought of allowing someone else (ie Shaw) "into the family". He's a very narcissitic guy, and Shaw becoming Hobgoblin sort of goes against all that. Its possible that Shaw, or someone else entirely, does in fact become Hobgoblin, but I'm 100% positive that Harry will be the one to take the OZ and go on a city-wide rampage. Its just gotta be! (or else I'm going to feel like a total fool, hehe).
But then, I got to thinking about character motivations.
1.) Norman considered Peter to be his son because Pete inadvertently became SM due to Osborn's genetic research. So Norman thereby thinks he birthed Spider-Man, in a weird, sort of convoluted way.
2.) Norman never really looked at Harry as a son, as is evidenced in the first issue where Harry is reminding Norman about his class visiting Osborn Industries the next day. Norman is on the phone and yells out to his wife to "Get YOUR kid out of here!" **This may also tie into the BIG secret Bendis has been hinting about.** For whatever reason, its evident that Norman views Harry as weak.
3.) Despite this, its evident that Norman still held a place in his heart for Harry, as is evident in his restrain when Harry shows up in the middle of Norman's fights with Spider-Man in both Legacy and Ultimate Six. Its also evident Norman has future plans for Harry with the whole hypno-therapy thing, and the fact that the therapist is reporting directly to, and very possible following the direction of Norman. This is also evident in his having Shaw contact Harry (as seen in #73) and reveal Norman's big plans for him by taking him to that underground whatever-it-is.
So, perhaps since Peter rejected Norman's concept of "family" back in Legacy and Ultimate Six, Norman moved on in a sense. Maybe he gave up on Peter as his genetically enhanced "son", and decided Harry, as his biological son, would embrace his plans. His plans being for Harry to truly become his son and heir, and overcome his "human weakness" by taking the OZ formula and becoming something else (Hobgoblin). Of course, he'd have to come to this decision before Ultimate Six, as he's been in cryo-stasis ever since. But maybe his attempt at bringing Pete "into the family" in Ultimate Six was a last ditch attempt, and he'd set up the Harry becoming Hobgoblin plan with Shaw's assistance beforehand, in case Pete still resisted (which he did).
4.) Harry has shown already he's got a vendetta against Pete. For one, Norman chose Pete over Harry as his son - that kind of behavior tends to breed jealousy. Two, Harry has already threatened he'd "kill you all", something he said directly and discreetly to Pete alone at the end of Ultimate Six. Third, the whole MJ dating Harry before Pete is more motivation for Harry to want to rub Spider-Man out.
Point is, I really don't see Norman entertaining the thought of allowing someone else (ie Shaw) "into the family". He's a very narcissitic guy, and Shaw becoming Hobgoblin sort of goes against all that. Its possible that Shaw, or someone else entirely, does in fact become Hobgoblin, but I'm 100% positive that Harry will be the one to take the OZ and go on a city-wide rampage. Its just gotta be! (or else I'm going to feel like a total fool, hehe).
)
