| "American Son" | |
|---|---|
Cover of The Amazing Spider-Man 595 (Jul 2009).Art by Phil Jimenez. |
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| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| Publication date | July – August 2009 |
| Genre | Superhero |
| Title(s) | The Amazing Spider-Man #595-#599 |
| Main character(s) | Spider-Man Iron Patriot Menace Harry Osborn Dark Avengers |
| Creative team | |
| Writer(s) | Joe Kelly |
| Penciller(s) | Phil Jimenez Marco Checchetto |
"American Son" is a five-issue Spider-Man story arc written by Joe Kelly with art by Phil Jimenez and Marco Checchetto and published by Marvel Comics. The arc appears in The Amazing Spider-Man #595-#599.
Contents |
The "American Son" story arc takes place during Dark Reign. The story tells about the personal war between Spider-Man and Norman Osborn, with Harry Osborn caught in the middle.[1] In the aftermath of Siege, there was also a four-issue mini-series called Amazing Spider-Man presents: American Son.[2]
Spider-Man confronted and fought Norman Osborn when he plans to recruit Harry Osborn and was about to deliver the final blow, when all of a sudden Harry phoned his dad and told him that he accepts, which has angered and disappointed Spider-Man, which unknown to him that he is with a pregnant Lily Hollister.[3] Fearing the safety of his best friend and what his father is planning, Spider-Man, with the help of Susan Storm, kidnapped and imprisoned the Venom Spider-Man by using a sonic generator and poses as him to infiltrate the Avengers Tower, where Norman revealed to his Avengers his plans for Harry entitled "American Son".[4] Osborn shows his team the armor Harry will soon wear and a formula that combines both the Goblin formula and the Super Soldier serum. When Spider-Man was sent to level 25, he was ambushed and did battle with Daken, as Wolverine, but managed to defeat him. He was later encountered by Harry who he revealed to Norman that he's not his Spider-Man and was shot in the legs by Hawkeye. Spider-Man once more tried to convince Harry not to trust his father, but Norman brutally punches him, and to everyone's shock Norman took out his gun and shot him.[5] However Spider-Man manages to have taken the impact due to the material of his new suit, but was held captive and repeatedly beaten and tortured with coughing blood out of his mouth and a knife being thrown at him by Bullseye. Norman revealed the reason why Harry joined him is because of Lily Hollister who is pregnant, but also revealed that the child she is carrying is his and not Harry's. Full of anger and hate, Spider-Man broke free and retaliated by ripping off pieces of skin from Norman's face and threw Bullseye out of a window. After Spider-Man tried to find Harry and tell him everything, he slowly began losing strength due to his captivity and was brutally beaten up by an outraged Norman. He was saved by a guilt-ridden and angry Harry, who now knows the truth about his father's relationship with Lily, and began attacking his own father using the American Son armor.[6] During the battle, Norman declares that Harry is no longer his son, and that he has bred a better child to replace the failure Harry. After further taunts from Norman, Harry lashes out and defeats his father. When Harry has the option to kill Norman, Spider-Man goads him to decapitate Norman, as his healing factor may repair a blow to the head. Spider-Man states that by killing Norman, he would "become the son Norman always wanted." Harry backs down, and walks away from Norman Osborn forever.
We last see Harry in a psychiatrist's office, claiming he is getting over the effects of a medical treatment he received. The doctor offers to prescribe him oxycodone, a nod to Harry's past drug abuse, but it is not revealed if Harry takes the prescription.[7]
After the fall of Norman Osborn, the American Son armor is stolen by a mysterious figure. Shortly after, the police begin questioning Harry as Norman is in prison and only a member of the Osborn bloodline can use the suit. Later, in his coffee shop Harry is visited by Gabriel Stacy who identifies himself as Norman's other son and shoots him in the chest claiming that Norman gave him a better life.[8] American Son arrives and saves Harry from Gabriel and takes him to a hospital. After Harry recovers from his wounds he is escorted to his home by the police. Fearing the damage that could be done with the American Son armor and perplexed by his encounter with Gabriel, Harry decides to figure things out on his own. After enlisting the help of a talented reporter named Norah from Frontline, Harry decides to visit Norman as only he would know about Gabriel. Harry and Norah visit the Raft where they find Norman in his cell, consumed by madness. Harry demands to know about Gabriel and American Son but Norman is unresponsive. Frustrated, Harry and Norah begin to leave, but before they exit his cell Norman briefly returns to his senses and tells Harry that Gabriel is indeed his son. Later, Gabriel confronts the American Son armor and demands to know why he interfered. [9]
Trying to make sense of everything, Harry visits Aunt May's workplace, where he plans to volunteer. On his way, he realizes that he is being followed by the FBI. It is then revealed through FBI security footage that Gabriel was the one who stole the American Son armor and has been using it all along. Meanwhile, Gabriel has a confrontation with the American Son armor and is revealed to have developed a split personality similar to Norman's after his exposure to the Goblin Serum. This split personality explains to Gabriel that it represents all that is good in his soul and will use the American Son armor to undo each of Gabriel's crimes. After an intense psychological battle, Gabriel appears to get the upper hand and proceeds with his plan.
Still attempting to understand Gabriel's plans, Harry determines that in order for Gabriel to truly hurt him, he will attempt to abduct an innocent person and lay a trap. Harry then rushes to find Norah only to discover that Gabriel has already taken her. Meanwhile, the police arrive at Gabriel's hideout but are unable to rescue Norah due to the American Son's interference. Spider-Man arrives and tries to rescue Norah, but Gabriel manages to remain in control while in the American Son armor and knock out Spider-Man. Harry manages to sneak in through one of his father's secret tunnels and confronts his half-brother.[10]
As the police prepare to make another attempt to save Norah, Harry frees her and gets the young reporter to safety. With Norah out of harms way Gabriel and Harry engage in an epic battle. During the fight Harry attempts to convince Gabriel that Norman is evil and that attempting to follow in his footsteps is madness. Gabriel refuses to listen and continues his attempts to kill Harry. Saddened by his brother's choice Harry hacks the American Son armor and knocks Gabriel unconscious. Spider-Man and the police squad arrive taking them to safely from the burning warehouse and the American Son armor was destroyed. Unfortunately the battle causes the warehouse to go up in flames trapping Gabriel and Harry inside. Thankfully Spider-Man arrives and saves them. Afterward, Norah visits Harry in his coffee shop, and notices a bottle of oxycodone in Harry's things. Troubled by what she finds Norah concludes that Harry has a drug problem and resolves to help him through it.
Following his capture Gabriel is placed in a psychiatric hospital, and informed that the American Son Armor is thought to be destroyed. However, a package is soon delivered to his room containing a helmet from the American Son Armor and a note from Norman telling him that he loves Gabriel and misses him.[11]