The following contains spoilers for Amazing Spider-Man #28, now on sale from Marvel Comics.
Otto Octavius and Norman Osborn (aka Doctor Octopus and the Green Goblin, respectively) are typically regarded as Spider-Man's most dangerous enemies. Brilliant and dangerous in their own ways, both men have nevertheless been opposed more often than united. Their throw down have been ruinous moments for one another at crucial junctions in their evolutions, and that could very well be the result of their latest fight.
Amazing Spider-Man #28 (by Zeb Wells, Ed Mcguinnes, Mark Farmer, Marcio Menyz, and VC's Joe Caramagna) sets the stage for Gold Goblin and Doctor Octopus to face off in a climactic battle. With Spider-Man already down for the count, the reformed Osborn might be on his own. But to defeat a fully villainous Doctor Octopus, Gold Goblin might have to embrace his darker side and get one step closer to becoming the Green Goblin again.
Doctor Octopus' Victory Over Spider-Man and Gold Goblin
After spending years experimenting with heroism as the Superior Spider-Man, Otto Octavius has returned to his villainous roots. This includes an upgrade to his robotic appendages in the form of interlocking Ocktoid drones, creating a more flexible and adaptable set to use in battle. Severely damaging his somewhat sentient former suit as a test run, Doctor Octopus decides to finish the job after he discovers that J. Jonah Jameson took the broken arms to Peter Parker and Norman Osborn.
Breaking into Osborn's company and enraged by his tentacles' "betrayal," the villain is able to make quick work of Norman's security systems thanks to hiding a Trojan horse virus within the tentacles. Despite Spider-Man and the redeemed Gold Goblin's best efforts, their inexperience with Doctor Octopus' new tech and his efficient assault allows him to beat the former and capture the latter. It's a dark turn of events, especially given the history the two characters share.
Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus' Antagonistic History
Despite being two of Spider-Man's most heated enemies, Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus have rarely seen eye to eye. The Green Goblin's apparent demise after the events of "The Night Gwen Stacy Died!" meant he was completely off the board for much of Doctor Octopus' heyday as a villain. Upon Green Goblin's return, Doctor Octopus was used as a blunt instrument against him in Marvel Knights: Spider-Man #12 (by Mark Millar, Terry Dodson, Rachel Dodson, Ian Hannin, and Cory Petit), leading to a chaotic end to the event. Otto's original tenure as Spider-Man fell apart because of the challenges presented by Green Goblin, leading to Otto surrendering control of Peter Parker's mind back to himself in Superior Spider-Man #30 (by Dan Slott, Christos N. Gage, Giuseppe Camuncoli, John Dell, Terry Pallot, Antonio Fabela, and Chris Eliopoulos). Otto's later tenure as Spider-Man was also ruined by a multiversal variant of Norman who'd become his world's Spider-Man. It's clear that Otto has a grudge to settle with Norman, and his desire to take revenge could be a source of antagonism in their new conflict.
What makes this even more problematic is that Norman is currently engaged in his own attempt at heroism. After being confronted by the Sin-Eater during Kindred's campaign of terror against the wall-crawler, Osborn has been cursed with the weight of his prior sins. The guilt has been driving him to some dark places, but he's genuinely struggled to maintain his composure and find a way to make up for the mistakes of his past. This led to him adopting the identity of the Gold Goblin, a well-intentioned (if potentially dangerous) hero. He's already been tested by villains and judged by Celestials, but the challenge of a fully unleashed Doctor Octopus could prove an interesting foil.
Fighting Doctor Octopus Could Bring Back the Green Goblin
In the past, it was Norman's ruthless attitude and devious mind that allowed him to defeat Doctor Octopus. Despite all the efforts of the Superior Spider-Man, Norman was able to stay far enough ahead to defeat him, almost bringing down New York City in the process. But Osborn has been purposefully resisting that darker edge lately, as seen in Gold Goblin. It's been hard for the former villain, but he's done well enough to earn the trust of Spider-Man. However, without his more villainous qualities, he may not be able to overcome the sheer brilliance of Doctor Octopus, and may have to rely on Spider-Man's ingenuity to save the day.
If Spider-Man isn't able to get back into the fray soon enough, Norman may be forced to utilize the darker side of his persona just to ensure his survival. But this also isn't the Doctor Octopus who's lost to Norman before. Sacrificing his heroic growth and noble memories to Mephisto to return to his villainous roots was the only way Superior Spider-Man was able to defeat the Norman Osborn Spider-Man. Therefore, Osborn is now facing a fully ruthless Doctor Octopus, using a new and improved version of his most dangerous weapon. This could be another stepping stone towards bringing the Green Goblin back out of the reformed villain, setting off even more drama in Spider-Man's already tumultuous life.