15 Most Notoriously Controversial Storylines In Comic Book History

10. Norman Osborn Fathers Twins With Gwen Stacy

Spider-Man has experienced a number of controversial storylines over the years, as we joked about earlier. However, one storyline sticks out distinctly for shocking and repelling fans. The "Sins Past" storyline was written by J. Michael Stracynski, and featured the adult twin son and daughter of Peter's great love Gwen Stacy, who had been killed years earlier by Green Goblin in one of the most iconic deaths of Spider-Man's history since Uncle Ben. Throughout the storyline we learn that shortly after her father's death but before her own (obviously), Gwen had traveled to France, where Norman Osborn AKA the Green Goblin seduced and impregnated her. The twins were born, and due to the Goblin serum inherited from their father, began aging at an extremely enhanced rate. Gwen vowed to raise the children with Peter, but was killed by Norman before she could tell him. The twins appeared years later to fight Peter Parker, who Norman had convinced them was their real father and responsible for the death of Gwen Stacy. The 'Goblin Twins' appeared a few more times before thankfully disappearing from comics. Even JMS wanted to retcon the characters out of Spider-Man's history during the One More Day event, but he was not permitted to do so. Fans were appalled at the revelations of 'Sins Past,' feeling it unforgivably tainted the character of Gwen Stacy, who has held a lasting place in comic book history since her death.