WARNING: This article contains spoilers for Amazing Spider-Man #53 by Nick Spencer, Mark Bagley, John Dell, Edgar Delgado, and VC's Joe Caramagna, on sale now.
In the last issue of Amazing Spider-Man, Kindred snapped Spider-Man's neck and killed the web-slinger. However, this was not the end for Peter Parker. Instead, Kindred brought back Peter and plopped him right down in the middle of one of the most controversial storylines in the Web-Slinger's history. As Kindred revealed himself to be Harry Osborn to Peter, Spider-Man's old friend made him re-experience part of one of Spider-Man's most controversial eras, "One More Day."
Peter Parker's actions created Kindred, and now he has to face his own creation. This Harry was the effect of the changes made after Peter Parker made his deal with Mephisto. In exchange for saving the life of Aunt May, who had been shot and was dying, Mephisto erased Peter and Mary Jane's marriage and made the world forget he was Spider-Man in that 2007 story by J. Michael Straczynski and Joe Quesada.
This may have worked a little too well. Mephisto not only erased Peter revealing to the world that he was Spider-Man, but he also went back and wiped out the memory of his secret identity from everyone who knew it, including Harry Osborn. While that seemingly gave Harry Osborn a clean slate and a new lease on life, this issue suggests that the Kindred could be the Parker-hating Osborn who Peter erased.
While Harry Osborn has been a relatively noble figure in recent years, he wasn't always that way. In 1993's Spectacular Spider-Man #200 ,by J.M. DeMatteis, Sal Buscema, Joe Rosen, and Bob Sharen, Harry Osborn was fueled to become the Green Goblin by an intense hatred for Peter Parker. His goal was to drive Peter crazy, and he did it. Harry told Mary Jane that he blamed Peter for everything from the death of Gwen Stacy to the death of Norman Osborn. He wanted to ruin Peter, and Harry decided to kill both of them with a bomb he set up in his own apartment. However, Mary Jane and his son Normie were still there, and Harry saved them before going back to save Spider-Man at the last second. After this, the Goblin Formula finally did him in, and Harry died a hero.
However, Harry never knew Peter was Spider-Man or never became Green Goblin after "One More Day," and he never got his redemption story. He lived, and when "Brand New Day" started, Harry was back. In the conclusion to "One More Day" in 2007's Amazing Spider-Man #545 by J. Michael Straczynski, Joe Quesada, Danny Miki, Richard Isanove, Dean White, and Chris Eliopoulos, Harry returned, showing up at a party thrown in his honor with his new girlfriend, Lily Hollister. Peter also saw Mary Jane at the party, but the two were no longer on speaking terms.
That party was replayed in Amazing Spider-Man #53 as Kindred let the scene play out for Spider-Man before revealing himself as Harry Osborn. The scene played out differently this time, with Peter chasing after MJ as she was leaving the party. Then, Harry switched things up, and he delivered Peter's line from "Brand New Day," "You know what they always say. Speak of the Devil and he appears," which revived Peter.
This strongly suggests that Kindred could be the Harry who was erased by Peter's actions in "One More Day." While the friendly Harry could still be out there in the Marvel Universe, Kindred seems set to make Peter understand the true costs of doing a deal with the Devil.