April, 1965
Written by Stan Lee, Illustrated by Steve Ditko
The Goblin and the Gangsters
This is the Green Goblin’s third appearance and his character is beginning to have the depth needed to become a major character. He first appeared in the infamously terrible issue #14, The Grotesque Adventure of the Green Goblin. In that issue he concocted some shitty scheme to convince Spider-Man that they were going to make a bio pic about him in order to lure him out to California where the Enforcers were waiting to kill him. It was totally stupid.
He came back in issue #17, The Return of the Green Goblin. But this title is a misnomer, the issue being much more about Flash Thompson than anything else. The Goblin didn’t exactly annoy me in any specific way, but I didn’t see how this character was on his way to being iconic. While I wouldn’t argue that he takes his first steps towards legend status in this issue, he at least holds my interest and at times even peaks my curiosity.
I suppose I’m hindered by the fact that I know the Green Goblin’s secret identity. Lee is definitely playing up the mystery of the Goblin’s identity and I’m well aware that it is Norman Osborn, a character who hasn’t even been introduced yet. This issue focuses on Frederick Foswell (first appeared in AS #10 as The Big Man) as a red herring. Foswell comes across the same information that the Goblin acquires and the two are shown in successive frames making the reader believe they are the same person. But, unfortunately, I know better.
I think the Green Goblin improved because he now has a clear goal. He wants to be the “King of Crime” (Page 3). He wants to rule the New York underworld and has begun threatening local gangsters in an attempt to take over their mob. This might sound trite, and to some degree it is, but just seeing the Goblin focus on something that isn’t dip-shit-crazy is enough to turn him around. Because he is an engaging character if all the distractions and imperfections are removed.
He’s the only villain with a secret identity, he’s arguably the creepiest looking villain that Spider-Man faces (besides the Chameleon from AS #1), and he’s actually too much for Spider-Man to handle in a fight.
Spider-Man’s had his ass kicked by nearly everyone he’s fought, but he generally comes back in the second half of the issue to give back harder than he received. Not so with the Goblin. And it’s not because the Green Goblin’s incredibly strong or he has such great weapons. It’s all speed based. He’s the only villain Spider-Man has fought who is faster than he is. As simple as that sounds, it makes for interesting battles.
So, I’m turning around on the Green Goblin. But he still needs to go through a lot of improvement before I think it’s acceptable that he gets to kill Gwen Stacey. It’s quite an honor for a villain to be allowed to kill a major character, especially a love interest. If it were right now, that is, right as in April 1965, I’d say that that would be Dr. Octopus’s right.
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