THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #137

"Death-Trap Times Three!"

• Writer: Gerry Conway
• Artist: Ross Andru
• Inker: F. Giacoia & D. Hunt
• Print Date: Oct., 1974

Featuring:

Plot Summary:

Prologue: We watch as the recently re-introduced Green Goblin bombs a truck labeled 'Atomic Industries'. After disabling the truck with a narcotic gas pumpkin bomb, he uses his sparkle blasts to burn a hole in the side of the truck and steal something. What that something is, we'll find out later...

Spider-Man has spent two nights looking for Harry, but to no avail. He returns to MJ's hospital room to find Jonah, Joe Robertson, Flash, Liz Allen, and Aunt May waiting for him. While visiting MJ, a radio report about the Goblin's theft spurs Peter to action, and he heads out towards the scene of the crime.

Unnoticed by the two truck drivers or police investigating the scene, Spider-Man collects pumpkin bomb shards from the front seat of the truck confirming his fears - this is the work of the Green Goblin. When the police notice his presence and open fire, Spidey high-tails it out of the area on the back of a passing semi.

Seventy-two minutes after that scene, Spider-Man realizes that the one place he's been subconsciously avoiding is Norman Osborn's old townhouse. He smashes in through a window to find the Green Goblin standing at a control panel.

Again, Spidey tries to reason with Harry instead of subduing him right away, and the battle drags out longer than it should. It does feature some slick moves by both combatants, but eventually Peter gains the upper-hand when Harry is too slow to dodge a net formed by Spidey's webbing.

This is just the beginning as Harry reveals his diabolical plan. The device stolen from the truck was a 'small shaped-charge clean fusion nuclear bomb'. He has Flash, MJ, and Aunt May tied up and incapacitated in three separate areas around New York, and one of them is seated on the bomb due to go off in six minutes. Spidey has time to rescue one of them but not all three before the bomb goes off. Oh, and to make things easier, Harry stole three spider-tracer, and placed one at each scene.

Knocking Harry unconscious, Peter realizes that Harry gave him a clue. Now, if only he hadn't run out of webbing. Remember his spare costume on the rooftop from last issue, he finds the web cartridges he needs, and hurries out to Grant's Tomb. Finding a tranquilized Aunt May, Spidey whips the bomb (or fake) out into a nearby lake. After a minute, the bomb detonates at the bottom of the lake, and Spidey collapses in relief that he saved the right person.

Returning to Norman's old townhouse, Spider-Man unmasks Harry as the Green Goblin, and removing his costume, he calls the authorities to pick up Spider-Man. Outside, in a fit of hysterical, Harry announces to everyone that Peter Parker is Spider-Man. When asked how he knows who Spider-Man is, Harry draws the ridicule of all by declaring, "I'm the Green Goblin!". Of course, the Goblin has been around for years, and Harry is much too young to be him so that immediately discredits everything his says about Peter's identity.

Comments:

Ok, I'm liking the "featuring" section I included at the top of the page. It makes linking issues to characters much easier. At some point, I'll go and re-do the issues I've done prior to this, but that's not a high priority at the moment. Today's music is the "Science Fiction Soundtrack". I've talked about it before, so I won't repeat myself.

Plot Analysis:

To start, let me say, I REALLY wanted to enjoy this issue. However, the plot was way to cheesy and lame for even me to enjoy.

First, the Goblin is highjacking a truck's cargo. Instead of simply killing the driver of the truck, he lobs a gas grenade at them, knocking them, causing the truck to careen into the side of a cliff, and the truck's occupants survive unscathed. Also, the truck has a sign on the side that reads "Atomic Industries". Depending on the panel the truck is shown, this sign seems to disappear and reappear like a magician's act. But, that's more of a problem with the art than the plot.

So, what is this mysterious cargo? Why, it's a shaped-charged clean fusion nuclear bomb, and the Goblin has rigged it to explode and take out one of Spidey's closest friends or family with it. Now, I don't even want to know what a "shaped-charged clean fusion nuclear bomb" is, but instead, what's wrong with commonly available dynamite or something similar and easier to get his hands on? Instead of rigging EVERYONE to blow up, the Goblin has conveniently only managed to steal one bomb making it easy for Spidey to get out of this death trap.

And of course, the Goblin waits until he's been pummeled into submission before revealing his death-trap. I'm not sure what the point of that was, Harry could've warded off capture by taking off as he revealed the trap, but instead he waits until he's almost completely incapacitated before showing off his 'ingenious' (sarcasm implied) plan.

So, OK, the Goblin accidentally let slip which person was really threatened by the bomb. I can accept that. We've all had slips of the tongue during times of stress. Personally, I'm surprised he can still talk after taking a few shots to the face like he does.

Finally, we reach the climatic ending where Spidey bursts into Grant's Tomb just in time to save Aunt May from a nuclear bomb by throwing it in the lake. Apparently, the bomb was the equivalent of a nuclear hand-grenade because it throws up only a small fountain of water, and no mention is made of the inevitable fallout. Oh wait, it's a "clean fusion nuclear bomb". I guess that implies no fallout or something. Anyways, if the scientists in the marvel universe could master physics like that, you think they'd have a lot better technology by now.

So, all's well that ends well. Harry even fails to spoil Spider-Man secret identity because he discredits himself by claiming to have been the original Green Goblin. Harry gets carted off to the funny farm to reappear sometime down the line, and Spider-Man's universe is safe and sound.

Art Review:

Besides the disappearing/reappearing truck sign, I actually enjoyed the art in this issue. In particularly, Liz Allen funky clothes in MJ's hospital room really brought a smile to my face. Beyond that though, the facial expression were good as always, the scenes were generally detailed, the art was clear. You can't ask for much more than that.

Action Factor:

This issue was really devoid of any extending action. Harry and Peter face off in a short two-page battle. Harry's practice and skill with the Goblin equipment show, but he really is no match for Spider-Man. This time, Spidey doesn't toy around with him and takes him down as quick as he can.

Spider-Villain lessons 101:

Tip #1:
Although, getting things like a 'clean fusion nuclear bomb' might sound cool, it's probably easier, quicker, and a lot less high-profile to use simple things like dynamite or even plastique if you want to get a little exotic. I can't help but think that stealing anything labeled nuclear is going to make a LOT of people sit up and take notice and probably draw a lot more attention than you want.