THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #178

"Green Grows The Goblin!"

• Writer: Len Wein
• Artist: Ross Andru
• Inker: Jim Mooney
• Print Date: Mar, 1978

Featuring:

Plot Summary:

Hidden in an air vent, Spider-Man spies on a meeting of the city's crimelords when the Green Goblin announces "I know who Spider-Man really is!" Despite Spider-Man's initial fear however, the Green Goblin has no intention of telling the assembled gangsters this secret. Instead, he negotiates a deal - he returns bearing Spider-Man and in return his is made the crime-boss of New York. I think Silvermane said it best: "I called this meeting to discuss organizing New York's criminal element under my command NOT to listen to the ravings of some emerald-masked lunatic!"

I'm not entirely certain what the Goblin's plan is here. I mean, he makes a deal that if he delivers Spider-Man, the mobsters will make him the crime-boss of New York City. Actually, the mobsters didn't specifically agree to a deal, Silvermane's response was "You prove you can deliver what you promise and maybe then we'll talk". Doesn't sound like a very firm commitment to me. How does the Goblin intent to make sure that the mobster's live up to their part of the bargain in any case?

After the Green Goblin leaves, Spider-Man decides to... Well, that thought is interrupted by him clanking around in the airvent. As the mobsters open file on the vent, Spider-Man crashes out, and a fight begins. Several shots are fired before Silvermane announces "I want him taken alive!" WHY??? Anyways, the gun fight quickly turns into a fist fight between Spider-Man and several mobsters. Obviously, this is not a fair fight and soon Spider-Man stands over several unconscious flunkies. However, Silvermane and the other crime bosses have already made their escape, so the victory is a small one.

"I want him taken alive!" - way to handcuff your muscle there Silvermane. As if the fight wasn't going badly enough when they were all shooting at Spider-Man, forcing them to fists and clubs is only going to make things worse for them.

You have to wonder what kind of high-end restaurant closes the entire place down for a bunch of organized mobsters.

While uptown, at Newhope Memorial Hospital, the doctor declares that Aunt May is stable for the moment, but that situation could change at any time. Does that mean she's stable or not? The doctor is concerned they may have to perform surgery, but naturally, they can't proceed without Aunt May's next-of-kin (Peter) signing the consent forms. Mary-Jane has been unsuccessfully trying to call Peter. Instead of waiting at the hospital, Mary Jane heads out to check Peter's "usual haunts" hoping she can find him in time.

I guess it makes sense that Mary Jane would go out looking for Peter, but it would be a lot quicker to simply call his usual haunts from the hospital and leave messages all over the place for him.

Spider-Man returns to his Chelsea apartment mere minutes after Mary Jane's frantic call. Peter changes out of costume while sitting on the floor of his sparsely furnished apartment. Glory Grant stops by to share her latest concoction - a carrot milkshake. Peter declares the recipe "downright awful", but in a polite way. Glory heads off.

This scene is one of things I miss in current Spider-Man comics. The supporting casts and scenery. Peter's apartment was its own character in a lot of these old issues. In this scene, Peter is sitting on the floor because the only furniture in his place is a bed and TV stand. Glory stops by to share her latest culinary attempt. These scenes tend to ground Spider-Man in 'real life' rather than a character that bounces from confrontation to confrontation and any time spent as Peter Parker is merely a vehicle to get him to the next action scene.

We turn our attentions to an abandoned warehouse on the Lower East Side. In the Green Goblin lairs, the Green Goblin's hooded hostage fruitlessly tries to escape, but only ends up trussed up on the floor for his troubles. The Green Goblin returns and rants about Silvermane for awhile. He declares that with his bag of tricks, he's the most powerful man on Earth! The Green Goblin paces and talks to his hostage explaining that he has planned too long and too carefully to share the fate of the first Green Goblin and allow Spider-Man to thwart his plans. The Goblin flies off declaring "I have a spider to squash!"

I really enjoyed how this scene showcased the Goblin's madness. He's pacing, talking to himself (or his hostage), referring to himself in third person, and generally acting like a manic. Naturally, the Goblin's hostage is still hooded in order to maintain the secret of his identity (and the Goblin's identity).

While back at Peter's apartment, Peter tries to study, but he can't concentrate on schoolwork with the Green Goblin out there hunting him. Instead of staying in, he decides to go out on the prowl.

Across town at the offices of the Daily Bugle, Jonah is in the midst of verbally criticizing a nameless employee when Mary Jane stops by looking for Peter. Jonah turns his verbal abuse on Mary Jane until MJ explains that Aunt May is sick and possibly dying. When she find that Peter is not at the Daily Bugle, MJ tries to call Peter at home again. This time, Peter is home but heading out as Spider-Man. He ignores the phone and crawls out the skylight, but then thinks better and returns to answer.

Sensibly, Mary Jane tries the Bugle offices first, but Peter is not around. Finally, she manages to call him in his apartment (no voice mail in the 1970s!)

When Peter hears about his aunt, he tells MJ to head to the hospital and he'll meet her there. En route, Spider-Man is ambushed by the Green Goblin! The Green Goblin attempts to subdue Spider-Man but all his attacks are ineffectual. Spider-Man dodges the initial pumpkin bombs, discards a bola, and shrugs off the Green Goblin's punches. Finally, Spider-Man loses his patience, and levels the Green Goblin with a single blow. Leaving the stunned Goblin on the rooftop, Spider-Man heads off to the hospital. However, the Goblin is not done yet. Just outside of the hospital the Green Goblin again catches up with Spider-Man and snares him in a plastic net. Trapped and helpless, Spider-Man is hauled carried off by the Green Goblin while inside the hospital MJ encourages Aunt May to hang on until Peter arrives to sign the consent forms.

I actually enjoyed this several page fight scene. The Goblin is a 'normal guy' who happens to be dressed in purple-and-green. He does not have super-strength or agility, and he is not strong enough to go toe-to-toe with Spider-Man. Spider-Man treats him as a nuisance. His weapons aren't powerful enough to bother Spider-Man. His punches are extremely ineffectual. It is only through determine and luck that he manages to ensnare Spider-Man in a bag made of "polymer plastic - stronger than steel". Anyways, this fight seemed better scripted than most.