Green Goblin

Amazing Spider-Man #22

by Steve Ditko, 1965

We open with the Green Goblin visiting a local gangster, Lucky Lobo, with the suggestion that the Goblin take over leadership of Lucky's gang. Obviously, "No one muscles in on Lucky Lobo's mob, see?", and the gang moves to toss the Goblin out. The Goblin covers his escape with sparkle-blasts and pumpkin bomb while he flies out the window. He promises to visit again. The Goblin's plan is to take over Lucky's gang. From there, he can gain control over all mobs in New York and become "The Green Goblin, King of Crime".

Later, one of Lucky's men delivers a complete list of Lucky's rackets and incomes to the Green Goblin. The Green Goblin intends to make the list public and let the IRS put Lucky away on tax evasion charges. The information on Lucky's finances is passed along to the Daily Bugle, and J. Jonah Jameson delivers the information to the local police himself. The Green Goblin follows the police as they raid Lucky's gambling joints and even assists the authorities by disabling the getaway vehicle carrying Lucky's crew with a pumpkin bomb. Spider-Man witnesses the Green Goblin altruism and follows him.

Seeing Spider-Man on his tail, the Green Goblin leads Spider-Man directly to Lucky's hideout. The Green Goblin flies through the building, leaving smoke bombs in his wake, and when Spider-Man follows, he finds himself facing Lucky's crew. Spider-Man webs up Lucky's crew after a short fight. Lucky spills the Goblin's plan to Spider-Man: The Goblin is setting Lucky up to take a fall only so the Goblin can take over Lucky's rackets himself.

Spider-Man finds the Goblin a short distance away, and their fight carries them into a factory. The fight ends after the Goblin runs out of pumpkin bombs and other gadget, and Spider-Man runs out of webbing. The Goblin flees and Spider-Man is unable to pursue him. When the Goblin returns to his hideout, he turns on the radio only to find that his plan was too successful. Lucky Lobo and his ENTIRE gang have been rounding up leaving nothing for the Goblin to take over.