I: Feature Story: "How Green Was My Goblin!"

Pages: 20

Script: Stan Lee
Pencils: John Romita
Inks: Mike Esposito (credited as Mickey Demeo)
Letters: Artie Simek

Villain: Green Goblin/Norman Osborn

Guest Appearance: Dr. Bromwell, Aunt May, J. Jonah Jameson, Harry Osborn, Gwen Stacy, Ned Leeds, Flash Thompson

Marvel Milestones: The Green Goblin learns Spider-Man’s identity, Spider-Man learns the Green Goblin's identity, First John Romita pencils on Amazing Spider-Man

Synopsis: The Green Goblin is ready to exact revenge on Spider-Man now that he's improved all his weaponry. He develops his plan to find Spider-Man, toy with and humiliate him, and then learn his secret identity so he can reveal it to the world. The Goblin boards his goblin glider and flies out into the night.

Spider-Man feels like he's getting a cold, so he swings in to see Doctor Bromwell. He changes into his Peter Parker outfit in a maintenance closet, giving a particularly flimsy excuse to the janitor who catches him. Peter has a simple cold but the doctor confides in him: Aunt May is still a weak woman after her operation and must suffer no sudden shocks, or else it might be fatal!

Once again, Peter is so worried about Aunt May, off in his own world, that he doesn't hear Flash Thompson making an attempt to act nice to him (though only because Gwen ordered him). His aloofness once again baffles his classmates. Norman Osborn drops Harry off at school but snaps at his eager-to-please son as he leaves. Harry is downcast as he enters class and Peter reaches out to him. Harry confides that he can't understand the recent change in his father. Peter admits to Harry that he's an orphan and they come to a better understanding of each other. Gwen and Flash see this exchange from afar and wonder if there isn't another side to "Puny Parker."

Once Peter has changed to Spider-Man, he notices a robbery on top of the Empire State Building. Even though he has a heavy cold, he swings in to fight the gang. Before he defeats them, one of the robbers hits Spider-Man with a strange gas, as the Green Goblin hovers above and smiles to himself. Spider-Man has no idea this gas has dulled his spider-sense, so he isn't aware that the Green Goblin is shadowing him and watching for him when he change backs to his civilian identity. The Green Goblin has learned Spider-Man is a teenager, and sets out to follow him back to his home. Peter has the feeling he's being watched but since his spider-sense isn't tingling, he ignores it.

When he gets to the Daily Bugle, Peter runs into Ned Leeds. Ned is still worried about Betty's disappearance. Peter tells Ned that if he finds her, Peter will stay out of the competition for her love. Peter haggles with J. Jonah Jameson for his latest batch of pictures and the Green Goblin, eavesdropping with a shotgun microphone, now knows his name.

The Goblin strikes as Peter makes his way home. He confronts Parker right on his front lawn. Not only must Peter protect his identity, but he must keep Aunt May away from seeing them, putting Peter in a very awkward position. The Goblin chokes him with a smoke screen which fortunately obscures Aunt May's view as she looks out the window.

Peter climbs the tree to escape the smoke but the Goblin shoots at him with a finger blast. He tosses a jet-propelled missile at Peter but once he's in range, Peter strikes! The Goblin hits him full in the chest with a finger blast and tosses an asphyxiation grenade at him. Peter is knocked unconscious and the Goblin ties him up and flies him to his lair on the waterfront. Once inside, the Green Goblin removes his mask.

He is Norman Osborn!

(continued in ASM #40)

--synopsis by Jonathan Clarke, aka doesitmatter, and Gormuu

Issues Reprinted
Amazing Spider-Man #31-40

Click on cover image to learn more about each issue.