MRL - Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #39-40

[sonotadream]

Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #39-40 - Stan Lee/John Romita

New artist, and Peter is already being friendly with other people! He and Harry have a nice moment of connection; he and Ned apologise to each other and Peter lets him know he won’t get in between him and Betty. It’s nice.

Spider-Man stops a robbery in a rooftop, but it’s just a ploy from the Green Goblin. Peter gets hit with a gas that dulls his spider-sense without him noticing and the Green Goblin follows him around until he discovers his name.

The Goblin confronts Peter in front of his house and manages to subdue him, taking advantage of the fact that Peter is too worried about alerting Aunt May - and maybe causing a fatal heart attack from shock alone - to put up a real fight.

At his lair, the Goblin can’t resist gloating. He reveals his own identity: Norman Osborn, the father of Peter’s classmate.

The mention of Harry sends Norman into a monologuing flashback. He was widowed and had to raise Harry alone. He did his best, but his best was making a lot of money to give Harry all the gifts, instead of forming the emotional bond Harry craved.

Then, after he got rid of Professor Stromm, Norman started messing around with his formulas. He caused an explosion that sent him to the hospital and caused a personality change, although Norman didn’t saw things that way. Becoming the Green Goblin was just the right thing to do.

But Spider-Man got in his way and now he must die.

Peter keeps him talking as long as possible so he can get free from his restraints, but Norman releases him so they can fight. The fight doesn’t go the Goblin’s way and he ends up in another chemical explosion.

Peter isn’t sure what to do, but it seems Norman lost his memories of the last few years, so Peter keeps his secret.