Amazing Spider-Man #40
Spidey Saves the Day! Featuring: The End of the Green Goblin!
Pete is trapped by Norman Osborn who’s revealed himself to be the Green Goblin. Pete stalls him, mentioning Harry and playing with his emotions to get him to talk. Norman tells how he worked constantly to provide and always paid more attention to work than to his son. He reveals how Professor Stromm only borrowed money from a shared account, but Norman called the police reporting it as theft, leaving the company in his hands. Norman continues, saying Stromm had left formulas behind, and he decided to research them. As he was working on one, it exploded and hospitalized him.
This transformation changed him and he planned to use his company’s resources to become a super-criminal. At home, Aunt May is worried sick over Pete not calling her and Anna Watson calls in Dr. Bromwell. Meanwhile, Betty Brant is in a train station realizing she must return to New York and face everyone but unsure how. Pete is still working on the steel bonds and the Goblin recounts when Spider-Man has fought him and skews them as victories. He finishes his story and frees Pete to fight him on even terms. As they fight, the Goblin pulls out stun bombs, an electrical whip, and finally a Goblin Cannon. As Spider-Man delivers a kick, the Goblin goes into a mixture of live wires and chemicals and a fire starts.
Spider-Man rushes over not wanting to kill him, but Norman doesn’t know where he is or why he’s in costume. Not wanting to destroy his reputation or Harry’s feelings, he’s quickly changed out of his costume for the police to take him to a hospital. Pete rushes home and Dr. Bromwell has just sedated Aunt May. Aunt May begins to take care of Pete’s “fever” and Harry visits his dad in the hospital.
Recurring Characters
Spider-Man, Aunt May, J. Jonah Jameson, Betty Brant, Green Goblin, Harry Osborn, Anna Watson, Dr. Bromwell, Mendell Stromm (flasback)
Continuity Notes
Here, Norman states that his wife, Emily had died when Harry was still young. However, unknown to Norman at this time, Emily actually faked her death. This will not be revealed until many years later in Amazing Spider-Man #700.
The Green Goblin explains how he got Mendel Stromm arrested. Hence why he wanted revenge against Norman Osborn in Amazing Spider-Man #37.
Years later, it’s revealed that Norman Osborn’s transformation into the Green Goblin — including the downfall of Mendel Stromm — happened because Norman was jealous of his partner. He then entered into a pact with Mephisto, who gave him the fame and recognition he craved in exchange for the soul of his son, Harry. See Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 5) #72.
Betty Brant returns to New York after leaving in Amazing Spider-Man #34. She is torn between her turbulent romance with Peter Parker that has been ongoing since Amazing Spider-Man #4 and Ned Leeds marriage proposal in Amazing Spider-Man #30. She finally gives her answer in Amazing Spider-Man #43.
The Green Goblin recounts his past battles with Spider-Man in Amazing Spider-Man #14, 17, 23, and 27. However, he omits his battle they fought in Untold Tales of Spider-Man #25. That omission is due to the fact that Untold Tales of Spider-Man was published decades after this story.
Although Norman Osborn is stricken with selective amnesia here, his memories ultimately return in Spectacular Spider-Man Magazine #2.
Aunt May suffers from a weak heart following a surgery she received in Amazing Spider-Man #33.
