"The Green Goblin Lives Again!" Amazing Spider-Man 136 (September 1974)
"Death-Trap Times Three!" Amazing Spider-Man 136 (October 1974)
(1974/09/03)

Reader Rating: Average; Thunderbolts Interest: Low

Summary: Driven to the brink of madness by the death of his father and his own drug abuse, Harry Osborn takes up Norman's mantle to become a new Green Goblin. The Goblin abducts three of Peter Parker's loved ones and forces Spider-Man to save only one. (Harry is still new at this, so it's not really that tough a puzzle to crack.)

Continuity: Harry admits that, following his father's (apparent) death, he hid any evidence that linked Norman to the Goblin, and describes how he discovered his roommate Peter's secret identity.

The end of the battle leaves Harry aware of Spider-Man's secret, but so raving bonkers that no one believes him.

Over the next several years, Harry will slowly regain his sanity through the love of and eventual marriage to Liz Allen. Harry's grip on reality will be challenged by manipulators (including his therapist, Dr. Hamilton, who briefly will take on the Green Goblin identity himself) and imitators (Jack O'Lantern, later Hobgoblin).

Through all of this, Norman Osborn remains in Europe, watching his son's progress.

Comments: Harry's descent into madness and Goblin-dom took about a hundred issues of Amazing and is neatly realized. The second chapter slips into sloppy plotting and a pretty feeble revenge plan. Ross Andru's art is aces.

Previous Thunderbolts Next
Previous Osborn Next

TOC * Home

This page was revised on December 6, 2008

Comments? Corrections? Make Contact