Saturday 16 May 2009

Amazing Spider-Man #98. Green Goblin drug issue

Amazing Spider-Man #98, drugs issue, Green Goblin
"THE GOBLIN'S LAST GASP!"

(But where's the spider on our hero's back? From July 1971.)

Written by Stan Lee
Drawn by Gil Kane
Inked by Frank Giacoia
Lettered by Artie Simek


What happens:
Peter gets Harry to hospital but later accidentally encounters the dealer who sold him the drugs that put him there. When the dealer threatens him, he beats him up, down a back alley, and warns him never to let Pete catch them dealing again.

Now to find the Goblin.

But the Goblin finds him. The villain has a new secret weapon, one that robs Spidey of his power to stick to walls. Regardless, the hero conceives a plan. He hijacks the Goblin's glider and takes him to the hospital where Harry lies critically ill. The sight of his own son in a coma shocks the villain into reverting to his Norman Osborn persona and the threat of the Goblin is over once more. Meanwhile, on his way back home, Peter has even better news to celebrate when he encounters Gwen Stacy.

The Verdict:
I know I keep harping on about it but Gil Kane's handling of the fight scenes in this strip really are remarkable. He's clearly determined to exploit every possible angle and make full use of our hero's ability to navigate the rooftops in a way that no other character can.

On the down side, Kane really needed to do more research on life in England. That bus stop on page 5 bears no resemblance to any ever seen in any part of London at any point in history ever.

On the story front, its great to see the drug dealer and his cronies get the hiding they're asking for, and good to see JJ standing by his principles and refusing to kill the Harry drug story just because his father's one of the paper's main advertisers. Jonah has to be one of the most unpredictable characters in the history of comicdom.

Peter Parker's personal life:
Gwen Stacy's back.

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