It is often debated: Who is Spider-Man 's greatest villain? Sometimes there are many good points for making Doctor Octopus or even Venom his top ranked arch rival, but most people including the creator of this site think the obvious choice is the Green Goblin. Maybe he hasn't made as many appearances as Doctor Octopus or is as current or visually menacing as Venom, but few would doubt the impact he has left of the Spider-Verse. The Green Goblin's identity was very hush-hush for the first two years of his existence and made for alot of speculation but that was soon ended in the classic Amazing Spider-Man #39 & #40 as it was revealed that he was Norman Osborn. The Goblin's first appearance is very interesting compared to how he was depicted in later appearances. There was no Goblin Glider, No Pumpkin Bombs, and no crazed laughter throughout his debut. He rode on something more akin to a motorized broomstick and he tossed stun-grenades instead of pumpkins. The Green Goblin would go through many changes in his life and this is just the beginning!

And in the beginning, there was a man whose face was hidden from the readers while working on a flying broomstick readying himself for a meeting with Enforcers whom we all met in Amazing Spider-Man #10 and were last seen chronologically in Untold Tales Of Spider-Man #8. At the meeting the Enforcers agree to work with the Goblin for promising revenge on Spider-Man. We next cut the offices of a major Hollywood movie producer where the Goblin flies his broomstick into his window to talk about a picture deal that would involve him, the Enforcers, and Spider-Man. The mention of the name "Spider-Man" excites the producer and the goblin promises to deliver him for the movie.

At Midtown High, Peter and the rest of the students listen as a bulletin comes over the radio that a green-garbed figure on a broomstick has been flying over Manhattan and the public is hard pressed to keep calm about it. Peter rushes to change into Spider-Man and he finds the Goblin flying near-by. As Spider-Man, he uses his webbing to sling-shot himself into the air and he lands on the Goblin's broomstick. There is no fight but rather a proposition by the Goblin to star in the movie with him and to see the movie producer about it for further details. Spider-Man sees the producer and signs his name (how legal if that?) on a contract as they agree to make the movie and pay Spider-Man $50,000 for his work. When Peter later returns to the offices of the Daily Bugle, he learns that publisher J. Jonah Jameson wants him to go on a trip to cover the Movie with Spider-Man in it. This gives Peter the perfect chance and excuse for being on the coast where the movie is being filmed. Peter still had to convince Aunt May to let him go, but after a little persuasion, she lets him go to Hollywood.

After arriving in Hollywood, the entire cast takes a trip to New Mexico where they are assembled for the first time and prepare to begin filming within a short period of time. The Green Goblin suggests that they all go out in the dessert and rehearse the fight scene which is OK with everyone involved. Much to Spider-Man's surprise, the fight scene is more realistic than he would like as the Enforcers knock him around a bit. Spider-Man realizes that it is a trap and begins to fight back. He successfully defends himself against all four for awhile before a dust storm occurs. Using his spider-sense to guide himself through the storm, Spider-Man enters a cave as the Green Goblin views him from above riding his broomstick. The Goblin signals the Enforcers and they go after him in the cave.  While in the cave, Spider-Man realizes that they are after him and takes Montana then Fancy Dan of the Enforcers by surprise. The Goblin then gets into the act and attacks Spider-Man who then knocks out the last Enforcer the Ox. The next surprise that Spider-Man gets is his biggest one yet. Hidden in the cave all that time has been the Incredible Hulk and him and Spidey meet for the very first time. Spider-Man is way out of his league on a brute strength level and dodges the Hulks attacks. After a long battle in the cave with the Hulk, Spider-Man finally finda his way out of the cave where he takes the Green Goblin by surprise while he flies by. The Goblin uses the jets on his broomstick to rid himself of Spider-Man and Spider-Man falls into a lake below. Spider-Man then goes back and retrieves the Enforcers away from the cave for fear that the Hulk may attack them and leaves them webbed up for the army.

Back at the Movie shoot, the producer is told that the participants have vanished except one: Spider-Man arrives through the window and is told that he will get paid only if the picture is completed as stated in the fine print in the signed contract. All he receives is expense money and off he goes back to New York by Bus this time as he saves some money to give to Aunt May. The Green Goblin also arrives back at his home using his flying broomstick (which we will thankfully never see again!). He understands that his scheme has backfired as he wanted to organize a world-wide crime syndicate, but his true identity is still his own secret. "The world hasn't heard the last of the Green Goblin!" he states to himself. Peter on the other hand, wonders where the Goblin is as his spider-sense tells him that he is somewhere in the city. There will many more meetings to come between these two, and it WILL get nasty!

We learn later on in Amazing Spider-Man #39 that the Green Goblin is really Norman Osborn, who was formally introduced in Amazing Spider-Man #37, but Norman can be seen in the "crowd" before that issue. The Green Goblin is seen next, chronologically in Untold Tales Of Spider-Man #18 where he battles the Headsman, then next in Amazing Spider-Man #17 which showcases his second meeting with Spider-Man. The Enforcers are seen next in Amazing Spider-Man #19. This is one issue or reprint that every serious Spider-Man fan and collector MUST have and yet the Green Goblin as read in it, is much different from the Goblin we learn to fear much more in his later appearances. He will get more and more sinister as time goes on, especially after ditching that goofy broomstick!

Reprinted In:
Marvel Tales #9
Marvel Tales #152
Marvel Treasury Edition #1
 Spider-Man Classics #15
 Marvel Masterworks Vol. 5
Spider-Man Essentials I
Wizard Ace Edition