The description of "classic" does not do this very historical issue justice. Amazing Spider-Man #39 has been an all-time favorite Spider-Man issue of many readers since it hit the stands many years ago. The cover has definitely been one of the most memorable and most gorgeous covers that has ever graced a Spider-Man comic. It is John Romita's first work on the Amazing Spider-Man title, having worked on Spider-Man before in Daredevil #16 & #17, and will go on to become one of the most legendary Spider-Man artists ever. If that is not enough, a question that readers have been asking since the Green Goblin's introduction in Amazing Spider-Man #14 is answered: Who is the Green Goblin? Well, we learn who the Green Goblin is in this very issue that has one of the most most shocking endings in Spider-Man's history.

The Green Goblin has been laying low for awhile, as he was last seen in Amazing Spider-Man #27, battling with the Crimemaster for the underworld supremacy. It is now perfect time to strike and to gain revenge on Spider-Man according to the Goblin. When the Goblin gets back to his hideout, he not only plans on defeating Spider-Man, but also plan on revealing his identity to the world. The Goblin gets his little bag of tricks loaded with plenty of stun (pumpkin) bombs, then checks out his goblin glider, then it's off to try an execute his plans. At the same time, Spider-Man is swinging about town, and he feels like he is coming down with a cold. He changes into Peter Parker and makes a visit to Doctor Bromwell. The doc checks him out and tells him that he must not do anything to shock his Aunt May (also a patient of his). Peter leaves with the knowledge that she must never learn that he is Spider-Man, since it would greatly worry her. Peter arrives at college with his head hung low, passing Gwen Stacy and Flash Thompson without saying a word. Young Harry Osborn has just joined the crowd after his father, Norman, drove him to campus. Right from the start, Norman seems agitated towards his son, always all over him critically. Harry now walks the same way that Peter was just previously, right by the same crowd. In class, it's the strange pairing of Peter and Harry that seem to become more friendlier while they talk about their problems. A real heart-to-heart so to speak! Gwen and even Flash Thompson are beginning to see Peter in a different light at this point, and it can be seen as a turning point in all of their relationships.

After class, Peter changes into Spider-Man and goes swinging about town until he discovers a stick-up occurring on the rooftop of a building with loads of crooks. The many common thugs are no match for Spider-Man, no matter how many of them there are. One begins to shoot a gun at him, then Spider-Man really gets angry. He begins to really batter around every thug on the roof until one of them tosses some sort of odorless billowing gas at him. High above the fight on the rooftop is the Green Goblin using binoculars to see the action. As it turns out, the Goblin staged the robbery scene so that Spider-Man could inhale the gas that was thrown at him. The gas was made to weaken Spider-Man's spider senses, the power that Green Goblin fears the most. After Spider-Man takes care of the last thug back on the roof, he takes a couple of pictures for the Daily Bugle, then goes to a back alley to change back to Peter Parker with the Green Goblin watching the entire time. Spider-Man's spider sense cannot work properly due to the gas he inhaled, so he is completely unaware that the Goblin has seen him unmasked. The Goblin is shocked to see that Spider-Man is just a kid, and he follows him to the Daily Bugle building. In the offices, Peter receives an apology from Ned Leeds concerning their argument last issue. Peter then sells his just taken pics of the rooftop fight to publisher J. Jonah Jameson before leaving to walk home.

On his way walking home, the Green Goblin continues to follow him home. In fact, the Goblin even learned that his name was Peter Parker, due to a shotgun microphone he was using. As Peter approaches the walkway to his front door, he senses someone nearby, and he is right! The Green Goblin makes his move on young Parker at last. The Goblin states that he knows he is Spider-Man, and that he is soon to be finished. Peter is shocked that the Green Goblin has somehow managed to learn his secret identity, and realizes that it is more important now to defeat him because of his new knowledge. Peter also remembers that Dr. Bromwell stated that his Aunt must not receive any sudden shock, and what a shock it would be if she looked out her window and saw the Green Goblin fighting her nephew! Peter tries to shoot some webbing towards the Goblin, but remembers that he is not wearing his costume. as his web-shooters are in his belt. The Goblin is delighted to see Peter helpless before him, and then he emits a black smoke from his goblin glider that fills Peter's lungs and begins to choke him. As all of this is happening, Aunt May thinks that she is hearing something outside, but sees only a dark fog when see looks out the window. Peter clears himself of the black smoke then prepares to go on the offensive against the Goblin. After barely dodging one of the Goblin's deadly blasts, he angrily leaps at him, but falls right into another one of the Goblins blasts. To finish Peter off, the Goblin then throws a ghostly goblin "surprise" at him. The "surprise acts as an asphyxiation grenade, which prevents oxygen from reaching his lungs.

Now Peter is completely helpless and tied up in rope as the Goblin's prisoner. The Green Goblin drags Peter through the air, carrying him with the other end of the rope, creating the lasting image that the cover shows. The Goblin ends up taking him to a lab somewhere near the waterfront, and Peter is now tied to a chair. The Goblin now prepares for Peter's final fate, but before that, he has one final surprise in store for him. Since the Goblin now thinks that Peter will not live to betray him, he deems it fitting that he learns the identity of the one that has beaten him. The Goblin slowly removes his mask to reveal what many readers have been waiting to learn for over two years at this point. "Take a long look, Parker--It's the last face Spider-Man will ever see--It's the real face of the Green Goblin--The face of Norman Osborn!" Peter recognizes the name and face, as his fellow classmate Harry is Norman's son.

And so, one of the greatest classic Spider-Man stories is born, but it doesn't end here. The battle rages on next issue, and find out if "Spidey can save the day". This story is reprinted many times and is a must have for any collector or reader, along with the next issue.

Reprinted In:
Marvel Tales #29
Marvel Tales #178
 Marvel Masterworks Vol. 16
Spider-Man Essentials II