Amazing Spider-Man #14Amazing Spider-Man #14
Title: "The Grotesque Adventures of the Green Goblin”
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Steve Ditko
Inker: Steve Ditko
Green Goblin’s mask and suit are hung up in their place as he puts the finishing touches on his flying broomstick. He says that all he has to do now is put his costume on and test it. Goblin sits on the broomstick and says that it is purring like a kitten. He says that he made the controls so simple that there is no chance for a fatal error. Goblin says that he has an appointment to keep.
Montana, Fancy Dan, and Ox are waiting for the Goblin to show. Montana asks when Goblin is going to show up. Fancy Dan tells Montana to stop throwing his lasso at him or he won’t be alive when Goblin gets there. Ox tells them to relax, and that if this is a trick that he will make him wish he hadn’t played it. Goblin glides in and says that it is no trick. Goblin says that he is ready to give them their orders. Montana says that the Enforcers don’t take orders from anyone. Goblin says, “I’m not anyone! I’m the Green Goblin!” Goblin points his finger and sparks begin to fly out. The Enforcers tell the Goblin to go ahead and talk. Goblin says that he knows that Spider-Man defeated them and sent them all to jail some time ago, and that if they do as he says that they will have their revenge. Montana says that Goblin has a deal.
In the plush offices of B.J. Cosmos, a glamorous Hollywood executive, BJ is saying that they haven’t had a good scary script since ‘The Nameless Thing from the Black Lagoon in the Murky Swamp”. BJ tells his yes men to leave him alone. He says that he needs time to think of a film that is as good. BJ is about to decide to release the same movie with another title when the Green Goblin flies through the window. Goblin says that he has a real money making idea for him. BJ asks who he is. Goblin introduces himself as BJ’s next star. BJ says that he is a nut and to get out of there. Goblin says that he will go if BJ doesn’t want a movie starring him, the Enforcers, and Spider-Man. BJ says that he can’t miss if Spider-Man stars in one of his movies. BJ says that there will be a hundred dancing girls and a cast of thousands. BJ says that maybe he will get Tony Curtis or one of the Beatles to play Spider-Man. Goblin says that he will get him the real Spider-Man. BJ says that he was right and that Goblin is a nut. He says that no one knows who Spider-Man is. Goblin tells him to relax and that he can count on him.
A few days later in New York, Liz Allen is asking Peter how he managed to be the only one to get a 100% on the last exam. Peter says that it is just luck and spending hours studying. Flash asks who wants to be an egghead. Liz yells at Flash and tells him that he is too dumb to be an egghead anyway. She says that it is the men with brains that run the country. A couple of the others agree with Liz. Peter smiles to himself that the other kids finally get it. As Liz leaves, Flash says that he warned Peter not to ruin his chances with Liz. Peter asks what he is talking about and says that he has no chance with her anyway. One of the other students is listening to a radio. It is announcing that there is a green garbed figure that has been flying around for the last hour over Manhattan. Peter thinks to himself that it is probably someone’s imagination, but that Spider-Man had better check it out.
Minutes later, Spider-Man spots the Green
Goblin. He creates a web slingshot and fires himself off two
brick chimneys. Spider-Man fires himself at Goblin. 
He asks Goblin
for a lift. Goblin says that he has been waiting for him and that
he knew if he flew around long enough that he would show up.
Spider-Man asks what he wants. Goblin says that he represents BJ
Cosmos of Cosmos Productions, and that BJ wants Spider-Man to
star in one of his movies. Goblin says that he is in town just to
see Spider-Man, but that he should stop by the Ritz Plaza Hotel
and see for himself. Spider-Man says that he will, but that if
this is a joke that Goblin will be sorry.
At the hotel, Spider-Man searches the hotel from the outside. He finds BJ’s room. BJ tells Spider-Man to come inside. He says that if people want to see him that he wants them to pay big money to do it. BJ gets right to business and says that he will give Spider-Man $50,000 to star in “The Spider-Man Story”. He says that they will write an original script where he fights the Enforcers and the Green Goblin. Spider-Man says that if he accepts that he doesn’t want any interviews, publicity, sight-seers on the set, or phony romance build ups. BJ agrees but says that he will be breaking millions of Hollywood hearts. BJ tells him to sign the contract and he will make him famous. Spider-Man thinks to himself that he doesn’t care about fame, but that he could do good things for his Aunt May with that money. As Spider-Man leaves BJ’s room, Goblin watches. He says that neither BJ nor Spider-Man suspect his true motives.
The next morning at the Daily Bugle, Peter asks Betty if she has a few minutes to tell her something important. Betty says that she does, but not to let Mr. Jameson hear them. Jameson comes right out and says that he thought he heard Parker. Jameson tells Peter to pack his bags and that he is going to Hollywood. He says that Cosmos Films is making a movie about Spider-Man, and that they claim to have the real Spider-Man starring in it. Peter thinks to himself that he was hoping Jameson would send him. He says that it is the perfect cover to tell Aunt May, but that he was hoping he could tell Betty first. Peter thinks of all the money he will make and smiles. Betty asks if he is smiling because of all the Hollywood beauties he is going to see. She says that she isn’t as glamorous as them, or as blonde as Liz Allen that Peter has been walking home from school.
Aunt May tells Peter that she thinks that he is too young to go. Peter says that he is a high school senior and that he will be ready for college soon. Aunt May says that he is so fragile though. Peter says that he promises to dress warm and get three good meals a day. Aunt May decides to let him go.
At his Hollywood studio, BJ is telling the cast that he wants to win another Oscar. Spidey thinks to himself that BJ’s make-up man is a genius. He thinks how the Enforcers look just like the Enforcers.
The film crew sets up in a deserted area of New Mexico. Green Goblin suggests rehearsing the fight scene while the crew is setting up the cameras. Spider-Man says that it is okay with him. Goblin says that he is the leader of the Enforcers so he’ll fly in and tell them to destroy him. Spider-Man says that isn’t how it is written in his script. Ox asks who cares about how it is written. He hits Spider-Man. Spider-Man feels his spider sense tingling and realizes that this was all a trap. Spider-Man says that he is wise to them now. Goblin says that Spider-Man is surrounded. Spidey says that surrounding him and beating him are two separate things. Spidey leaps over Montana’s lasso, but jumps into Fancy Dan’s punch. Ox follows up with another punch. Spidey starts to back flip to shoot a web at Ox, but his foot is lassoed by Montana. Spider-Man frees himself from the lasso and then tosses Fancy Dan into Montana. Ox swings at Spider-Man, but Spider-Man dodges him. Spider-Man thinks to himself that he should go warn the crew, but he suddenly finds himself faced with the Goblin. Spidey says that he bets Goblin is the brains behind this. Goblin says that he doesn’t know the half of it. Spider-Man keeps dodging Goblin’s stun bombs. He tries to web Goblin, but Goblin keeps maneuvering on his broomstick. Montana lassoes Spider-Man from behind. Spidey breaks the lasso by expanding his chest, but he is then hit at the same time by Ox and Dan. Ox hits Spider-Man while Dan trips him from behind. The Enforcers all pile on. They have a hard time beating on him though and Ox wonders how such a little guy can be so strong. Spider-Man summons all his strength and tosses the Enforcers off. Spider-Man takes two webs and starts to spin them around and around. The webs kick up sand and creates a smokescreen. Spidey starts to use his spider sense to guide his own way through the sand. Goblin flies over the sand and waits for Spider-Man to come out.
Back at home, Aunt May is writing a note to Peter to take it easy.
At the soda shop, Liz asks if anyone has gotten any mail from Peter yet. One of the boys asks Flash if Liz isn’t supposed to be his girl. Flash tells Liz to admit that she is only interested in Peter to make him jealous. Liz asks Flash how much rent he pays in his dream world. She says that Peter is sensitive, articulate, and intelligent. She says that he doesn’t even know what the words mean. Flash says that Peter is afraid of his own shadow.
Jameson lights a cigar and says that Peter better bring back some good pictures of Spider-Man. He says that he better not be wasting his time dating glamour girls. Betty thinks to herself that she can’t even let herself think that.
Goblin spots Spider-Man entering a cave. He signals the Enforcers. Spidey hears them coming for him, but says that at least he can catch his breath. The Enforcers and Green Goblin push a giant boulder into the opening of the cave. Goblin says that now Spider-Man is trapped in there with them. Montana says that it’s dark in there though. Montana wonders who has who. Goblin says that they could take a dozen Spider-Men. Spider-Man picks off Montana from the back. Dan notices that Montana is missing. Ox dismisses it. Goblin sees Spider-Man. Spider-Man webs Fancy Dan up next. Goblin throws another stun bomb, but Spider-Man dodges. He says that Goblin can’t catch him with the same trick. Goblin says that Spider-Man isn’t getting away after all his careful planning. Spider-Man webs Goblin into a little pocket of the cave. Goblin takes his broomstick and tries to burn through the webbing. Ox picks up a boulder to hit Spider-Man, but Spider-Man leaps onto it and hits Ox. Green Goblin has freed himself and tosses another stun bomb at Spider-Man.
The smoke clears and Spider-Man finds
himself facing the Hulk. 
Hulk charges at
Spider-Man, but Spider-Man leaps over him. Hulk shouts that he
can’t even be in his hidden caves without getting attacked.
He says that no one can capture him. Spider-Man says that he
doesn’t even want to share the planet with Hulk. Goblin sees
Hulk and says that all he has to do now is wait for the Hulk to
finish Spider-Man. Spider-Man tries to tell Hulk that they
don’t have to fight, but Hulk takes another swing at Spidey
and says that he won’t be tricked by words. Spider-Man
dodges Hulk’s blow and leaps onto a big pillar that goes
from cave floor to cave ceiling. Hulk says that he will get him
down. Hulk smashes through the pillar, and Spider-Man thinks to
himself that the Enforcers look like campfire girls next to the
Hulk. He decides that he can’t dodge the Hulk forever and
tries to attack. Spidey lands on Hulk’s back and webs his
hands together behind his back. Hulk tears through the webbing as
if it were made of paper. Hulk charges into a cave wall, but
Spider-Man leaps off his back. Spider-Man gets angry and says
that he has had enough. 
Spider-Man hits
Hulk right in the face, but the only thing he hurts is his own
hand. Hulk says that Spider-Man calls him names and thinks he is
brainless. Hulk says that if only Spider-Man knew the truth. Hulk
tosses a boulder, but Spider-Man dodges. Hulk says that his speed
won’t save him for long. Hulk says that sooner or later
Spider-Man will get tired, but that he never does. Spider-Man
decides that he is right and comes up with a plan. Spider-Man
jumps to the ground. Hulk charges him and swings. Spider-Man
times it perfectly. He pulls back so that Hulk barely hits him.
Spidey thinks to himself that it is still the hardest punch he
has ever felt. Spider-Man falls back onto the boulder that blocks
the opening. Hulk charges and smashes the boulder into pieces.
Spider-Man swings out of the cave. Goblin flies out as well, but Spider-Man leaps onto the broomstick. Goblin says that Spider-Man should have run when he did. He starts angling the broomstick so that Spider-Man would get burned by the after burn. Spider-Man says that normally he could handle this easily, but that he is so tired after his battle with the Hulk. Spider-Man lets go off the broomstick and falls below into a small spring of water. Green Goblin says that was easier than he expected after Spider-Man doesn’t come up.
In the spring, Spider-Man is holding his breath and hiding from the Hulk who is still searching for him. Spider-Man gets up out of the water. He remembers that the Enforcers are still in the cave and worries about what the Hulk might do to them if he finds them. Spider-Man follows Hulk back into the cave, but breaks off when Hulk goes around the long way. Spider-Man grabs the Enforcers and carries them out of the cave. Spider-Man sees an army helicopter landing. He leaves the Enforcers on the ground and takes off.
Back at BJ’s offices, one of his men tells BJ that the movie is a bust. He says that Spider-Man and Green Goblin are missing and that the army turned the Enforcers over to the police. BJ says that they can’t do this and that they will sue. The other man asks BJ who they will sue. BJ says that they will find someone. The man tells BJ that they couldn’t even search around because the Hulk was there. BJ says that the Hulk is even better than Spider-Man. He says that he is a genuine monster and that the public will love him. The man asks BJ how they are going to get the Hulk to sign a contract. BJ says not to bother him with details. He starts going off when Spider-Man swings through the window. He says that they have to talk, and that BJ needs to be more careful casting his villains. BJ tells Spider-Man that he is sorry, but that he can’t use him anymore. He says to leave his number and that maybe they can use him as an extra. Spider-Man asks about his contract. BJ says that the fine print will tell him that he doesn’t get paid until the movie is completed. He says that he will pay his expenses only. Spider-Man asks if BJ is related to J. Jonah Jameson. Spidey looks at the money and says that at least this will get him back to New York.
Peter takes the bus back to New York so he can give his Aunt May the extra money. He wonders if other super-heroes have to pinch pennies the way he does.
Green Goblin flies back into his hideout. He thinks to himself that it is too bad his plan backfired. He says that once the Enforcers defeated Spider-Man that he was going to organize a worldwide crime syndicate. He pulls his mask off and says that his biggest mistake was not realizing that the area of the battle was on the Hulk’s stomping grounds. He says that this just proves how hard it is to make crime a career. He says that at least his true identity is still a secret. He says that he will wait and strike again. He says that the world hasn’t heard the end of the Green Goblin.
Peter walks the streets of New York. He says that his spider sense is telling him that the Green Goblin is somewhere in the city. He says that he had better watch his back.
Tangled Web rating: 9.5 out of 10
First off… I love the Green Goblin. The Enforcers are incredibly lame, but the Goblin more than makes up for them. Stan’s elaborate set up to get the drop on Spider-Man seems needlessly drawn out. Ox only gets to throw one punch! Goblin would have been better off trying to dive bomb Spidey from behind. Love the fight in the cave, and of course I love the Hulk showing up. Ditko does a remarkable job with the fight scenes in this issue and I give him a perfect 5 out of 5 for his design of the greatest Spider-Man villain ever, the Green Goblin!
Review and pictures by The Leader
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