Spider-Man: Revenge of the Green Goblin #1

History

Writer Roger Stern — who co-created the Hobgoblin years earlier and had a long prior history with Spider-Man — was paired with penciler Ron Frenz for this project, reuniting a team that had previously collaborated on the Hobgoblin Lives miniseries in 1998. At least one longtime reader and forum contributor has noted that the series was commissioned in part because the Green Goblin was set to appear in the then-upcoming Sam Raimi Spider-Man film, with Marvel seeking a relatively accessible, standalone Norman Osborn story to have on shelves for potential moviegoers. The issue was edited by Ralph Macchio under editor-in-chief Bob Harras, with a cover by Lee Weeks; it shipped in late August 2000 with an October 2000 cover date. The full story arc — including the concluding chapters in both ongoing monthly titles — was later collected in a trade paperback under the miniseries title, which was subsequently re-collected in a broader volume alongside Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 2) #20–29 and related issues.

Trivia · 7 facts

• Published by Marvel Comics; written by Roger Stern, penciled by Ron Frenz, inked by Pat Olliffe and George Broderick Jr., colored by Matt Hicks, lettered by Dave Sharpe, with a cover by Lee Weeks.
• First appearance of Nurse Kolina Frederickson, Norman's live-in caretaker who reminds him of his late wife and with whom he develops a romantic attachment across the miniseries.
• First appearance of Emily Osborn (Norman's deceased wife), depicted only in flashback, adding new backstory to Norman's emotional history.
• The issue establishes Norman's central scheme: using Goblin-serum-laced toothpaste and gas compounds to dull Peter Parker's spider-sense and plant hallucinogenic suggestions, a plot continued into Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 2) #25 and Peter Parker: Spider-Man #25.
• Norman is shown dismantling his ties to the Cabal of Scriers (referenced in flashback) and in subsequent issues forms a replacement cult called the Order of the Goblin.
• The miniseries picks up directly from the 'Gathering of Five' and 'Final Chapter' storylines, which left Norman institutionalized after receiving the 'gift of madness'; issue #1 shows him recovering under Dr. Albert Bendix's care at a safehouse with aide Donald Menken.
• The full five-part arc (three miniseries issues plus Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 2 #25 and Peter Parker: Spider-Man Vol. 2 #25) was collected in a trade paperback, later re-collected in a larger omnibus-style volume alongside surrounding Amazing Spider-Man and Peter Parker: Spider-Man issues.

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