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    The Amazing Spider-Man #40

    The Amazing Spider-Man » The Amazing Spider-Man #40 - Spidey Saves the Day! released by Marvel on September 1, 1966.

    Short summary describing this issue.

    Spidey Saves the Day! last edited by Vlad3008 on 12/20/22 07:24AM View full history

    The Green Goblin has revealed himself to Spider-Man. Disoriented and trapped by his arch-nemesis, Peter tries to appeal to the humanity of his captor. Plus, Osborn's connection to Professor Stromm is fully explained.

    Spidey is tied up and has been unmasked by the Green Goblin, as seen in the last issue. The Green Goblin has also revealed his own identity, taking off his mask to show that he is Norman Osborn, father of Harry Osborn, one of Peter's classmates. Peter declares that he should have guessed Norman was the Green Goblin, since he has a son like Harry. The Green Goblin tells Peter not to speak of Harry, because Harry believes Norman is a simple businessman, and must never learn the truth. Goblin realizes that this is another reason why Peter must die: so no one can ever learn the Green Goblin's identity. Peter thinks about how he is just as worried about Aunt May learning his own secret. The Green Goblin taunts Peter, declaring that his efforts to break the steel coils he's tied in are futile, while Peter relishes in the Green Goblin's teases, since it gives him more time to break the bonds. Peter sarcastically mentions that Harry will be pleased to have a murderer for a father, prompting the Green Goblin to tell his origin story.

    In a flashback, the Green Goblin explains that Harry's mother passed away when he was a baby, and he tried to bring him up as best he could. He attempted to be a good father but often worked late, so Harry was alone a lot. As Norman rambles on and on, Peter realizes that he has forgotten that he is even there. Norman tells about how he sent his old partner, Mendel Stromm, to jail so that he wouldn't hinder his work.

    Continuing his story, the Green Goblin tells Spidey that he had found some notes of Stromm's in his desk one night, which contained new formulas. He decided to test them out and see if they were worth anything. However, Harry burst into the room to remind Norman about Parent's Night at his school. Norman told Harry to forget it. Instead, all night, Norman worked on one of the formulas. Near dawn, the solution started to turn green and to froth. A second later, the recipe exploded in Norman's face.

    For weeks, Norman was in the hospital while the best doctors in the state worked on him, trying to save his life. However, he had brain damage, which couldn't be fixed. But not even Harry suspected that the accident had made Norman smarter than before, and Norman started treating him more harshly. Norman's damaged mind decided that he could become the greatest costumed-criminal of all time, since he is ingenious and has several scientific devices in his company. After months, he finished making the mask and decided to make the rest of the costume his favorite color: green. And so, the Green Goblin was born!

    The Green Goblin had chosen to fight Spider-Man since he knew that the underworld would respect anyone who could defeat the hero. Spidey wonders how much longer he can keep the Green Goblin talking as he continues to struggle against the coils. The Green Goblin dons his mask and prepares to kill Spidey. Peter thinks about how he's not afraid to die, but is worried about never being able to see Betty Brant or explain to Aunt May about his secret.

    Meanwhile, in Forest Hills, Anna Watson has come over to console Aunt May, who is worried about Peter not coming home yet. Anna tries to calm Aunt May by saying that even Mary Jane comes back late, but Aunt May can't help but worry. Anna Watson reminds Aunt May that Peter could be at the Daily Bugle, so she calls up to see if he is. At the Daily Bugle, Jonah yells that he doesn't know where Peter is and hangs up. Aunt May starts worrying more, so Anna Watson decides that she needs a sedative, leaving to call Dr. Bromwell.

    Over at a railway station in the Midwest, Betty Brant is preparing to head back to New York. Betty Brant overhears a radio presenter mention Spider-Man, and she wonders if J. Jonah Jameson will give her her job back. As the train conductor calls out for everyone to board the train, Betty wonders what the future will hold for her.

    Back at the Goblin's hideout, Peter looks away from the Green Goblin, who is annoyed that Peter will rob him of the satisfaction of killing him. Peter mocks him, declaring that he beat him every time they fought. The Green Goblin shows mental pictures of their previous fights using a "Retro-Scope Helmet."

    He shows their very first fight, where he hired the Enforcers. Peter points out how easily he beat the Enforcers, but the Green Goblin says that he, himself, wasn't defeated. That lesson taught Goblin that no one can fight for him and that he shouldn't rely on others.

    Next, he shows Peter their second fight, claiming the appearance of Human Torch saved Peter. However, as Goblin only wanted to fight Spidey, he left the battle.

    In their next fight, the Green Goblin explains that he made another mistake by teaming up with Lucky Lobo and his gang, and that they were more of a hindrance than a help.

    In the penultimate fight, the Green Goblin had utterly defeated Spidey. However, since he wanted to fight Spidey by himself, and not with the help of the Crime-Master, he left Spidey and started preparing to fight him for a final battle.

    Spidey has one hand free, and the Green Goblin realizes that he will escape in a moment. Goblin frees Spidey and claims that there's no reason in beating a helpless prisoner. He tells him that he wants to fight him as he always has in the past, and forces him to put on his costume. However, the Goblin throws pumpkin bombs at Spidey and won't make their fight hand-to-hand. Spidey flings a bomb back at the Goblin, but the Goblin jumps onto his Glider, becoming more maneuverable.

    Pretending to be inept, Spidey clumsily swings at the Goblin, who then flies close enough to Spidey to be knocked off the Goblin Glider. Spidey approaches the seemingly knocked-out Goblin, unsure of what to do; Goblin knows that he's Spider-Man, but Spidey isn't a murderer. However, the Goblin leaps up and throws an electric cable at Spidey, who only narrowly avoids it. Spidey keeps fighting the Goblin until he manages to knock him into some chemicals with electrical wires. Spidey discovers that the Green Goblin has lost his memory, and gets him out of the building, telling the fire department that Norman Osborn helped him defeat the Green Goblin.

    Peter then heads home to see Aunt May, who stops worrying and starts looking after him, thinking that he's sick.

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