One of the biggest shocks in the comic book industry, the death of Gwen Stacy. The Green Goblin kidnaps Gwen and throws her off the Brooklyn Bridge. Spider-Man tries to save her but is unsuccessful. Edit
The story arc is entitled “The Night Gwen Stacy Died” and it was written by Gerry Conway, penciled by Gil Kane, and inked by John Romita Sr. It also featured Tony Mortellaro penciling the fight scene between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin. It was a two-issue story in The Amazing Spider-Man issues #121 and #122.
Plot (Contains Spoilers)
Harry Osborn had become a drug addict and his father secluded him to the Osborn mansion so this does not go public and possibly ruin Norman. When Peter, Gwen, and Mary Jane go to visit Harry who is still ill due to his drug addiction, Norman blamed the three of them for Harry’s condition. Norman had lost his memories of the Green Goblin and the identity of Spider-Man due to amnesia. Later Norman would soon discover that he was going to face financial ruins anyways. This caused him to suffer a breakdown, which results in him unlocking the lost memories. Norman remembers the Green Goblin and the identity of Spider-Man again. He becomes obsessed over making Spider-Man pay for ruining his life and Harry’s life. Norman would use Spider-Man’s identity to his advantage by abducting the girlfriend of Peter Parker, Gwen Stacy. He was able to kidnap Gwen and took her hostage to lure Spider-Man to him. Goblin lures Spider-Man to the Brooklyn Bridge, where the two began to fight. While they fought each other, Gwen is unconscious the whole time. Spider-Man seemed to have the upper hand in the fight, until Goblin grabs Gwen and throws her off the bridge. Spider-Man frantically shoots his webbing to catch and he does. Upon catching her though was a “snap” sound effect next to her neck. After Spider-Man reels her back up to the bridge, he realizes that she is dead. Whether Gwen died because of whiplash or if the Goblin had already killed her to begin with was never explained. Spider-Man still blames himself for Gwen’s death and swears revenge against the Green Goblin. Spider-Man starts looking for the Green Goblin soon and was able to track him down to a warehouse. Spider-Man proceeds to beating Norman to near death, but he tells himself he can’t kill him. While Spider-Man hesitated, Goblin remote controlled his glider to try and impale Spider-Man from behind. Spider-Man is alerted by his Spider-Sense that enabled him to jump out of the glider’s path right before it hit him. The glider continues to go towards Goblin which stabs him and kills him instead. Peter is finally at home when he is confronted by Mary Jane, at first Peter thought Mary Jane would not know how he feels because she is a “party girl,” but when MJ cried, that was the first time the two connected so deeply.
Movie Adaption
In the movie Spider-Man (2002), it adapted itself to this story arc. The Green Goblin had found out Spider-Man’s secret identity and planned to make him suffer. The Green Goblin kidnaps not Gwen, but Mary Jane Watson since Gwen was not introduced in this movie. Mary Jane was kidnapped by the Green Goblin. The differences are that he took her hostage at Queensboro Bridge. Mary Jane is conscious unlike Gwen in the comics, but she was tossed off the bridge like Gwen. Spider-Man catches Mary Jane and she was able to survive. One of the big similarities in the movie adaptation was when the Green Goblin and Spider-Man fought in the abandoned warehouse. Peter could not come to kill the Green Goblin and was nearly stabbed in the back by the glider, but his Spider-Sense alerted him in time to jump out of the glider’s way and ended up stabbing Norman himself, killing him.
Animated Adaption
In the Spider-Man animated series (1994-1998) in the episode Turning Point the Green Goblin finds out Spider-Man's secret identity using a portal device called the time dilation accelerator which he had previously stolen from the Kingpin. Using this knowledge to his advantage the Goblin encourages his son Harry to invite Peter to his birthday party (the Peter-Harry relationship being strained during that time). At the party the Goblin psychologically tortures Peter, constantly implying that he will reveal his identity to the party goers. After Peter creates a distraction by throwing his web cartridges into the fire place causing the mansion to catch fire Norman uses the opportunity to change into his Green Goblin garb and engages Peter in the backyard. The Goblin manages to stun Spider-Man and drag him off at the back of his goblin glider to the Brooklyn Bridge. At the bridge Peter is able to free himself and change into his Spider-Man costume which was hidden under his clothes. After a brief battle, the Goblin decides that he hasn't made Spider-Man suffer enough and uses the accelerator to teleport to Spider-Man's house with the intent of kidnapping his Aunt May. Spider-Man races back to his house only to find his aunt sleeping peacefully. The Goblin then appears and tells Spider-Man that he would rather pay a visit to his other "co-conspirator." The Goblin then vanishes through a portal. Due to a comment Osborn previously made at the party Spider-Man recognizes that the Goblin was talking about Mary Jane. Spider-Man races to her home but he is too late, the Goblin got there first and was now bringing her to the bridge. Spider-Man follows the Goblin to the bridge where a climactic battle begins between the two foes. During a pause in the fight the Goblin remote controls his glider to fire a missile at Spider-Man and Mary Jane. The blast accidently sets off the accelerator creating a portal on the side of the bridge. The blast also separates Spider-Man and Mary Jane who falls off the bridge and into the aforementioned portal which then closes shut. Spider-Man looks over the bridge but can't see Mary Jane's body. He dives into the river to look for her. Meanwhile the Goblin finds the accelerator and mounts back on his glider. The search for Mary Jane's body ends in vain and Spider-Man rises from the water with nothing but vengeance on his mind. Believing Mary Jane dead and vowing to make the Goblin pay Spider-Man engages him once more. Stunned by the webslinger's anger the Goblin attempts to retreat by creating a portal but the accelerator was presumably damaged when the Goblin attempted to blast Spider-Man. The portal begins to suck everything into it, including the Goblin himself. Barely able to hang on the Goblin reverts back to his Norman Osborn personality and begs Spider-Man to help him. At first Spider-Man refuses, but then realizes that revenge is never justified and that nothing will bring Mary Jane back. Spider-Man attempts to help Norman (Spidey is able to resist the pull of the vortex because he can stick to the ground), however he once again reverts back to his Goblin persona and remote controls his glider to hit Spider-Man from behind which would send them both into the vortex. Thanks to his spider-sense Spider-Man dodges the glider and it hits the Goblin in the chest sending him into the portal and destroying the accelerator. The portal then closes shut. A broken Spider-Man is left alone to contemplate what had just happened.
The presence of a portal device in the story was used by the writers as a substitute for death, as they were not allowed to kill people on Saturday mornings. As Gwen Stacy had not yet been introduced into the show, Mary Jane served as her replacement. It is notable that the real Mary Jane never again appears in the series after this episode.
Associated Issues
Edit
The story opens with the Green Goblin gleefully admiring his handiwork, as Spider- Man carries the lifeless body of Gwen Stacy. Killed in the last issue by being tossed off the George Washington Bridge, the Goblin reassures the anguished Spider-Man by promising him that he’ll soon be joining her in death! Peter listens to the boasting of his antagonist as he brings Gwen down from the bridge and lovingly lays her down on the riverfront dock, before quickly jumping back up into the fight.
Missing a punch, he swings around and catches the Goblin off-guard, managing to leap onto the enemy and lock himself onto the Goblin’s neck! Once the tables are turned, the Goblin’s bravado seems to dry up, and as Spidey sets about punishing the trapped Goblin, hears him whisper, “No!”
“No? Do I hear You begging, Goblin?” asks Spider-Man angrily. “ Don’t make me sick, friend- Why should I show YOU any mercy?” “What mercy did you show Gwen? Answer me THAT, Goblin! ANSWER ME THAT!” The Goblin for once is speechless, and only barely manages to escape Spidey’s wrath by knocking him off by flying under a Pipe.
The Green Goblin flies off, and Spider-Man is about to pursue him, when he notices a crowd starting to gather around his beloved Gwen. He leaps down to dock and orders the police and onlookers to back off. Cradling her, he realizes that Gwen was chosen as the Goblin’s victim because she was going out with Peter. The specter of Spider-Man has once again crept into his life, this time with mortal consequences. “She’s dead… and Spider-man killed her,” he sadly states. After the disturbing confession, a cop wants to take Spidey in, but Spidey isn’t having any of that with the Goblin still about. “There’s a man out there who owes me- owes me PLENTY. I’m going to find him, and when I DO—This town’s going to be minus one Green-Garbed MONSTER!” He flings the approaching policeman back, and swings off as the police “Shoot To Wound!”
His first stop is at his house, where he finds an addled Harry Osborn still fighting off the ill-effects of his last drug-binge. He had hoped Harry might have some clues as to where to find his father, but realizes Harry is in no condition to help even himself. The disoriented Harry begs Peter to stay with him, but the driven youth has more urgent matters to attend to.
Next stop is the Daily Bugle, where, as Spidey, asks Robbie Robertson if he can help locate any warehouses or empty buildings that businessman Norman Osborn might own. After a few calls, Robbie has just located such a place along the Hudson River, when J. Jonah Jameson bursts in. With all that has been going on, Spidey has no time for his bluster, and as the publisher begins his usual ranting, webs Jonah’s mouth shut before he can say another word! Then He is out the window, off on his way to pay a visit to the headquarters of the Green Goblin!
At the deserted warehouse of Norman Osborn, the psychotic Green Goblin has been holed up, spending his time working on his weaponry and preparing for the final showdown with Spider-Man. As night approaches, he can sense that his enemy will be arriving soon. When he hears the sounds of activity outside, he plans a surprise attack by flying out the rear exit and attacking from the side. As he zooms around the warehouse, he finds that this is exactly what Spider-Man has expected, and kicks the Goblin off his glider! As Spider-Man leaps onto the Glider and stomps it to the ground, he is incredulous when he hears the Goblin bitterly complain that he’s ruined his jet-flyer. “Mister, are we living in the same UNIVERSE? You killed My WOMAN, Goblin…and you’re raging about a blasted bargain-basement TOY?!”
He attacks the Goblin with blind fury, laying solid, destroying blows to the Goblin’s head, not holding back and beating him down until, slowly, sickly, he comes to his senses. He realizes he’s come close to actually killing someone! And whatever Spider-Man may be, he isn’t a murderer. He realizes that though it may be the end of his career, the Goblin must live and be judged according to the law.
Although barely conscious, the Green Goblin manages to get up enough energy to summon his remote-controlled Bat-flyer, in a last-minute attempt to kill Spider-Man. The twisted Bat-head serves as a deadly razor-sharp spear that he directs right into Spider-Man as he hovers above. But just as the flyer is about to hit him, Pete’s spider-sense kicks in, and he manages to dodge the glider just in time, and, missing its target, the jet flyer goes past Spider-Man, and plunges right into the heart of the Goblin, pinning him screaming against the wall!
As the Bat-Glider slowly peters out, the body of the Goblin crumples down with it. The Green Goblin is dead, killed by his own cowardly choice of attack. Peter realizes that there is no satisfaction in the Goblin’s death. The Goblin’s death will not bring back Gwen. As he comes to terms with the passing of both his girlfriend and his deadliest arch enemy, a stranger skulks in the shadows, a witness to it all!
Epilogue.
======
Peter returns home, where Mary Jane is waiting for him. Overwhelmed with grief, he lashes out at her condolences, saying “Don’t make me Laugh, Mary Jane- You wouldn’t be sorry if your own mother died! What do you care about straights like Me and Gwen? Go on…get out of here! I know how you hate sick beds, and believe me, I wouldn’t want to spoil your fun!”
Her first thought is to leave after Peter’s vicious remarks, but as she opens the door, she realizes that he’s just acting out of pain, and more than ever, needs a friend by his side. As Peter succumbs to his pain, Mary Jane steps back in and quietly closes the door.
With Harry Osborn being tended by a doctor for a bad trip on LSD, Peter Parker and his gang are somewhat worse for wear. Spider-Man has just returned from Montreal, and just after he changes out of his costume, he is accosted by Norman Osborn, whose Green Goblin flashbacks are leaving him in a bad mood. Osborn warns Peter not to come near Harry, then proceeds to kick the rest of his visitors out with the same message.
After they leave, the scene remains at Osborn's apartment, where we learn that his stocks are failing, furthering his stress. A weakened Harry emerges, only to mumble and collapse. The doctor is called in once again, with the grim prognosis of "Only Harry can help himself."
It is at this moment that Norman Osborn cracks, his Goblin memories flooding back. He returns to a secret base, changes into his costume, hops on his glider, and heads towards Peter's apartment. Gwen Stacy is there, waiting for him while he turns in his photographs from Montreal, but before he returns the Green Goblin swoops in through the window and snatches her. When Spidey returns, he finds only a pumpkin grenade sitting atop Gwen's handbag, and coming to the appropriate conclusion, he races to find her.
The search ends at the George Washington Bridge, where the Goblin offers a choice - Spidey's life, or Gwen's. Spider-Man is hearing none of it, and thus begins a battle in which it appears the Goblin is defeated. But as Spidey goes to check on Gwen, the Goblin soars back up and tosses Peter's beloved blonde from the bridge. Spider-Man snags her with a webline, and begins to gloat to himself about his powers. However, a small "SNAP" sound effect by Gwen's neck says it all, and when Spidey finds out she is dead, he flies into a rage, vowing to kill the Green Goblin for what he's done.
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