Nick Peron

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Amazing Spider-Man #122

Nick Peron

The Goblin's Last Stand!

Credits

Gwen Stacy is dead, thanks -- in part -- to the Green Goblin, who is racing away vowing to Spider-Man that he will soon be joining his true love. Spider-Man, furious over the tragic loss of Gwen, swears that if anyone is going to die this day, it's going to be the Goblin. Chasing after his mortal foe, he manages to hop on the Goblin's back and pummel him. However, the Goblin manages to get away when he slams Spider-Man into the side of the George Washington Bridge.

Returning to Gwen's body, Spider-Man fights off those who have gathered around her corpse and cradles her in his arms, reflecting on their relationship together. When the police try to get an ambulance to give her medical aid, Spider-Man tells them that she's dead and that he killed her. When they try to take him for questioning, he fights them off and flees. Changing back to his civilian identity of Peter Parker, he ponders just what to tell his best friend Harry Osborn about his father's involvement in Gwen's death. When he arrives back at their apartment, Peter finds that Harry is still fighting off his recent overdose of LSD, and angrily leaves Harry who begs for help.

Deciding to bring Osborn to justice, Spider-Man drops in on Joe Robertson who has just heard the news. He pleads Joe to find out if Norman Osborn has been seen in the last few hours. When Joe gets word that Osborn has been seen near one of the warehouses that he owns, Spider-Man is about to leave when J. Jonah Jameson bursts in calling Spider-Man a murderer. Spider-Man stifles Jameson with webbing before going after Osborn.

Spider-Man battles the Green Goblin in the warehouse, determined to bring him to justice. However, during the fight, the Goblin's glider is reactivated and when the Goblin tries to impale Peter with it, he only succeeds in impaling himself when Spider-Man dodges out of the way. With the Goblin apparently dead, Spider-Man finally getting what he vowed earlier that day, finds Osborn's death a hollow victory. When the authorities can be heard coming, Spider-Man decides to leave, unaware that someone is watching in the shadows.

When Peter finally returns home to his apartment, he finds only Mary Jane there waiting for him. She tries to console Peter, who lashes out at her condolences, mocking her usual carefree nature and tells her to leave. However, Mary Jane decides to stay and comfort Peter regardless.

Recurring Characters

Spider-Man, Green Goblin, Harry Osborn, J. Jonah Jameson, Joe Robertson, Mary Jane Watson, Gwen Stacy (corpse)

Continuity Notes

  • Although Gwen Stacy is killed here, she is brought back to life briefly years later as seen in Clone Conspiracy #1-5.

  • Amazing Spider-Man #509-514 leads us to believe another reason why Norman killed Gwen was because the two had a secret affair that led to the birth of twin children. However, years after that revelation, it was exposed as a lie and part of a complex revenge scheme against Peter Parker created by Noman’s son Harry. Harry had his father brainwashed into thinking the Gwen Stacy affair actually happened. See Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 5) #73-74.

  • The Green Goblin learned Spider-Man's secret identity in Amazing Spider-Man #39.

  • Spider-Man refers to J. Jonah Jameson as "Mr. Charisma 1973", this should be considered a topical reference per the Sliding Timescale of Earth-616.

  • The individual who witnesses the apparent demise of the Green Goblin is revealed as Harry Osborn in Amazing Spider-Man #126.