Amazing Spider-Man #177
Goblin in the Middle
While fighting the Green Goblin, Spider-Man is forced to break off his attack when the Goblin tosses Flash Thompson out of his apartment window. Spider-Man rescues Flash, but the Goblin manages to escape. Spider-Man tries to figure out what happened, however, Flash is as clueless about what caused the attack as Spider-Man is, and so Spidey departs to try and find the Goblin, whom he believes is Harry Osborn.
As the Green Goblin returns to his hide-out and taunts his hooded hostage with the fact that he intends to become the new crime boss in New York, Peter Parker goes to visit his Aunt May in the hospital. Peter leaves telling MJ that he's returning home to study, but in reality, he's resuming his search for the Green Goblin.
Peter happens upon a gangland execution while changing into Spider-Man and breaks it up. After knocking out all the crooks, he finds a cryptic gangland invitation that he intends to follow up on. Meanwhile, Aunt May suffers another heart attack and when MJ tries to call Peter to tell him she finds that there is no answer at his apartment.
Spider-Man learns the location of this underworld meeting: In the World Trade Center. Peter hides out in the vents to overhear the happenings. Silvermane arrives with a number of crime bosses with the proposition that they all amalgamate into one organization. The Green Goblin crashes the party, easily defeating all the men and makes them an offer: Allow him to become the leader of this new crime cartel, and he will reveal Spider-Man's true identity.
Recurring Characters
Spider-Man, Flash Thompson, Harry Osborn, Aunt May, Mary Jane Watson, Green Goblin, Silvermane, Anna Watson
Continuity Notes
Spider-Man believes that the Green Goblin is Harry Osborn, who took up the mantle of the Green Goblin in Amazing Spider-Man #135-136. The real identity of the Green Goblin and his hostage are revealed in Amazing Spider-Man #180.
The battle with the Green Goblin reminds him of how his final battle with the original Goblin. That resulted in the death of Peter Parker's girlfriend Gwen Stacy and the apparent death of Norman Osborn as seen in Amazing Spider-Man #121-122.
Peter also recounts how Norman Osborn discovered his identity back in Amazing Spider-Man #39-40. Harry also uncovered this truth between Amazing Spider-Man #122-134.
May Parker has had heart problems since Amazing Spider-Man #34.
This story depicts the original twin towers at the site of the World Trade Center. These towers were destroyed on September 11, 2001. As such this should be considered a topical reference per the Sliding Timescale of Earth-616.
