It's been just a couple of issues and the Green Goblin makes his next appearance already! This time the Goblin begins to change into something more sinister and he has to combat both Spider-Man and the Human Torch in this appearance. The Green Goblin was last seen, chronologically, in Untold Tales Of Spider-Man #18 where he battles the Headsman.  I wasn't around when Amazing Spider-Man #14 came out but I'm almost sure that the Green Goblin was a smash hit in it. It didn't give the readers much time to wonder what became of him similar to that of a young Peter Parker, who begins this issue daydreaming in class while his fellow students make fun of him.

While Peter is in school, the Green Goblin is practicing on a dummy Spider-Man with his new array of weapons and a brand spanking new goblin glider. That's right! The broomstick is forever history! The glider is much faster and more maneuverable and the Goblin looks forward to his next meeting with Spider-Man. Back at the school, Flash Thompson announces his new Spider-Man fan club that he just happens to be the president of. Minutes later as Peter walks outside, he sees men in costumes escape into a helicopter very strangely, so he changes into Spider-Man. He gets inside the copter ready for battle until at the very last second he learns that a movie is being made. He just made a pathetic fool of himself that Daily Bugle publisher J. Jonah Jameson takes great joy in discovering. Peter and Betty Brant "bump" into Liz Allan and Flash Thompson where they learn that Flash published an ad in the paper concerning the first meeting of the Spider-Man Fan Club and that Spider-Man himself will appear. Peter is just amazed at this until his spider sense begins to tingle. He cuts out of the gang after a bit and goes after an older man who appears very innocent. The man turns out to be carrying a gun as someone cries for help, but it's not Spider-Man who comes to the rescue, it's the Human Torch! And he gets all the attention to boot!

At the Bugle, Jameson wants Peter to go to the fan club to get pics. Peter at home, still has his Aunt May trying to fix him up with her friend's niece Mary Jane. After May calls Anna Watson, it turns out that Mary Jane has a cold and wouldn't be able to make it that night. Peter is relieved and quickly leaves the house to attend the fan club get together. There are many in attendance at the fan club including Johnny Storm (the Human Torch), Jameson, Betty Brant, Flash Thompson, Liz Allan and her father. There are also two costumed figures outside as well: Spider-Man and the Green Goblin. The Goblin plans on surprising Spider-Man and just as the crowd is getting impatient waiting for Spider-Man to appear, the spider-signal shines brightly against a wall and Spider-Man swings his way into the Ballroom where the fan club is. The Green Goblin arrives just a short time later and attacks Spider-Man. At this point, the crowd thinks that this is all a show and are loving it, as the Goblin throws an explosive frog at him, uses goblin sparks from his fingertips, throws a smoke bat at him, and then he throws the very first pumpkin bomb at spidey. What a bag of tricks, huh? Anyway, the crowd is eating it all up except for Storm, who begins to think that something is wrong. He sees three men on the balcony with guns and then flames on into the Human Torch and chases the men away. Spider-Man quickly turns into Peter Parker to make an appearance and it's just the Goblin and the Torch for awhile. The Goblin throws a ghostly-looking "goblin-surprise" at him and it forms an air-tight cloud seal around him cutting off his air supply. He draws off the thick mist and continues his battle with the Goblin with Spider-Man joining him not soon enough!

The turning point of the story comes when Spider-Man overhears a phone conversation meant for Peter: His Aunt May suffered another heart attack and she is asking for him in the hospital. Spider-Man quickly runs away giving the impression that he is a coward who just turned yellow. The Green Goblin also cuts out of the action soon after stating that the next time he fights Spider-Man, he will be finished! Everyone back at the fan club is left in a state of shock after seeing Spider-Man act in such a seemingly cowardly manner. Jameson loves what he has just seen and plans on telling the entire world about in his papers. Peter sees his Aunt in the hospital where it looks pretty bad for her. He leaves and goes home just as people are just beginning to talk about the front page of the Daily Bugle (quick print huh?) that calls Spider-Man a coward. He arrives home very depressed questioning why he seems to unintentionally hurt people. "Is this the price to pay for being Spider-Man?"

The answer to that question just gets a little more confusing with next issue. Another excellent issue here with the Green Goblin's second appearance making it a genuine collector's item. The Green Goblin next makes quick cameo in Amazing Spider-Man #18, then has a talk with the Scarecrow for one page in Untold Tales Of Spider-Man #22 before meeting Spider-Man again in Amazing Spider-Man #23. The Green Goblin is quickly becoming one of Spider-Man's greatest, if not THE greatest, foe!

Reprinted In:
Marvel Tales #12
Marvel Tales #155
Spider-Man Megazine #2
 Marvel Masterworks Vol. 5
Spider-Man Essentials I