Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #178

Story 'Green Grows the Goblin!'

Silvermane demands that the Goblin reveal the Web-Slinger's identity. The Goblin refuses, unless he is granted the position he craves, that of crime-boss of New York. Silvermane agrees to discuss it if the Goblin can prove his claim. "If that's all you want, give me 24 hours -- and I'll return bearing Spider-Man ... or his head ... on a silver platter!" Waving jauntily, the Goblin flies off. Relieved, Spider-Man is about to leave when he bumps against the metal grid of the air vent. When Silvermane's men pull their guns and level them at the vent, Spidey kicks it open and dives into the group. During the melee, Silvermane escapes.

A fuming Goblin returns to his hideout. "The fools!" he says to the hooded, bound figure. "I'll show them all!! The Green Goblin never promises anything he cannot deliver!!" The figure makes a strangled protest. "I'm mad, did you say? Perhaps, my friend ... perhaps. I suppose only Dr. Barton Hamilton would know that for certain -- and he's not in a position to talk about that right now ... is he?"

Mary Jane has been desperately looking for Peter, and finally manages to get him on the phone. Aunt May has had a relapse and needs surgery. The operation can't proceed unless Peter signs the release forms. Swinging over to the hospital, Peter thinks that her condition is his fault: "All the worrying she's done over me all these years -- all the pressures--!" His self-recriminations are interrupted when his spider-sense suddenly switches on. He is hit by the concussion blast of a pumpkin bomb. "Hello again, Parker!" says the Green Goblin.

Spider-Man tries to avoid a confrontation. "I'd love to stay and chat -- but right now, I've got a little matter of life and death to attend to!"

"Indeed you do, my friend -- but the life you lose may be your own!!" When Spidey tells the Goblin of Aunt May's plight and tries to appeal to him as Harry Osborn, the Goblin is uninterested. "To the Green Goblin, Harry Osborn is just another insignificant flea!" When he hits Peter with all of his might, however, Spider-Man doesn't budge. "Fall, curse you! Nothing can stand against the Green Goblin!"

"If you want to flatten me, fella -- you've got to put a little power behind your punch...like this!" Spider-Man's punch flings the Goblin across the roof.

The Goblin is not out, however. Grabbing something out of his bag, the Goblin tosses an object that looks like a ghost at Spider-Man. When it hits Spider-Man, it expands and engulfs him. Spider-Man can't break free. "Please, Aunt May," he thinks, "forgive me!"