Written by Stan Lee
Art by Steve Ditko; Artie Simek; & Andy Yanchus
Cover Art by Steve Ditko
SUMMARY:
Reprinting April 1965’s The Amazing Spider-Man # 23, Marvel Comics released this issue for March 1984. Entitled “The Goblin and the Gangsters,” it’s a sequel to the Green Goblin’s debut in Issue # 14 (and reprinted in Marvel Tales # 152). Scheming to seize command of New York’s mob scene, the Green Goblin manipulates the police and The Daily Bugle (including ex-“Big Man” Frederick Foswell) to help put sleazy gangster Lucky Lobo behind bars — making the Goblin the underworld’s new boss by default.
Initially gullible to the Goblin’s bait-and-switch tactics, Spider-Man enjoys some fun-and-games tangling with Lobo’s forces. Yet, the main event is Spidey’s first solo showdown vs. the elusive Goblin himself.
REVIEW:
As a source of vintage Silver Age Spidey action, Marvel Tales # 161 delivers the goods. In addition to wild action sequences showcasing Steve Ditko’s trademark style, Stan Lee enjoys a field day with the snappy dialogue.
Case in point: an amusing gag has Spider-Man and the Goblin complaining to each other that neither one will stop yapping in battle. Another hoot is Spidey casually taking a timeout to call his Aunt May before serving up more web-flavored booby-traps to Lobo’s hapless horde. Lee’s knack for tongue-in-cheek storytelling, without devolving the scenario into a Bugs Bunny cartoon, is dynamite this time. Best of all, Marvel’s production values reprinting the original issue are terrific.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
The “Bullpen Bulletins Special” shares a full page with Marvel’s ‘mighty’ monthly checklist. There’s a two-page “Marvel Mails” letters-and-answers column. There’s a full-page Ditko pin-up of Spidey, his supporting cast, and a villain’s gallery of headshots.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7½ Stars
Note: A recommendation is picking up this issue in tandem with Marvel Tales # 152. For a fun Lee-Ditko hat trick, there’s also Marvel Tales # 154 (which pits Spider-Man & Daredevil vs. the Ringmaster’s Circus of Crime).
