Issue(s): Green Goblin #1
Cover Date: Oct 95
Title: "Enter the Green Goblin!"
Credits:
Tom DeFalco - Writer
Scott McDaniel - Penciler
Scott McDaniel - Inker
Tom Brevoort - Editor

Review/plot:
A series about a teen Green Goblin seems like it should be the perfect example of mid-1990s Spider-Bloat, but this is actually pretty decent, at least for the first few issues. This is a sign of Tom DeFalco's surprising strength as a writer of teen spider-adjacent characters, something that he'll get more renown for with the alternate-future Spider-Girl series. And the series' readability is a hint of what could have happened with the Spider-Man/Scarlet Spider reboot if it had allowed Spidey to start fresh and simple instead of immediately plunging him into endless crossovers.

The main character is Phil Ulrich, nephew to Daily Bugle reporter Ben (and so Ben is Phil's "Uncle Ben"). Unlike, say, Peter Parker, Phil isn't necessarily a good kid, but he's not irredeemably bad, either. To illustrate that, this issue starts off not long after Phil was "kicked out" of a video store (not sure if that means fired or literally booted from the store). Phil's friend Freddie Glazer told a local tough, Ricko the Sicko, about Phil's situation, and so as "vengeance" Ricko is trashing the store (and pocketing videos to sell). Phil finds out about it as the cops are about to discover the raid. Even though he doesn't like what Ricko is doing, instead of telling the cops what's happening, Phil lies to the cops about a mugging he saw down the street. This gets him in with Ricko, who gives him a couple of porno tapes as a reward (seems to be "Debbie Does Dallas" and "Cats In Boots").

Phil lives in a loft, trying to make it on his own without his parents. We do meet his mom and dad and some siblings, but this is apparently their only appearance. Which, considering this series runs for over a year, is kind of bizarre.

Later we see Phil working at his job at the Daily Bugle, interning for his uncle, who is working on a book about the Green Goblins. Phil is mooning over another intern, Lynn Walsh. But he also seems genuinely interested in his Uncle Ben's work. However, he lets slip to his friend Freddie that Ben thinks that he's found one of Harry Osborn's old Goblin hideouts, and Freddie passes that information to Ricko. Phil rushes to the Osborn facility to see Ricko threatening Ben. He helps Ben escape while staying in the shadows (Ben thinks it might be Daredevil who is helping him). But then Phil gets separated and winds up in the Goblin hideout, where he's exposed to chemicals and find a mask with embedded electronics.

The electronics activate something in the chemicals, giving Phil enhanced abilities. But only while he's wearing the mask. Phil puts on the rest of the Goblin outfit and fights off Ricko's thugs.

In contrast to Spider-Man, Phil makes no quips as the Green Goblin. He only generates an eerie laugh, which is actually another super-power; it can be used as a sonic attack. He also has the usual Goblin gadgets; pumpkin bombs and the glider.

That's it for the first issue. A decent origin, competently written and with good layouting from Scott McDaniel. You didn't want a 1990s comic about a teen Green Goblin hero, but you got one and it's actually ok.

Quality Rating: B

Historical Significance Rating: 3 - first Phil Ulrich (Green Goblin, later a Hobgoblin)

Chronological Placement Considerations:

References: N/A

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A