"IN THE GRIP OF THE GOBLIN!"
Writer: Stan Lee/Penciller: Gil Kane/Inkers: Frank Giacoia and John Romita Sr./Letterer: Sam Rosen/Editor: Stan Lee/Cover Art: John Romita Sr.
Synopsis: As Spider-Man must once again do battle with the Green Goblin, Harry is fighting a battle of his own...
Review: One thing I can really commend Stan for on this trilogy of issues is that they are rooted so deeply in established Marvel continuity. This wasn't a series of promotional issues that were given away free with a box of cereal, warning kids about the dangers of drug use; this is all happening in the proper Spider-Man continuity, and it permanently affects the characters we've grown to know and love. Despite the incredibly unsubtle commentary on drug use and drug dealers, I am forever grateful that Stan didn't feel the need to patronise his readers by having something so awful as Spider-Man turn to the 'camera' with finger pointed and giving the Marvel readership a stern talking to (especially given a good chunk of the Marvel fanbase at this point in time had probably been using hallucinogenic drugs for years).
The big development this issue is Harry sinking into drug addiction, and for the most part, it's well handled. As said, I'm glad such a thing happens to an established member of Peter's supporting cast, and not some random guest character created solely for this story. Harry is also probably the most appropriate character to use as well, given his general flightiness and feelings of self-loathing; he seems the kind of guy to turn to drugs to try and forget about his troubles. We're told that Harry has always kept a very well-stocked medicine cabinet full of all kinds of pills, but this is the first we've ever heard of it, so it's something of a retcon, albeit not one I'm bothered by. In fact, I really like this revelation, as it gives us a real insight into not just Harry, but Norman as well. It's another showcase of just how emotionally distant Norman is from his son; instead of talking openly with Harry about his mental health, or getting him to see a therapist, he just encourages him to down a few pills and he'll be fine. This isn't stated anywhere in the issue itself, but it's something I personally have always read in it, and it's firmly entrenched in my head canon.
Another highlight of the issue for me is the scene between Harry and Mary Jane, where she tells him where to stick it. It's easy to paint MJ as unkind or nasty in this scene, but I've always loved this moment, and for me, it's one of the scenes that defines her character. MJ is not perfect. She is frequently selfish, callous and inconsiderate (at least on the outside), and she cares not one iota what other people think of her. Especially given when this issue was published, a young woman saying that she doesn't tie herself to anyone, and that she's happy being a free agent, is pretty monumental, and is a cornerstone of why I love the character so much. To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if Stan put this moment in to make readers turn on her a little bit (we know he was always pushing for Gwen to be everyone's favourite), but if so, it has the opposite effect on me. Yes, she may put Harry down a bit harshly, but the meaning behind her words is something I could never judge.
Less successful is the Goblin stuff. The fight scene at the start of the issue between Spidey and the Goblin is great, the usual Gil Kane magic, but there's one thing about it that's always bothered me. The Goblin thinks that Spider-Man is dead after the wall-crawler seemingly plummets to his doom (obviously he saved himself and is just hiding from the villain). Would it have troubled the Goblin too much to, I don't know...check for a body? This is his arch-nemesis after all, someone who has escaped death time and time again; you would have thought he'd be a bit more cautious. It's the typical 'villain doesn't check to see if the hero is dead' nonsense, and is clearly here to explain why the Goblin doesn't just expose Peter's secret to the world after their battle.
ASM #97 is a very good continuation of the setup provided by the previous issue, if not quite as enjoyable; there's not half us much stuff happening in this. We get a pretty fun fight between Spidey and the Goblin, but I can't get past how stupid the Goblin is at its conclusion; this is a far cry from the devious schemer that we were introduced to in the Ditko era. What really makes the issue for me are the moments with Harry and Mary Jane, even if the drug stuff is, like with last time, a bit on the nose. Gil Kane provides top notch artwork as always, though, and that panel of Harry falling into the grip of drug addiction is iconic, probably the defining image of this entire trilogy.
Rating: 4/5
Next time, the Goblin unleashes a deadly new weapon on Spider-Man, and Harry fights for survival in the wake of his bad trip...
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