"KINGSLEY SURVIVED?!" roared Norman Osborn, flecks of foam flying from the corners of his mouth.
"Yes sir," said Donald Menken. Even though he was on the other end of the phone on a different continent, Osborn could practically hear him cowering. "Th-The Enforcers said he took them apart almost effortlessly...and that they're working for him now."
Menken's boss growled. The Enforcers had been working for him ever since the very first time he, as the Green Goblin, had fought Spider-Man (though they still had no clue he and the Goblin were one and the same). Though they could be easily replaced, losing his oldest supporters hurt far more as a symbol. Was he losing his grip? Allowing some upstart like Kingsley, a FASHION MOGUL of all things, to beat him at his own game? No. NO!
"That's it. I'm coming over there to take care of Kingsley myself."
"But, sir, your plans for Peter Parker--"
"Those can wait. I cannot allow Kingsley to get away with this. I'll be in New York City by tomorrow." He hung up without another word. Arising from his seat, he stalked to his rather lavish personal quarters. He touched a secret switch on the underside of his bed, and a section of wall slid back to reveal the equipment of the Green Goblin. As he began to pack some of it, he remembered how it had all began...
He'd been looking through the notes of his former partner Mendel Stromm, who had beem in prison for embezzling Osborn Industries funds. As he browsed, he stumbled across an experimental formula to boost a human's strength and intelligence. Out of curiousity, he'd mixed it together. It had turned green for a moment, and then literally exploded in his face.
When he'd awoken, he had indeed gained incredible strength, and intelligence as well (the doctors claimed brain damage and insanity, but those fools were mistaken). He soon began to toy with the idea of becoming the ultimate costumed criminal, and eventually he'd decided to do it. He'd used his scientific expertise to construct his flying broomstick (later refitted into his Goblin Glider) and all his lovely surprises and tricks...pumpkin bombs, razor bats, asphyxiation ghosts, and more. Finally, he'd designed a costume...and the Green Goblin was born!
He had fought Spider-Man a few times and learned his secret identity, which made their clashes all the more volatile. Then, he'd kidnapped his girlfriend Gwen Stacy, who had died in the ensuing conflict. Spider-Man's rage had actually frightened him a bit, which led to his nearly fatal mistake: he'd tried to hit the wall-crawler with the spike on his glider, but the hero had dodged and instead the spike had penetrated Osborn's chest.
Incredibly, he hadn't died. The formula had apparently given him a limited healing factor. However, he allowed most of the world, Spider-Man included, to believe him dead for many years while he gained control of the Cult of the Scriers. Only recently had he revealed himself to his nemesis and some of his friends.
And now, Roderick Kingsley would know as well...though not for very long...
***
"Kingsley? This is Menken. He's coming to America tomorrow, no doubt with his paraphernalia in tow."
Roderick Kingsley disconnected, then called his brother Daniel. He'd had Daniel, almost identical, impersonate him several times. Sometimes it was so that everyone would see the Hobgoblin and "Roderick" together, other times just to draw some heat. Daniel was practically spineless and always bowed to his younger brother's commands.
"Hello Daniel. Time to play me again..."
***
The Green Goblin rode his glider above the rooftops of New York City, making very little sound. It had been far too long since he had done this. Since he had reveled in the power and freedom that being the Goblin brought. Perhaps it was time to remind this metropolis's residents who their master was...
No. There would be time for that later. Right now he had to pay a visit to Kingsley. He soared toward the top of the skyscraper that was home to Kingsley Internation, and peered in through the large window. Sure enough, there was Kingsley seated at a desk, his back to the window.
The Goblin hurled a pumpkin bomb, destroying the window. He was sure that it would attract Spider-Man. Well, let him come. Yes, he had plans for his arch-foe, but not so important that he couldn't be killed if the opportunity presented itself. As the smoke cleared, the form of Kingsley began to reappear. The man was obviously terrified, apparently unable to move.
"This is what you get for crossing Norman Osborn," hissed the Goblin as he lined up one of his finger blasters with Kingsley's head. One good shot and he'd be dead instant--
A razor bat sliced through the air in front of his face. He whirled to the left. There, above him, was--
"THE HOBGOBLIN?!"
***
*I wonder where Hobby's disappeared to,* mused Spider-Man as he swung through Manhattan. *Haven't heard anything from him in a couple of days.* He stopped for a moment to perch on his favorite gargoyle, and as he did so, the sound of a news bulletin filtered up to him from the electronics store below.
"This just in, the notorious supervillain known as the Hobgoblin appears to be doing battle with fellow villain the Green Goblin, at the top of the Kingsley Building. All bystanders in that area are encouraged to evacuate..."
Spidey put a hand to his head. *Norman Osborn is back AGAIN? And he's fighting the Hobgoblin? I'll be lucky to swing away from this one with my webs intact.* He refilled his web-shooters with some new cartridges, jumped off the gargoyle, and began to swing towards the Kingsley Building.
To be continued...
"Yes sir," said Donald Menken. Even though he was on the other end of the phone on a different continent, Osborn could practically hear him cowering. "Th-The Enforcers said he took them apart almost effortlessly...and that they're working for him now."
Menken's boss growled. The Enforcers had been working for him ever since the very first time he, as the Green Goblin, had fought Spider-Man (though they still had no clue he and the Goblin were one and the same). Though they could be easily replaced, losing his oldest supporters hurt far more as a symbol. Was he losing his grip? Allowing some upstart like Kingsley, a FASHION MOGUL of all things, to beat him at his own game? No. NO!
"That's it. I'm coming over there to take care of Kingsley myself."
"But, sir, your plans for Peter Parker--"
"Those can wait. I cannot allow Kingsley to get away with this. I'll be in New York City by tomorrow." He hung up without another word. Arising from his seat, he stalked to his rather lavish personal quarters. He touched a secret switch on the underside of his bed, and a section of wall slid back to reveal the equipment of the Green Goblin. As he began to pack some of it, he remembered how it had all began...
He'd been looking through the notes of his former partner Mendel Stromm, who had beem in prison for embezzling Osborn Industries funds. As he browsed, he stumbled across an experimental formula to boost a human's strength and intelligence. Out of curiousity, he'd mixed it together. It had turned green for a moment, and then literally exploded in his face.
When he'd awoken, he had indeed gained incredible strength, and intelligence as well (the doctors claimed brain damage and insanity, but those fools were mistaken). He soon began to toy with the idea of becoming the ultimate costumed criminal, and eventually he'd decided to do it. He'd used his scientific expertise to construct his flying broomstick (later refitted into his Goblin Glider) and all his lovely surprises and tricks...pumpkin bombs, razor bats, asphyxiation ghosts, and more. Finally, he'd designed a costume...and the Green Goblin was born!
He had fought Spider-Man a few times and learned his secret identity, which made their clashes all the more volatile. Then, he'd kidnapped his girlfriend Gwen Stacy, who had died in the ensuing conflict. Spider-Man's rage had actually frightened him a bit, which led to his nearly fatal mistake: he'd tried to hit the wall-crawler with the spike on his glider, but the hero had dodged and instead the spike had penetrated Osborn's chest.
Incredibly, he hadn't died. The formula had apparently given him a limited healing factor. However, he allowed most of the world, Spider-Man included, to believe him dead for many years while he gained control of the Cult of the Scriers. Only recently had he revealed himself to his nemesis and some of his friends.
And now, Roderick Kingsley would know as well...though not for very long...
***
"Kingsley? This is Menken. He's coming to America tomorrow, no doubt with his paraphernalia in tow."
Roderick Kingsley disconnected, then called his brother Daniel. He'd had Daniel, almost identical, impersonate him several times. Sometimes it was so that everyone would see the Hobgoblin and "Roderick" together, other times just to draw some heat. Daniel was practically spineless and always bowed to his younger brother's commands.
"Hello Daniel. Time to play me again..."
***
The Green Goblin rode his glider above the rooftops of New York City, making very little sound. It had been far too long since he had done this. Since he had reveled in the power and freedom that being the Goblin brought. Perhaps it was time to remind this metropolis's residents who their master was...
No. There would be time for that later. Right now he had to pay a visit to Kingsley. He soared toward the top of the skyscraper that was home to Kingsley Internation, and peered in through the large window. Sure enough, there was Kingsley seated at a desk, his back to the window.
The Goblin hurled a pumpkin bomb, destroying the window. He was sure that it would attract Spider-Man. Well, let him come. Yes, he had plans for his arch-foe, but not so important that he couldn't be killed if the opportunity presented itself. As the smoke cleared, the form of Kingsley began to reappear. The man was obviously terrified, apparently unable to move.
"This is what you get for crossing Norman Osborn," hissed the Goblin as he lined up one of his finger blasters with Kingsley's head. One good shot and he'd be dead instant--
A razor bat sliced through the air in front of his face. He whirled to the left. There, above him, was--
"THE HOBGOBLIN?!"
***
*I wonder where Hobby's disappeared to,* mused Spider-Man as he swung through Manhattan. *Haven't heard anything from him in a couple of days.* He stopped for a moment to perch on his favorite gargoyle, and as he did so, the sound of a news bulletin filtered up to him from the electronics store below.
"This just in, the notorious supervillain known as the Hobgoblin appears to be doing battle with fellow villain the Green Goblin, at the top of the Kingsley Building. All bystanders in that area are encouraged to evacuate..."
Spidey put a hand to his head. *Norman Osborn is back AGAIN? And he's fighting the Hobgoblin? I'll be lucky to swing away from this one with my webs intact.* He refilled his web-shooters with some new cartridges, jumped off the gargoyle, and began to swing towards the Kingsley Building.
To be continued...
