If you’ve read recent issues of Amazing Spider-Man, you may have noticed yet another new goblin on the block. That’s right, there’s a new Hobgoblin ready to strike terror into the hearts of Spidey and his supporting cast, or so it seems. Those of us versed in Spider-Man lore, might have remembered that this particular Goblin has been known to throw a pumpkin bomb or two in the past as well. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, sit back and prepare yourself for the origin of Green Goblin the 4th, Phil Urich!
Oh yeah, did I mention this was published in the 90's?
This is one of those origins that are told in flashback, so we start with the above image, which is actually kind of menacing looking, to be honest. Anyway we open on the scene of a video store being ransacked by some thuggish looking youths. It turns out the reason they are hitting this particular establishment is that Phil, our “hero”, was recently kicked out of said store. He complained about it to a friend of his, who was one of these thuggish types. He decided to flip the store and sell the videos on the black market or something. That part isn’t all that important. The cops inevitably show up, and while Phil is on the scene, he doesn’t want to get thrown in with criminal types, as he actually is opposed to this revenge scheme or whatever it is. Trying to save his own skin, we see the first bit of young Mr. Urich’s character come to fore.
If Kidd Video is an intentional pop culture gag, way to be obscure.
So yeah, Phil throws the cops off the trail to save his own skin. Because of this, the “mastermind” behind the video heist, Ricko the Sicko (nice!) ends up liking the cut of Phil’s jib, so he gives him a cut of the take, which are VHS cassettes in this case. Phil gets dropped off at his loft, and he tosses the videos in the trash and crashes,
A new day dawns, and we find Phil at his job, interning at the Daily Bugle for his uncle, Ben Urich. Yes, this is another Spider-Origin with an Uncle Ben involved, just go with it. As we go on, Ben assigns Phil the task of researching some property Harry Osborn may have bought under a dummy corporation before he “died” (note: he’s not dead anymore. Comics!). Anyway, the two Urichs talk for a bit obout the Goblin legacy. You see, Ben is writing a book he’s calling ‘Dynasty of Evil’ about the Goblins/Osborns. Phil, ever the plucky (annoying) young lad, chimes in with his assessment:
Foreshadowing!
The next day, Phil returns with his assignment done, and Ben is very happy with it. Phil himself is kind of beside himself for being praised so highly. Ricko the Sicko praised him as well. I’m no psychoanalyst, but Phil may have some, as we say in the biz, “mental issues”. Ben tells Phil now that they know said property was indeed owned by Harry Osborn, he (Ben) must now go and check it out for Gobliny stuff. Phil offers a few words of discouragement, but Ben is determined, so they part ways.
Phil is still kind of high on life as he contemplates going to journalism school and how bright his future is. That train of thought is derailed when he comes across his friend who instigated the whole video store debacle from a couple of days ago. After a brief altercation, Phil brings up the whole Goblin work thing, and his “friends” ears perk up. We cut away to later on in the day, Ben is off to investigate Harry’s warehouse, and Phil gets a call from his thugbuddy and learns that Ricko has been informed about a possible Goblin stash, so they’re about to turn the place upside down. Phil, showing a modicum of backbone, gets his rear in gear and heads off as well, knowing his Uncle Ben may be there at the same time!
He gets there, and Ricko is ecstatic and offers Phil a majot cut of whatever is found. Proving that his moral compass doesn’t point to magnetic north, Phil is considering it, thinking the damage is done already, why not profit from it. Before he can answer, random thug 1 and 2 happen to find Ben Urich on the premises. Before he can be seen by his uncle, Phil ducks behind some crates. He struggles with his flight or fight response, wondering how he could possibly save Ben, when he finds the main circuit breaker! Under cover of darkness and a disguised voice, he tried to lead ben from danger, suggesting they split up. They do so and Phil after some Clouseau-esque bumbling, find something that’ll change his life forever.
He wanted to say "Sweet Christmas" but that line was taken.
Phil is distracted for a sec, checking out the admittedly cool Goblin lair, when all of a sudden he’s startled by rat and crashes himself into the above vat of green ooze. It turns out this is some derivative of the Osborn Goblin formula that gives them their strength. It apparently also causes great pain, as Phil is writhing in agony on the floor. Before he can give in to the sweet blackness of oblivion, he hears through he walls that his Uncle Ben has been caught! He gets the maybe not so bright idea to don the goblin costume to save Ben. As soon as the mask goes on Phil’s head, he’s hit by a massive jolt of electricity. You see, this Goblin outfit is really tricked out with tech and laden with nondescript circuitry. Anyway, Phil manages to make his way to a goblin glider and goes off to save the day.
"Sadly, I left my wit in my other glider."
During the course of the battle, Phil suffers through the requisite new hero jitters and discovery of powers, like super strength, and what will be come to be known as his “lunatic laugh”. Ultimately, he does come out on top, but makes a quick getaway when the police arrive. It’s not the most auspicious entry of a new hero ever, but no less effective. we leave this opening tale with a bit of a “Goblin Monologue” if you will.
Why yes, I do like dynamic flying glider shots, why do you ask?
It is decidedly not the end for our Mr. Urich. While he doesn’t get to be the heroic Goblin for long, he does make a bit of a mark, and it turns out the “lunatic laugh” is something purely his own and he retains it to this day. Phil went on to make a support group for young heroes, stole Darkhawk’s (a fellow 90’s hero) amulet, and kind of started to fade into limbo until Dan Slott brought him back to make a heel turn and become the new Hobgoblin last week. At first, I thought the heel turn was kind of out of character for Phil, since I am much more familiar with him from the Spider-Girl mythos where he reclaimed the Goblin mantle with an Osborn’s blessing. Regardless, re-reading old adventures, I can see that there are seeds there from the beginning, and besides Slott is a great writer, so I’m all in. And now you know… the rest of the story!