10 Comic Books That Made A HUGE Impact In The Real World
8. Spider-Man Vs. Drugs - Green Goblin Reborn!
Amazing Spider-Man #96-98, collectively titled “Green Goblin Reborn!” was plotted and written by Stan Lee, penciled by Gil Kane, and inked by John Romita Sr. In 1970, President Richard Nixon’s Department of Health, Education and Welfare asked Marvel’s Stan Lee to create an anti-drug story in one of its top tier titles. Believing that teenagers hate being lectured to, Lee chose to make the drug story as subtle as possible.
In Issue #96, Peter Parker was down on his luck again, moved in with his friend, Harry Osborn, and accepted a job with Harry's father Norman, who was the villainous Green Goblin. While web-slinging, Spidey saved a man on drugs who thought he could fly. Peter couldn’t understand why anyone would take drugs. But Harry soon began taking pills when Mary Jane flirted with Peter. The Goblin returned but disappeared just as Harry overdosed. He was rushed to the hospital and Spider-Man lured him to Harry’s hospital room.
When Lee first ran these issues with the Comic Code Authority, they were rejected immediately because the Code does not allow for any reference of drugs. Despite it being an anti-drug story and that it was requested by the government, the Code wouldn’t budge. Lee’s publisher told him to publish them without the Code. This was the beginning of the end for the restrictive Comics Code.