History:
WILLIS GOTTFRIED
Real Name: Willis Gottfried
Identity/Class: Human
Occupation: Defense attorney
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Roderick Kingsley, Paul
Enemies: Green Goblin, Norman Osborn
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Manhattan, New York, USA
First Appearance: Spectacular Spider-Man II#259 (July, 1998)
Powers/Abilities: Willis Gottfried is an experienced defense lawyer.
Height: Unrevealed
(approximately 5'11")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 180 lbs.)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Blond
History:
(Spectacular Spider-Man II#259) - Willis Gottfried was assigned as defense lawyer to Roderick Kingsley. When Kingsley got word that Norman Osborn had publicly announced that he had survived his seeming death and denounced claims that he had ever been the costumed super-criminal the Green Goblin, Kingsley summoned Gottfried to his cell at the Great Neck Maximum Security Facility. Roderick told Gottfried that Norman Osborn was the Green Goblin and he could prove it, having hidden one of Osborn's journals. Roderick offered to surrender the journal to the district attorney in exchange for a deal. Gottfried told Roderick to keep quiet about what he knew because Osborn had agents everywhere.
Gottfriend telephoned Paul, who worked in the district attorney's office and shared with him what Kingsley knew. Unfortunately, one of Paul's subordinates eavesdropped on their phone conversation and in turn alerted one of Osborn's underlings, who informed Osborn himself.
Gottfried returned to Roderick's cell the next day to tell him the district attorney was interested in hearing his story and he'd set up a meeting with him at a secret location that evening at midnight. That night, Gottfried accompanied Kingsley as armed guards guided him to a limousine to bring him to the district attorney. Suddenly, the Green Goblin assaulted the limousine, setting off smoke bombs. Gottfried panicked as Kingsley, unperturbed, allowed the Green Goblin to capture him and bring him to a meeting with Osborn.
Comments: Created by Roger Stern, Glenn Greenberg, Luke Ross and Al Milgrom.
This profile was completed on 11/24/2025 but its publication was delayed, as it was intended for the Appendix's 25th anniversary celebratory event.
Profile by Prime Eternal.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Willis Gottfried should not be confused with:
Paul worked in the district attorney's office and was friends with Willis Gottfried. After Roderick Kingsley told Gottfried he had proof that Norman Osborn was the Green Goblin, Gottfried telephoned Paul and told him Kingsley would give up Osborn's journal proving Kingsley's account in exchange for leniency for Kingsley. Paul agreed to propose the deal to the district attorney but a staffer in Paul's office eavesdropped on their call and alerted one of Osborn's underlings, who warned Norman Osborn himself, who then sabotaged the district attorney's attempted meeting with Kingsley.
--Spectacular Spider-Man II#259
images: (without ads)
Spectacular Spider-Man II#259, page 9, panel 1 (main)
Spectacular Spider-Man II#259, page 9, panel 2 (face)
Spectacular Spider-Man II#259, page 9, panel 3 (Paul)
Appearances:
Spectacular Spider-Man II#259 (July, 1998) - Roger Stern (writer), Glenn
Greenberg (co-plotter), Luke Ross (penciler), Al Milgrom (inker), Ralph
Macchio (editor)
First posted: 09/04/2026
Last updated:
11/24/2025
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
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