How Marvel Comics' Editors Ruined Hobgoblin

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In 1982, the Hobgoblin appeared in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man #238. Powerful, cunning, and mysterious, this new villain was a hit with readers. But a series of problems between the writers and the editors led to his secret identity's reveal landing with a thud. This episode walks through the appearances of Hobgoblin as well as what was happening behind the scenes with creators including Roger Stern, John Romita, Jr., Tom DeFalco, Danny Fingeroth, Jim Owsley (Christopher Priest), Ron Frenz, Peter David, and more. It's a tragic tale involving a lack of trust that hopefully we can all learn from.

[HQ_Default]

The fact that DeFalco lied and said Ned Leeds was the Hobgoblin only to be fired _immediately_ so they were stuck with the _wrong plotline_ is hilarious to me.

[daviddalrymple]

One minor quibble: Ned Leeds is never shown as being the Hobgoblin in "Spider-Man Versus Wolverine". (At least not in the original printings; maybe its been modified on Marvel NOW). Peter returns to his hotel room to find Ned, in civilian clothes, tied to a chair with his throat slit. The implication in the issue was that Ned had been killed by the bad guys he was investigating.

[OkMakuTree]

Wow, I knew Hobgoblin's backstory was a mess due to several different writers all having opposing ideas for the character but I never realized it was this bad. It sucks that people had to be so petty and intentionally tried to ruin each others' work.

[manjiimortal]

Having Kingsley as the Hobgoblin is a perfectly acceptable solution for the mystery, but the whole identical brother who isn't a twin is a very Silver Age bit of silliness, and I can see why people didn't like Stern's idea. Also, as you mentioned, how does a fashion guy manages to achieve a chemical miracle like changing the Goblin formula so that it doesn't make the user insane, but retains every benefit it brings?

Aside from that... yeah, going for an extended mystery in comics like this is very easily screwed up by the roll-out of writers that books can have. It also seems like Roger Stern didn't lay significant clues for the Hobgoblin's identity before he left the book, which in turn easily allows another writer to write someone else as the Hobgoblin.

[KalleVilenius]

The real Hobgoblin was the friends we made along the way.

[GamerSlyRatchet]

One of the biggest tragedies behind the cancellation of The Spectacular Spider-Man (the show) was that it seemed to be doing a more faithful version of the Hobgoblin, already setting up Roderick, and even Daniel in a more subtle manner. This could've been the Hobgoblin's big break in other media, especially since the 90's show ended up having him job to Green Goblin just because the showrunner didn't care about the character.

[juliiju]

A sad and surprisingly common trope in the comic industry is a major character reveal that ends up being changed by editorial interference. The faith that publishers have in writers in this section is disappointing

[jorgem.]

Man, this brings back memories. Stern's Spider-Man was a couple of years after I first got into comics. But the Hobgoblin story hooked me for sure. I'm a HUGE fan of Stern's Avengers also.

[Guy]

"I already drew it, " is some strong Ozymandias energy.

[Supersaurus]

I always did find Hobgoblin to be an interesting villain. Even though he wasn't as powerful as the Green Goblin, he was still more than capable of giving Spider-Man a tough time in many encounters.

[thrdstooge]

Has no one informed him that his camera has been out of focus for some time? What a cruel fanbase.

[noelbernabe]

The funny thing about all of this is decades later, I'm half expecting Peters best friend in the MCU to become the Hob Goblin somehow. I'd be funny.

I remember watching Harry in the original Spiderman trilogy and expecting him to become Hob Goblin. Gotta watch out for those best friends.

[LowellLucasJr.]

The Tale of the Hobgoblin is a cautionary tale of editor interference that can effect a great idea and become the catalyst of the Clone Saga!

[ShmuckLord]

Are you saying The Big Wheel isn't an absolute icon? Disliked, unsubbed, reported, blocked, and doxxed, no one disrespects Big Wheel.

[kellygoodine]

Making Ned Leeds the Hobgoblin always made me mad and it never fit with the hints of the character. There wasn't an internet around at the time so there didn't appear to be an uproar over it, but I was absolutely pissed.
I will admit I was getting annoyed with them dragging out the identity too. I am with other's... Fisk's son would have been the best choice.

[ShinKaisr]

Marvel has a history of there being office mismanagement affecting comic storylines. Particularly with Spider-man. There's this Hobgoblin fiasco, The Clone Saga was a similar mess due to editor/writer B.S. and I'm pretty sure Nick Spencer cut his 'Kindred Saga' short due to differences with management.

[ervingarcia]

Man, at the time, I imagine the reader's patience being screwed by the Marvel editors teasing and screwing up the Hobgoblin identity and mystery, thanks to Roger Stern that came back to finish his story, but I mean, he came back almost 20 years later to finish his story. Great video!

[austinhuber]

And when everyone is hobgoblin... Nobody is.

[LupineShadowOmega]

He should have just been Fisk's son I feel. It lines up nicely and would make it so that its a matter of a son trying to steal his father's crown. Even better would be when Fisk finds out and it becomes a matter of personal pride that he needs to show his son there are consequences to his actions. You could even use it to spark what is effectively a crime kingpin civil war that the heroes of New York need to deal with.

[KimiSparklez]

With all the fake outs, the hobgoblin seems like a character that can be indefinitely retconned. "Oh you thought that guy was me?? Well you'll never find the real Hobgoblin Spider-Man!!!!"