Hobgoblin (comics)

The Hobgoblin is the alias of several supervillains appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, most of them depicted as enemies of the superhero Spider-Man and belong to the collective of adversaries that make up his rogues gallery. Created by writer Roger Stern and artist John Romita Jr., the original Hobgoblin first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #238 (1983) as a criminal mastermind equipped with an arsenal of Halloween-themed weapons similar to those used by the Green Goblin, including grenade-like Pumpkin Bombs, razor-sharp bat-shaped blades, and a flying Goblin Glider. Having perfected the experimental chemical formula that transformed Norman Osborn into the Green Goblin, the Hobgoblin possesses Osborn's enhanced strength and intelligence without his insanity, and vies to take control of New York City's criminal underworld.

The original Hobgoblin's true identity was one of the longest-running mysteries in Spider-Man comics, as he often used brainwashed body doubles and stand-ins. Stern's original plan was for the character's alter ego to be Roderick Kingsley, an amoral billionaire fashion designer and Mary Jane Watson's former boss, but editorial conflicts following Stern's departure from Marvel led to the Hobgoblin instead being revealed as Ned Leeds, Peter Parker's journalist co-worker at the Daily Bugle, in 1987. Stern was dissatisfied with this revelation and, upon returning to Marvel in 1997, retroactively established Kingsley as the original Hobgoblin with Leeds reframed as one of Kingsley's many fall guys. Other characters that have been framed or manipulated into serving as Kingsley's decoys over the years include Lefty Donovan, Flash Thompson, Roderick's twin brother Daniel Kingsley, and his butler Claude.

The Hobgoblin mantle has also been assumed independently of Kingsley by Jason Macendale and Phil Urich, while Robin Borne and Harry Osborn have adopted the persona in alternate continuities.

The Hobgoblin has been adapted in various media incarnations, including television series and video games. An amalgamated incarnation of the character named Jason Philips appeared in Spider-Man: The Animated Series, voiced by Mark Hamill.