—HobgoblinYou left your past to fester in darkness. Tonight, your acrid crop comes to harvest... and madness rides the night wind!
Appearing in 1st story
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Betty Brant
- Oscorp
- Black Cat (Felicia Hardy)
- Ned Leeds
- Winston Leeds (First appearance)
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- God (Yahweh) (Invoked)
- Kingsley Limited (Mentioned)
- Dio (Kingsley's henchman) (First appearance; dies)
- Other unnamed Kingsley's henchmen (First appearance; dies)
Races and Species:
- Humans
- Human-Inhuman Hybrids
- Dogs (Mentioned)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for 1st story
In Yorktown at evening, Betty Brant is called by Peter Parker apologizing for not seeing her lately and sending a gift for her newborn son, Winston, and Betty thanks Peter while understanding he was busy being him to come over, and the two say good night. As Betty worries over where Ned is, she hears a sound from Winston's room and races in to find Hobgoblin taking her baby saying he won't let them hurt him, with Betty screaming her lungs out. At Oscorp, Norman asks Peter and Kamala if their engine has thrust after so many delays. Peter confirms it has theoretical thrust, upsetting their boss. When Norman has to step away when receiving bad news, Kamala and Peter worry over the penalty, but Norman takes off before they can excuse themselves, and Peter calls the day at 4pm as he states he is "moonlighting." Later that evening, Spider-Man heads out with Black Cat after calling her, to which she believes it's for some big job. However, he wanted to talk about their relationship by asking Felicia out to dinner first. She considers it and thanks him for taking the initiative, with a now alone Peter feeling like Jell-O that his asking her out worked.
Walking home, Peter feels good about himself and finds the debt collections guy isn't stalking his front door. Inside, Ned Leeds working a story and asks Peter's help as he's working under Norman, sharing a photo of Norman meeting with Roderick Kingsley. However, Peter doesn't feel comfortable and declines Ned's offer, not wanting to jeopardize his new career. Ned understands and states he'll continue on himself, with a once more alone Peter stating he'll do the same. Peter goes to talk with Norman the next day, who thanks Peter as his recommendations improved the new armor Norman was making. But Peter is direct in asking about Roderick Kingsley and Norman is upfront that before his change of character,[1] Roderick offered his corporate empire in exchange for escaping the law, but Norman refused only to later use legal measures to purchase of Roderick's companies. Now Roderick has returned with extortion demanding back what was his, and Norman had his lawyers draft up the paperwork to do so, hoping to ask for forgiveness as well; surprising Peter. So Peter imposes to protect Norman considering Roderick's threat, thus Norman agrees and tells Peter the meeting is Thursday night in Red Hook by an OsCorp warehouse. Peter agrees to be there, reminding Norman to ask for help as that is why he joined him, with Norman voicing agreement.
However, Norman lied and went to meet Roderick on Wednesday night and Roderick hopes Norman brought his paperwork or else Dio would make things fun. Norman assures Roderick all the holdings for his old empire still remain, handing him a folder showing the financials. Roderick is impressed with Norman's handling of his shell companies, except the fashion house but that was to be expected. As Norman was done, Roderick is surprised he brought his enforcers for seemingly nothing, as Norman assures him he wants nothing to do with him and hopes he'll do the same. However, both hear the whining pitch of a goblin bomb falling, accusing the other of treachery before an explosion rocks them. The Hobgoblin attacks the scene, killing scores of Roderick's men, and hovers in menacing fury above the bloodied Roderick and Norman. Back in Yorktown, Betty's apartment is unchanged as Winston is asleep in his crib. An unseen voice talks to him as he sleeps, with Betty just resting as she sits in a chair in the room, with the voice claiming they did good work in the evening.
Solicit Synopsis
THE RETURN OF THE HOBGOBLIN!
• The timing of this goblin's return with Peter working at Oscorp MUST be a coincidence, right?
• But who is donning the yellow cowl? Roderick Kingsley? Ned Leeds? Flash Thompson? If you know anything about Hobgoblin, you know that you know nothing about Hobgoblin.