—Hobgoblin (Roderick Kingsley)One Hobgoblin is back... and Ned Leeds makes two.
Appearing in 1st story
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- FDNY
- NYPD
- God (Invoked)
- Winston Leeds (Mentioned)
Races and Species:
Locations:
Items:
- Goblin Formula (Mentioned)
- Spider-Man's Suit and Web-Shooters
- Winkler Device
- Goblin Armors
- Spider-Bots
- Pumpkin Bombs
Vehicles:
Synopsis for 1st story
At the Red Hook Oscorp warehouse, FDNY EMTs help an injured Roderick Kingsley out from under rubble while another group of EMTs carry off Norman Osborn in an ambulance. One of Kingsley's men waves a gun at the EMTs to get out of the scene, as Kingsley tells his men that Hobgoblin caused all the destruction around them, and they bounce to avoid NYPD. The Paramedic with Norman gives him a standard hydration solution and Norman simply asks to be awoken upon their arrival to the hospital, and Norman stays overnight before Peter comes to his room to call out his lie about the meeting. However, Norman confirms Hobgoblin as the culprit yet Kingsley was not under the mask, as the unidentified Hobgoblin just assaulted Norman before leaving; likely bitter at Norman not putting up a fight. Norman adheres to his "retirement" as any act of violence could lead back to the other guy. Thus Peter will start an investigation beginning with Ned Leeds, given his past with Hobgoblin and his recent request for Peter's help infiltrating Oscorp servers. As that was part of Ned's own investigation into Norman, Peter will also look into him later, as Norman tries to tell Peter to trust him, but Peter points out that Norman lied to him. With Norman accepting his anger, Peter will try to start trusting Norman should Ned's intel prove false; Norman accepts this.
Arriving at Betty's Apartment in Yorktown, Peter asks to find Ned while Betty starts to grow more sullen. Betty shares that Ned has been obsessed with his Osborn/Kingsley story, as they found they were under surveillance and Winston's baby formula was tainted. Ned concluded that Norman wanted their baby due to the trace Goblin formula in his blood, but a tearful Betty also mentions that Ned would come home in the Hobgoblin get-up. Peter gets a serious face and asks for details from Betty on exactly where to find him. After Betty discovered Ned's hidden invoices for a secret office across town, Spider-Man rides Bug yo get there and finds Ned in a paranoid state. With his evidence gathered, Ned argues that Norman is at the top of a conspiracy to take his son away, but understands why Spider-Man can't see it as he couldn't until he used the Winkler Device, situated in the closet. An upset Spider-Man tries to tell Ned that someone is manipulating him into thinking he's Hobgoblin, Ned points out the other Hobgoblin just before his Spider Sense triggers. From an explosion, the Hobgoblin arrives ramming Spider-Man through the opposing wall, calling Ned his pet and telling Spider-Man that he should have left well enough alone. However, when Spider-Man is caught by his own glider's protection function, Hobgoblin is insulted and gives chase. Meanwhile, Norman's assistant drops off his work laptop at the hospital and, while he understands why she reached said conclusion, he asks the nurse to leave it on the chair. But with nothing to do while resting, Norman decides to open it and check on some files.
Flying over the city, Hobgoblin and Spider-Man enter a glider game of chicken, but Spider-Man counters with one of his egg bombs with mini spider drones to blind Hobgoblin. Spider-Man then surprises him with a removal from his Goblin Glider and throws him into a rooftop water tower. Back at the hospital, Norman resumes work on his secret project when he receives an alert from the Spider-Suit of an incident in progress, seeing a live feed of Peter's battle with the Hobgoblin. As Spider-Man demands his identity, the Hobgoblin asks how it feels to hide Norman from his sins, but all Spider-Man demands is his identity. Retorting that knowledge is earned in anguish and blood, Spider-Man counters the surprise attack and rips of the mask to find Kingsley. Although the aged enemy tells him that he shouldn't be surprised, Spider-man counters that he was with Osborn WHILE Hobgoblin attacked, confusing his unmasked opponent. His spider sense reactivates and senses ten dangers at once, only to be blindsided by an eleventh and is saved only by his helmet. The free "Kingsley" tells him to take a harder look at Ned Leeds again, having put him back where he belonged in the Winkler Device. Now with one Hobgoblin back, Ned Leeds made two, with both flying atop gliders ready to attack a downed Spider-Man.
Solicit Synopsis
GLIDER VS. GLIDER, BOMB VS. BOMB, GOBLIN VS. SPIDER?!
• Spidey's new costume is going to be tested in a horrifying crucible.
• If you thought the Tombstone and Vulture fights were rough, YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHING YET!!!
