Since their first encounter in Amazing Spider-Man #239, Spider-Man has been hot on the trail of the mysterious Hobgoblin, the heir apparent to the legacy of the Green Goblin. In this issue, the Web-Slinger finally tracks down his elusive foe -- but gets more than he bargained for, as the Kingpin enters the fray!

But at the start of the story, Peter Parker is enjoying a poolside party at the new suburban home of Harry and Liz (Allen) Osborn, who are expecting their first child. Mary Jane Watson is there and she and Peter catch up. She doesn't even give Peter a hard time about his ridiculous outfit - cutoff jean shorts and a cutoff half t-shirt! But things take a serious twist when Harry gets an envelope in the mail. He rides off on his motorcycle, obviously troubled. "The last time Harry acted really weird was in college...when he suffered a drug-induced mental breakdown," Peter thinks, referring to events in the classic Amazing Spider-Man #96-98 trilogy. "I hope it's nothing like that this time!" He runs off to find his friend.

Harry tells Peter that he's received an anonymous blackmail letter from someone who has proof that Harry's father, Norman Osborn, was the original Green Goblin. (Remember, at this time, Norman Osborn was believed to be dead.) This makes Peter think about the many troubles he had with the Green Goblin, who always was his most dangerous, most cunning, foe. Harry's memories of his father's evil thankfully had been lost to amnesia -- at least until receiving this letter. Harry also is worried that the news, if it got out, could hurt Liz and their unborn child. Peter offers his support to his obviously hurting friend. "You'd still help me, Pete...knowing who my father was and what he did?" Harry says. "Darned right I would! The Goblin's hurt enough people. I won't stand by and see him hurt you, too!" Peter says. In addition to wanting to help his friend Harry, Peter also is concerned that the man behind the blackmailing scheme (whom he presumes is the Hobgoblin) may also have learned Norman Osborn's greatest secret -- Spider-Man's true identity.

Meanwhile, the same mystery man also is blackmailing J. Jonah Jameson for Jameson's role in bankrolling the Scorpion (back in Amazing Spider-Man #20). If the public found out Jameson was behind the Scorpion's origin, he could be ruined. The next day, Peter and Harry go to an exclusive Manhattan club, where they are to meet the blackmailer. Jonah is there, too...and so is the Kingpin. That gets Peter curious: "This could be a bigger deal than I thought!" he thinks. When the time comes for the meeting, Peter isn't allowed into the room. It's actually a good thing, as it allows him to switch into his Spider-Man costume.

In the meeting room, the Hobgoblin appears and makes his demands. In exchange for his keeping the secrets private, he demands a regular fee from each person in the room. Jonah becomes irate, saying "You're playing right into his hands! If you don't stand up to him now, you'll be paying the rest of your lives!" That's the Jonah I like to see -- flawed, but principled. Harry punches the Hobgoblin, to reveal a robot. At that moment, the real Hobgoblin crashes through the window. "You'll have to forgive me another deception. I wanted to ferret out all the trouble-makers in the group!" he says. But before he can attack Harry, Spider-Man jumps to the rescue.

Spider-Man and the Hobgoblin fight, with Spidey unable to unleash his full strength in the crowded club. The Hobgoblin throws a barrage of pumpkin bombs, which Spider-Man easily avoids. However, they contain a gas which neutralizes Spider-Man's spider-sense -- the same formula that the Green Goblin used against him in Amazing Spider-Man #39. And without his spider-sense, Spider-Man quickly falls before the Hobgoblin.

But before he can deliver the killing blow, he is stopped by the Kingpin. Why would the Kingpin save Spider-Man? He has his reasons -- "The Hobgoblin is a very capable man. In time, he might grow bold enough to interfere in my operations," he tells Spider-Man. I prefer to let you apprehend him. It's simply good business." The Hobgoblin departs, but not before the Kingpin tosses one of Spider-Man's spider-tracers on his goblin glider.

Wow; the Hobgoblin storyline gets advanced in a big way in this issue. Roger Stern does a good job of making the Hobgoblin seem different from the original Green Goblin. Unlike his often irrational predecessor, the Hobgoblin is a cold, calculating business man. In many ways, that makes him even more dangerous.

Next issue: It's a milestone, as Amazing Spider-Man celebrates its 250th issue with an epic showdown between Spidey and the Hobgoblin!

Reviewed by Bruce Buchanan.

Reprinted In:
Marvel Tales #259