Every Version of Hobgoblin in Marvel Comics, Ranked

by

The identity of the Hobgoblin has been shrouded in mystery more than almost any other Marvel character. When he first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #238 in 1982, he quickly became a popular villain due to the secrecy around who was behind the mask. Like the original Green Goblin, Marvel intentionally kept his true identity hidden, and his long elusiveness fueled fan speculation. However, a complicated series of reveals ultimately disappointed many readers. The initial reveal that the Hobgoblin was a friend of Peter Parker was later proven to be a false lead, damaging what had been a captivating mystery.

The identity of Hobgoblin has been held by multiple characters throughout the years, and one remains a mystery. Here’s a ranking of the most memorable Hobgoblin appearances in Marvel Comics.

7) Lefty Donovan

Lefty Donovan was a petty criminal employed by Roderick Kingsley. He unwillingly became part of an experiment with the Goblin Formula, as Kingsley tried to create a stable version – one that wouldn’t cause madness like it did for Norman Osborn. After receiving the formula, Lefty was mentally controlled and used as the Hobgoblin to fight Spider-Man, with Kingsley observing and documenting the results. Ultimately, Lefty was just a tool to be discarded. Before Spider-Man could discover the truth, Kingsley killed Lefty to cover his tracks and hide his involvement.

6) Daniel Kingsley

Daniel Kingsley was the twin brother of Roderick Kingsley and often pretended to be him, creating confusion about who the Hobgoblin really was. Eventually, Roderick decided he preferred to stay hidden, letting Daniel publicly act as the Hobgoblin. Daniel rose through the ranks to become a serious criminal within Kingpin’s organization, but his career ended abruptly when he encountered Phil Urich. Urich killed Daniel and then took over the Hobgoblin identity, proving that Daniel never measured up to his brother.

5) Harry Osborn (Ultimate)

Similar to his father, Harry Osborn in the Ultimate Universe also underwent a frightening transformation. Norman Osborn became the Ultimate Green Goblin and was central to the storyline The Death of Spider-Man. Harry followed a comparable path, becoming the Ultimate Hobgoblin—a large, powerful creature. Like his counterpart on Earth-616, Harry and Peter Parker were close friends, and Harry briefly dated Mary Jane Watson. Driven by the belief that his father had been murdered, Harry took the Oz Formula, turning him into a monstrous, fire-covered being. Ultimately, he tried to stop his father, who had been brought back to life, and died a heroic death.

4) Jason Macendale Jr.

Let me tell you, Jason Macendale Jr. is a seriously complex villain. He’s far more than just the Hobgoblin – he actually started out as the Jack O’Lantern! In fact, aside from Roderick Kingsley, he’s probably the most famous guy to ever wear the Hobgoblin mask. Many fans will remember him from Spider-Man: The Animated Series, brilliantly voiced by Mark Hamill. Macendale ditched the Jack O’Lantern persona to take over as Hobgoblin after Ned Leeds, but things took a dark turn when he made a deal with a demon, N’astirh, for more power. It…didn’t end well for him physically. Ultimately, his story finished in prison, where he was killed by Kingsley, who, it turns out, has a habit of getting rid of anyone who tries to take his place.

3) Phil Urich

Phil Urich was one of the main characters to become the Hobgoblin. As the nephew of reporter Ben Urich, he initially became a heroic version of the Green Goblin after a mishap with the Goblin Formula. However, the formula eventually drove him insane. He murdered Daniel Kingsley and took on the Hobgoblin persona, becoming a frightening villain who worked for the Kingpin. For years, his friends didn’t know about his double life. Eventually, Superior Spider-Man revealed his secret, and Phil later joined forces with Norman Osborn, who ultimately killed him.

2) Ned Leeds

Ned Leeds is often considered the most debated Hobgoblin. He was a close friend and ally of Peter Parker, but was secretly brainwashed and forced to act as a villain for a long time. Roderick Kingsley used him as a tool to hide his own identity. Kingsley eventually betrayed Ned, revealing him as the Hobgoblin, which led to Ned being killed by the Foreigner. This allowed Jack O’Lantern to become the new Hobgoblin. However, Ned’s story didn’t end there; he was later brought back to life by the Goblin Formula. While he seemed to recover, recent Marvel comics have shown Ned returning to the role of Hobgoblin, now attacking Spider-Man, Norman Osborn, and Roderick Kingsley.

1) Roderick Kingsley

Roderick Kingsley isn’t just a great Hobgoblin – he’s the defining one in Marvel Comics. He was the first to take on the role, and almost every Hobgoblin since has been based on his version. He’s also the most cunning, ruthless, and purely evil character to ever wear the mask. During his initial run, Kingsley was as terrifying as Norman Osborn’s Green Goblin. While he’s sometimes worked with teams like the Sinister Six and even briefly played the hero, he’s at his most captivating when he fully embraces being a villain. When Kingsley is at his worst, he’s far more dangerous than any other Hobgoblin.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/comics/list/5-best-knull-comics-to-celebrate-his-marvel-return/embed/#

Read More

2026-01-22 00:20