Spider-Man: The Animated Series Episode Eleven: The Hobgoblin: Part 1

The Hobgoblin, Part 1

First Aired: May 20th, 1995

Synopsis: Harry Osborn asks Peter Parker to move in with him to an apartment in Manhattan, saying that he needs a roommate and his dad wants someone responsible. The two discuss it as they go to the opening ceremony of a criminal science building, hosted by Norman Osborn and Wilson Fisk. Shortly into the ceremony, Hobgoblin shows up and attacks the ceremony. Peter changes to Spider-Man and fights him, but Hobgoblin eventually gets away. It turns out that Hobgoblin was hired by Norman to get rid of Kingpin. Since he failed, Norman fires Hobgoblin. He also mentions that he knows Hobgoblin's true identity and that if he dies then it'll be revealed to the world. Later, Peter talks to Aunt May about moving in with Harry and gets her approval, although he doesn't see her shed a single tear. When he goes to his new apartment, he finds that Harry's hosting a housewarming party, during which he flirts with Mary Jane.

Hobgoblin breaks into Wilson Fisk's tower and manages to find a secret hideout where Fisk and Alistair Smythe are. Hobgoblin deduces that Fisk is the Kingpin, and convinces him to hire him, before revealing that his previous employer was Norman Osborn. Fisk decides to turn the tables on Norman. The next day, Hobgoblin attacks Harry and Peter's apartment, and kidnaps Harry. The shock of the attack causes a visiting Aunt May to collapse and need to be taken to the hospital. When Hobgoblin goes to Kingpin for payment, Kingpin refuses for now. He contacts Norman and gives him a day to sign his inventions over to him or he'll kill Harry. Hobgoblin goes to Norman and wants to work for him again since he hasn't been paid yet, and is given an upgraded glider. Peter, meanwhile, has snuck into Oscorp to talk to Norman, but changes to Spider-Man when recognises Hobgoblin's voice. The two get into a lengthy fight, which ends when Hobgoblin's smart bombs catch up to Spider-Man and they explode.

Miscellaneous Notes:

• When Hobgoblin meets Kingpin, the latter has his henchmen aim a bunch of guns at him, and comments that "Not even you can fly high enough or fast enough to avoid a trip to the next world!" I know we're in the period where you couldn't mention death in cartoons, but sheesh.
• When Alistair Smythe asks Hobgoblin why he wears his mask, Hobgoblin comments that "For centuries, the hobgoblin's been a symbol of irrational fear and terror!" Sure, if you say so.

Review: As you'd expect from an episode named after him, Hobgoblin is the highlight here, but it's a bit of a double-edged sword. Watching him constantly switch sides is both entertaining and takes the direction you expect the plot to go in to a new direction each time, and it feels totally in character for him to do so. Since Spider-Man hasn't fought the Green Goblin before, Hobgoblin flying rings around him feels appropriate and justified, and it makes him feel like a credible threat.

On the downside, I'm not so keen about the mystery of Hobgoblin's identity. It very much feels like it's being done because it's what the comics did, but the Hobgoblin's identity was compelling because he had ambition and there was a very big mystery as to who might want to use the Green Goblin's gear for himself. There's also the fact that in the comics at this time, it wasn't known that Roderick Kingsley was the Hobgoblin, so if it turns out to be Ned Leeds or Jason Macendale in the show, I'll be pretty disappointed. On another note, when Norman Osborn gives Hobgoblin his new glider and the old one slots into it, it just screams, "Buy our toys, with interlocking glider action!"

Still, I'm not sure where things will go next episode and I did enjoy this, so there's not really a lot to be disappointed by. Other nice moments I liked include how genuinely friendly and charismatic Harry Osborn is, and Peter helping to save Wilson Fisk from Hobgoblin - I'd forgotten that he doesn't know he's the Kingpin in this continuity, which is another nice wrinkle. Colour me interested for the conclusion of this arc next episode.