In Amazing Spider-Man #249, the Hobgoblin launched his latest, and most ambitious, plan. Using information he recovered from Norman Osborn's files, he plans to blackmail some of New York City's top business leaders, including J. Jonah Jameson and Harry Osborn. The Hobgoblin calls them together at an exclusive Manhattan club, only to have his meeting interrupted by Spider-Man. The Hobgoblin blasts Spider-Man with a gas to numb the Web-Slinger's spider-sense and without that sixth sense, the Hobgoblin is able to defeat our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. However, before he can kill him, he is stopped by none other than the Kingpin, who was dining at the club. The Kingpin explains that the Hobgoblin represents a threat to his criminal empire and he would prefer if Spider-Man eliminated that threat.

But Spider-Man has more pressing needs as this issue starts. The club members nearly tear him to shreds before he can escape, even though he was just trying to help them. Of greater concern is his spider-sense. How can he go up against a dangerous foe like the Hobgoblin without it? Peter Parker meets Harry Osborn for coffee afterwards to discuss the incident at the club. "What bothers me most was how familiar Hobgoblin seemed with the workings of dad's club...almost familiar enough to be a member," Harry says. Hmmm...could writer Roger Stern be dropping a clue as to the Hobgoblin's secret identity?

Speaking of the Hobgoblin, he finds the spider-tracer that the Kingpin attached to his goblin glider. But he thinks little of it, knowing that Spider-Man's spider-sense is on the fritz. He is reveling in his successes as he thumbs through Norman Osborn's secret journals. "The final entry tells of a plan Osborn had to use that gas as a tool to expose Spider-Man's identity," he thinks. "The secret of Spider-Man would be worth more than all of Osborn's other secrets combined!" As we know, Norman Osborn did learn Spider-Man's secret identity back in the now-legendary Amazing Spider-Man #39-40.

Spider-Man goes to the various club members, hoping someone can give him some clues that will lead him to the Hobgoblin. When it comes to detective work, our hero ain't exactly Batman - he asks nicely and the club members all give him a version of "Get lost!" Interestingly, one of the men he visits apparently is Roderick Kingsley (although this actually seems to be Daniel Kingsley, Roderick's twin brother who often poses as Roderick). "N-nothing! I don't know a thing!" Roderick/Daniel stammers. Of course, we will learn years later that Roderick Kingsley actually is the Hobgoblin! But that, as they say, is a story for another day - or more to the point, in the Hobgoblin Lives mini-series.

Spider-Man's spider-sense briefly flares intensely, before disappearing again. We'll learn more about what that means next issue. His next stop is J. Jonah Jameson's office, where Jonah is writing a front-page confession for the Daily Bugle. Back in Amazing Spider-Man #20, Jonah financed the creation of the villain known as the Scorpion to battle Spider-Man. The Hobgoblin found out and now is trying to blackmail Jonah with the information. "I will not submit to blackmail! J. Jonah Jameson admits his mistakes!" he tells Spider-Man. But instead of reveling in his old foe's mistakes, Spider-Man grabs the confession and wads it up. "Forget about this martyr bit, Jameson! I'll find this Hobgoblin creep! I don't know how, but I will...and I'll even save your job! If that doesn't prove I'm crazy, then nothing will!" he says.

Peter comes up with a way to track down the Hobgoblin on his own. He remembers the first time he used a spider-tracer (to keep tabs on Doctor Octopus back in Amazing Spider-Man #11), he didn't have them attuned to his spider-sense. Instead, he used a hand-held receiver. He pulls that receiver out of the closet and starts adjusting it to work on his new tracers. "Here's where I see just how much of a science whiz I really am!" he thinks.

Sure enough, the signal takes him right to the Hobgoblin's headquarters and, for the first time, Spider-Man has the advantage of surprise over his cunning, crafty foe. "I don't know how you found me, but I do know this -- you'll never leave here alive!" the Hobgoblin proclaims. The two fight and in the struggle, the Hobgoblin accidentally starts a fire which threatens to consume Norman Osborn's precious journals. The fire turns into an explosion and we're left wondering if either hero or villain survived.

The story ends back at the Daily Bugle, where, despite Spider-Man's urgings, Jonah has decided to run his confession.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that this issue was writer Roger Stern's final one on the title. Stern's tenure began in Amazing Spider-Man #224, a story that redefined one of Spidey's oldest villains, the Vulture. Along the way, Stern gave us classic stories featuring Juggernaut, the Cobra and Mister Hyde, Will-O'-the-Wisp and the Tarantula and the Mad Thinker. He also re-energized Peter Parker's social life by introducing a love triangle with Peter, the Black Cat and Mary Jane Watson. And he gave us the wonderful story of "The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man" in Amazing Spider-Man #248. But Stern's most lasting contribution has to be his creation of the Hobgoblin, who quickly became one of the Web-Slinger's top foes. Personally, I would rank Stern's run on Amazing Spider-Man right behind Gerry Conway's classic work in the mid-1970s as the best Amazing Spider-Man run ever. And, yes, I know that includes Stan Lee's epic tenure, but Stern really was - and is - that good.

Interestingly, this issue was a regular-sized comic and not a double-sized issue to celebrate the 250th issue milestone.

Next issue: The title of the story, "Endings," says it all, as Spider-Man's battle with the Hobgoblin reaches its conclusion, plus a dramatic turn in the life of J. Jonah Jameson!

Reviewed by Bruce Buchanan.

Reprinted In:
Marvel Tales #260