Hobie started out his career as a criminal but quickly saw the light in Amazing Spider-Man #79 where he turned his life around with the help of Spider-Man. He appeared again in Amazing Spider-Man #87 where he impersonated Spider-Man and helped out Peter by appearing in the same room as him and taking away any questions that Peter and Spider-Man are the same person to a crowd full of friends. After the death of Captain George Stacy, Hobie suited up again and went after Spider-Man, who many accused for the death. It wasn't until years later in Defenders #62-64 that Hobie appeared again and the next time the Prowler appeared...It wasn't Hobie.

In the pages of Spectacular Spider-Man #47 & 48 a new criminal Prowler appeared and many thought it to be the original. It was learned later that this Prowler turned out to be the Cat Burglar from way back in Amazing Spider-Man #30, who stole the original Prowler's equipment and worked with the criminal Belladonna. Prowler II was defeated by Spider-Man and the original Prowler soon made his return. This time as a hero, Hobie appeared in a number of Spider-Man Annuals, mostly with the newly formed group that called themselves the Outlaws. Alongside The Puma, Rocket Racer, Sandman, and Will O' The Wisp, these reformed criminals formed a strong team.

The Prowler has also made some solo appearances even receiving his very own four-issue limited series and appeared in other titles such as Nightthrasher and Excalibur. A third Prowler was introduced in Sensational Spider-Man #16 who turned out to be Rick Lawson, a medical student who sought revenge on a former boss who fired him while knowing that he needed money for Med School. He too was defeated by Spider-Man after it was learned that he worked in a hospital where Hobie was while paralyzed. Hobie has not been seen much since after he recovered and helped Spider-Man create the Hornet costume and jet pack that peter wore briefly.