Chronological Read Through Topic

[Proto Goblin]

How was that Fire Lord story anyway? Ive always heard good things about it but havn't ever read it myself. Ive heard its kinda like like the nothing can stop the Juggernaught story though which I really liked.

[Constantine]

Really good. It's pretty much DeFalco's Nothing Can Stop the Juggernaut!, though since Firelord is stoppable it focuses more on Spidey's strength and other abilities rather than his ingenuity and cleverness. Seeing Spider-Man go all out and push his limits was extremely enjoyable, especially after dozens of stories of him having trouble against normal humans that simply have a bit of training.

[Wheatcakes]

I also enjoyed the Firelord story, and often wondered how far Spidey would have went had Captain America told him he had had enough. It might make a good What If tale.

[Constantine]

Hrr... I'm really torn on Peter giving up his Spider-Man duties yet again. On one hand, he pretty much swore off doing so again in the perfect #200 by Marv Wolfman and in #274 (a really fantastic issue, by the way) the Beyonder really tests his will and sense of responsibility by making him come face to face with a lot of his failings, and Peter came out on top, essentially stating that he couldn't give up -- that continuing to help people is simply part of his being due to how he was raised, but on the other hand, him giving up is really... well... human, and these realistic reactions to things is one of the reasons why I love reading Spider-Man.

Peter has faced a lot of really bad times recently, like the death of Jean DeWolff and Nathan being hospitalized, and then there's the fact that he gets almost nothing but grief from being Spider-Man. Even people he saves are afraid of and hate him, being Spider-Man has pretty much ruined all his relationships (and is even starting to harm the one he has with Aunt May) and leaves him with no time for himself and with the Bugle having grown tired of Spidey pix, it's now really starting to hurt his job, too. So, Peter being fed up and angry is a really human reaction to have to his current situation, so while I have some hang ups about him giving up being Spider-Man yet again, it does make for a really interesting story and DeFalco is talented enough to pull it off.

[Wheatcakes]

I think the statute of limitations on Peter giving up being Spider-Man is seven years. It alternates with him going "crazy" and immersing himself in the Spidey persona until he comes back to his senses. This formula would work if there were a huge reader turnover, but it's my understanding it really doesn't work that way.

[Constantine]

Did he ever give up being Spider-Man again between the first time in #50 and #275 (the DeFalco one I'm currently on)? The closest I remember is him taking some sort of serum to get rid of his spider powers in #100 which led to him instead growing four extra arms.

[Constantine]

I have to say, I'm really liking the black suit being almost his main one now. It just really fits the more mature and intense Peter Parker that these stories have been focusing on this past year or so worth of comics. Doesn't hurt that it's really nice looking, too. Sucks knowing that he eventually goes back to only using the red and blues.

[Wheatcakes]

I thought I owned all of the original issues which captured Spidey's first run in the black suit in ASM, MTU, SSM etc., however by chance I stumbled across one in a dollar bin I had never seen before, Power Pack #29, which features the Hobgoblin as well. I don't know why this one wasn't advertised at all back in the day, but I was glad I found it. The story wasn't anything remarkable, but if you're a black suit or Hobby completist, there ya go.

[Wheatcakes]

As for the giving up Spidey thing, you're probably right, it wasn't as often as I thought, it just felt that way over the years. Perhaps because of the "I am Spider" storyline which proceeded the Clone Saga which irritated me at the time.

[Constantine]

MIght've been thinking of the times he's lost his powers, which is a pretty common plot. I also think Peter gives up being Spidey in favor of Ben Reilly taking over the identity, which followed the whole 'I am the Spider' story pretty closely from what I remember. I'm sure there's also at least once more where he contemplates giving up being Spider-Man between where I'm at now and whatever issue Amazing is currently on.

And yeah, I think I have that issue. I bought a Power Pack lot on eBay since Spidey has a handful of guest appearances in the book.

[Constantine]

I find it somewhat idiotic that Pete would actually seriously consider Flash as the Hobgoblin simply due to the fact that Peter has to know that Thompson isn't smart enough to pull off all the crap that Hobby has.

[iron_patriot]

For a Bogdanove drawing, that's not that bad.

[Wheatcakes]

I find it somewhat idiotic that Pete would actually seriously consider Flash as the Hobgoblin simply due to the fact that Peter has to know that Thompson isn't smart enough to pull off all the crap that Hobby has.

It was only a few weeks ago that I finally got the trade of "Hobgoblin Lives" to read the final say on that character. I remember at the time when Hobby was revealed as Ned, I was quite confused and it seemed like a huge letdown. I also found it confusing with all the background involving the Rose, Alfredo, Keating, etc which was spread out between ASM and one issue of Web. It's been so long since I read it, but Mr Stern does a great job summing up all the clues with a handy reference guide at the back. Definitely a good buy.

[Constantine]

Ned originally being selected for the Hobgoblin never made much sense to me, either. Hobby was shown to be very wealthy and very intelligent -- two traits Ned never really showed. The only things that really pointed to him was that the Hobgoblin was shown to be blond and that Leeds started to act strangely around the same time the Hobgoblin came into the scene. Kingsley even back then fit the role much better, having already been shown to be blond, intelligent, wealthy, ambitious, cutthroat, and ruthless.

How self contained is 'Hobgoblin Lives'? I really have an itch to read it after #289 of ASM (where they reveal Leeds as Hobby), but I really don't want to spoil myself of future plot threads.

On an unrelated note, I was originally really hesitant of David Michelinie taking of ASM for nearly a decade but I'm really warming up to him. His stint on 'Web of' has been really enjoyable, my only issue with it is how compressed some of the stories feel -- a lot of them would be helped greatly by adding another issue to their arc. If I have the extra money, I might buy the omnibus that collects his first 33 or so issues of Amazing.

[Wheatcakes]

"Hobgoblin Lives" is quite self contained, in that almost every reference to Hobby since his first appearance right up until that story are referenced in some way, and Roger Stern fills in the gaps and clues quite nicely. It definitely helped me as I don't have the time to sit down and reread all the back issues to remember who was who, I'm glad I bought it. It also has the final appearance of Kingsley in the three parter "Goblins at the Gate" storyline (unless he really did die in ASM recently). I recommend it for sure.