Comic Book Resources just released an interview with Axis: Hobgoblin Kevin Shinick on what his series will be about. Thanks to the events of Axis an event by the Red Skull known as the Inversion sets both the heroes and villains on different paths. Like Luke Cage wanting to be profit for the Heroes for Hire Business, Carnage tries to be Spider-Man, Tony Stak returns to his weapons designer days in Superior Iron Man. For our good buddy, Roderick Kingsley he decides to make average joes, super heroes the same way he has been outfitting average joes as super villain the last year.
Yes, after the big “Inversion” Hobgoblin is now working for the good guys. But the way I see it, it’s not like he’s had a big change of heart and his moral compass is completely different. It’s just that, again, like any good businessman, he sees an opportunity to branch out into a new market. It’s like Belloq says to Indiana Jones, “You and I are very much alike. Archeology is our religion. Our methods have not differed as much as you pretend. It would take only a nudge to make you like me.” Replace the word “archeology” with the word “business” and I think that’s a conversation Kingsley could’ve had with himself to justify making a go at being a good guy. Especially if it’s profitable. The feeling of renewal is something that keeps coming up when I’m writing this. Obviously, Kingsley is having a renewed sense of purpose, but it also goes beyond that and affects a lot of people in his orbit. Now that Kingsley’s a good guy, he’s going to be using the same business plan he used to revitalize old villains, only this time he’s making a go at revitalizing old superheroes as well. And why not? At one point, someone even points out that the market for people wanting to be superheroes is a lot larger than those willing to risk being a villain.
You can read about the entire interview and the rest of the interview at CBR.
Thoughts on all of this?
I’m definitely interested in this, especially after that interview. Hope Shinick can come through!
I’m interested in the series to sadly, I won’t be able to buy it due to current budget problems.
Sounds pretty good. I’m interested to see what obscure superheroes he brings back.
Ditto what Hobo-Goblin said. I’m down for this book.
I hope we get to see more Roddy after this. We need another great arc with the one, true Hobgoblin. He’s been historically underused since the 80s. I’d like to see him more firmly established as a threat in Spider-Man’s world. Subsequent Hobgoblins have been kind of a joke.
I’d prefer a tale about non-altered Hobgoblin, but if this is all my main man Roddy gets, I guess I’ll take it. Writer sounds like he’s got a grip on the character at least.