Spider-Tracer: Dogged by the Demogoblin

For those of you who have been paying attention, you’ve probably noticed that over the past year, I’ve slowly been doing profiles on the main villains from the “Maximum Carnage” crossover of the 90’s. Part of the desire to do so stems from the fact that a large majority of these villains have been major parts of the “Absolute Carnage” crossover that recently ran through a large portion of the Marvel Comics, thus making them relevant in a way they haven’t been in years. I also just happen to really enjoy these villains and thought it would be a fun sub-theme. For this month’s Spider-Tracer, we’ll be taking a look at the murderous Demogoblin!

 

 

In order to better understand the Demogoblin, one needs a little history on the Hobgoblin, believe it or not. Tired of being a loser Harry Osborn and Spider-Man had just cleaned his clock), Jason Macendale, the then-current Hoboblin, made a deal with the demon N’astirh: In exchange for his soul, Macendale wanted the power of a demon. This made N’astirh laugh, and, as a result, granted Macendale’s wish. All of this occurred in “Spectacular Spider-Man” #147 during the big “Inferno” crossover that spanned many Spidey and X-Men books.

 

 

 

As time went on, Macendale’s sanity eroded as his personality became more and more overpowered by the demon N’astirh had bonded to him. The demonic Hobgoblin would kill anyone who he considered to be a sinner. During a battle with Danny Ketch as Ghost Rider and Johnny Blaze, Hobgoblin was hit with Ghost Rider’s mystical chain and Blaze’s hellfire, which soon began to split Macendale from the demon until, eventually, there were two beings where there had once been a single being.

 

 

 

Freed from Macendale in “Web of Spider-Man” #86, the demon eventually changed his costume to red and blue and took on the moniker of Demogoblin. He also retained the ability to summon a fiery Goblin Glider and other goblin-related weaponry (such as pumpkin bombs). He could also shoot hellfire from his hands and summon demons. The Demogoblin would eventually gain an ally, as well, in Spider-Man’s multi-armed Doppelganger (for more on him, see last month’s Spider-Tracer article). Following a four way battle with Spidey, Macendale, and the Doppelganger, Demogoblin resurrected the creature (which had been impaled on a fence post) to aid in his quest to destroy sinners, as well as other demons.

 

 

They then went on to target Macendale again, but Spider-Man intervened, which led to an even bigger battle involving Venom, Ghost Rider, Blaze, Hag and Troll (don’t ask) and creatures called the Deathspawn (again, don’t ask). Demogoblin subsequently encountered the likes of Moon Knight (whose body he tried to possess while incarcerated) and Blade. Blade, whom the Darkhold had temporarily possessed, killed the Demogoblin, though he was resurrected along with the rest of Blade’s victims after he was stopped.

 

 

Let’s not forget the rampage across New York City he carried out with Carnage, Shriek, Doppelganger, and Carrion during “Maximum Carnage”. Carnage convinced Demogoblin to join them, rationalizing that they were bound to kill some sinners along the way, which would help further the Demogoblin’s goals. However, Demogoblin came to blows often over their approach to mass slaughter; Demogoblin preferred to have a plan, while Carnage thrived upon chaos. Demogoblin and the others were eventually taken down by Spider-Man and his band of heroes. Well, except for Demogoblin’s old friend, the Doppelganger, whom Carnage killed shortly before the final battle.

 

 

Demogoblin then encountered Venom again in the “Venom: The Enemy Within” mini-series, this time after Brock had moved out to San Francisco and become a lethal protector. Demons had been summoned to Earth and the Demogoblin had sought to control them. Upon gaining his leadership over the demonic horde… he commanded they jump off the Golden Gate Bridge and kill themselves. He was trying to eradicate fellow demons, after all, so it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise.

 

 

Demogoblin soon made his way back to New York for a final confrontation with Macendale in “Spider-Man” Volume 1, #48 (1990). During a three way battle with Spider-Man and Macendale in a church, one of the pillars came crashing down and, in order to protect a child, Demogoblin held up the debris until the child could get to safety. He couldn’t hold out anymore as it came crashing down, effectively crushing and killing Demogoblin. With his noble sacrifice, Demogoblin proved to, ironically, have more humanity than Macendale ever did.

 

 

With that, the Demogoblin remained dead for quite some time, and it was only recently that it received new life, but not in a way anyone was expecting. In “Absolute Carnage: Lethal Protectors” #1, Carnage, in a rather bloody ritual, sacrificed Shriek by ripping out her spine. By doing so, the process revived Demogoblin, but with Shiek’s essence at its core, just as it had done with Macendale years earlier; this new female, demonic creature called itself Demagoblin.

 

 

And there you have it, the history of Demogoblin, er… Demagoblin. For those of you interested, Demogoblin will be the Build-A-Figure of the upcoming Marvel Legends Spider-Man Series. Collect all six figures and you can build your very own Demogoblin figure, complete with a fiery glider. He looks awesome, and I’m sure my anticipation for him helped inspire me to write this article. I’m told these are due out by January 1st, though these may arrive early.

 

 

What did you guys think of Demogoblin, the latest Demagoblin incarnation, and did you have any favorite stories with him? Will you be picking up his new action figure? Let me know in the comments section below!