Green Goblin is one of the most iconic enemies of Spider-Man. The character appeared in numerous comics, but in the Spider-Man movies, too. On the other hand, there’s the Hobgoblin – a similar character that somewhat continued the legacy of the Green Goblin after he had been finally defeated. So, what are the differences between Green Goblin and Hobgoblin?
The Hobgoblin appeared around 20 years later than the Green Goblin. The writers didn’t want to resurrect Green Goblin once again, so instead, they ventured into a new character, Hobgoblin, who had very similar skills and weapons, but more of a supernatural vibe.
While Green Goblin did have some superhuman abilities like superhuman strength and durability, it’s up to interpretation whether it was all a figment of his insane mind, or did the Serum he took really give him superhuman abilities. On the other hand, Hobgoblin is sane and undoubtedly has superhuman powers. Let’s dive a bit deeper into their differences.
What Is The Difference Between Green Goblin and Hobgoblin?
Green Goblin Vs. Hobgoblin – Similarities
Green Goblin Vs. Hobgoblin – Differences
Green Goblin Vs. Hobgoblin: Who Is Deadlier?
What Is The Difference Between Green Goblin and Hobgoblin?
As I mentioned in the introduction, the Hobgoblin appeared a lot later than Green Goblin. The character was developed as a homage to Green Goblin’s legacy. The fans loved Green Goblin, but the persona had been shuffled around numerous people, killed and revived one too many times.
The fans wanted more of the character, but the writers didn’t want to resurrect him again or introduce another person to become the Green Goblin. So, instead of giving us yet another resurrection, writers Roger Stern and John Romita Jr. created Hobgoblin.
The character first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #238 in 1983. He had a very similar appearance to Green Goblin, and even used very similar gadgets and weapons. For instance, he used the weaponized Goblin Glider, used cherry bombs, and had phenomenal strength, reflexes, and stamina.
However, there were some obvious differences between the characters. Let’s dig into their similarities first, because it will give a much better understanding of how the characters differ, and how Hobgoblin continued the legacy of Green Goblin – and possibly even upgraded it.
Green Goblin Vs. Hobgoblin – Similarities
When you compare Green Goblin and Hobgoblin, you can immediately see how similar they are. Firstly, the entire Hobgoblin appearance was based on Green Goblin, but they gave him more of an old-school, medieval vibe instead of going the other way and making him more high-tech and advanced.
In fact, Hobgoblin found old equipment and paraphernalia that Green Goblin left behind, enhanced it, and used it himself. He even upgraded the Goblin Serum in a way that doesn’t have to explode to give him superpowers.
For a long time, we didn’t know if Norman Osborn – the initial Green Goblin – really had superhuman powers, or was it just a figment of his insanity. But, once Hobgoblin appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man in 1983, we learn that the explosion that made Norman turn into Green Goblin really gave him some superpowers, like super strength, stamina, and durability.
It also gave him brain damage that made him insane, but the insanity wasn’t a product of the explosion but rather a fault in the Goblin Serum formula. Hobgoblin improved the Serum, gaining all the superhuman abilities Green Goblin had but avoiding the brain damage.
One of the more subtle yet important similarities between the characters is that both had several identities – different people taking on the role. Still, the first person who took on the character was the most dangerous in both cases.
As mentioned before, Norman Osborn was the first Green Goblin, followed by his son, Harry Osborn, and then Harry’s psychiatrist, Bart Hamilton, who used Harry to find Green Goblin’s stash and take on the role himself.
Hobgoblin’s identity hadn’t been revealed for quite some time – for over a decade, all we knew is that he perfected the formula, gained superpowers, and became Spider-Man’s next big goblin threat. He protected his identity successfully for years by putting other people behind the mask.
Ned Leeds was the first guy we thought was the real Hobgoblin. After his death, Jason Macendale took on the identity. Eventually, we discover that the real Hobgoblin is Roderick Kingsley in The Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives #1-3 in 1997.
He was unhappy with Macendale for taking his role, so Kingsley killed him and continued operating as the true Hobgoblin. More people took on the role later, including Phil Urich and even Harry Osborn, but Roderick Kingsley was always the biggest threat.
So, both Green Goblin and Hobgoblin had Spider-Man as their primary enemy. Both used the same Goblin Serum (Hobgoblin’s formula was improved). Both had very similar costumes and weapons and gadgets, and both had numerous people take on the role. All those similarities lead us to their differences.
Green Goblin Vs. Hobgoblin – Differences
Now that we know their initial backstories and how similar they are, one might wonder, is there anything that makes them different from one another? Of course, there is.
First and foremost, most versions of Green Goblin were insane. Norman Osborn had gone insane and had split personalities after the Serum exploded and turned him into Green Goblin. His son, Harry, went crazy over grief after finding out his father was the Green Goblin and Spider-Man killing him, along with learning that Spider-Man is his best friend, Peter Parker.
Even his psychiatrist, Bart Hamilton, was a bit insane when he took on the role. On the other hand, most versions of Hobgoblin are completely sane. Kingsley had improved the Goblin Serum to bypass the side effects, so he kept his sanity while gaining all the superpowers Green Goblin had gotten from the Serum.
However, he was a lot more power-hungry. Some versions of Hobgoblin made cybernetic changes to his body to become even more lethal. He even made a deal with a demon that merged the two, getting him even more superpowers in exchange for his soul – the version of Hobgoblin being named the Demogoblin.
So, one might say that the biggest difference between Green Goblin and Hobgoblin was their sanity. While most versions of Green Goblin were insane, most versions of Hobgoblin were completely sane but immensely power-hungry.
He was willing to sell his body and soul if that meant he’d gain power. On the other hand, Osborn’s insanity caused a fixation on Spider-Man, so his primary goal wasn’t ultimate power but destroying Spider-Man and revealing his identity.
While they did have similar weapons, one could argue that Hobgoblin was somewhat advanced compared to Green Goblin. Here’s why.
Green Goblin Vs. Hobgoblin: Who Is Deadlier?
After several years of thinking that we’re done with the Green Goblin because of the character remaining silent, it was safe to assume that Hobgoblin completely took over the reins. However, in Spider-Man 75 in 1996, it’s revealed that Norman Osborn is alive, and he returned to his Green Goblin role, later known as the Goblin King. [1]
At the same time, Phil Urich’s Hobgoblin stepped away from the role and became the Goblin Knight, working with Osborn’s Goblin King. That made many believe that Hobgoblin is inferior to Green Goblin, and the character took a dramatic turn.
Kingsley returned as the Hobgoblin, but now, he leases the costumes and gadgets of other supervillains who are now inactive or have died. My point in mentioning all of this is, both are very layered characters with unique skills and abilities, but when it comes to who’s deadlier, there’s only one right answer, and that’s the Hobgoblin.
First of all, you need to take a look at the character’s motivations. Green Goblin’s initial goal was to take over the criminal underworld in New York, but his insanity quickly caused a fixation on Spider-Man and made him hurt. It became his ultimate goal, regardless of anything else.
On the other hand, although Hobgoblin is a big nemesis to Spider-Man, his only goal is to make money and power. Sure, he likes to see Spidey hurt, but there’s no fixation.
Secondly, we know that Kingsley had experimented and improved the Goblin Serum, removing the side-effects that caused insanity. Sometimes, being insane and fearless had helped Green Goblin, but at most times, it caused him more harm than good. By remaining sane, Hobgoblin makes more rational, calculated decisions, ultimately making him deadlier than his predecessor.
Another thing that makes Hobgoblin deadlier is his lust for power. Nothing can stop him from getting it; as we know, he even merged himself with a demon to become Demogobling, selling his soul just to have more power. He was also a member of the Sinister Six, a team of supervillains that made him that much more dangerous.
Finally, Hobgoblin’s improvements of the Goblin Serum formula not only kept him sane but also enhanced the other effects as well. When Green Goblin and Hobgoblin finally fought in Spectacular Spider-Man #261, Osborn concluded that Kingsley eclipsed him in strength, durability, speed, and other physical attributes.
Green Goblin had to rely on his gadgets and weapons to fight Spider-Man, as he was simply physically outpowered, but Kingsley’s Hobgoblin was a formidable opponent to Parker even without his weapons.
Therefore, while both have similar weaponry and high intellect, Kingsley’s identity-hiding skills, along with his sanity and improved physical attributes, make Hobgoblin a deadlier supervillain than Green Goblin.
FAQs
Who is more powerful Green Goblin and Hobgoblin? ›
5/15 Hobgoblin Proved He Was Physically Stronger In Battle Against The Green Goblin. During his first encounters with Spider-Man, the Hobgoblin was hopelessly outgunned and relied on his gadgets for survival. When Hobgoblin finally cracked the code of Osborn's formula, his discovery granted him a major upgrade.
Who came first hobgoblin or Green Goblin? ›In the comics, Green Goblin was introduced first in 1964, nearly 19 years before the Hobgoblin first appeared in 1983. Harry Osborn asking Peter Parker to become his roommate in a place paid for by his father, Norman Osborn, is adapted from "The Amazing Spider-Man" (Vol.
How strong is the hobgoblin? ›He can lift approximately 10 tons, his muscle equaling that of Spider-Man. Norman Osborn was clearly surprised by the level of strength the Hobgoblin carries, leading him to conclude that they were evenly matched.
Is Green Goblin the most powerful? ›1 The Red Goblin Is The Most Powerful Goblin Yet
He eventually made it capable of safely bonding to himself and adapting to the Goblin Formula in Norman's bloodstream. With the Carnage symbiote bonded to him, Norman Osborn became the Red Goblin.
Green Goblin
The strongest, and arguably the most cruel, of all the Spider-Man villains that MCU Peter Parker has faced. With the combination of advanced military tech and super soldier serum, the malice that Green Goblin puts forward is unparalleled with any other villain.
The Green Goblin is powerful, but he is not nearly as powerful as the Venom symbiote. The physical power that the Venom symbiote grants its hosts is absolutely amazing and this point goes to Venom.
Why does Ned become Hobgoblin? ›Ned and Peter compete for the affections of Betty Brandt, with Ned eventually marrying her. One day, Ned sees Spider-Man battling the Hobgoblin (Roderick Kingsley) and followed the villain to a hideout, where after he was caught by Hobgoblin, he was brainwashed as a scapegoat to keep his own identity a secret.
Who is Thor's arch nemesis? ›Loki – Thor's archenemy and adoptive brother. The son of Laufey, ruler of the Frost Giants of Jotunheim, one of the "Nine Worlds" of the Asgardian cosmology. He is a master of spellcasting and trickery. Lorelei – The sister of Amora the Enchantress, who possesses some skills in Asgardian magic and seduction.
Is Green Goblin stronger than Captain America? ›Green Goblin's Serum Beats Captain America's
Sadly, Cap often grapples to subdue difficult enemies like The Winter Soldier. In the end, the Goblin could easily overpower the hero and pummel him with punches that could last longer than most, as he's never been shown to get tired from a long fight.
In the comics, Green Goblin can lift up to 9 tons, whereas Hobgoblin's strength can rival that of Spider-Man's which means he can lift up to 12 tons. Add to that, Roderick Kingsley is a calculated man, unlike Norman Osborn who is just insane. So, Hobgoblin can definitely beat Green Goblin if they ever fight.
Who killed Hobgoblin? ›
Hobgoblin and the other goblin-themed Hounds attacked Silk, Spider-Woman of Earth-65, and Black Widow of Earth-1610. He is killed by Superior Spider-Man, Assassin Spider-Man, and Spider-Punk.
Who is the stronger Goblin? ›1 Red Goblin
The Red Goblin is among the most powerful variants of the Green Goblin, as he combines the dangerous intellect of Norman Osborn with the Carnage symbiote. Red Goblin Carnage has superhuman strength, speed, and endurance.
Green Goblin is Spider-Man's superior when it comes to strength. Osborn wouldn't have it any other way and on top of that, he has a powerful healing factor. Green Goblin's strength is made all the more perilous by his insanity.
Can Ironman beat Green Goblin? ›A fight between the Green Goblin and everyone's favorite billionaire playboy genius, Tony Stark, would end up being a tech battle of the century. Two men in costumes fighting it out with money and a lot of weapons. However, Tony Stark would end up on top this time around, despite Gobby's superhuman abilities.
Is Green Goblin immortal? ›It was discovered that the Oz Formula that affected Parker and Osborn gave them immortality. The Green Goblin is defeated with Osborn's body being immolated by Detective Maria Hill.
Who is Spider-Man's deadliest enemy? ›1. Norman Osborn/Green Goblin (Spider-Man Trilogy, Spider-Man: No Way Home) Spidey's most frightening foe, Norman Osborn (Willem Dafoe) was the founder of Oscorp and "something of a scientist" himself; his work in nanotechnology is unparallelled.
Who is Spider-Man's greatest foe? ›The Norman version of the Green Goblin is usually regarded as Spider-Man's archenemy. The second Goblin, Harry Osborn, is Norman's son and Peter Parker's best friend.
Who is Marvel's strongest villain? ›Beyonder is, by far, the most powerful villain in the Marvel universe. He can manipulate and control matter, energy, and reality at a cosmic level beyond far greater than what other cosmic entities can do. He can warp reality to, in theory, simulate any power he wants.
Who can defeat Green Goblin? ›With one of the most powerful weapons literally wrapped around his finger, any version of Green Lantern would easily be able to defeat Green Goblin. Thanks to the capabilities of the Green Lantern Rings, members of the Corps are able to fight both at a close range and from a distance.
Who is stronger Green Goblin or joker? ›As the Joker possesses no meta-human powers, abilities or combat training, the Green Goblin's enhanced strength, reflexes and recuperative abilities give him the edge over the Joker in a physical fight.
Who Has Green Goblin defeated? ›
Formed by Norman Osborn and calling themselves the Sinister Twelve, they attacked the heroes as Osborn, now in his Green Goblin costume, made his way to kill Mary Jane. A battle followed in which the heroes were greatly outnumbered and brutally beaten.
How did Hobgoblin get his powers? ›Through hypnosis, Kingsley was able to brainwash Leeds into becoming a new Hobgoblin that Kingsley could manipulate from the shadows, particularly as a stand-in during negotiations with The Rose (Richard Fisk) in an elaborate plot to bring the Kingpin's empire down.
How did Ned get powers? ›In "Spider-Man: No Way Home," Peter gives Ned the ring, which allows multiversal travel via magic and forms an essential early part of the magical training in Kamar-Taj. It's an artifact that even Doctor Strange had considerable trouble with before being taught not to be so intellectual with it.
Does Ned have magic powers? ›Ned's Powers & History In Marvel Comics
Ned is then brainwashed and forced to act as the Hobgoblin, and while he doesn't possess the character's usual superhuman strength or healing factor, he makes use of the Hobgoblin's glider and equipment.
Loki. Thor's foster brother and the Norse God of Mischief, Loki deserves the top spot as Thor's seminal arch-enemy.
Who is Hulk's strongest enemy? ›The Leader (Samuel Sterns) is a a supervillain appearing in Marvel Comics, created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko as the archenemy of the Hulk.
Who is Iron Man's greatest enemy? ›Mandarin - The archenemy of Iron Man, the Mandarin is a Chinese nobleman, scientist and former diplomat turned criminal mastermind.
What is Green Goblin's weakness? ›Template. Green Goblin is a Tech champion. Being a Tech Champion, he has a Class Bonus against Mutant Champions but is weak to Cosmic Champions.
Why Green Goblin is so strong in no way home? ›Green Goblin
Trying to prove his supersoldier serum was a success, Norman Osborn (Dafoe) injected himself with a formula that enhanced his strength, agility, and reflexes. Besides being a superhuman menace, Osborn is also a genius capable of building explosive grenades that disintegrate his enemies with a flash.
1. Tom Holland. Some fans will surely side-eye the idea of putting the current guy at the top of the list, but when it comes down to it, Tom Holland is a pitch-perfect Peter Parker - more than anyone else who's taken the role.
Is Harry Osborn Green Goblin or Hobgoblin? ›
| Harry Osborn | |
|---|---|
| Team affiliations | Oscorp Parker Industries Alchemax |
| Partnerships | Spider-Man |
| Supporting character of | Spider-Man |
| Notable aliases | Green Goblin, Hobgoblin, American Son, Harry Lyman, Kindred, Goblin Prince |
What's the difference between a goblin and a hobgoblin? While a goblin is often portrayed in folklore as a grotesque, evil, and malicious creature, a hobgoblin tends to traffic more in mischief than malice. (The character Puck in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream might be regarded as a hobgoblin.)
Does Ned become the Hobgoblin? ›After the New York underworld learns that Ned is the Hobgoblin, he is murdered by the Foreigner in Berlin at Jason Macendale's request, and some time later, the real Hobgoblin returns to kill Macendale.
How strong is Green Goblin? ›As a result of the Goblin Formula, Norman possesses super human strength (able to lift nine tons), speed, reflexes, endurance, and healing. He can regenerate damaged tissue and organs (though not at the same rate as the mutant Wolverine). His intelligence has been enhanced to genius levels at the price of his sanity.
Who is Spider-Man's greatest enemy? ›The Norman version of the Green Goblin is usually regarded as Spider-Man's archenemy.
How was Green Goblin so strong in no way home? ›Green Goblin
Trying to prove his supersoldier serum was a success, Norman Osborn (Dafoe) injected himself with a formula that enhanced his strength, agility, and reflexes. Besides being a superhuman menace, Osborn is also a genius capable of building explosive grenades that disintegrate his enemies with a flash.
Green Goblin is Spider-Man's superior when it comes to strength. Osborn wouldn't have it any other way and on top of that, he has a powerful healing factor. Green Goblin's strength is made all the more perilous by his insanity.
Are hobgoblins stronger than goblins? ›Goblin vs Hobgoblin
While Tolkein has described hobgoblins as larger and stronger than goblins in The Lord of the Rings, the most popular of goblins have been the ones shown in Harry Potter movies who are small, green skinned creatures and are troublesome but clever.
He still retains his "Lunatic Laugh" and he also has superhuman strength, speed, durability, stamina, reflexes and senses, and enhanced intellect. For unknown reasons, he no longer needs his Goblin mask to activate this power.
Do goblins turn into hobgoblins? ›Hobgoblin is the first evolution that all goblins partake when given the opportunity to evolve into a higher ranked species. They are larger, stronger, smarter and more menacing than goblins.
Who is Hobgoblin Spider-Man? ›
Roderick Kingsley was a successful fashion designer and millionaire who had built his empire through underworld ties and unethical practices. One of his criminal associates, George Hill, had stumbled upon one of the secret lairs of the original Green Goblin.
Does Dr Strange remember Peter Parker? ›Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness indicates that the heroic sorcerer remembers web-slinger Peter Parker in a specific way after Spider-Man: No Way Home's ending.
How did Ned get powers? ›In "Spider-Man: No Way Home," Peter gives Ned the ring, which allows multiversal travel via magic and forms an essential early part of the magical training in Kamar-Taj. It's an artifact that even Doctor Strange had considerable trouble with before being taught not to be so intellectual with it.
Who can beat Green Goblin? ›With one of the most powerful weapons literally wrapped around his finger, any version of Green Lantern would easily be able to defeat Green Goblin. Thanks to the capabilities of the Green Lantern Rings, members of the Corps are able to fight both at a close range and from a distance.
Is Green Goblin stronger than a super soldier? ›The Final Verdict
Cap's Super-Soldier serum provides some neat perks, but the Goblin formula cranks the enhancements up to 11 on the scale. Not only does Osborn seem physically stronger, but he's clearly a lot tougher than Steve Rogers even with a failed Goblin cure coursing through his veins.
Template. Green Goblin is a Tech champion. Being a Tech Champion, he has a Class Bonus against Mutant Champions but is weak to Cosmic Champions.