Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives #1 synopsis

the plot: With the return of the original Hobgoblin now in full swing, the Hobgoblin calls his one-time associate Roderick Kingsley to bring him some compounds he would use towards his return. Meanwhile the staff of the Daily Bugle looks over the video footage of Jason Macendale's murder at the hands of the original Hobgoblin, and a angry Betty Brant, who thought up until this point that her late husband had been the original Hobgoblin, sets out to learn the truth. As Betty heads out, she runs into Spider-Man who offers his help in finding out the truth. As the chase to learn the truth heats up, Donald Menkin, a high ranking an employee at Osborn Industries plans an inside takeover with Kingsley until a call reveals that rival industrialist George Vandergill knows what's going on and plans to make that public knowledge.

Still trying to learn the truth, Spider-Man runs into Flash Thompson who has just finished arguing with Jacob Conover, a former Daily Bugle employee who worked with Ned, and Flash offers his help towards clearing Ned's good name. Across town, George Vandergill works on his own plans with Senator Robert Martin until Vandergill is attacked by the Hobgoblin and the Hobgoblin kills Vandergill before making a threat over Vandergill's phone to Martin. As the news is out that Vandergill has been murdered, Peter and Mary Jane meet with Betty and Flash at Betty's apartment and go over notes that state that the Hobgoblin that murdered Macendale used the same voice masking device that Ned used when he was the Hobgoblin, and that brain abnormalities found during autopsies on Ned and the second Hobgoblin Lefty Donovan were not found in Jason Macendale, leading the group to conclude that Ned had been brainwashed as well.

The group compiles a list of Hobgoblin suspects, including Conover and Kingsley, and Betty gives out a set of Spider-Tracers to the group and they go on their way. Peter meets with Ben Urich to discuss the possibility of criminal doctor Jonas Harrow being connected to the Hobgoblin, considering his connection to the Roxxon corporation and the takeover angle of Hobgoblin's attacks. Mary Jane meets with Roderick Kingsley to discuss a possible return to modelling as Mary Jane formerly modelled for Kingsley International's modelling division, though their meeting is cut short when Kingsley's brother Daniel calls Roderick away abruptly. Flash meets with Liz Osborn, the widow of Peter and Flash's old friend Harry Osborn about someone behind a takeover bid being the Hobgoblin, though their meeting is cut short when the Hobgoblin bombs an Osborn Industries refinery in New Jersey.

Peter and Flash arrive and rule out Norman Osborn as a suspect, but still keep Menkin as a suspect. Betty, meanwhile, has gone to meet with Senator Martin who has left his office in terror and denies ever knowing Vandergill. Deciding to take bolder measures towards learning the secrets of the Hobgoblin, Betty goes on a tv talk show to root out the truth and is approached by Jacob Conover who wants the notes that Ned Leeds took from Conover before his death that Betty mentioned had been recovered. Spider-Man comes to Betty's rescue, though Conover claims he just wanted his notes back and trembles in the presense of the arriving police officers. Suddenly though, Spider-Man's spider-sense goes off and the Hobgoblin attacks and the two mortal foes engage in battle until Spider-Man grabs onto the front horns on Hobgoblin's goblin glider and his electrocuted and sent hurdling into the ocean below. Will the secret of the Hobgoblin be revealed?

continued in Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives #3

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