Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume 13: Hobgoblin

Ultimate Spider-Man (Collected Editions)

by Brian Michael Bendis (Writer), Mark Bagley

It's the terrifying debut of the Ultimate Hobgoblin as Harry Osborn returns to Midtown High harboring a dark secret that will affect the lives of all those around him - especially his best friend, Peter Parker. And where does Harry's father - Norman Osborn, a.k.a. the Green Goblin - fit into all this?

Collecting: Ultimate Spider-Man 72-78

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Spider Man, Comic Book, Superheroes, Graphic Novels Comics

168 pages, Paperback

First published August 24, 2005

About the author

A comic book writer and erstwhile artist. He has won critical acclaim (including five Eisner Awards) and is one of the most successful writers working in mainstream comics. For over eight years Bendis’s books have consistently sat in the top five best sellers on the nationwide comic and graphic novel sales charts.

Though he started as a writer and artist of independent noir fiction series, he shot to stardom as a writer of Marvel Comics' superhero books, particularly Ultimate Spider-Man.

Bendis first entered the comic world with the "Jinx" line of crime comics in 1995. This line has spawned the graphic novels Goldfish, Fire, Jinx, Torso (with Marc Andreyko), and Total Sell Out. Bendis is writing the film version of Jinx for Universal Pictures with Oscar-winner Charlize Theron attached to star and produce.

Bendis’s other projects include the Harvey, Eisner, and Eagle Award-nominated Powers (with Michael Avon Oeming) originally from Image Comics, now published by Marvel's new creator-owned imprint Icon Comics, and the Hollywood tell-all Fortune and Glory from Oni Press, both of which received an "A" from Entertainment Weekly.

Bendis is one of the premiere architects of Marvel's "Ultimate" line: comics specifically created for the new generation of comic readers. He has written every issue of Ultimate Spider-Man since its best-selling launch, and has also written for Ultimate Fantastic Four and Ultimate X-Men, as well as every issue of Ultimate Marvel Team-Up, Ultimate Origin and Ultimate Six.

Brian is currently helming a renaissance for Marvel’s AVENGERS franchise by writing both New Avengers and Mighty Avengers along with the successful ‘event’ projects House Of M, Secret War, and this summer’s Secret Invasion.

He has also previously done work on Daredevil, Alias, and The Pulse.

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of a slow start but once it gets cooking it turns into one heckuva spicy meatball. Nice twist towards the end of the main Hobgoblin story and a really emotional finish. The epilogue issue focusing on MJ was really nice, too.

[Subham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was too good omg!

This just becomes epic wow! So we have Harry and we see what he has been upto and Bendis does great and interesting things with him like after what happened to Norman and how he feels about it and then coming back and his transformation to Hobgoblin and how he challenges Peter and with MJ in the middle, its love vs friendship and such a big challenge for Peter and its epic and the way it ends is just wow next level! Some of the best fighting art I have seen and its beautiful! Plus some big changes with Pete and Fury and something with MJ in the end that made me love her more!!

SO yeah another recommend from me as this series continues to become more and more epic!!

[Sesana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is more like it. I think that I've said before that virtually everything I know about the Spider-Man mythos I learned from the 90s cartoon, so I suppose that I'm coming into all of this with fairly fresh eyes. Was this version of Hobgoblin perfect? Probably not. But Harry is a sympathetic character here, for the most part. The blow up between Peter and Mary Jane was also handled fairly well. I get what Peter is saying, and I get what Mary Jane is saying. Both have good points, neither were at their best. Like so many real life breakups, I suppose. Which doesn't make their arguments easy to read. Quite the opposite, at times.

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter Parker is actually on the verge of a nervous breakdown about 85% of the time in this book and I love it.

Harry returns and Peter panics. The fear of MJ getting hurt again by a Osborn grows after the events of the last few volumes. Poor Gwen. Poor Ben. Peter is at his breaking point here and it's crazy to believe a 16 year old can carry all that weight and not go berserk. His anger gets the better of him, while MJ makes a few mistakes herself, leading Harry to go one on one against Peter as the Hobgoblin shows his face!

It's a pretty screwed up volume, the fight is pretty epic as well. Very raw, with emotion to back up the entire fight. I loved that part and Peter losing himself to fear. The last issue was decent, but kind of cheesy for what I would have wanted. But overall a great volume. A 4 out of 5.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

A welcome return to form from Bendis and Bagley as Harry Osborn returns to the scene with baggage and an apparent agenda of his own.

As in previous volumes, though, it’s the raw emotion and teenaged-ness of it all that gives the story heft rather than midtown Manhattan fisticuffs.

[Doctorjimmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Χωρίς αμφιβολία, το επίκεντρο -και μεγαλύτερο θετικό- της ιστορίας είναι το τρίγωνο Pete-MJ-Harry. Ο Bendis αποτυπώνει εξαιρετικά την παράνοια που μαστίζει τον γιο του Norman μέσα από την σχέση του με τον Shaw (και το ποιός είναι πραγματικά αυτός ο μυστήριος νεόφερτος χαρακτήρας), αλλά σίγουρα θα πρέπει να έχεις διαβάσει τα προηγούμενα arcs που τον φιγουράρουν για να δεις σε βάθος την χειραγώγηση που είχε υποστεί από τον πατέρα του όλα αυτά τα χρόνια: ίσως το πιο καλοφτιαγμένο origin κακού μέχρι τώρα.

Αντίθετα, ο Peter βρίσκεται σε επιφυλακή και άγχος καθ’όλη την διάρκεια της ιστορίας, μην ξέροντας αν πρέπει να εμπιστευτεί τον παιδικό του φίλο, ξεσπάει σε λάθος άτομα και καταχράται τις δυνάμεις του, ενώ τρέμει στην ιδέα του να πεθάνει και η MJ μετά τον θάνατο της Gwen, αποφασίζοντας να την χωρίσει για την ασφάλεια της. Και η εντυπωσιακή τελική μάχη απόκτα ολοένα και πιοτ τραγικό χαρακτήρα αν σκεφτείς πως ο Harry δεν θέλει να έχει καμία ανάμειξη με όλα αυτά. Δεν μπορώ να πω περισσότερα χωρίς να spoil-άρω αλλά, γενικά, πρόκειται για μια από τις πιο έντονες ιστορίες του τίτλου μέχρι τώρα.

[Jack Herbert Christal Gattanella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now this is more like it! Harry Osborn returns, and with that comes drama up the wazoo - the kind that brings some major existential problems - for Parker, but for MJ, especially her - and action that also ropes in Nick Fury into being responsible (though hes an a-hole so that doesn't really pan out like you think, albeit theres a bit of foreshadowing that feels rather ominous).

This is Bendis doing what they do best with this series, with dialog that has excellent highs and lows (I mean in a particular scene - see for example the part where MJ goes to see Peter on the bleechers and how that conversation goes through many moments where it's not just one thing happening) and in the melodrama pointing back to the central quesfion: can Peter Parker be Spider-Man and have and keep people in his life (aside from Aunt May) that he cares about... Who also know his secret, *and* that he can protect? Turns out, lying (or just not telling the full details because, you know, being a teenager sucks) doesn't help the case here.

I also really LOVE the ending as it works as a perfect moment where one thinks something good and natural is unfolding - already MJ is introduced to a new guy (a dashingly handsome for his type punk rocker) and just when one thinks the scene will go one way, it pivots and becomes about what *her* main question is. This Ultimate Spider-Man series hasnt been perfect or anything (itd be hard to expect it to be), but when it's good it's really really terrific and this volume is another highpoint that feels complete in a way unto itself, like its own segment in a film series.

[Nicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe I need to stop reading these for now and just bow to the necessity of dragging them home in my suitcase. They're still fun, and this volume was pretty good -- I got genuinely caught up in the emotion between Peter and Mary Jane, and I was touched and worried for Harry Osborn... but at the same time, these fights keep on happening, it's getting darker and less fun (i.e. needs more digestion time) and the teenage drama between Peter and Mary Jane just keeps on playing out over and over.

Some stuff hasn't even been touched on in a couple of volumes: working at the Daily Bugle, problems with Aunt May, Felicia Hardy (who looks to be coming up in the next one)... I don't know, maybe I better pause while it's still fun, and before I pick it apart.

[Stormy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So at the beginning of this comic we see how Peter became Spider-Man the day when he got bit by the Spider and the events of that day so I was wondering when I started it look we've seen this why you showing it was again because something we did not know was Harry and Mary Jane will sort of in a relationship what Harry wanted to keep it quiet you know a secret girl on the side you know and Mary Jane wasn't too happy about it and we just get to see this whole other part of the comic what we didn't know before what was pretty cool to see and a bit more about Harry

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peters personal life is falling apart, nothing is going right for him and then rather than a good friend returning to help him, he returns to flip the table both personal and Spidey wise.

I'm not quite sure I understood what was happening with the goon who was helping him/egging him on, no one could see him?

This is a tense issue with a lot on the line for Spidey and ends up throwing up a possible future Spidey/Cage clash.

[Hector · Rating 2 out of 5]

eso de que spider vaya a tener actos X?venga hombre no,no.

[Alex G · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was SUCH an interesting take on the hobgoblin. I love how many twists we're getting on the original story. Also nice to see more of MJ.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is much better than Volume 12.
Enjoyed the art and story, interesting study of relationships and the value of being a superhero?

[Shane Stanis · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Ultimate Year 13&14

4* for the goblin epic, 1 for MJ’s break up story.

Read for more B&B Parker/Osborn action!

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Harry thing seemed like it was going to be interesting… until he just turned into another goblin and a puppet for Shaw. I wish Bendis had explored more of Harry’s resentment toward Peter for what he perceived as Peter ruining/stealing his life, rather than just writing Harry as this weak and confused kid, being manipulated by everyone around him.

And while I’m usually a big fan of the Peter and Mary’s relationship, Peter was ridiculously toxic in this volume. And still, the arc ends with Mary stating her intention to prove herself to him. I found myself disgusted with Peter and, although I felt bad for her, I was frustrated with Mary for allowing him to treat her so poorly.

Of course, Bendis always entertains and the action sequences are a good time. But this was definitely not my favorite volume.

[Rix · Rating 1 out of 5]

Urgh Peter is just the worst in this volume. Most of the relationship drama going on is completely avoidable (I know they're teenagers but I strongly doubt that the narrative is ever meaningfully going to tackle what's going on here from that angle). Anyway, stay tuned till next volume to find out what's wrong with the seemingly very nice guy MJ is with at the end

[Sam Whale · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a stressful read. Volume 13 feels like a culmination of every traumatic thing that has happened since MJ was thrown off a bridge by the Green Goblin in volume 4. Since then Peter has been betrayed by his childhood best friend Eddie Brock, been kidnapped by the sinister 6, tortured by Doc Ock, experimented on by Curt Connors and he's seen Gwen Stacy be killed by the results of that experience. There's been a steady build up in Peters stress and trauma for a while now and volume 13 is a breaking point. Reading Peter in such a bad head space is really interesting. It's very well written, it never feels edgy or grim dark and instead reads like genuine trauma and anxiety.

Volume 13 is also the breaking point of Peter and MJ's relationship. This has also been building up for a while now. MJ and Peter both have a nasty habit of keeping things from the other to try to protect them..Peter often comes across as controlling when trying to protect her and MJ in turn comes across as reckless when she doesn't listen to him.

I think having the return of Harry Osborn and him turning into the Hobgoblin works as a great way to bring both these slow building plot elements to a close. Having Peter see yet another loved one become broken and tortured by all the crazy super powered stuff around him works as a perfect breaking point while having MJ nearly be killed due to her trust in Harry dispute how damaged he is works as a great cause for her and Peter to break up.

Harry is also a great character in his own right here. In his previous appearances in Volumes 1,4 and 9 he's always been in the background; a secondary figure to his father in the story.but with no Norman around Harry is able to really.come.i to his own as a character. The reveal that he was exposed to OZ way back in issue 5 in the same explosion which created Green Goblin and Doc Ock is a fantastic twist and Harry as the Hobgoblin was both incredibly sympathetic and a serious threat.

Following on from the main story is a one shot about MJ dealing with her breakup with Peter. Much like Peter confessing he's Spider-Man, Aunt Mays therapy session and Peter and MJ dealing with the aftermath of Gwen's death,.these one shot civilian only stories are continuing to be my very favourites and I hope Bendis continues with story's like this between the big super villain arcs.

[Rick Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the aftermath of the "The Ultimate Six" arc, Norman Osborn remains missing and his son Harry was sent away to be evaluated by S.H.I.E.L.D. Fury thinks the job is done, so Harry is reintegrated back into society where he rejoins the same school as Peter. Not convinced that Harry has been completely rehabilitated, Peter is wary of Harry but things get complicated when he learns that Harry and MJ briefly had a thing a year back. Pete's relationship with MJ has been a bit rocky since the "Carnage" arc and this development has his insecurities flair up alongside his fears that MJ's life is in perpetual danger when she's around him. Bendis handles the complexities of teenage angst really well here, and this is the more interesting aspect of this volume.

Eventually, Pete's suspicions about Harry turn out to be true as he transforms into the monstrous Hobgoblin. This turn was a bit less interesting to me, but Peter's sadness of having to fight Harry when he knows it's all Norman's fault was well done. And Spidey being continuously prickled by S.H.I.E.L.D. and Fury serves as an interesting aspect to his character that works really well for a character that tends to operate best alone.

[Greg Callahan · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5) All the stuff having to do with Harry Osborn/Hobgoblin and Spider-Man... wonderful. Good stuff. Great action. Intense, love it. All the stuff to do with Mary Jane and Peter Parker and their neverending drama... boo, hiss. Look, I'm not gonna rag on Bendis's writing. The story is wonderful and I understand that dumb, dramatic teenagers are going to be dumb, dramatic teenagers. Doesn't mean I can't be irritated to my wit's end by them making the stupidest decisions or yelling at each other about the dumbest of things. And, I'm sorry, but Peter is wildly wrong in this volume and yet the entirety of the story, from both MJ's and Peter's perspectives, is that Peter is right. Nope. Uh-uh. No way. Peter's mad because MJ didn't tell him about brief and unrealized feelings for Harry before Peter and MJ were a thing. Peter's mad because he orders MJ around with legitimate worries backed by no evidence and she, out of worry for her friends, ignores his commands. Like, sorry Petey, but you don't just order your girlfriend to avoid her friends. That's a shit thing to do, bub.

So anyway, this volume's a bit of a disappointment and I'm just hoping it gets back to the drama of Carnage, which is basically just being buried under a bunch of teenage drama at this point.

[Henry Blackwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was expecting to give this five stars and I will right now but it’s probably the sketchiest five I could give... or the highest four you could possibly give?

I just didn’t enjoy how Harry turned into Hobgoblin is still so vague but I sure did love everything else about it, even the last issue solely focusing on MJ. Bendis has really made something special here, even tho I’m pretty sure he called Harry Osborn ‘Harrison’ one issue and ‘Harold’ the next haha.

I’m hoping the vagueness is cleared at the end of this and I’ll feel better about giving this a 5.

EDIT:
Already backflipped, I can’t give this a 5 when I just read Vision. Still amazing though. And if the questions of How Harry obtained the powers are answered later I’ll come back I guess.

[Rocky Sunico · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay WOW. Talk about major departures from the main storyline, this is a perfect example of Bendis really making good use of the familiar (the Hobgoblin! Peter's relationship with Mary Jane!) and remixing things to give us a completely new story that still somehow rings through of the core characters. How he managed to show the depth of Peter's friendship with Harry, his love for MJ, his desire to keep his loved ones safe and even MJ's love for Peter under very different circumstances was brilliant. I can't fully capture in words why this particular volume really stood out to me, but it does. This is very much Spider-Man as we've come to know I'm over the years but also completely different.

[Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter Parker continues his nervous breakdown that began in... the 1st issue of this comic. He's really forced to the breaking point when Harry shows up at school which is not a good sign since Harry is not allowed in non-goblin related stories. And poor MJ's life continues to also be the worst. I'm a big Peter and MJ supporter, but maybe MJ should date someone who's nice to her for awhile.

Only in a comic book does a punk rocker use Will Eisner as his example of what he would like to be as a musician.

I should sleep. I'm way too old to be reading Spider-Man comics all night.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hobgobling (72-77). A return to the Osbourne storyline with a rather traumatic encounter with Harry. This cuts so much closer because it's Peter's actual friend. The only thing keeping it from being a 5-star story is the fact that so much of it is brutal fighting, which admittedly is a common future in Bendis' USM run [4+/5].

Dumped (78). A nice character piece highlighting MJ. There's some wonderful moments about what she really wants. But too much of it's about who she is in relation to Peter. (Does it pass the Bechdel test? I suspect not.) [4/5]

[Joey Amorim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall, this was pretty easily the weakest volume of this run so far. The whole premise of Harry just being another goblin is really uninspired, and MJ is written horribly here. Seriously, she’s either an air headed bimbo who can’t follow simple warnings or a clingy, delusional freak who’s willing to sacrifice her love life for one person… as a 15 year old girl. The sexy band dude talking about how he’s inspired by Will Eisner may be the most unintentionally hilarious and out of touch thing I’ve ever read in a comic. God, that last breakup issue really sucked!

[Saoki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still very much a dark storyline, but now I'm old enough to see what Bendis was doing with Peter's oh-so-teenaged decision to close himself from the people he loves and sideline his actual life in order to be Spider-Man.
Being older also means that instead of identifying with MJ as she waxes romantic about The Once And Future Boyfriend, I feel like saying it's better that she's not around that emotionally unavailable manchild and would she like another slice of chocolate cake?

[Brandon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Harry Osborn is back in town, and he's ready to cause relationship drama between Peter and MJ! Yeah that's about it. Harry has very little personality, especially with all the brainwashing he's a victim of, so he shows up to be relationship drama. The twist on the "hobgoblin" story is nice but the problem with relationship drama is how terrible Peter and MJ are as a couple and I don't place value on their relationship in the first place.

[Logan Harrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10:
If anyone has gone through as much torture and trauma as Peter Parker in this run, it’s Harry Osborn. That poor guy had his dad become Green Goblin, murder his mother, try to take over the White House, and now as a result of his work, has turned Harry into Hobgoblin.

Peter finally standing up for himself and the idiocy of those around him (especially MJ) was really nice. I love that she’s growing as a result of this too, but Peter taking a stand is so refreshing.

[Justin Biondo · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride this volume was. Peter and Harry on opposing sides has never been better, and has been a great part of this series as a whole. Everything with Peter and MJ here was fantastic and gave us a nice little moment of peace to break the mold a bit. I’m sure things will get better for them as they probably will, but this is a nice spot to explore things for now. Can’t believe I’ve read nearly 80 issues of this, it’s been great

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

This is the first time I've come across Hobgoblin, but he's a pretty interesting villain! I'm glad Harry's traumas are getting dealt with, even if in this way. Also, I thought I was going to be annoyed about the MJ/Peter drama, but I found it strangely exciting. As much as I disagreed with MJ's actions in this volume, it made for a good story.

[Noah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible. In particular, the pacing was some of the best I've read yet. The exposition took a front seat for most of these issues, but once the action started, it felt so earned. I'm sure some of these will stick out as the most iconic Spidey panels in my mind since I've never seen this side of Harry. Also, these COVERS! WOW!