HOBGOBLIN versus MOON KNIGHT
Half Life (Marvel)
Where: Marc Spector: Moon Knight #32 When: November 1991 Why: JM DeMatteis & Howard Mackie How: Ron Garney
The Story So Far...
Before he became the avenging fist of Khonshu: Marc Spector lived the life of a soldier of fortune. In that career he made the acquaintance of Jason Macendale - the mercenary who would assume the identity of Hobgoblin.
In his pursuit for greater powers, Jason Macendale sought a deal with the demon N'Astirh. For his hubris he was infused with a demonic entity that greatly enhanced him, but also slowly began to assume control of his body. Now Macendale is helpless as the demon seeks vengeance against sinners starting with a list of mercenaries that has led him to the palatial estate of Marc Spector - Moon Knight!
Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Demogoblin 4 (Enhanced)
Intelligence: Moon Knight 3 (Straight A)
Speed: Draw 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Draw 5 (Marathoner)
Agility: Draw 3 (Acrobat)
Fighting: Moon Knight 5 (Martial Artist)
Energy: Demogoblin 4 (Arsenal)
Total: Draw 24 (Champion)
The name on the marquee says Hobgoblin, but Jason Macendale is now a mere passenger in his own body! The mercenary sought super-human powers from the demon N'Astirh and got more than he bargained for. Now his torturous possession is nearing its end as the Demogoblin begins to assume control!
This is the first time we've seen Demogoblin still bound to a mortal host. Soon after this battle he'll tear himself free from Macendale's body, embarking on a twisted quest with his own hellish equivalents of the Hobgoblin's arsenal.
Super-natural strength, a flaming glider, and occult pumpkin bombs make Demogoblin a formidable threat, but he hasn't always fared very well against adequately prepared opponents. We've seen Demogoblin fatally skewered on the end of Blade's sword during Ghost Rider #40. He was also out-muscled by the tactical tag team of Venom & Morbius in Venom: The Enemy Within #3.
Venom's victory was partly secured by exposing a subservient goblin horde to daylight. An interesting tactic, but not one that would do a whole lot of good for a man whose strength increases under the moon's light!
Before becoming Moon Knight: Marc Spector was a freelance mercenary. When his employer Raul Bushman left him for dead in the Egyptian desert, he was placed at the feet of an idol of Khonshu. There, the lunar deity chose him to become its avenger for justice by night.
Moon Knight is a highly skilled hand-to-hand combatant with an arsenal of silver weapons and high-tech vehicles. He's used these tools to combat supernatural threats and human mercenaries. At times, his methods can become quite brutal, as we saw when he dominated Taskmaster in Moon Knight (Vol.5) #6.
Moon Knight's methods and mindset can sometimes be erratic, but he definitely has the skills, tools, and propensity to take on a threat like Demogoblin. Here he has the benefit of home turf, but will that be enough? Let's find out!
The Tape: Draw Ranking: Moon Knight (#343)
What Went Down...
The sound of an explosion thundering through his estate interrupts a fleeting kiss between Marc Spector and Marlene Alraune. It is the signal of an intruder on the premises, who glides eerily through a gaping hole in the structure.
The Hobgoblin beckons to his target as his goblin-glider carries him through the manor on a night wind. If he notices the cloaked figure lurking behind him in the moonlight -- he is too slow to act. Moon Knight strikes!
A leaping fly kick connects with Hobgoblin's spine and knocks him off the glider!
The demonic goblin rolls to a knee and spitefully taunts his opponent's effortful tactics. Moon Knight answers his wicked tongue by tossing a boomerang straight at his sneering face!
Moon Knight clutches Hobgoblin by the throat and throws him against a nearby wall! For just a second the ghastly goblin's face reverts to that of the human mercenary Jason Macendale. He utters a strained cry for help -- enough for Moon Knight to loosen his grip and let his attacker drop hunched to the ground.
Macendale has the wherewithal to explain his demonic alter-ego's ultimate plan: to kill both of them and all their fellow mercenaries.
With his head in his hands, Macendale begs his former colleague to stop the demon hurting him again. A plea Moon Knight answers with a compassionate pledge to fix it all. He cannot see Macendale's fear turn to a demonic grin.
In control again, the demonic Hobgoblin spins around and unleashes a stinger blast from his finger! It sends the unprepared Moon Knight reeling back!
With the hero's white garb still smoldering, Hobgoblin looms with a razor-bat drawn and intent to kill! For the sin of being a mercenary he will seek to cut Moon Knight down once and for all!
The Hammer...
What a terrible time for a cliffhanger! Hobgoblin clearly has the upper hand as Marc Spector: Moon Knight #32 comes to a close, but to find out exactly how the battle concludes -- we'd need to continue to the next issue!
Per Secret Wars on Infinite Earths rules: we draw a line at the end of the issue. Occasionally conclusions can still be drawn from the information available, but in this instance, we're left with inconclusive data when the bell rings on Round 1.
The pair have been too evenly matched to call Hobgoblin's sudden reversal of fortune a true victory. This determination is partly influenced by the knowledge the battle directly continues. We'll return to see more from issue #33 at some point in the future. In the mean time, let us simply savor the anticipation and enjoyment that comes from one of Moon Knight's more intriguing rivalries!
Moon Knight may've borrowed from the Batman model of brooding caped crusader, but when it comes to villains, his bench isn't anywhere near as deep.
It's always nice when natural connective tissue can be used to expand the world and scope of two characters. Jason Macendale's history as a mercenary was well established during his reign as a Spider-Man villain. Why not acknowledge a professional past between he and former-mercenary Marc Spector?
The gimmick suited a concept that would come to define the Demogoblin once it separated from his human host. His righteous crusade against sinners meant a quick tour hunting mercenaries was a natural way for Moon Knight and Jason Macendale to meet and illuminate their secret past.
Making the meeting all the sweeter is Moon Knight's real publication history. He made his first appearance hunting The Werewolf in Werewolf By Night #32 and has remained connected with the realm of supernatural ever since. Macendale's demonic possession provides an extra tasty wrinkle to an already fun pairing.
It's for this reason I prefer when we aren't asked to question whether Khonshu is the figment of a disturbed mind. For some reason the 2000s seemed to place tremendous weight on fracturing the psyche of Marc Spector between different personalities.
I suppose it was a way to better differentiate the character from the strained, but unimpeachable perspective of Batman. I'm more inclined to think confirming Moon Knight's roots with the supernatural better service that goal. He's more interesting when he truly has ties with, and reasons to revisit that space.
I've been wanting to get back to Moon Knight for quite some time, but truth be told, what really brought me here was Hobgoblin. I've been on a real Jason Macendale kick lately! Hopefully some of those classic stories can find their way here sometime in the future.
It's always been tough to rate Macendale over the original Hobgoblin: Roderick Kingsley. The latter Hobgoblin's tenure lasted roughly the same amount of time as the first, but he was always slightly in the shadow of the original. A copy of a copy, having found the identity that Kingsley repurposed from Norman Osborn.
As much as I think the two goblins, (Hob & Demo), enhance Moon Knight's world, I think Moon Knight does something to improve Macendale, too. Between his demonic possession and hard mercenary past -- which included time as Jack O'Lantern -- he's actually a pretty decent villain. A shame Marvel scrapped him.
That's about all for now. If you'd like to find more from the characters discussed in this post be sure to explore links! It's a great way to discover exciting and new parts of comics! You can also dive into the Secret Archive for a complete index of every featured fight in order of publisher, series, and issue!
You can also get daily links to battles inspired by the day's topics by following Secret Wars on Infinite Earths on Twitter and Facebook! Make sure to like and share your favourite battles!
Winner: Inconclusive (Draw)
#331 (+12) Moon Knight
#897 (+9) Demogoblin
#564 (new) Hobgoblin (Jason Macendale) [+1 assist]
Where: Marc Spector: Moon Knight #32 When: November 1991 Why: JM DeMatteis & Howard Mackie How: Ron Garney
The Story So Far...
Before he became the avenging fist of Khonshu: Marc Spector lived the life of a soldier of fortune. In that career he made the acquaintance of Jason Macendale - the mercenary who would assume the identity of Hobgoblin.
In his pursuit for greater powers, Jason Macendale sought a deal with the demon N'Astirh. For his hubris he was infused with a demonic entity that greatly enhanced him, but also slowly began to assume control of his body. Now Macendale is helpless as the demon seeks vengeance against sinners starting with a list of mercenaries that has led him to the palatial estate of Marc Spector - Moon Knight!
Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Demogoblin 4 (Enhanced)Intelligence: Moon Knight 3 (Straight A)
Speed: Draw 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Draw 5 (Marathoner)
Agility: Draw 3 (Acrobat)
Fighting: Moon Knight 5 (Martial Artist)
Energy: Demogoblin 4 (Arsenal)
Total: Draw 24 (Champion)
The name on the marquee says Hobgoblin, but Jason Macendale is now a mere passenger in his own body! The mercenary sought super-human powers from the demon N'Astirh and got more than he bargained for. Now his torturous possession is nearing its end as the Demogoblin begins to assume control!
This is the first time we've seen Demogoblin still bound to a mortal host. Soon after this battle he'll tear himself free from Macendale's body, embarking on a twisted quest with his own hellish equivalents of the Hobgoblin's arsenal.
Super-natural strength, a flaming glider, and occult pumpkin bombs make Demogoblin a formidable threat, but he hasn't always fared very well against adequately prepared opponents. We've seen Demogoblin fatally skewered on the end of Blade's sword during Ghost Rider #40. He was also out-muscled by the tactical tag team of Venom & Morbius in Venom: The Enemy Within #3.
Venom's victory was partly secured by exposing a subservient goblin horde to daylight. An interesting tactic, but not one that would do a whole lot of good for a man whose strength increases under the moon's light!
Before becoming Moon Knight: Marc Spector was a freelance mercenary. When his employer Raul Bushman left him for dead in the Egyptian desert, he was placed at the feet of an idol of Khonshu. There, the lunar deity chose him to become its avenger for justice by night.
Moon Knight is a highly skilled hand-to-hand combatant with an arsenal of silver weapons and high-tech vehicles. He's used these tools to combat supernatural threats and human mercenaries. At times, his methods can become quite brutal, as we saw when he dominated Taskmaster in Moon Knight (Vol.5) #6.
Moon Knight's methods and mindset can sometimes be erratic, but he definitely has the skills, tools, and propensity to take on a threat like Demogoblin. Here he has the benefit of home turf, but will that be enough? Let's find out!
The Tape: Draw Ranking: Moon Knight (#343)
What Went Down...
The sound of an explosion thundering through his estate interrupts a fleeting kiss between Marc Spector and Marlene Alraune. It is the signal of an intruder on the premises, who glides eerily through a gaping hole in the structure.
The Hobgoblin beckons to his target as his goblin-glider carries him through the manor on a night wind. If he notices the cloaked figure lurking behind him in the moonlight -- he is too slow to act. Moon Knight strikes!
A leaping fly kick connects with Hobgoblin's spine and knocks him off the glider!
The demonic goblin rolls to a knee and spitefully taunts his opponent's effortful tactics. Moon Knight answers his wicked tongue by tossing a boomerang straight at his sneering face!
Moon Knight clutches Hobgoblin by the throat and throws him against a nearby wall! For just a second the ghastly goblin's face reverts to that of the human mercenary Jason Macendale. He utters a strained cry for help -- enough for Moon Knight to loosen his grip and let his attacker drop hunched to the ground.
Macendale has the wherewithal to explain his demonic alter-ego's ultimate plan: to kill both of them and all their fellow mercenaries.
With his head in his hands, Macendale begs his former colleague to stop the demon hurting him again. A plea Moon Knight answers with a compassionate pledge to fix it all. He cannot see Macendale's fear turn to a demonic grin.
In control again, the demonic Hobgoblin spins around and unleashes a stinger blast from his finger! It sends the unprepared Moon Knight reeling back!
With the hero's white garb still smoldering, Hobgoblin looms with a razor-bat drawn and intent to kill! For the sin of being a mercenary he will seek to cut Moon Knight down once and for all!
The Hammer...
What a terrible time for a cliffhanger! Hobgoblin clearly has the upper hand as Marc Spector: Moon Knight #32 comes to a close, but to find out exactly how the battle concludes -- we'd need to continue to the next issue!
Per Secret Wars on Infinite Earths rules: we draw a line at the end of the issue. Occasionally conclusions can still be drawn from the information available, but in this instance, we're left with inconclusive data when the bell rings on Round 1.
The pair have been too evenly matched to call Hobgoblin's sudden reversal of fortune a true victory. This determination is partly influenced by the knowledge the battle directly continues. We'll return to see more from issue #33 at some point in the future. In the mean time, let us simply savor the anticipation and enjoyment that comes from one of Moon Knight's more intriguing rivalries!
Moon Knight may've borrowed from the Batman model of brooding caped crusader, but when it comes to villains, his bench isn't anywhere near as deep.
It's always nice when natural connective tissue can be used to expand the world and scope of two characters. Jason Macendale's history as a mercenary was well established during his reign as a Spider-Man villain. Why not acknowledge a professional past between he and former-mercenary Marc Spector?
The gimmick suited a concept that would come to define the Demogoblin once it separated from his human host. His righteous crusade against sinners meant a quick tour hunting mercenaries was a natural way for Moon Knight and Jason Macendale to meet and illuminate their secret past.
Making the meeting all the sweeter is Moon Knight's real publication history. He made his first appearance hunting The Werewolf in Werewolf By Night #32 and has remained connected with the realm of supernatural ever since. Macendale's demonic possession provides an extra tasty wrinkle to an already fun pairing.
It's for this reason I prefer when we aren't asked to question whether Khonshu is the figment of a disturbed mind. For some reason the 2000s seemed to place tremendous weight on fracturing the psyche of Marc Spector between different personalities.
I suppose it was a way to better differentiate the character from the strained, but unimpeachable perspective of Batman. I'm more inclined to think confirming Moon Knight's roots with the supernatural better service that goal. He's more interesting when he truly has ties with, and reasons to revisit that space.
I've been wanting to get back to Moon Knight for quite some time, but truth be told, what really brought me here was Hobgoblin. I've been on a real Jason Macendale kick lately! Hopefully some of those classic stories can find their way here sometime in the future.
It's always been tough to rate Macendale over the original Hobgoblin: Roderick Kingsley. The latter Hobgoblin's tenure lasted roughly the same amount of time as the first, but he was always slightly in the shadow of the original. A copy of a copy, having found the identity that Kingsley repurposed from Norman Osborn.
As much as I think the two goblins, (Hob & Demo), enhance Moon Knight's world, I think Moon Knight does something to improve Macendale, too. Between his demonic possession and hard mercenary past -- which included time as Jack O'Lantern -- he's actually a pretty decent villain. A shame Marvel scrapped him.
That's about all for now. If you'd like to find more from the characters discussed in this post be sure to explore links! It's a great way to discover exciting and new parts of comics! You can also dive into the Secret Archive for a complete index of every featured fight in order of publisher, series, and issue!
You can also get daily links to battles inspired by the day's topics by following Secret Wars on Infinite Earths on Twitter and Facebook! Make sure to like and share your favourite battles!
Winner: Inconclusive (Draw)
#331 (+12) Moon Knight
#897 (+9) Demogoblin
#564 (new) Hobgoblin (Jason Macendale) [+1 assist]
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