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Green Goblin VS Hobgoblin: Overview & Distinctions

Green Goblin VS Hobgoblin: Overview & Distinctions

Marvel has changed the way we look or think about comics and movies in this current era. No doubt that it is the most successful as well as most popular entertainment company in this current era, Movies like Avengers Endgame and Captain America: Civil War are one of the best and most memorable movies that have been created by Marvel.

We all know the recent movie Marvel had launched is Spider-Man: No Way Home has been very successful and it is said that it is the best Marvel movie so far.

Generally speaking, Spider-Man is one of the Fan Favorites and one of the most popular superheroes in the MCU universe,

When thinking about the enemies of spiderman, Green goblin and Hobgoblin are one of the worst villains. Both Green Goblin and Hobgoblin share many differences between them.

One of the differences between Hobgoblin and Green Goblin is that a Hobgoblin uses more tech and gadgets. On the other hand, Green Goblin has actual superhuman strength, healing factors, and durability.

This is just one difference between a Green goblin and a Hobgoblin in spiderman. To know more differences between Green goblin and Hobgoblin read till the end as I will be covering all the differences.

Who is Spider-Man?

Although all of you might be familiar with the MCU superhero Spiderman, just for those who are unfamiliar with it.

Spiderman is one of the first characters to appear in Marvel comics and is one of the wells knows people in the era of comics. Spider-Man was first introduced in the comic Amazing Fantasy #15 and from there Spider-Man started to come to other comics, the first movie for Spider-Man was Spider-Man (2002 Film).

A portrait of Spider-Man
Spider-Man: One of Marvel’s First Original Characters

Origin and power

The origin behind the story of Spider-Man is that his real name is Peter Parker who is a 15-17-year-old teenager who goes to a college, his parents Richard and Mary Parker (according to comics) died in a plane crash. There are many different scenarios in which Peter parker got his power, the popular one is that during a science exhibition he was bitten by a spider which gave him the abilities. Peter Parker got superpowers such as:

  • Human strength
  • Super speed
  • Durability
  • Spider-sense (which alerts him to nearby danger)
  • Intelligence
  • Wall crawling
  • Shoot web from his wrist
  • Healing factor

Cast and Villians

Their spidey senses are buzzing with excitement! With actors like Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland stepping into Peter Parker’s footsteps, Spider-Man has become one of the most desired superhero roles in cinema and television.

On the other hand, it’s difficult to identify a remarkable villain and it’s one of the reasons why the villains in certain Spider-Man films don’t stand out as much as they do in other superhero films. That isn’t meant as a slight to some of the fantastic performers who have taken on the role of Spider-Man. But, in the end, they’re abusing a child.

It is indeed definitely become a great long fight. 

Tobey Maguire (The First Spider-Man)                                                           

Tobey Maguire (an American Actor) was the first person to play the role of spider-man, in the story he was raised by Uncle Ben (played by Cliff Robertson) who later got killed by a burglar, he goes to college where he falls in love with a girl named Mary Jane (played by Kirsten Dunst) who later cheats on him,

He has many villains such as:

  • Doctor Oct       
  • Sand Man
  • Venom                                                                                                                    

He has been featured in many moves such as spider-man like Spider-Man (2002 Film), Spider-Man 2, and Spider-Man 3 and the most recent one was Spider-Man: No Way Home, In which he was featured along with other 2 spider-man.             

This is all the movies he has been through. but there is a rumor that pretty much confirms that he will be featured in the Marvel upcoming movie Doctor Strange: in the Madness of Multiverse.

Andrew Garfield (Second Spider-Man)

Andrew Garfield (American Actor) has played the role of the second spider-man, his story is that he goes to a college where he falls in love with a girl named Gwen Stacey (played by Emma Stone), Later she died falling from a building due to the attack of Green Goblin. He also has villains such as:

  • Green Goblin
  • Electro
  • Rhino

He was featured in The Amazing Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and the recent one is Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Tom Holland (Third Spider-Man)   

Tom Holland (British Actor) has played the role of the third and current spider-man, in His story he was raised by his Aunt May (played by Marisa Tomei) who died by Green Goblin, he went to a college where he has the best friend name Ned (played by Jacob Batalon) and falls in love with a girl named MJ (played by Zendaya).

He has many villains like:

  • Mysterio
  • Thanos
  • Green Goblin

He has been featured as spider-man in movies such as Captain America: Civil War, Spider-Man Home-Coming, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and the most recent one is Spider-Man: No Way Home in which he got featured along with other spider-man. Marvel and Sony also confirm Tom Holland Getting two or three more movies so must be ready for that.

Who is Green Goblin?

It is a fictional or imagery character made by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Green Goblin first appears in the comic book The Amazing Spider-Man #14 and from there Green Goblin started to come to other comics. The first movie for Green Goblin was Spiderman (2002 Film).

Origin and Abilities

The origin behind the character is that its real name is ‘Norman Osborn’. During an experiment, a goblin serum came in contact with him making him super strong but it lead to a mental breakdown, corrupted by greed and thirst for power made him adopt the name Green Goblin.                                                                      

After the contact, he gained many abilities:                                                              

  • Super strength
  • Healing factor
  • Speed
  • Reflexes
  • Superintelligence

As Green Goblin uses tech and gadgets. It invented many gadgets, some of the gadgets are:

  • Goblin Glider
  • Pumpkin Bombs
  • Ghost Bombs
  • Toy Frog

Role played

William Dafoe is the only one to play the role of Green Goblin. His story is that he is the owner of Oscorp Technologies after the contact his mind split into two people, one is himself and the other one in Green Goblin.

Whenever Green Goblin takes over it gives him the obsession of killing and destroying everything that spider-man loves. That’s why he killed Aunt May and Gwen Stacey.

He has been featured as Green Goblin in Many movies like Spider-Man (2002 Film), Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 3, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and the most recent one is Spider-Man No Way Home.

Framed comic books
Green Goblin first appears in the comic book ‘The Amazing Spider-Man #14’

Who is Hobgoblin?

Hobgoblin is a character with some superhuman abilities like durability and strength. The character first appeared in the comic book The Amazing Spider-Man #238.

Story

Hobgoblin swiftly rose to become one of Spiderman’s most powerful foes, thanks to stolen technology from the Green Goblin. While the Hobgoblin has long been a formidable foe of the wall-crawler, he has always been shrouded in mystery.

The origin of the story is that his real name is Roderick Kingsley who tends to be creating mischief so he decided to create a criminal name similar to an alteration of Norman Osborn’s Goblin Formula and also improved the Goblin Costume and equipment.

Then he frames others to be Hob Goblin to hide from the law and his enemies.

Abilities

Hobgoblin has the same abilities or gadgets as Green Goblin.

Roderick Kingsley, the original Hobgoblin, was a genius in his own right. When he took the Green Goblin’s gear in order to become the Hobgoblin, he also improved on the original designs.

The Goblin Formula was the most prominent of these enhancements. The formula gave Norman Osborn many tremendous abilities at first, but it also drove him insane. Kingsley altered the formula such that he could obtain all of the abilities while avoiding the unpleasant side effects.

Featured in Movies

Hobgoblin hasn’t been featured in any movie but this video claims that Ned (Played by Jacob Batalon) in Tom Holland Spider-Man is going to appear as the next Hobgoblin

Video related to the claim that Ned will be the next hobgoblin.

Is Harry Osborn Green Goblin or Hobgoblin?

Harry Osborn is identified as The New Goblin since he took over his father’s, Norman Osborn (Green Goblin), job after being defeated by Peter Parker.

Harry is the son of Norman Osborn, the original Green Goblin, and is the best friend of Peter Parker. His contempt for Spiderman began when he discovered that it was Spiderman who murdered his father, however, at the time of discovery he had no idea it was his best friend.

After figuring out that Peter Parker was Spiderman, he turned against him and made it his goal to kill him in order to avenge his father.

Can Hobgoblin defeat Green Goblin?

In most scenarios, Green Goblin can kill all the other Hobgoblins.

But if we talk about Roderick Kingsley Hobgoblin it is a different story as he has the modified suit of Green Goblin, as well as a superior serum of Green Goblin and upgraded gadgets. There’s no telling who would win in a fight between them but personally, my bet is on the Hobgoblin.

Green Goblin vs. Hobgoblin: Who is deadlier?

No doubt that both Green Goblin and Hobgoblin are very dangerous but which one is deadliest is a bit difficult to tell.

Sometimes the fearless and insane condition of Green Goblin made him very dangerous but it also harmed him. As for Hobgoblin due to his stable condition he is more likely to make rational and calculated decisions, making him deadlier than Green Goblin.

Wrapping It Up

Different comic books piled up together
Comics become popular for their interesting characters, whether they’re heroes or villains.

Marvel Comic Universe is famous for its superheroes, but also for its egoistic villains.

Not only Greengoblins and Hobgoblins but in fact, all Villians play a great role in adventure movies. Without villains, adventurous movies might be a bit boring as there would be no one to give a tough time to the hero. So, villains must also be seen with keen interest as they play a key role in the movie.   

To summarize their differences, have a look at this table:

 Green GoblinHobgoblin
First AppearanceThe Amazing Spider-Man #14The Amazing Spider-Man #238 
AbilitiesSuper strength, healing, speed reflexes, superintelligenceSuper strength, healing, speed reflexes, Superintelligence but without the Negative side effects Norman suffered from
CharacterNorman OsbornRoderick Kingsley
Key differences between Green Goblin and Hobgoblin

                                 

Green Goblin and Hobgoblin are the worst enemies of Spiderman. Although both Green Goblin and Hobgoblin are pretty similar they are not the same.

Other Articles

A web story that differentiates the Green Goblin and Hobgoblin can be found here.

                                                   

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