There are many strong superheroes in the Marvel Universe. But as everyone is aware, when there are superheroes, there must also be villains. Popular superhero Spiderman has faced off against a number of formidable foes throughout the years, and the terrifying Demogoblin is one of them. You are missing out if you have not heard of this one already.
The Demogoblin is arguably the most terrifying of all the Goblins in the Spider-Man enemy lineup, while not having the same longevity as a recurring antagonist as the other Goblins. This horrifying being was born from the flames of Hell itself and launched a personal crusade against heretics and blasphemers all throughout the world.
The Demogoblin was a wonderfully complex character, despite having a demonic appearance and using black magic to give the impression that he was a demonic punisher. Keep watching as we dissect everything Demogoblin in this video!
Most impactful comic appearances and origins explored
The Hobgoblin is one of the numerous humans who adopted that position for a variety of reasons, and the Demogoblin immediately evolved from that figure. Former CIA-trained assassin for hire Jason Macendale Jr. adopted the Hobgoblin alter ego in an effort to become known as a supervillain, but a series of unfortunate events would ultimately send him straight to Hell’s fires. During a demon invasion of New York, he made the first step in his transformation from Hobgoblin to Demogoblin in The Spectacular Spider-Man #147, which was published in 1989.
After being defeated by Spider-Man and the Green Goblin, the Hobgoblin hovered about New York City lamenting his recent failure, he was clearly not used to losing. He was enraged that he had been denied access to the Goblin Formula, which he believed he was entitled to as the Hobgoblin and would have helped him increase his strength. A legion of demons suddenly ambushed the Hobgoblin as they were not tricked by the Hobgoblin’s disguise. The Hobgoblin however was not in the spirit for a fight thus, he annihilated the demons quickly. He was unconcerned about the demon invasion ravaging New York, but their remarks about being “dressed like a demon” inspired him to do something that would change him forever.
In the meanwhile, Spider-Man was web-slinging throughout the metropolis and was surprised and shocked to see what had happened to his hometown. He wished that he wasn’t so preoccupied with battling Harry Osborn and the Hobgoblin so he could intervene. He decided to go to the Daily Bugle as Peter Parker and check what was going on. Unfortunately, Spider-Man was blown into the side of a building by a demonic wind. To keep himself from plunging to his doom, he grabbed a gargoyle statue.
Unfortunately, the gargoyle was still alive and bit him, poisoning his entire body. Spider-Man pulled up his body after falling to the ground and slowly made his way towards the familiar sight of the Daily Bugle Building. J. Jonah Jameson, the editor-in-chief was leading his employees upstairs in the battle against the demons that had infiltrated his office. When Spider-Man emerged from the elevator, he was surprised, and when the wall-crawler dropped to the floor due to the poison in his body, he told Joy Mercado to treat the wounded masked hero. Chaos continued throughout the entire city as people fought the demons.
Meanwhile, the Hobgoblin made his way to the Empire State Building in Manhattan, the epicentre of the Inferno invasion. He was then swarmed by demons who wanted to devour him. However, when the Hobgoblin expressed his desire to see their Lord, they spared him.
Soon after, he was visited by N’astirh, a demon who demanded to know what he desired and the Hobgoblin obliged by telling him his desire for more power. N’astirh then considered the Hobgoblin’s proposition for his soul in exchange for power and found it quite hilarious (a typical deal with the devil if you will). However, despite the fact that N’astirh had no use for such a polluted soul, he agreed to grant the Hobgoblin’s wish because the human had made him chuckle.
The Hobgoblin was then blasted with supernatural energy by the demon, which sent him flying all the way across the city. As the battle ended and Spiderman and his friends finally triumphed over the demon, the Hobgoblin awakened from his crash and gazed into the dark waters of Central Park. He was shocked to discover that N’astirh had not only granted him the power he had requested, but he had also transformed him into a terrible demonic shape – thus marking the birth of a being that would lead to the creation of the Demogoblin.
He then appears in a primary antagonist role in Web of Spiderman #86 which was released in the year 1992. It turns out that the demon who had possessed him as a result of his encounter and subsequent deal with the demon lord N’astirh, was incompatible with his soul and thus, the two of them often fought for control over Jason’s body.
In this particular comic book, Jason Macendale endures yet another agonising change between his human and demonic personas while inside the Tombs Prison. Some armed individuals shoot the guards and fight their way into the prison as he goes through this excruciating metamorphosis.
When these armed individuals reach the Hobgoblin’s cell, they inform him that they have been paid to break him free and proceed to place plastic grenades on the villain’s bulletproof glass door cell. They free the Hobgoblin and take him all the way to the Kingpin, supervillain Wilson Fisk.
Fisk informs the Hobgoblin that he broke him out of prison so that he might kill the sinner Peter Parker and his bodyguard Spider-Man – It was all part of Fisk’s plan to get rid of Spiderman for good. The Hobgoblin, under the influence of his demonic half at the time, accepts this rationale and agrees to destroy the targets, promising to return to be the judge of their goodness after he completes his mission of defeating them.
The Hobgoblin then leaves to carry out his mission. He approaches Peter’s apartment and demands that he come out and face his doom. However, right at that time, he reverts back to human form, and the villain yells in agony. He loses his equilibrium and falls from his glider as a result of this transformation. Fortunately, Spider-Man arrives to save the day and the villain as he stops Jason from falling to his death.
The wall-crawler however, is sick of these transitions, reminding Macendale of how he sought help from Spider-Man and Moon Knight before turning against them the moment his demonic form showed up. Shifting back to his demonic form, Hobgoblin blames his present state of insanity on Spider-Man, Ghost Rider, and Blaze.
Spider-Man then discovers that the Hobgoblin had gone insane while avoiding his enemies’ attacks. The Hobgoblin screams again as he crashes down onto the street as he transitions once again – the fight between the two entities possessing one body getting tougher and tougher by the minute.
However, when he changes this time, instead of switching forms, the Hobgoblin’s demonic form separates away from him to become its own entity – The Demogoblin! The evil Hobgoblin was overjoyed to be free and was about to annihilate his former host. That’s when Spider-Man appears and rescues Macendale.
The end of Demogoblin and the possession attempt on Moon Knight
During Maximum Carnage, Demogoblin joined Carnage and his clan. Demogoblin fought Venom and Morbius in San Francisco amid an onslaught of goblins invading the metropolis in Venom’s storyline “Enemy Within.” Demogoblin was assumed to be the source of the goblins, but it was actually a man named Charlie’s fault. Demogoblin eventually killed every one of the goblins by compelling them to leap off a bridge and drown in the water below. This cleared his name was arguably the most courageous of his plans to halt sinners out of all of his violent adventures over the years.
Demogoblin ultimately forgave Macendale after this incident, which irritated the Hobgoblin so much that he resolved to cleanse the world of his other half once and for all. In a chapel, the final battle took place. At one point during the battle, Jason threw a massive pillar at the Demogoblin who held it up for a while but ultimately succumbed under the pressure and weight of the pillar – dying at the hands of his creator.
After confronting the Hobgoblin and losing, the Demogoblin’s ghost once attempted to control Moon Knight by possessing him. With the help of Dr. Strange and Mr. Fantastic, his spirit was exorcised. Unfortunately, the Demogoblin has not had his fair share of adventures and his appearances have been limited to only a few story arcs.
Why was Demogoblin such a powerful opponent?
The Demogoblin had superhuman strength, capable of lifting and pressing 10 tonnes. His body was infused with mysterious energies and magic that he used to manufacture equipment akin to the Green Goblin and Hobgoblin’s. This gear usually consisted of a skeletal Goblin Glider made of Hellfire and Brimstone. He used this glider to fly through the air at insane speeds of at least 90 miles per hour – comparable to the Green Goblin and Hobgoblin gliders.
He could also create mystical weapons like razor bats and pumpkin bombs that could mentally immobilise his victims, similar to those used by the Green Goblin and Hobgoblin. He could also employ his magical abilities in more traditional combat scenarios, such as shooting strong heat beams from his palms. He preferred, though, to utilise his goblin weapons and could summon a demonic Goblin Glider.
The Demogoblin also had limited telepathic powers, which allowed him to track down and interact with people like the Hobgoblin and the Doppleganger. The Demoboglin’s fingers were tipped with razor-sharp claws, and his jaw was loaded with rows of needle-like, razor-sharp teeth that he could utilise in close quarter combat.
Along with all this, he had superhuman strength, stamina, agility and reflexes and his demonic physiology enhanced them to an impressive degree. Demogoblin’s body tissues were slightly firmer and more impervious to physical injury than a normal human. With little to no pain, he could resist collision and blunt trauma forces that would paralyze or kill another human being. He could, for example, endure a fall from an altitude of several stories without being hurt.
His Goblin physiology also allowed him to fire beams of hellfire out of his mouth. The Demogoblin may appear to be an agent of total chaos, murder, and ruin, yet he’s actually quite a bright figure. On multiple occasions, he’s managed to keep his cards close to his breast, fooling both allies and opponents.
What also made the Demogoblin a powerful opponent was his principles. The Demogoblin believed that everyone was bad and that they must pay with their lives for their “sins.” To accomplish his cause, he must murder anybody and everyone. According to his own confession, the only person he could ever forgive was Jason Macendale, the one who brought him into this world.
Demogoblin is enraged, and his rage compels him to strike out and act irrationally violently toward people he considers to be his foes. Demogoblin was more concerned with executing sinners in what he saw as a holy fight against evil. Because of his lunacy and demonic influence, he chose to attack those who did not deserve such harsh punishment. He was extremely dangerous due to his instability.
To end on an interesting note, Demogoblin saved a child from a falling building before dying and died in the process as an unexpected hero. Demogoblin as an entity is quite fresh, sort of the Ghost Rider of the Spiderverse if you will. The character has a lot of potential and would do well in upcoming Marvel story arcs. He is quite underexplored and has only appeared in a handful of issues but definitely is a complex villain worthy of mention. Do you think the Demogoblin is worthy of playing a bigger role in the Marvel Universe? Let us know in the comments section below!