If you have any interest in 1)History, 2)U.S. History, 3)South Carolina History, 4)South Carolina Lowcountry History, etc. this book is a most! Two thumbs up on this very well written book!

The identity of the Hobgoblin was a mystery for a long time in the Spider-Man series. There were many red herrings and clues which led readers down wrong paths for many years. The original Hobgoblin stories were some of the most well written stories in the Spider-Man series. Now that it has come time to reveal who the Hobgoblin actually was, it is somewhat of a disappointment. It is almost as if Stern changed his mind several times before settling on who it actually was. Considering the high quality of the early Hobgoblin stories, this is a big letdown, especially as Hobgoblin is revealed to be a minor character who didn't really have much impact in the series.

Back when Amazing Spiderman #238 first came out it was the beginning of one of the most exciting Spiderman stories ever. A story that went on for 52 issues, with the reader not knowing who the Hobgoblin was, untill finally in #289 Ned Leeds was unmasked and turned out to be the Hobgoblin. At least, we readers 'knew' that Ned was the Hobgoblin, because in the Spiderman reality it was 'proven' later that Jason Macendale was the Hobgoblin. They never knew Leeds to be the Hobgoblin because Macendale just stole Leeds' gear right after Ned was murdered so he was never 'caught in the act'. Macendale later got arrested and un-masked so now everybody thinks he's the one and only Hobgoblin, and Macendale never denied it.

Now it's 15 years later and it's time for 'Hobgoblin lives' (brought to you by the same writer that brought you the original saga, a big plus in my opinion), a story that takes place just after the Clone Saga thing is all over and done with. It starts of with Macendale being put on public trial to be punished for the acts of crime he committed as the Hobgoblin. When he's being led away he shouts out to the representatives of the press that he ISN'T the first Hobgoblin but that the original Hobgoblin was really the late Ned Leeds ! Then the story kicks into gear. A big scale 'who is it' investigation is started again by several different groups of interest, re-opening the whole question "who IS the real Hobgoblin." You find yourself in a fast-pacing story where the 'nominees-list' and the 'he-can't-be-it' list constantly alters in the eye of the reader (Sort of like when you first watched the movie 'Scream') and where you only find out who actually IS the real Hobgoblin in the very end. Meanwhile you're being taken through the story by good, clear, flowing art and excellent, storytelling, plot-twisting writing. A very good story in the Spiderman history and a more than worthy successor to the original Hobgoblin Saga.

Note though: When you haven't read the original Hobgoblin Saga this is a really hard story to understand and get into. The story constantly makes remarks of what happened in the original story. So if you really wanna enjoy this one you'd do best by getting the issues (or the trade) of the original Hobgoblin Saga first. After that, it's on !

Ever since Roger Stern introduced the villainous Hobgoblin in the early 1980's, his true identity has been a mystery to Spider-Man and readers, and even other writers. After he left, another writer took a guess and "revealed" his identity. Only problem is, he was 100% wrong. Now, 15 years after the Hobgoblin's introduction, Roger Stern is back, with three masterfully written issues. His purpose? To reveal the one, true Hobgoblin's identity once and for all!

To anyone who read the original Hobgoblin stories by Stern, you know that they read as good as the best mystery novel, only serialized and with superheroes. Here, Stern brings back all the old suspects and supporting cast, and successfully recreates the feeling. Ron Frenz also does some magnificent art, making "Hobby" seem quite creepy.

Fortunately, you don't need to have read the original stories in order to understand and like this one, but you do have to have done so in order to fully appreciate it. So I give this 4.5 stars if you haven't read the old stories, and 5 if you have.