Uncle Rog - in the 3 part Hobgoblin/Green Goblin story you co-wrote rumor has it there was an alternate ending planned..can you tell us what it was and why it was not used?

Personally i liked the ending that was used with Hobby escaping down south and wondering if he will don the costume again to cause trouble..very cool.

Thanks in advance!

Didn't that end up getting published, a few years later as a mini-series?

No alternate ending, but Glenn Greenberg had wanted to reveal the identity of the new Green Goblin" (who was then working as Norman Osborn's flunky) during the course of the story. That was vetoed by editorial...mainly, I think, because they couldn't make up their minds as to who the new "Goblin" was. He eventually turned out to be some sort of clone.

Glenn's idea was better.

-- Uncle Rog

Just about anything is a better idea than a clone!

Credit where credit is due: As I recall, it was ROGER who came up with the idea of who the "mystery Goblin" should be. I loved it and made arrangements with the Spider-Man editor to work that into the story.

Fairly late in the game, approval of the idea was withdrawn, for the reason Roger cites above, and we had to improvise. The end result was what you saw in print. I certainly don't DISLIKE the version that saw print--it's a pretty good compromise and preserves the mystery. It just doesn't seem as satisfying as what we originally planned.

And considering what was done with Phil Urich afterwards--namely NOTHING--and the utter LAMENESS of the story that revealed who the "mystery Goblin" really was--there was really no good reason why we couldn't go with our original ending.

(Woulda been GREAT to see Norman finally make good on his vow (in THE OSBORN JOURNAL) to punish Phil for using the Green Goblin equipment.)

Hi Glenn, Welcome to IMWAN!

Hi Glenn. I really enjoy your insights into Marvel of that period. Hope you come back sometimes.

On the other hand, the short-lived Phil Urich Green Goblin series had some stunning Scott McDaniel art!

Good to see you here! Don't be a stranger, Glenn!

Nice to see you post here, Glenn! Hope you stop by often.

You don't mean that. You know you hate anyeone w/o an avatar.

Hello Glenn.
You get the rare distinction of not being Michael.

Holy sheep dip, it's Glenn Greenberg!

I greatly enjoyed interacting with you across the street, Glenn. I hope that you're here to stay. You'd be a welcome addition.

Welcome to IMWAN Glenn

Another Hobgoblin question.

I'm re-reading Mark Gruenwald's CAPTAIN AMERICA run, and on page 9 of CAP #320 (cover date August 1986) there's a throwaway line from Scourge's hired private detective that piqued my interest:

"Oh yes, I've learned the Hobgoblin's true identity."

Just a month before, a number of Marvel comic books sported a full-page ad for THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN stating that "The Hobgoblin saga EXPLODES in '86!"

I know that the eventual revelation of the Hobgoblin's identity became a bit of a mess, but do you remember if this bit with Scourge's pal in CAPTAIN AMERICA was ever intended to be a part of the actual puzzle, Roger?

I have figured out the answer to this question all by myself.

Good thing, huh? =)

(That poor, framed sap, Flash Thompson.)