Demons of Our Past

Having traveled to Russia in order to get the powers detailed in the journal of Kraven the Hunter, Jason Macendale agreed to undergo a new process created by Kraven's son Vladimir. The process is incredibly painful and causes him to have hallucinations of his foes Spider-Man and the Demogoblin. Believing that he is being double-crossed, Macenadle summons his Goblin Glider and equipment which he buried in the snow outside the Kravenoff estate. Growing tired of Jason's raving, Vladimir orders his assistant Gregor to have someone put Macendale out of his misery. As the glider comes crashing through the window, Jason breaks free from the operating table. To his surprise, Jason discovers that he is more durable and stronger than ever as a bullet bounces off his skin and he is able to take Kravinoff's guards on his own. Since the process was a success, Jason Macendale merely puts on his Hobgoblin costume and decides to leave without further incident, as he is looking forward to getting back to the United States. As he goes, he tosses the other half of Kraven's journal, as per his original agreement with Vladimir. In the aftermath of the Hobgoblin's escape, Gregori explains that he survived the process due to a genetic anomaly in Macendale's body that allowed him to survive.

Three days later, Spider-Man is still hunting for Demogoblin in New York City. The demon has been killing criminals since he broke out of Ryker's Island days earlier. Spider-Man is tired of all the senseless death and vows to get Demogoblin to put him away for good. Meanwhile, the leader of the Garrison crime family has gathered to a business meeting. They are approached by Hobgoblin who offers to deal with the Demogoblin. Garrison thinks this is a joke and is about to walk out when Hobgoblin flies up next to him and snaps his neck. When his loyal bodyguards try to kill the Hobgoblin, they are tossed out of a window for their troubles. The new leader of the gang agrees to take the Hobgoblin's offer. The villain then warns them to get out of here as he knows that Demogoblin will track him here and he will collect his price once he is finished.[1] Not far away, Spider-Man is trying to talk sense into two crooks, warning them that being out on the streets make them perfect targets for Demogoblin. Satisfied that he got the message across, the web-slinger leaves. When the two crooks are about to come to blows again, they are interrupted yet again. This time, it is Demogoblin and he is prepared to kill them.

Not long later, Demogoblin's mental link with Hobgoblin draws him to his former host body. He finds Hobgoblin on the roof of a church. The Hobgoblin is determined to end their rivalry once and for all. At the home of May Parker, Mary Jane is just on her way out of the house when the phone suddenly rings, Mary Jane hopes that it is her husband Peter.[2] When she answers the phone, the person on the other end of the line doesn't see anything. Mary Jane hangs up, not wanting to deal with anymore weirdness after Aunt May suffered a stroke.[3] At a payphone miles away, the mystery caller is surprised that it was Mary Jane who answered the phone.[4]

Meanwhile, Spider-Man has learned of the battle between the Hobgoblin and Demogoblin at a nearby church. Inside he finds the two goblins fighting each other. Also present are an injured woman and her daughter. Spider-Man is furious that the two combatants would put these innocent people at risk. Getting between the two, Spider-Man is ill-prepared for the Hobgoblin's enhanced strength and is easily subdued. The Hobgoblin then resumes his battle with Demogoblin. While in Russia, Vladimir Kravinoff is determined to undergo the same process so he can finally become a worthy successor to his father. Although Gregori insists that Vladimir is not ready yet, he is determined to claim his title as the Son of the Hunter.[5] Back in New York, Spider-Man has recovered from Hobgoblin's attack. He figures that the Hobgoblin is now as strong as Norman Osborn, the original Green Goblin.[6]

Demogoblin notices that one of the pillars in the church is about to collapse on the mother and her child. Seeing the child as an innocent, Demogoblin breaks free to brace the support beam. However, the Hobgoblin is uninterested in saving an innocent life and resumes his attack on Demogoblin. When Spider-Man tries to get involved, Demogoblin tells the wall-crawler to save the girl and her mother. The wall-crawler complies and carries them out. With the innocent people safely away, Demogoblin cannot hold the pillar anymore and lets go, getting buried in debris in the process. When Spider-Man returns for Demogoblin, he finds no trace of the Hobgoblin. Discovering that Demogoblin is dead, Spider-Man becomes enraged. When the church's priest tries to calm him, Spider-Man swings off intending to take the anger out on the Hobgoblin instead.

Recurring Characters

Spider-Man, Mary Jane Watson, Demogoblin, Hobgoblin, Vladimir Kravinoff, Ben Reilly (unidentified), Gregor

Continuity Notes

1. Hobgoblin states that he and the Demogoblin were once "very close". This is a vauge reference to the fact that they were bonded together during the Inferno event.They were bonded together until they were separated in Web of Spider-Man #86.

2. Peter and Mary Jane are referred to as husband and wife here. However, years later, their marriage is erased from existence by Mephisto in Amazing Spider-Man #545. As such they should be considered a common-law couple here.

3. Aunt May suffered a stroke in Amazing Spider-Man #391. Unknown to everyone at this time, May was replaced with an impostor by the Green Goblin sometime during Amazing spider-Man #392. This is revealed in Spider-Man #97.

4. This mystery caller is the clone of Peter Parker, last seen in Amazing Spider-Man #149. How it survived is explained in Spider-Man: The Osborn Journal #1.

5. At the time of this story, Kraven the Hunter is dead after he committed suicide during his last hunt during Kraven’s Last Hunt

6. At the time of this story, everyone believes that Norman Osborn is dead following a battle against Spider-Man in Amazing Spider-Man #122. His survival is explained in Spider-Man: The Osborn Journal #1. He will resurface again in Amazing Spider-Man #412.