9 Goblins Spider-Man Needs to Face in Future Movies That Will Blow Your Mind!

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As a devoted comic book fan, I can say that every hero requires an archrival to truly shine. Iconic pairs like Batman and Joker, Sherlock and Moriarty, and Harry Potter and Voldemort come to mind. And when it comes to Spider-Man, his archnemesis is none other than the Green Goblin. Among all his formidable foes, this villain manages to get under Spidey’s skin like no other. The original Green Goblin, Norman Osborn, solidified his position as Spider-Man’s archrival when he took away Spidey’s first love, Gwen Stacy, in the comic books.

The live-action Spider-Man movies solidified Green Goblin as Spider-Man’s main adversary, with an outstanding portrayal of Norman Osborn by Willem Dafoe in the original 2002 Spider-Man film and a reprisal of that role in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). Additionally, we saw the character’s son Harry Osborn, who transformed into the New Goblin (portrayed by James Franco) in the controversial Spider-Man 3 (2007), and the Green Goblin (played by Dane DeHaan) in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014).

In addition to Norman and Harry Osborn, other characters assume the Green Goblin identity in the comics. Over time, several goblin antagonists have appeared in Manhattan, each with their own ambition to challenge Spider-Man, a hero who is well known across the city. However, only a small number of these goblins have engaged in battle with Spider-Man on live action or the big screen.

9
Monster

It is often assumed that Goblins are male entities. However, this notion is challenged by the character of Carlie Cooper, a forensic scientist and close friend of Lily Hollister (more on her later). Carlie became acquainted with Peter Parker’s circle when Lily started dating Harry Osborn, one of the Green Goblins. At some point, the Green Goblin splashed Carlie with his Goblin serum, transforming her into a Goblin which he dubbed “Monster.

Contrary to her name, Monster doesn’t possess the fearsome appearance typical of other Goblins in our roster. Instead, she appears more like a human woman with pointed ears and patches of green skin. Monster then joins the ranks of Goblin Nation, an army of goblin-themed soldiers under the command of none other than Norman Osborn. Later on, Carlie manages to reverse her transformation, and since then, Monster has not reappeared.

8
Menace

Lily Hollister was in a relationship with Harry Osborn when she stumbled upon a concealed door within his wardrobe. A journal she discovered there led her to unravel a secret hideout linked to Norman Osborn, which housed Goblin machinery and potent formulas for experimentation. In a predictable turn of events, Hollister accidentally spilled some Goblin formula onto her body, causing a transformation into the superpowered, gray-skinned villain known as Menace in this popular comic book tale.

Initially, Menace planned to disrupt her father’s public political events with the intention of gaining him public sympathy, hoping it would boost his chances of being elected as New York City’s mayor. However, dear Lily, though your intentions might seem noble, your strategies could use a bit more thought.

7
Goblin King

Phil Urich uncovers one of Norman Osborn’s hideouts for the Green Goblin (apparently, this fellow had numerous Green Goblin lairs scattered throughout New York City). Initially, Urich assumes the role of a superhero imitation of the Green Goblin, later transforming into another malevolent version of Hobgoblin. Resisting the allure proved futile for Urich as he was drawn to the Goblins and ultimately joined their ranks, Goblin Nation. He enhanced his weapons and suit in the process. The Green Goblin, who had crowned himself the Goblin King and leader of Goblin Nation, took Urich under his wing, training him and upgrading his equipment. In recognition of his loyalty and skills, the Green Goblin bestowed upon Urich the title of Goblin Knight.

Following the Green Goblin’s downfall, Urich takes over the Goblin Nation and rebrands himself as the Goblin King. Tragically, he meets his end when Norman Osborn resurfaces as the Red Goblin, fatally wounding him. With his tumultuous past with the Goblins, Urich could be an ideal candidate, other than Norman or Harry Osborn, to engage in a confrontation with Spider-Man in the future.

6
Fury the Goblin Queen

In other words, a Goblin King needs a Goblin Queen, and here comes Fury, who took on the role of the Goblin Queen. Poor Elan DeJunae was destined for the Goblin life from birth; she grew up among followers of the Green Goblin cult led by Norman Osborn. Her education and upbringing prepared her to become the Goblin Queen, alongside Norman’s grandson Normie who assumed the mantle of another Green Goblin variant. With this training came access to the Goblin Formula, which ultimately transformed Elan into Fury.

This figure shares a strong resemblance to the Green Goblin compared to most goblins in our collection. Fury has had multiple encounters with Spider-Man that led to arrests. Her last known appearance was in 2009, which could suggest she might not be the ideal choice for a live-action portrayal.

5
Gray Goblin

Some time following the demise of his cherished Gwen Stacy, Peter Parker uncovers a startling secret: Gwen had given birth to a pair of twins, Sarah and Gabriel, prior to her passing. The twins manage to persuade Peter that he is their biological father. However, in an unexpected turn of events, they are disclosed to be the offspring of none other than Norman Osborn – the original Green Goblin. Yes, you heard it right. In this narrative, Gwen had been romantically involved with her eventual murderer before her death. After Gwen’s passing, Norman kidnaps the twins and raises them as his nephew and niece, leading them to believe that Peter is their long-lost father – all while manipulating them for his own nefarious purposes.

In a classic turn of events, Spiderman endeavors to reveal the truth to the twins. However, Gabriel Stacy vehemently denies it and clings to the belief that Peter has deserted them. Later on, Gabriel discovers another one of Norman’s lairs where he becomes exposed to the Goblin serum. This leads to his transformation into a gray-hued Green Goblin, aptly named the Gray Goblin. In the climactic showdown with Spiderman, the Gray Goblin loses control of his glider and sustains amnesia. Conveniently, he forgets everything about being the Gray Goblin, a persona that has not resurfaced in the comics since.

This storyline might offer some intriguing developments on the big screen. Moreover, the Gray Goblin is quite similar to the Green Goblin, making him an appealing antagonist for Spider-Man fans who aren’t deeply versed in the comics. However, if you’re interested in a unique take on the Goblin character, then our upcoming entries may appeal to you more.

4
Demogoblin

Among all the goblins on our list, Demogoblin stands out as exceptionally distinct – this could be due to his extraordinary non-mortal status. The narrative unfolds when an anonymous demon, who had been exiled to Limbo for a considerable time, merged with one of the Hobgoblin variants, Jason Macendale. Following a fierce battle, Jason successfully ejected the demon that had taken hold of him. This act gave rise to Demogoblin, a more sinister, mystical incarnation of the Hobgoblin.

A twisted and malevolent being known as Demogoblin possesses the power to unleash infernal flames and conjure demons straight from the abyss of Hell. Convinced he was on a divine crusade to purge the world of transgressors, all but young innocents, Demogoblin proved to be no friend of Spider-Man. His antagonism extended to Moon Knight, Blade, and Ghost Rider as well. This enigmatic adversary might not feature in Tom Holland’s Spider-Man films, but if the Marvel Cinematic Universe ever produces a Ghost Rider storyline, his arrival could be imminent.

3
Red Goblin

Among Marvel Comics’ goblins, Norman Osborn, or the Green Goblin as he’s often called, stands out in a particularly chilling way. In Dan Slott’s Spider-Man series, however, Norman gained an additional menacing aspect. He came into possession of the symbiote that spawned Carnage, another formidable Spider-Man adversary. After merging with this symbiote, Osborn wasn’t content; he injected himself with his own Goblin serum, transforming into a villainous figure known as the Red Goblin. Part Carnage, part Green Goblin, this enemy surpasses both in strength and potentially instability. He can create Carnage-Bombs and a flaming Goblin Glider using the symbiote’s powers.

The Red Goblin is so strong that Spider-Man needs to team up with Silk, Clash, Human Torch, and Agent Anti-Venom to defeat him. In a typical twist, the Red Goblin kills one of Spider-Man’s close friends, Flash Thompson. Although the Red Goblin is impressive, it seems unlikely that he’ll appear in a film. If Norman Osborn is going to be in a movie, he’d likely portray the Green Goblin instead. Our wish is that we get a movie adaption of the Red Goblin storyline written by Slott.

2
Proto-Goblin

It’s commonly believed that Norman Osborn is the first villain Spider-Man encounters in the comics, going by as the Green Goblin. However, a retcon from the 1990s reveals this isn’t strictly accurate. Before donning the Green Goblin persona, Norman Osborn was tinkering with his strength and intelligence enhancing formula, which later came to be known as the Goblin formula. In an early test of this serum, he altered his research assistant, a man named Nels van Adder. As one might expect, the serum turned Adder into a red-haired, blondish monster called Proto-Goblin – essentially, the precursor to the Green Goblin.

In a fit of anger, the Proto-Goblin kidnaps Harry Osborn and makes threats against Norman. However, it’s not Spider-Man but Police Captain George Stacy who steps in to save the day and fends off the monster. By story’s end, Proto-Goblin remains at large, leading many fans to expect a showdown with a new, inexperienced Spider-Man. Instead, Proto-Goblin faded into obscurity, becoming a mere footnote in Spider-Man lore and leaving an unanswered question about his future appearances.

In the 2024 narrative, the character of Proto-Goblin reappeared for the first time last year, in the “Spider-Man: Shadow of the Green Goblin” storyline. This particular plotline delves back into the history of Nels van Adder and explains the mysterious events that transpired long ago.

It’s intriguing to imagine Proto-Goblin as a forerunner to Norman Osborn’s villainous persona on the big screen. In 2011, there were plans to feature Proto-Goblin as the antagonist in The Amazing Spider-Man, with Irrfan Khan cast in the role. However, Khan ended up portraying an original character, Dr. Rajit Ratha, instead.

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1
Hobgoblin

The most well-known goblin character Spider-Man hasn’t encountered on screen is known as Hobgoblin. Created to introduce a fresh adversary for Spider-Man, this villain is essentially Green Goblin with a medieval influence. Similar to his counterpart, Hobgoblin uses weapons themed around Halloween and travels using a glider. Unlike the original Green Goblin, however, he didn’t initially possess superhuman powers. However, he gains these abilities later on, after consuming the Goblin Serum.

In the world of Spider-Man comics, the true identity of Hobgoblin has been one of the most enduring mysteries. Over time, multiple characters have taken up the Hobgoblin mantle, with Ned Leeds being the original Hobgoblin. Shockingly, this is the same Ned Leeds who is Peter Parker’s friend and adds humor in the Spider-Man franchise portrayed by Tom Holland. This revelation sets the stage for speculations about Ned’s role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Initially, it was portrayed that Ned was responsible for the Hobgoblin persona, but later changes in the storyline revealed he was framed. It’s actually Roderick Kingsley, a fashion designer who was once Mary Jane Watson’s boss, who is the true Hobgoblin. Will Ned encounter his friend as the Hobgoblin in the MCU? Or will Roderick Kingsley make an appearance and unveil himself as the Hobgoblin? Time will tell us the answer.

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2025-01-18 23:02