Review by Ian Keogh

Wherever you may have expected Spider-Man’s life to pick up again after New Sinister, it probably wasn’t at the X-Men’s Hellfire Gala, yet that’s the case for Hobgoblin. The title villain doesn’t appear for a while.

Some pivotal events have already taken place as this collection opens, presumably in Hellfire Gala: Immortal, and the catch-up is Moira McTaggart has abducted Mary Jane Watson. Zeb Wells and Patrick Gleason team Spider-Man with Wolverine, make good use of assorted mutant powers and it’s emotionally shredding. Gleason’s art is looser than has been seen in the series to date, but effective. Nick Dragotta illustrating the surprising return of Gwen Stacy doesn’t appeal, all distorted faces in close-up and bug-eyed expressions. It’s part of another crossover, this time the Celestials judging humanity. It’s a shame as Wells having us follow Peter Parker around for the day has a heart, and ends with a lovely moment.

Norman Osborn has been a key supporting character in Wells’ run, shown as reformed from the man he was, and making an effort to make up for that. Of course, we know that’s not going to be the long term plan, but seeing him try to be reasonable is an interesting change of pace, as is his knowing Peter is Spider-Man without exploiting that knowledge. It’s in connection with Osborn that Hobgoblin finally puts in an appearance, and Wells serves up a masterclass in leading readers down the wrong path when it comes to which version it might be. John Romita Jr draws up a storm on the three Hobgoblin chapters, especially the all action finale once the surprises have been dropped.

There is a bigger picture to the Hobgoblin re-emerging, but that’s something that plays out in following volume Dark Web. There’s a taster of that ending this collection as four short chapters focus on a year in the life of Ben Reilly, Peter Parker’s clone. Some might wish he was just forgotten, as since his 1990s revival no-one’s really known what to do with him beyond the immediately sensational. Of course, superhero comics thrive on that, but a different attitude accompanies Reilly every time he’s seen, and this makes him a weak character. Maybe Dark Web will sort that out.

If you want to read what follows the Spider-Man chapters are the contracted version, but there’s also the Dark Web collection, which includes all of those, plus crossovers involving Ms Marvel, Venom and the X-Men.