Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

Axis Hobgoblin #1Axis: Hobgoblin #1 of 3
Marvel Comics
Shinick, Rodriguez & Lopez

Hobgoblin gets his own mini-series tie-in to the big Marvel event, Axis. This is an interesting book because it seems to have nothing to do with Axis. Even at the beginning, Hobgoblin instructs the reader to go read Axis number three. I am here to tell you that do not need to read Axis three (or one or two for that matter) to get into this book. The comic is mostly setup as the reader is introduced to the new and improved Roderick Kingsley. The book is a good enough read to pick up the next issue to see what happens next. If you are fan of the character or are curious about an old Spider-Man villain then you should pick this issue up.

Kingsley has turned himself from super villain into super hero. Well, that's not entirely true. He's marketing the Hobgoblin likeness and selling it to people that are willing to buy into his training program to run around doing super hero acts while dressed as the Hobgoblin. The premise is a good one and the scenes that walk the reader through the steps and how people can become a licensed Hobgoblin are extremely detailed and entertaining. Some may find this too much of a paint-by-the-numbers sequence of events with nothing to break it up and that is a valid complaint.

The final few pages begin to setup where this story is heading. Someone from Hobgoblin's past decides he doesn't like how things are going with all of these Hobgoblins messing up the crime scene. He thinks of a plan but the key piece of the plan seems to have found their way into the recruiting class of Kingsley's latest batch.

Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle ReviewsThe book is a decent read. There isn't much action and there really isn't much having to do with Spider-Man, Axis or any other Marvel staple. The book feels like a fringe book and it may do well because of it. It's kind of a slow read but it is a straightforward one.

The artwork is nice. It has a quality to it of being light hearted, which seems odd when you consider what a psycho Hobgoblin is. The book doesn't try to look too fancy, it just sticks to the script where Roderick is a regular guy trying to scam some people out of a buck. It's a nice visual story.

Hobgoblin is a niche character and solo comic book. This mini-series will be interesting to read to see just how it ties into Axis, if at all. The character background is built up in this issue and the plot for the future issues is introduced but not expanded upon. This is a decent read especially if you like the character.

3 out of 5 Geek Goggles