There's something deeply satisfying about a villain whose very identity is a mystery. Not "I wonder what their backstory is" mystery, but genuine, sustained, readers-arguing-in-letters-columns mystery. The kind where the clues are there if you're paying attention, but the answer keeps shifting just out of reach. That's what Roger Stern and John Romita Jr. gave … Continue reading Who’s Under the Mask? The Hobgoblin’s Long Con
Green Goblin
The Night Gwen Stacy Died
Every once in a while, something happens in a piece of pop culture that quietly rewires the whole genre around it. You might not notice it in the moment. But look back from a few decades out and you can trace a clear line — before and after. Before this, superhero stories worked one way. … Continue reading The Night Gwen Stacy Died
The Confusing Middle 