HOBGOBLIN
Real Name: Unrevealed
Identity/Class: Extraterrestrial (Chameleoid)
Occupation: Member of Shi'ar Imperial Guard
Group Membership: Shi'ar Imperial Guard
Affiliations: Alake, Astra, Black Light, Blackthorn, Cosmo, Deathbird, Delhos, D'ken, Earthquake, Electron, Fang, Flashfire/Tempest, Gladiator, Hussar, Impulse, Kid Gladiator, K'tor, K'ythri, Lilandra, Magic/Magique, Manta, Mentor, Neutron/Quasar, Nightside, Oracle, Plutonia, Schism, Scintilla/Midget, Davan Shakari, Sharra, Smasher (Vril Rokk), Smasher (Salac Tuur), Squorm, Starbolt, Titan, Voyager, Vulcan, Warbird (Ava'Dara Naganandini), Warden Daak, Warstar, White Noise
Enemies: Asgardians (Cul Borson, Fandral, Heimdall, Hildegarde, Hogun, Sif), Avengers (Dr. Pym, Falcon/Sam Wilson, Gilgamesh, Mockingbird, She-Hulk, Spider-Woman/Julia Carpenter, USAgent/John Walker, Wasp/Janet Van Dyne), Captain Atlas, Deadpool ("Wade Wilson"), Destroyer, Doctor Minerva, Eson, Excalibur (Captain Britain/Brian Braddock, Lockheed, Meggan, Nightcrawler, Shadowcat, Phoenix/Rachel Summers, Widget), Her, Inhumans (Black Bolt, Crystal, Gorgon, Karnak, Lockjaw, Medusa, Triton), Jason of Spartax, Kree, Lobo (DC), Quasar (Wendell Vaughn), Ronan the Accuser, Starjammers (Ch'od, Corsair, Cr+eee, Havok, Hepzibah, Korvus, Marvel Girl/Rachel Grey, Lilandra Neramani, Polaris, Raza), Thanos, Thor (Jane Foster), Vulcan, X-Men (Banshee, Colossus, Cyclops, Nightcrawler, Phoenix/Jean Grey, Storm, Wolverine)
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: Gohmen Ahuud, Shapeshifter, Shifter
Base of Operations: Mobile throughout Shi'ar Empire
First Appearance: (As Hobgoblin) X-Men I#107 (October, 1977); (as Shapeshifter) Avengers West Coast#81 (April, 1991)
Powers/Abilities: Hobgoblin can assume the form of other beings and creatures, presumably increasing or reducing his size and mass as he does so. He has used a Shi'ar anti-gravity device to fly. It is unknown if his abilities are possessed by his entire race or solely him. The full extent of his abilities are likely unknown.
Height: 6'1''
Weight: 165 lbs.
History:
(X-Men I#107) - Members of the Imperial Guard fought the X-Men (Banshee, Colossus, Cyclops, Nightcrawler, Phoenix (Jean Grey), Storm, Wolverine) and Starjammers (Ch'od, Corsair, Cr+eee, Hepzibah, Raza) at the M'kraan Crystal, in order to stop them from rescuing Lilandra from D'ken and Davan Shakari. During the battle, Hobgoblin was scattered by Banshee's scream, then, at Tempest's order, turned into a Barrandnian Shovel-Beast. He attacked Nightcrawler, who mimicked the Beast's appearance with an image-inducer, frightening Hobgoblin, who assumed his normal form and was knocked out by Nightcrawler. D'ken was rendered comatose and Lilandra took over as the new Majestrix. Members of the Guard in this mission: Astra, Electron, Fang, Gladiator, Hobgoblin, Impulse, Magic, Mentor, Midget, Nightside, Oracle, Quasar, Smasher, Starbolt, Tempest, and Titan.
(X-Men I#108) - The Guard lay unconscious as the battle resolved.
(X-Men I#109 (fb) - BTS) - The Guard was stopped by Lilandra from killing the X-Men. Later the Guard watched the X-Men return to Earth.
(Deadpool: Badder Blood#3) - The Imperial Guard (Astra, Titan, Starbolt, Smasher, Fang, Electron, Impulse, Tempest, Oracle, Hobgoblin, Gladiator) were shocked to see Deadpool pass through their space.
(X-Men: Spotlight on Starjammers#2) - At Deathbird's orders, a large group of the Guard attacked the Starjammers and Excalibur (Captain Britain (Brian Braddock), Lockheed, Meggan, Nightcrawler, Shadowcat, Phoenix (Rachel Summers), Widget) on Earth at Deathbird's orders, but they were ordered to retreat when Deathbird was put at risk. During the battle, Hobgoblin posed as Excalibur member Meggan and knocked out Nightcrawler. Guard members who participated in this assault: Astra, Black Light, Blackthorn, Earthquake, Electron, Gladiator, Hobgoblin, Impulse, Magik, Mentor, Midget, Nightside, Oracle, Smasher, Starbolt, Tempest, Titan, and White Noise.
(Avengers I#345) - Hobgoblin posed as a Shi'ar soldier and was captured alongside Warstar, other soldiers, and Atlas and Minerva of the Kree. They were kept in stasis in a miniaturized state by the Avengers (Dr. Pym, Falcon, Gilgamesh, Mockingbird, She-Hulk, Spider-Woman (Julia Carpenter), USAgent, Wasp).
(Avengers West Coast#81) - Nightside and Scintilla liberated the captives from Project: PEGASUS and restored them to their natural size. Hobgoblin then subdued Minerva and took on her appearance. After Scintilla shrank down and hid on him, Hobgoblin convinced Atlas to flee with him, taking him aboard the Shi'ar ship nearby and allaying his suspicions with words. Back on the Guard's ship, Starbolt and Neutron met them, and Hobgoblin revealed himself, stealing Atlas' Nega-Bands. Starbolt and Neutron left to fight Quasar (Wendell Vaughn) and Her while Hobgoblin, Scintilla, and Atlas fled back to the Shi'ar Empire.
(Quasar#33) - Members of the Imperial Guard attacked Quasar and Her when the heroes neared the Guard ship. He boarded their ship and the Guard agreed to release Atlas to him so as not to damage the ship. Quasar quickly departed before they could pursue him. Guard members in this mission: Electron, Hobgoblin, Manta, Neutron, Nightside, Oracle, Scintilla, Starbolt, Tempest, and Warstar.
(Inhumans IV#3) - Hobgoblin summoned Delphos, Karnak, and Triton from a Guard battle on the moon. As they were so victorious, he told them they were being recruited for the Imperial Guard. (Karnak and Triton, however, were members of the Inhumans, and would ultimately not join the Guard).
(Inhumans IV#4) - Hobgoblin secretly posed as Lilandra, ensuring there was no risk to her when the Shi'ar joined with the Spartoi on the planet Kritnah. With the Imperial Guard standing by, "Lilandra" joined with Eson of the Spartoi. Black Bolt moved to attack "Lilandra", who set up a shield and activated the Guard against the Inhumans. Black Bolt screamed, seemingly slaying "Lilandra", who was soon revealed to be Hobgoblin. The Guard moved in at full force, but the Inhumans escaped. Members of the Guard in this mission: Astra, Delphos, Earthquake, Fang, Flashfire, Gladiator, Hobgoblin, Hussar, Impulse, Mentor, Neutron, Nightside, Oracle, Smasher, Starbolt, Titan, Warstar, others.
(JLA/Avengers#1) - The Imperial Guard fought Lobo. Members of the Guard in this mission: Astra, Fang, Electron, Flashfire, Hobgoblin, Hussar, Impulse, Magique, Manta, Mentor, Neutron, Nightside, Oracle, Scintilla, Smasher, Starbolt, Titan, Warstar.
(Uncanny X-Men#477 - BTS) - The Imperial Guard was dispatched to defeat Vulcan, who'd been destroying ships in Shi'ar space.
(Uncanny X-Men#480) - The Guard finally defeated Vulcan (keeping him alive at the orders of K'tor) after a deadly battle which left some Guard members, including Cosmo, Impulse, Smasher, and Titan, seemingly slain. During the battle, Nightside bathed Vulcan in darkness and Oracle guided Hobgoblin into assuming the form of a young Vulcan. Hobgoblin tried taunting Vulcan, who was not fooled for long. He lashed out with his energy, knocking out all three of them. Guard members in this mission: Astra, Cosmo, Electron, Gladiator, Hobgoblin, Impulse, Manta, Mentor, Neutron, Nightside, Oracle, Plutonia, Scintilla, Smasher, Starbolt, and Titan.
(War of Kings#1) - Vulcan surveyed, with Gladiator, the assembled Imperial Guard,. Mentor reported they were all battle ready and Vulcan announced his intentions to attack the Kree. Shapeshifter soon posed as the Aakon delegate Gohmen Ahuud in order to get close to the Kree's spire. He seemingly killed himself as he let off an explosive that destroyed the spire, allowing the rest of the Guard access. They soon engaged in a massive battle with the Inhumans and Starjammers, successfully capturing Lilandra before retreating. Members of the Guard in this mission: Astra, Black Light, Earthquake, Electron, Fang, Flashfire, Gladiator, Hussar, Impulse, Magique, Manta, Mentor, Neutron, Nightside, Plutonia, Schism, Scintilla, Shapeshifter, Smasher, Squorm, Starbolt, Titan, Voyager, Warstar, and White Noise.
SECRET WARS III HAPPENED
(Thanos
II#2) – The Imperial Guard (Flashfire, Smasher (Izzy Kane), Starbolt,
Fang, Impulse) showed up on the Shi’ar planet, Nulla, to arrest Thanos.
(Thanos
II#3) – On Nulla, the Imperial Guard (Flashfire, Starbolt, Fang,
Smasher (Izzy Kane), Impulse, Neutron, Plutonia, Manta, Hardball,
Hobgoblin, Nightside, Oracle, Titan, Gladiator) savagely attacked
Thanos, with more members backing them up. Though Thanos fought hard,
they soon realized he was bleeding and wounded, and Gladiator delivered
the final blow. Thanos was apprehended. (Thanos
II#5) – The Imperial Guard (Impulse, Hardball, Smasher (Izzy Kane),
Nightside, Manta, Titan, Fang, Neutron, Hobgoblin) delivered Thanos to
a secure Shi’ar prison, where Warden Daak saw his safe imprisonment.
(Mighty Thor II#15) - Gladiator, Kid Gladiator, Warbird, the Shi'ar, and a contingent of the Imperial Guard (Warstar, Smasher/Isabel Kane, Neutron, Manta, Starbolt) went to Asgardia, where they confronted Heimdall before other Asgardians and Thor (Jane Foster) rushed in to face them. The Shi'ar snagged Thor and returned her to Shi'ar space, where Sharra and K'ythri were prepared to face her in M'Kraan Palace. More members of the Guard (Webwing, Hussar, Oracle, Hobgoblin) met them there.
(Mighty Thor II#16) - The Imperial Guard (Smasher/Isabel Kane, Starbolt, Neutron, Manta, Hussar, Hobgoblin, Oracle, Warstar) saw Sharra and K'ythri challenge Thor to a contest. When Gladiator tried standing up for them, they humbled him physically.
(Mighty Thor II#17) - Gladiator (and Kid Gladiator) led the Imperial Guard (Astra, Plutonia, Hobgoblin, Starbolt, Oracle, Manta, Neutron, Fang, Electron, Warstar, Webwing, Hussar, Smasher (Isabel Kane)) against the Asgardians, but the Destroyer was unleashed to fight them back.
(Mighty Thor II#18 - BTS) - Gladiator kept the Imperial Guard off to the side during the battle between gods.
(Guardians of the Galaxy V#1) - Aboard the Sanctuary, Starfox (badly scarred and in a hover-chair) assembled many heroes, including the Imperial Guard, the Starjammers, Adam Warlock, Wraith, Firelord, Cosmo, Cosmic Ghost Rider, Beta Ray Bill, Major Victory, Howard the Duck, Shi’ar Death Commandos, and Moondragon and Phyla-Vell (alternates), as he stood over the corpse of Thanos. Starfox triggered a recording of Thanos from before his death, and Thanos stated that he had made arrangements to have his consciousness uploaded into the mind of another, causing panic among those assembled. Starfox believed Gamora was the most likely candidate. Meanwhile, aboard the Ryder (new ship named after Winona), Star-Lord and Groot discovered that Knowhere was missing, and the Nova Corps informed them it was headed to Sanctuary. Knowhere attacked Sanctuary, with Outriders and the Black Order behind it all. A black hole and most of the participants were pulled through and sent through to other places in the cosmos.
Comments: Created by Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum, and Dan Green.
Hobgoblin is pictured in OHotMU I#5 and has a partial entry in OHotMU Deluxe Edition#6 and the Master Edition.
In Fantastic Four III#51, another member of Hobgoblin's race, identifying himself as a Chameleoid, participates in an Earth mission and states that the original Hobgoblin is dead. It is possible that the Hobgoblin seen after this is another Chameleoid.
The Imperial Guard members are generally based on
DC's Legion of Super-Heroes. Hobgoblin is based on Chameleon Boy. Also,
there seems to be some indication that Hobgoblin
is in fact a Skrull, as acknowledged by his Master
Edition entry. This occurs due to a scene in Avengers
I#345.
--Per Degaton
Hobgoblin might have been killed by Vulcan in Uncanny
X-Men I#480 as well, with the Hobgoblin seen in War of Kings#1 being a
replacement. In the issue it showed him being blasted with blood flying
from his back - that blast went all the way through him.
--Loki
Profile by Chadman.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Hobgoblin/Shapeshifter has no known connections to
images: (without ads)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#6, p17, pan2
(main image)
X-Men I#107, p5, pan1 (2nd)
X-Men I#107, p7, pan4 (shape-shifting)
Uncanny X-Men#480, p11, pan5 (with Vulcan)
Appearances:
X-Men I#107 (October, 1977) - Chris Claremont (writer), Dave Cockrum
(penciler), Dan Green (inker), Archie Goodwin (editor)
X-Men I#108 (December, 1977) - Chris Claremont (writer), John Byrne
(penciler), Terry Austin (inker), Archie Goodwin (editor)
X-Men I#109 (February, 1977) - Chris Claremont (writer), John Byrne
(penciler), Terry Austin (inker), Archie Goodwin (editor)
X-Men: Spotlight on Starjammers#2 (1990) - Terry Kavanagh (writer),
Dave Cockrum (penciler), Jeff Albrecht (inker), Kelly Corvese (editor)
Avengers West Coast#81 (April, 1991) - Roy & Dann Thomas (writers),
Dave Ross (penciler), Tom Dzon (inker), Nelson Yomtov (editor)
Quasar#33 (April, 1992) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Rurik Tyler
(penciler), Fred Fredericks (inker), Kelly Corvese (editor)
Avengers I#345 (March, 1992) - Bob Harras (writer), Steve Epting
(penciler), Tom Palmer (inker), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Inhumans IV#3 (August, 2000) - Carlos Pacheco, Rafael Marin (writers),
Jose Ladronn (penciler/inker), Mark Powers (editor)
Inhumans IV#4 (September, 2000) - Carlos Pacheco, Rafael Marin
(writers), Jorge Lucas (penciler/inker), Mark Powers (editor)
JLA/Avengers#1 (September, 2003) - Kurt Busiek (writer), George Perez
(artist), Tom Brevoort & Dan Raspler (editors)
Uncanny X-Men#477 (October, 2006) - Ed Brubaker (writer), Clayton Henry
(penciler), Mark Morales (inker), Mike Marts (editor)
Uncanny X-Men#480 (January, 2007) - Ed Brubaker (writer), Clayton Henry
(penciler), Mark Morales (inker), Mike Marts, Nick Lowe (editors)
War of Kings#1 (May, 2009) - Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
(writers), Paul Pelletier (pencils), Rick Magyar (inks), Bill Rosemann
(editor)
Thanos
II#2-3, 5 (February-March, May, 2017) – Jeff Lamire (writer), Mike
Deodato Jr (artist), Jordan White (editor)
Mighty Thor II#15-18 (March-June, 2017) - Jason Aaron
(writer), Russell Dauterman (artist), Wil Moss (editor)
Guardians of the Galaxy V#1 (March, 2019) - Donny Cates (writer), Geoff Shaw (art), Darren Shan (editor)
Deadpool: Badder Blood#3 (October, 2023) - Rob Liefeld (writer/artist), Chad Bowers (writer), Mark Basso (editor)
First posted: 07/20/2007
Last updated: 12/20/2023
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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