Ned Leeds

Edward "Ned" Leeds is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. A supporting character for the Spider-Man comic series, he was a reporter for the Daily Bugle, and the husband of Betty Brant. He was also the third character to take on the Hobgoblin mantle after being brainwashed as a stand in.

Ned Leeds
Ned Leeds, in The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 1 #245 (October 1983)
Art by John Romita Jr.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceThe Amazing Spider-Man #18 (November 1964)
Created byStan Lee
Steve Ditko
In-story information
Full nameEdward "Ned" Leeds
SpeciesHuman
Place of originHuntington, New York
Team affiliationsDaily Bugle
Supporting character ofSpider-Man
Notable aliasesHobgoblin
AbilitiesVeteran reporter
Master deductive reasoner and investigator
Brainwashed as Hobgoblin:
Use of goblin-theme weapons and paraphernalia

Jacob Batalon portrays Ned Leeds in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Spider-Man: Homecoming, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and Spider-Man: Far From Home.

Publication history

Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, Ned Leeds made his first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #18 (November 1964). His character is killed off in the 1986 one-shot Spider-Man vs. Wolverine, written by then Spider-Man editor Jim Owsley. Tom DeFalco, Ron Frenz, and Peter David (of the creative teams on the ongoing Spider-Man books) found this objectionable, saying that Owsley gave them no warning that he was going to kill Leeds, then a regular cast member in the Spider-Man books. Frenz remarked:

Owsley let Tom [DeFalco] and I continue with our plans without telling us in advance that he was going to kill Ned. We had no heads up until Spider-Man vs. Wolverine came out that Ned Leeds was killed in that story. I can't speak to why he did it, but I can speak to the way he did it. He kept it a big secret until we felt screwed.[1]

Fictional character biography

Ned Leeds was a reporter for the Daily Bugle. He and Peter Parker compete for the affections of Daily Bugle secretary Betty Brant, but Parker drops out of the running due to realizing that Brant won't be able to accept Spider-Man's double identity.[2] He would win outright when Betty went into stress induced shock after J. Jonah Jameson was attacked at the Daily Bugle by the Scorpion. Leeds and Brant are married shortly after. However, the couple's marriage is often strained.[3]

When Spider-Man battles the Hobgoblin, Ned follows the Hobgoblin to a hideout. When the Hobgoblin realizes Ned is present, Ned is captured and brainwashes as a scapegoat in case of being unmasked.[4] Wanting to find out about the Kingpin, Ned approaches Richard Fisk. Discovering that Richard hates the Kingpin, Leeds helps create Richard's secret identity as the Rose. The Hobgoblin manipulates Ned to remove the Kingpin from the scene.[5] Ned's regular brainwashing cause his marriage with Betty and professional relationships to fall apart. Increasingly mentally unstable, Ned drives Betty to seek solace in Flash Thompson. While Flash makes statements about the Hobgoblin and events are staged so Flash is revealed as the enigmatic villain, Ned and Richard reach a disagreement and Ned decides to turn in the Rose to the Kingpin, and thus Ned is no longer needed as Hobgoblin. After Flash is cleared of being framed, the New York underworld empire is known that Ned is actually Hobgoblin and that he would soon be traveling to Berlin. Ned and Peter go on an assignment in Berlin, and Leeds is murdered by the Foreigner at Jason Macendale's request as a replacement Hobgoblin.[6][7] The Kingpin presents photos of Ned in the Hobgoblin costume (which was obtained via the Foreigner) to Spider-Man in an attempt to get Spider-Man to go after the Foreigner.[8]

Peter reflected on Ned's death years later, believing Ned must have been framed as Hobgoblin as the Foreigner's non-superhuman operatives would never have been able to defeat the real Hobgoblin. Around this time, the original Hobgoblin returns to eliminate Macendale, revealing the deception of Leeds being a stand-in. Spider-Man and Betty subsequently provoked Roderick Kingsley into confessing to Ned's framing on tape.[4]

During the "Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy" storyline, a clone of Ned Leeds is created by Ben Reilly (posing as Jackal) and is seen in New U Technologies' facility Haven.[9] The clone is revealed to have survived the end of the event and disguised himself as a hobo to continue watching over Betty. It is shown that Betty still cares for Ned. While still unaware of his survival, Ned feels that he's proud of Betty's accomplishments.[10] The clone later dies during a conflict between Spider-Man, Rhino, Taskmaster and Black Ant and tries to warn Spider-Man of something after Betty in the near future.[11]

Powers and abilities

Ned Leeds had a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism, and was a master of deductive reasoning and investigation. He was a normal man who engaged in regular exercise, which increased to more intensive levels after assuming the Hobgoblin role. While brainwashed, Ned wore the Hobgoblin's uniform and used the glider and equipment which included Jack O'Lantern bombs, razor bats and electrical shock gloves. However, he had no healing factor or superhuman strength.

Other versions

Ultimate Marvel

The Ultimate Marvel version of Ned Leeds is a reporter for the Daily Bugle and an alcoholic with an antagonistic relationship with Betty Brant.[12]

Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane

Ned Leeds appears in the dramatic comic book Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane. In this continuity, the characters are high school students, and Ned is Mary Jane's boyfriend, who breaks up with her to reunite with his ex-girlfriend Betty Brant.[13]

In other media

Television
  • Ned Leeds appeared in several episodes of Spider-Man: The Animated Series, voiced by Bob Bergen. This version was mainly a reporter of the Daily Bugle.
  • The character is renamed Ned Lee in The Spectacular Spider-Man animated series, voiced by Andrew Kishino. This iteration is Korean-American but still has a similar portrayal to his comic book counterpart as a reporter for the Daily Bugle. He is convinced that he can crack Spider-Man's mystery identity, and that the Green Goblin is connected. J. Jonah Jameson thinks he's wasting his time and nearly hands the assignment to Frederick Foswell, but Robbie Robertson tells him to "run with it". When Venom outs Spider-Man's true identity, Ned interviews people that Peter Parker and Spider-Man both know, like May Parker, the Connors family, Norman Osborn, Quentin Beck, Flash Thompson and Eddie Brock. He eventually concludes that Peter cannot be Spider-Man, since Peter wore Spider-Man's costume unmasked on Halloween night, a risky move the real Spider-Man would not make and continues with his investigation. He is also shown to have an attraction to his co-worker Betty Brant whom he asks on a date while interviewing about Peter.

Film
Actor Jacob Batalon portrayed Ned Leeds in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
  • In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Jacob Batalon portrays Ned Leeds. This version of the character is an amalgamation of his mainstream counterpart, Harry Osborn and Ultimate Marvel's Ganke Lee.[14]
    • The character debuts in Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017).[15] He is Peter Parker's best friend who finds out that Peter is Spider-Man. Although Ned's surname was not listed in the credits of Spider-Man: Homecoming, cast and crew documentaries included with the home video release of the film confirm his surname to be Leeds.
    • Batalon reprises his role in Avengers: Infinity War (2018).[16] He provides a distraction while Peter changes into Spider-Man when the Children of Thanos invade New York. He disintegrates offscreen during the Snap.
    • Batalon has a cameo appearance in Avengers: Endgame (2019).[17] He shares an emotional reunion with Peter. It is revealed by his appearance, specifically how he had not aged over five years, that (like Peter) he was a victim of Thanos's Decimation.
    • Batalon reprises his role in Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019). In an Audi tie-in commercial, Ned was referred to as "Mr. Leeds".[18] He becomes romantically involved with Betty Brant, though the two claim to have broken up at the end, but they still remain friends.

Video games

Ned Leeds is mentioned in Spider-Man: Web of Shadows. One of Wolverine's questions asks to Spider-Man is "Whose killer did we track in Berlin?": Ned is the correct answer, with Spider-Man expressing frustration and grief at Wolverine bringing up such a painful memory.

Theme park

The Ned Leeds version of Hobgoblin can be seen in the Islands of Adventure ride The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, voiced by Pat Fraley. This version appears as a member of Doctor Octopus's Sinister Syndicate. A wanted poster for him may be seen during the waiting period of the ride, which identifies him by his full name. At one point in the ride, he attacks guests with a pumpkin bomb that almost hits them, but stops thanks to the intervention of Spider-Man who attacks Hobgoblin and stops him from further hurting guests. During the climax, he and Scream grab onto Spider-Man (who was webbing onto guests) and sends them through the city, before he is defeated when the ride vehicle crashes into his glider. He is last seen webbed up with the rest of the Syndicate.

References
  1. Greenberg, Glenn (August 2009). "When Hobby Met Spidey". Back Issue!. TwoMorrows Publishing (35): 18.
  2. The Amazing Spider-Man #37-39. Marvel Comics.
  3. The Amazing Spider-Man #156. Marvel Comics.
  4. Hobgoblin Lives #3. Marvel Comics.
  5. The Amazing Spider-Man #253. Marvel Comics.
  6. Spider-Man versus Wolverine (February 1987). Marvel Comics.
  7. Cowsill, Alan; Manning, Matthew K. (2012). Spider-Man Chronicle: Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging. DK Publishing. p. 161. ISBN 978-0756692360.
  8. The Amazing Spider-Man #289. Marvel Comics.
  9. The Clone Conspiracy #4. Marvel Comics.
  10. The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #42. Marvel Comics.
  11. The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 5 #15. Marvel Comics.
  12. Ultimate Spider-Man #121. Marvel Comics.
  13. Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane #6-7. Marvel Comics.
  14. https://screenrant.com/spider-man-homecoming-ned-leeds-explained/
  15. Collura, Scott (April 3, 2017). "17 Things We Learned On The Set Of Spider-Man: Homecoming Page 2 of 2". IGN. Archived from the original on April 4, 2017. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  16. Francisco, Eric (October 9, 2017). "'Spider-Man: Homecoming' Star Wants Ned to Become a Villain". Inverse. Archived from the original on October 10, 2017. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  17. Allen, Ben (April 25, 2019). "All of the cameos in Avengers: Endgame". Radio Times. Archived from the original on April 27, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  18. Alexander, Julia (October 5, 2017). "Peter Parker's best friend, Ned, may show up in an Avengers movie". Polygon. Archived from the original on October 5, 2017. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
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