The Amazing Spider-Man #289

The Amazing Spider-Man issue 289, published in June 1987, serves as the dramatic conclusion to the Hobgoblin saga, a long-running mystery that captivated readers throughout the mid-1980s. Written by Peter David with interior art by Erik Larsen and a cover by Mike Zeck, this issue was tasked with finally unmasking the villain who had plagued Peter Parker since issue 238. The revelation of Ned Leeds as the Hobgoblin was a controversial creative decision that signaled a darker, more cynical shift in Spidey's rogues' gallery.

The design of the issue captures the grit of late-80s Marvel, with Mike Zeck’s cover work emphasizing the brutal and psychological toll of the conflict. The art team aimed to ground the fantastic nature of the fight in a more visceral, street-level reality that reflected the tone of Peter David’s writing. Upon release, the issue was received as a major milestone, though the editorial decision to cast a supporting character as the primary antagonist remains a subject of ongoing debate among comic historians and fans of the Spider-Man mythos.