The "Man in the Chair" Problem
Honestly, if you only know Ned Leeds from the MCU, you probably think of him as the lovable "guy in the chair" who builds LEGO Death Stars and accidentally opens portals. Jacob Batalon made us all love him. But if you're a comic book purist, you've probably been screaming at your screen for years.
The version of Ned Leeds we see in the movies is basically a completely different person. In fact, most of his personality traits—the LEGOs, the "man in the chair" energy, even his physical appearance—are actually stolen from a character named Ganke Lee. Ganke is Miles Morales' best friend in the comics. For some reason, Marvel decided to give Peter Parker a version of Ganke but slapped the name Ned Leeds on him.
It’s weird. It’s also kinda tragic when you realize what the real Ned Leeds is like in the source material.
What Really Happened with Ned Leeds in the Comics
The comic book Ned isn't a high school kid. He’s a grown-up reporter at the Daily Bugle. He was Peter’s rival for the affection of Betty Brant. They even got married! But the story takes a dark, messy turn that has confused fans for literally decades.
In the 1980s, a mystery began about the identity of the Hobgoblin. This was a huge deal. Readers were obsessed. Eventually, it was "revealed" that Ned Leeds was the man behind the mask. He was found murdered in a hotel room in Germany, and the world was told he was the villain.
But here’s the kicker: it was all a lie.
Years later, Marvel writers admitted the Ned reveal was a total mess caused by behind-the-scenes drama and editorial changes. They eventually retconned it. It turns out the actual Hobgoblin was a guy named Roderick Kingsley. Kingsley had captured Ned, brainwashed him using a "Winkler Device," and used him as a puppet.
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Ned Leeds was a victim. He wasn't a criminal mastermind; he was a guy who got his life ruined and his reputation trashed because he was too good at his job as a reporter.
That "I Won't Turn Into a Supervillain" Line
Remember that moment in Spider-Man: No Way Home? Ned is talking to Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parker and asks if Peter has a best friend. Tobey’s Peter mentions Harry Osborn, who... well, you know, tried to kill him.
Ned looks Tom Holland’s Peter in the eye and says, "I promise you, I will not turn into a supervillain and try to kill you."
The theater usually laughs at that part. But if you know the Hobgoblin history, that line felt like a ticking time bomb. Marvel loves "Chekhov’s Gun"—if you mention a character might turn evil, they usually do. Since the world forgot Peter Parker at the end of that movie, Ned is now a blank slate. He doesn't remember Peter. He doesn't remember their bond.
If he finds a goblin glider in the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day (slated for 2026), he won't have any loyalty to stop him from using it.
The Magic Twist: Is Ned a Sorcerer Now?
Another weird curveball the movies threw us: Ned can use magic. He used Doctor Strange’s Sling Ring like a pro. This isn't just a movie gimmick, though.
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Interestingly, recent comics have actually leaned into this. In the Symbiote Spider-Man: Alien Reality series, they revealed that the comic-version Ned actually trained as a sorcerer under Baron Mordo.
This creates a weird bridge between the MCU Ned and the "Evil Ned" theories. If Ned Leeds returns in the next trilogy, he might not need a tech-heavy glider. He might be a mystical threat. Or, even cooler, he might be the one person who uses magic to remember who Peter Parker actually is.
Why the "Ganke" Connection Matters
A lot of fans are annoyed that Ned is basically Ganke Lee. When Miles Morales eventually shows up in the live-action MCU (and we know he will), what happens to Ganke?
If Miles has Ganke, and Peter has Ned (who acts like Ganke), it’s going to feel repetitive. This is why many theorists believe the MCU is forced to change Ned. They need to move him away from the "best friend" role to make room for Miles' story.
Turning Ned into a rival, a sorcerer, or even a version of the Hobgoblin solves that problem. It’s a clean break.
Ned Leeds in 2026: What’s Next?
With Spider-Man: Brand New Day on the horizon, the rumors are flying. We know Tom Holland is back. We know Zendaya is likely back. But Jacob Batalon’s role is the big question mark.
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Some reports suggest he’ll only have a minor role, or perhaps no role at all, as Peter tries to protect his old friends by staying away from them. This is the ultimate "Peter Parker" move—suffering in silence so his friends can have a normal life.
But let's be real: you don't give a character magic powers and a "supervillain" foreshadowing line just to have them disappear.
How to Track the Real History
If you want to understand the actual character of Ned Leeds without the MCU filter, you should check out these specific issues:
- The Amazing Spider-Man #18: His first appearance (as a reporter).
- The Amazing Spider-Man #289: The "reveal" of him as the Hobgoblin (the tragic ending).
- Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives: The 1997 miniseries that cleared his name and fixed the lore.
- Symbiote Spider-Man: Alien Reality: Where the magic stuff actually comes from.
The MCU version is a lovable reimagining, but the comic version is a cautionary tale about the dangers of being a hero’s friend. Whether he becomes a sorcerer or the Hobgoblin, the "New York" Peter lives in now is a lot lonelier without his "man in the chair."
Keep an eye on the casting calls for the next film. If Batalon starts hitting the gym or the production starts looking for "magic consultants," we know exactly where this is headed. For now, Ned Leeds remains the most successful "identity theft" in Marvel history—taking a reporter's name and a sidekick's personality to create something entirely new.