Edward Ned Leeds is a fictional, supporting character of Spider-Man, Leeds becomes a reporter for the Daily Bugle working alongside Peter Parker, and is the future husband of the Daily Bugle secretary, Betty Brant, whose affections both he and Peter compete for a time. Ned is known for being a veteran investigative reporter and a master deductive reasoner.He was also the third character to take on the mantle of being the Hobgoblin after being brainwashed by the Kingpin's son, Roderick Kingsley, the first Hobgoblin, as a stand in.Ned is eventually murdered by the Foreigner at the request of Jason Macendale who replaces him as the Hobgoblin while on assignment, from the Daily Bugle, with Peter in Berlin.