Ned Leeds was a reporter for the Daily Bugle. He had a relationship with Betty Brant; but worked abroad. When he came back in New York; he forced Betty to decide between him and Peter Parker. Indeed Betty Brant had a relationship with the young photographer. She decided to choose Ned because Peter had too many secrets. Once again Spider-Man destroyed a relationship for Peter Parker. Ned proposed Betty Brant. She accepted. Ned had a promotion and married with Betty.

Even if Ned Leeds was confined in an office, he was still a reporter inside him. One day, after a battle between Spider-Man and Hobgoblin. Ned followed a defeated Roderick Kingsley to his secret haunt. Ned Leeds was captured by Hobgoblin but not killed. Roderick Kingsley decided to hypnotise Ned in order to use it for uninterested or very dangerous jobs.

For instance, Ned disguised in Hobgoblin worked with Richard Fisk in order to obtain information about Kingpin. But brain wash destroyed Ned’s sanity. He became violent with Betty Brant who fell in the arms of Flash Thompson. Moreover he told everything about Richard Fisk intentions to his father Kingpin.

Roderick Kingsley, upset, decided to eliminate Ned. He succeeded to persuade mafia that Ned Leeds was Hobgoblin. Jason Macendale (Jack O'Lantern), who wanted to take his revenge from Hobgoblin, rented Foreigner services in order to kill Ned.

Ned Leeds was killed in Germany by Foreigner’s agents.