JACK O'LANTERN READING ORDER: Jason Macendale (1981-1987)

Nothing says 'Halloween' quite like a villain with a pumpkin head who throws pumpkins at people. And flies around on a Lolo ball. Um... yeah.

It's probably the Halloween kid in me who loves pumpkin-headed characters all year 'round. And Jack O'Lantern has had a special place in my heart ever since I first saw him in those Machine Man reprints in the back pages of Marvel UK's Transformers comics. 

What's his motivation? Doesn't matter. You had me at 'villain with a pumpkin head'.

His actual motivations come into play when he becomes a recurring Spider-Man villain around the time of the Hobgoblin's move against the Kingpin. But are these Halloween-themed villains connected? Are they allies? Are they the same person?

Spoilers - it turns out they aren't. But Jason Macendale would be responsible for the 'death' of the original Hobgoblin and would take the identity for himself, leaving others to take on the Jack O'Lantern identity in the years that followed...

MCG Notes:

• Issue listings in blue & black: The must-read Jack O'Lantern stories from this time period, along with any key related stories and often-forgotten tales that are worth a read.
• Issue listings in grey: Part of Jason Macendale's chronology, cameo appearances or stories of note that non-essential or no longer considered 'required reading'.
• Chronology: Every appearance of the Jack O'Lantern from this period is included in chronological order - mapping out his timeline rather than just the order the issues were released.
• Spoilers: The issue/story overviews may include spoilers, so be warned!

Machine Man #19(pp.7-22) (1981)

First appearance of Jack O'Lantern and his Pogo Platform; Jack O'Lantern and his goons raid a high-tech secure super-embassy when they hold a Halloween party; having been hired as security, Machine Man steps in when Jack O'Lantern attacks, defeating him but earning no thanks.

Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #56 (1981)

Jack O'Lantern is brought to Bellevue Hospital after his defeat at the hands of Machine Man; Jack O'Lantern recovers and takes hostages to aid in his escape; among the hostages is Nathan Lubensky, prompting Spider-Man to act and defeat Jack O'Lantern before he can get away.

Amazing Spider-Man #254 (1984)

Jack O'Lantern's attempt to steal the Hobgoblin's crashed Battlevan is interrupted by Spider-Man; the Battlevan activates on its own, prompting Jack O'Lantern to give up his plans and escape; Spider-Man wonders if there's a connection between the Jack O'Lantern and Hobgoblin.

Amazing Spider-Man #279 (1986)

Jack O'Lantern's identity as mercenary Jason Macendale is revealed; Silver Sable is hired to apprehend the Jack O'Lantern who attacks the Symkarian Embassy to take the fight directly to her; Jack learns nothing and is defeated but abandons some of his minions, allowing them to be captured while he makes his escape during MISSING IN ACTION.

Amazing Spider-Man #280-281 (1986)

Jason Macendale keeps Silver Sable off his back by sending the Sinister Syndicate to kill her; the Rose decides to pit the Hobgoblin and Jack O'Lantern against each other in the hope they'll take each other off the board; in an attempt to promote himself as a major player, Jack O'Lantern breaks the Hobgoblin out of prison; it's actually Flash Thompson who's been wrongly accused of being the Hobgoblin who Jack O'Lantern frees, enraging the real Hobgoblin; Hobgoblin battles Jack O'Lantern until Jack departs, believing the fight to be pointless.

Amazing Spider-Man #284-286, 288 (1987)

The Kingpin disappeared following his failed attempt to ruin Daredevil's life, leaving the Arranger in charge while the New York crime families make a move on his territory; the Arranger hires Jack O'Lantern to kill Silvermane; Jack O'Lantern inadvertently allies with the Hobgoblin against Hammerhead's men, leading to the Rose encouraging them to work together until Jack refuses to kill Spider-Man under Hobgoblin's orders; the Kingpin returns and fires Jack O'Lantern; Hobgoblin has one last rematch with Jack O'Lantern during GANG WAR.

Amazing Spider-Man #289(pp.1-2) (1987)

Jason Macendale hires the Foreigner to kill the Hobgoblin during THE HOBGOBLIN REVEALED.

Jason Macendale's career continues with a new identity:

• HOBGOBLIN: Jason Macendale (1987-1997)

Notable others who pick up the Jack O'Lantern identity:

• JACK O'LANTERN: Steven Levins (1992-2007)
• JACK O'LANTERN: Mad Jack (1996-2001)
• JACK O'LANTERN: "Jack" & others (2011-2012)

Notable alternate versions of Jack O'Lantern/Jason Macendale from around the multiverse:

EARTH-57780:

Spidey Super Stories #56[2/5] (1982)

Spider-Man comes to Captain Britain's aid when the Jack O'Lantern attacks him.

EARTH-9411:

Spectacular Spider-Man #109, 199, 122 (2004-2011, Panini UK)

Jack O'Lantern is one of a number of villains who are employed by the Kingpin to hunt Spider-Man on more than one occasion.

Key collections featuring Jack O'Lantern appearances:

Machine Man by Kirby & Ditko - The Complete Collection

Includes Machine Man #19

Spider-Man by Roger Stern Omnibus

Includes Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #56