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| Ashley Kafka | |
|---|---|
 Ashley Kafka | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance |
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| Created by | J. M. DeMatteis (writer) Sal Buscema (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Full name | Ashley Kafka |
| Notable aliases | Queen Goblin |
| Abilities | Expert at psychology As Queen Goblin: Super-strength Enhanced durability Goblin Gaze |
Dr. Ashley Kafka is a fictional character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. She is usually depicted in stories revolving around thesuperheroSpider-Man. Introduced inThe Spectacular Spider-Man #178 (July 1991), she was created by writerJ. M. DeMatteis and artistSal Buscema. The character was inspired by therapeutic hypnotist Frayda Kafka.[1] In the comics, Kafka is apsychiatrist at theRavencroft Institute for the Criminally Insane, and an occasional ally of Spider-Man. After having been killed byMassacre, Kafka was twice "reanimated" with hersoul intact in a cloned body byBen Reilly andNorman Osborn, dying again in the former body to the Carrion Virus before going on to become theQueen Goblin in the latter body after being magically corrupted by Osborn's "sins" (theGreen Goblin persona) by theBeyond Corporation.
The character has appeared in several forms of media outside of comics, including animated series and video games. A male version of the character appeared in the 2014 filmThe Amazing Spider-Man 2, portrayed byMarton Csokas.
Ashley Kafka first appeared inThe Spectacular Spider-Man #178 (July 1991), and was created byJ.M. DeMatteis andSal Buscema. She was killed inThe Superior Spider-Man #4 (April 2013) before being twice revived inDead No More: The Clone Conspiracy #2 (November 2016) andRavencroft #5 (September 2020), becoming the Queen Goblin inThe Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 5) #88 (February 2022)
Ashley Kafka grew up in New York with her mother and her sister, Norma, who had been born with severe facial birth defects and was mentally challenged. Kafka looked after Norma while growing up. Their mother died when Kafka was nineteen years old and Norma was left at a psychiatric hospital, where she died a short time later. Kafka went to college at Empire State University, where she studied psychology and earned a degree.[2] Kafka goes on to become a professional psychologist specializing in the criminally insane and founds the maximum security sanitariumRavencroft, where she treats its inmates.
Kafka is later killed byMassacre during a breakout attempt.[3] It is revealed in the mini-seriesBen Reilly: Spider-Man that, prior to her death, Kafka had knowledge of Peter Parker's true identity. Peter reached out to Kakfa for help in dealing with the belief that he was a clone of Spider-Man and not the original.[4]
In "Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy",Ben Reilly resurrects Kafka in a clone body, but she dies after undergoing cellular degeneration.[5][6]
In the seriesRavencroft,Norman Osborn uses Ben Reilly's cloning method to revive Ashley Kafka in a new clone body as part of a plan to getJohn Jameson to regain his ability to transform into Man-Wolf.[7]
During the "Sins Rising" storyline, theSin-Eater usesMister Negative's powers to corrupt Kafka and use her to freeJuggernaut from his cell so that he can steal his powers.[8] The Sin-Eater later attacks Norman Osborn and purges him of his sins.[9] Not wanting to give him to the police, Kafka brings Norman to her office, where he confesses to every bad thing that he has done in his life. Norman claims that his sonHarry isKindred and that he must find a way to stop him before he goes further down the path to vengeance.[10]
During the "Beyond" storyline, Kafka begins working for theBeyond Corporation's Superhero Development division. She is also assigned to be Ben Reilly's therapist.[11] In her latest therapy with Ben, Kafka learns that he has lost faith in the Beyond Corporation following a fight withDoctor Octopus. This leads to Kafka learning that the Beyond Corporation is tampering with Ben's memories.[12]
After obtaining the extracted sins of Norman Osborn, the Beyond Corporation captures Kafka to prevent her from interfering with their plans and infuses her with Norman's sins, transforming her into "Queen Goblin". Queen Goblin breaks her restraints and kills the technicians present. She is given Goblin tech and sent to targetJanine Godbe, who has escaped from the Beyond Corporation with information about the company's true agenda. The effects of Norman's sins have made it impossible for Kafka to remember who she was before her transformation, prompting her to make plans to go after Norman.[13]
During the "Dark Web" storyline, Norman Osborn learns of Ashley Kafka's transformation when he encounters her on the rooftop ofAlchemax. Norman goes on the defense and manages to evade her. When Queen Goblin nearly kills Spider-Man, Norman kills her in self-defense.[14] Shortly afterward, Kafka is revived by the Goblin formula in her bloodstream.[15]
Queen Goblin works withKraven the Hunter to drain Norman Osborn's sins from her body and into Kraven's spear while allowing her to retain her powers. The two plan to reunite the sins with Norman Osborn, but this is thwarted when Spider-Man throws himself in front of Norman to protect him and is infused with the sins in his place.[16] After Norman and Kraven purge Norman's sins from Spider-Man, Queen Goblin escapes.[17]
Ashley Kafka is an expert at psychology.
On her second "reanimation" (with a slightly degraded soul) in a cloned body, Ashley was exposed to the sins of Norman Osborn and was mutated into the "Queen Goblin", which gave her a red-skinned goblin-like appearance and granted her goblin serum-like abilities like enhanced strength, speed, durability, and a healing factor. She also possesses a Goblin Gaze that causes anyone hit by it to relive their trauma.
As Queen Goblin, the second clone of Ashley Kafka rides a Goblin Glider and wields a high-tech Pumpkin Scepter that has two features. The first feature can be used in a rigid state. The second feature is a chain retractable state. In addition, the Pumpkin Scepter can fire explosive blasts through the Pumpkin Scepters extremities.
In 2022,Screen Rant included Queen Goblin in their "10 Spider-Man Villains That Are Smarter Than They Seem" list.[18]
Ashley Kafka appears in the Marvel/DC crossoverSpider-Man &Batman.[19]
An alternate universe version of Ashley Kafka from Earth-71290 appears in the seriesSpider-Society.[20]
An alternate universe version of Ashley Kafka from Earth-982 appears in theMC2 imprint. This version marriedJohn Jameson, with whom she had a son namedJack.[volume & issue needed]
Ashley Kafka appears inThe Amazing Spider-Man 2 film tie-in game.
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