Daniel Kingsley is the twin brother of Roderick Kingsley, the original Hobgoblin. In order to draw any suspicion away from himself that may have suggested he was the Hobgoblin, Roderick Kingsley had his brother pose as him and run his corporation while he was conducting business (usually as the Hobgoblin) elsewhere. After he outed Daily Bugle reporter, Ned Leeds as the Hobgoblin (which led to his eventual death), Roderick placed Daniel as head of his company and retired to Belize for a number of years. When Roderick's identity was exposed after he returned from Belize to reclaim his mantle of the Hobgoblin, Daniel's secret of masquerading as Roderick was as well.

Daniel Kingsley returned yet again disguised as Hobgoblin, and appeared to be undertaking a job for the Kingpin of Crime. While raiding one of Norman's newest goblin labs, Kingsley stumbled upon Phil Urich, who was looking for some Goblin tech to show off to Norah Winters. Phil managed to access his lunatic laugh and incapacitated Kingsley. Using a firesword, Phil decapitated Kingsley and claimed he was going to keep the severed head; he later said he dumped the body behind an IHOP restaurant.