| Harry Osborn | |
|---|---|
 Harry Osborn as Kindred Art byMark Bagley. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | As Harry Osborn: The Amazing Spider-Man #31 (December 1965)[1][2] As Green Goblin: The Amazing Spider-Man #136 (September 1974) As A.I. Harry Osborn: Spider-Man: Legacy of Evil #1 (April 1996) As American Son: The Amazing Spider-Man #597 (August 2009) As Harry Lyman: The Amazing Spider-Man #759 (January 2016) As Kindred: The Amazing Spider-Man #802 (September 2018) |
| Created by | Stan Lee (writer) Steve Ditko (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Full name | Harold Theopolis Osborn |
| Species | Human mutate |
| Place of origin | New York City |
| Team affiliations | Oscorp Parker Industries Alchemax |
| Partnerships | Spider-Man |
| Supporting character of | Spider-Man |
| Notable aliases | Green Goblin Hobgoblin American Son Harry Lyman Kindred Goblin Prince Venom (Ultimate Spider-Man,Marvel's Spider-Man 2) |
| Abilities |
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Harold Theopolis Osborn[3] is a character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics, commonly in association with thesuperheroSpider-Man. Created byStan Lee andSteve Ditko, the character first appeared inThe Amazing Spider-Man #31 (December 1965).
Harry is the best friend of Peter Parker (Spider-Man's alter ego) andFlash Thompson, one of the ex-boyfriends ofMary Jane Watson, the son ofNorman Osborn, the husband ofLiz Allan and the father ofNormie Osborn and Stanley Osborn. He is the second character to assume theGreen Goblin alias while one of his clones was amongst the many users of theIron Patriot armor as the superheroAmerican Son. Anartificial intelligence (A.I.) copy, known as theA.I. Harry Osborn, is also the creator of the clones Gabriel and Sarah who are both later revealed to be operating as hisdemonicrevenantKindred under the Harry A.I.'s command.
The character has appeared in many adaptations ofSpider-Man outside of the comic books, including various cartoons and video games.James Franco portrayed thecharacter inSam Raimi'sSpider-Man film trilogy (2002–2007), andDane DeHaan portrays the character inThe Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014).
Harry Osborn first appeared inThe Amazing Spider-Man #31 (December 1965),[4] and was created by writerStan Lee and artistSteve Ditko.
InThe Amazing Spider-Man #122 (July 1973), Harry's father,Norman, is killed off, and a subplot leading to Harry inheriting his father's identity as theGreen Goblin is introduced. This subplot culminates inThe Amazing Spider-Man #136 (September 1974). WriterGerry Conway said that the idea of Harry Osborn becoming the Green Goblin stemmed in part from a desire to deal with the consequences of the psychedelic drugs Harry began using inThe Amazing Spider-Man #96 (May 1971).[5] Conway said that he had had experience with such drugs himself, and that "with psychedelic drugs, hallucinogens, if they've been misused, there is a potential for additional hallucinogenic experiences that are completely beyond your control or volition. I could imagine Harry getting hit by something like that, in the fragile emotional state following the death of his father, and losing touch with reality, as a result. Besides, I never had any intention of getting rid of the Green Goblin as a concept forever, so it all came together".[6]
Harry dies inThe Spectacular Spider-Man #200 (May 1993). ArtistSal Buscema said that drawing the final two pages of this issue was a deeply emotional experience for him due to how long he had drawn the character, and felt it was appropriate that writerJ. M. DeMatteis chose not to add any dialogue to those pages.[7]
Several years later, the Spider-Man writers made plans to reveal that the mysterious villain Gaunt was Harry Osborn, who was still alive and had orchestrated the "Clone Saga", but an editorial edict prevented this from coming to fruition.[8] However, Harry was eventually revived inThe Amazing Spider-Man #545 (December 2007). It is later revealed that this Harry was a clone, with the original remaining dead.
Harry is the only son ofNorman Osborn andEmily Lyman. The circumstances of Harry's birth weaken Emily, and she dies after a long illness. Heartbroken, Norman becomes a cold and unloving father; Norman either contemptuously dismisses Harry or lashes out at him in fury.[9] As a result, Harry spends much of his life trying desperately to earn his father's approval. Unbeknownst to him, Norman traded his son's soul to the demonMephisto in exchange for wealth and power, and Harry would be cursed for the rest of his life while Norman forgot the deal.[10]
Upon graduating from high school, Harry enrolls inEmpire State University. Among the wealthiest students in the school, Harry soon becomes one of the most popular as well, despite his aloof manner. He has aclique of rich, popular students around him; one of these isGwen Stacy. Gwen is intrigued by a new student:Peter Parker. Harry takes a dislike to Peter as Peter’s “cold shoulder” towards everyone reminds him of his own father’s behavior. He resents the attention Gwen pays to Peter, and he assumes that Peter's standoffishness is snobbery. After confronting Parker, Harry realizes that Peter is merely shy and is also worried about his ailing auntMay Parker. Despite this rocky start, Harry and Peter became best friends, eventually sharing an apartment.
Harry does not realize that his best friend is thesuperhero Spider-Man, nor that his father is thesupervillain Green Goblin in an accident while attempting to create a super-serum. Moreover, before he became friends with Harry, Spider-Man was unmasked and captured by the Goblin.[11] During the subsequent battle, an electric shock removed all memory of being the Goblin from Norman's mind. Spider-Man then hid all evidence of Norman's double identity, to keep Harry from being hurt by the revelation.[12]
However, Norman's Goblin persona resurfaces from time to time. These are difficult times for Harry, as his father's periodic episodes are unexplainable. He had experimented with drugs in his teens; but he escalates his usage, as well as trying ever-harder substances. This affects his mental stability and his relationships with his friends. Spider-Man uses this to his advantage during one battle with the Goblin; he is able to stop the fight by showing Norman his son's emaciated condition, brought on by an accidental drug overdose. The sight shocks Norman so much that it brings him back to sanity.[13]
Harry is dumped byMary Jane Watson due to being fed up with his self-destructive lifestyle. Disconsolate, Harry turns to drugs and overdoses on amphetamines. He recovers at home instead of at a hospital, as Norman wanted to keep the matter quiet, and a doctor diagnoses him withschizophrenia. After Norman is supposedly killed,[14] Harry swears vengeance and confronts Peter as the second Green Goblin.[15]
Not wanting to hurt Harry, Peter avoids fighting his old friend. After Spider-Man thwarts Harry's initial attempt on his life, Harry is knocked unconscious and taken into police custody.[16] Harry is put in the care of psychologistBart Hamilton who extracts information from Harry throughhypnosis. Hamilton then raids one of Harry's hideouts as the third Green Goblin. Harry is released and considered cured, sustaining a concussion that makes him forget his knowledge of Spider-Man's identity.[17]
For a while, Harry's life seems back on track; his company begins turning profits once more, and he develops a romance withLiz Allan after they meet at the wedding ofBetty Brant andNed Leeds. Not long after the two are married, and eventually they have a son,Normie Osborn, who is named after Norman.[18]
This tranquility is shattered when the aftereffects of the "Inferno" event break the barrier between Harry's conscious andsubconscious minds. Once again, he remembers being the Goblin and his hatred of Spider-Man. Harry convinces himself that Peter resents the Osborns' "stable family life" due to never having been wanted by his own parents or guardians, when in fact it was the opposite.[19] Harry takes a new version of the Goblin Formula and attacks Spider-Man, but dies from the formula's effects.[20][21]
Following Harry's death, two digital versions of him appear: one was created by Harry himself, while the other was created by the Scrier cabal to manipulate Normie.[22][23]
It's later revealed that Harry's soul is tortured inHell, where he's labelled as theGoblin Prince by Mephisto untilDoctor Strange frees him.[24][25]
Aftermanipulations of the timeline, a "genetic duplicate" maintains a life on Earth to fool anyone as details of Harry's death are seemingly retconned as being faked byMysterio and his father who spirits his son away to Europe where he is held prisoner in several "rehab" clinics and he was alive all along and Peter simply did not know.[26][27] Harry ends upengaged toMenace (Lily Hollister),[28][29][30][31] which ultimately culminated in a son, Stanley.[32][33][34] Harry also uses the American Son armor in order tofight against his estranged father,[35] and has a showdown with Gabriel Stacy.[36]
As of theAll-New, All-Different Marvel branding, helegally changed his name toHarry Lyman based on his mother's maiden name as he now works at Parker Industries,[37][38][39] and deals with the Osborn family estrangement while reuniting with Emily.[40] During the fight againstKindred, Harry learns that he's a clone before he aids Spider-Man and saves Norman to which he ends up fatally wounded, collapsing into Peter's arms and dies. Peter and Mary Jane later grieve the loss of their friend.[41][42][43]
For most of his life, Harry Osborn had no superhuman abilities.
After exposing himself to his father's formula, he takes the reins of the second Green Goblin, causing him to become much stronger, cunning and agile. The glider he carries has swords, along with usual Goblin technology.
Harry's clone also had temporary access to the American Son armor.
When the Harry Osborn A.I. created the Kindred twins, the assistance of Mephisto bestowed the twins with the demonically-enhanced capabilities of immortality, super-strength, and control over the centipedes like the ones that can protrude out of them. In addition, they can perform magic and revive the dead.
An alternate universe variant of Harry Osborn, amalgamated withWerewolf by Night, appears inInfinity Wars. This version is the best friend and partner of Peter Spector (a fusion of Peter Parker andMoon Knight), who operates as the vigilante Arachknight. Harry later discovers that Norman was cursed to transform into an evil goblin and killed Peter'sUncle Ben andAunt May. While Harry is taking care of his father, Norman loses control and bites Harry, passing the curse to him. Harry becomes the new Goblin by Night and runs away, but Peter and a now-cured Norman vow to cure him.[50]
An alternate universe variant of Harry Osborn from Earth-19529 appears inSpider-Man: Life Story. This version became the head of Oscorp after Norman Osborn was arrested. WhenOtto Octavius attempts to kill Peter and his cloneBen Reilly, Harry sacrifices himself to save them.[51]
An alternate universe variant of Harry Osborn from Earth-65 appears inSpider-Gwen. This version is a social outcast who is constantly bullied due to a rumor that he tried to burn his old prep school down.[52] FollowingPeter Parker's death, Harry takes theLizard serum and attacksSpider-Gwen before she extracts the serum from his blood and returns him to normal.[53]
During theSpider-Geddon storyline, several alternate universe variants of Harry Osborn appear:
An alternate universe variant of Harry Osborn fromEarth-1610 appears inUltimate Spider-Man (2000). This version developed an alternate personality known asShaw due toNorman Osborn having subjected him to hypnotic therapy for years. Harry eventually turns into theHobgoblin, an orange goblin-like creature who possesses superhuman strength andpyrokinesis.[56] He is used by S.H.I.E.L.D. to attract his father and the two end up doing battle, during which Norman kills Harry.[57][58]
An alternate universe variant of Harry Osborn fromEarth-6160 appears inUltimate Spider-Man (2024). This version is married toGwen Stacy and is the heir ofOscorp, one of the largest companies of the North American Union, a regional power bloc which includes the former United States territories. After his parents are killed in an attack onStark Tower by theMaker's Council, Harry becomes the CEO of Oscorp.[59] He also operates as the heroicGreen Goblin, using his technology to fight against organized crime leaderWilson Fisk.
Harry Osborn has been adapted to other media including cartoons, films, games, toys, collectibles, miscellaneous memorabilia, and has appeared as a supporting character in numerouscomputer and video games.
In television, the character first was featured inFox Kids'Spider-Man: The Animated Series (1994–1998) voiced byGary Imhoff,Spider-Man: The New Animated Series (2003) voiced byIan Ziering,The Spectacular Spider-Man (2008–2009) voiced byJames Arnold Taylor,Ultimate Spider-Man (2012–2017) voiced byMatt Lanter, andSpider-Man (2017–2020) voiced byMax Mittelman. Harry Osborn appears in theDisney+ animated seriesYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (2025–present), voiced byZeno Robinson.
Harry Osborn/New Goblin was also featured in atrilogy of live-action films directed bySam Raimi played byJames Franco, and the 2014 filmThe Amazing Spider-Man 2 portrayed byDane DeHaan, directed byMarc Webb.
The character appears via voicemail in the 2018 video gameSpider-Man, voiced byScott Porter. He has a non-speaking cameo appearance in thepost-credits scene of its 2020 spin-offSpider-Man: Miles Morales. He returns in a more prominent role in the 2023 sequelSpider-Man 2, voiced byGraham Philips. In this game, Harry adopts a costume similar toAgent Venom before eventually becoming this universe's variant ofVenom.
| Title | Material Collected | Published Date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazing Spider-Man Presents: American Son | Amazing Spider-Man Presents: American Son #1-4 | December 1, 2010 | 978-0785146872 |
This monumental issue saw the first appearances of Peter's upcoming love interest Gwen Stacy, prospective best friend, Harry Osborn, and even the future super villain known as the Jackal.
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