As
a child, Norman Osborn had an abusive father, much
as he was abusive to his own son Harry, and he, in
turn, was to his own son, Normie. As an adult, he
co-founded Oscorp with fellow scientist Dr. Mendel
Stromm. In order to gain total control of the firm,
Osborn framed Stromm for embezzlement. After Stromm
was out of the way, Osborn found notes for an experimental
serum Stromm had been developing that could theoretically
increase one's strength and intelligence to super-human
levels. Osborn attempted to create the formula, but
it turned green and exploded in his face. Although,
the formula did greatly increase his strength and
intellect, it also drove Osborn insane. (It was later
revealed that Norman's son, Harry, was angry with
his father for neglecting him. He sabotaged the formula
by putting something in it to get back at Norman.
This was what caused the formula to blow up). Deciding
to use his newly acquired genius as a criminal, Osborn
designed a green (and purple) costume to match the
green formula that had given him his new abilities.Thus,
the Green Goblin was born.
The
Goblin decided that in order to seize control of the
city's underworld he would have to gain an impressive
reputation. He planned on accomplishing this by destroying
a then relatively new costumed crimefighter named
Spider-Man. To this end he designed an array of bizarre
weaponry modeled after his new fearsome guise, including
bombs shaped like miniature jack o'lanterns, bat-shaped
throwing blades and a highly maneuverable "goblin-glider".
After
several failed attempts to defeat Spider-Man, with
the web-slinger also impeding the Goblin's repeated
attempts to unite the city's crime syndicates, the
Goblin became obsessed with Spider-Man's destruction.
Exposing Spider-Man to a special gas that could nullify
his spider-sense, the Goblin followed him home and
learned his secret identity as Peter Parker. Capturing
him in his civilian guise and taking him to a secret
hideout, the Goblin revealed to his nemesis his own
identity as Norman Osborn, who just so happened to
be the father of Peter's best friend Harry. During
the ensuing battle, Osborn came into contact with
electrical wiring that caused him amnesia. The Green
Goblin costume was destroyed in the resulting fire
and Peter believed he had seen the last of Norman
Osborn's diabolical alter-ego.
The
amnesia proved to be only temporary however and Osborn
relapsed into his Goblin persona twice more only to
be defeated by Spider-Man each time. After helping
rescue Peter Parker's girlfriend Gwen Stacy and her
father, retired police captain George Stacy, from
a kidnapping by the Kingpin, Osborn had a brief affair
with Gwen which resulted in an unusually rapid pregnancy
and secret birth of twins, Gabriel and Sarah. Though
Gwen left the twins in the care of Osborn's people
in France, Gwen refused to give Norman custody of
the twins, fearing that the fate of Norman's son,
Harry - mentally deteriorating and turning to illegal
hallucinogenic drugs - would befall her own children.
Osborn threatened Gwen, but she insisted that she
would tell Peter the truth. Gwen believed Peter would
marry her and raise the twins, trusting that Parker's
love for her would oversee her failings. This prompted
the third emergence of Norman's dark side, propelling
what would be one of the darkest hours in Spider-Man's
career. In a strike against both Gwen and Spider-Man,
the Green Goblin kidnapped Gwen and took her to the
top of the Brooklyn Bridge. In an act of brutality
during a melee with Spider-Man, the Goblin threw Gwen
from the bridge. Spider-Man attempted to save her
but she had already died during the fall. Filled with
rage, Spider-Man savagely attacked the Goblin nearly
killing him.He returned to his senses at the last
minute however, while the Goblin took the opportunity
to attempt one final play by remotely controlling
his damaged goblin glider to impale the wall crawler.
Spider-Man was able to dodge the glider which instead
impaled the Goblin, seemingly killing him. The nightmare
was over...or at least that's what Peter thought.
Harry Osborn, Norman's son, had witnessed the apparent
death of his father at the hands of Spider-Man and
removed the Goblin costume before the authorities
could arrive, thus preserving his secret identity.
He even bribed the coroner so that further autopsy
reports would show no mention of the "goblin"
formula in Norman's blood. And for many years, the
world believed Norman Osborn to be dead.
After
the apparent death of the Green Goblin, many tried
to follow in his footsteps, including his son Harry,
Harry's therapist Bart Hamilton and millionaire Roderick
Kingsley who attempted to create his own variation
and legacy on the Goblin motif as the murderous Hobgoblin.
Each subsequent version of the Goblin was defeated
and Harry eventually died as a result of exposure
to an untested experimental version of the formula
that had given his father his abilities. Little did
anyone know that Norman Osborn was in fact alive and
well and putting a master plan into place that he
hoped would ruin Spider-Man forever.
After
his discovery of the Goblin arsenal and equipment,
Phil Urich ran into the Scarlet Spider, Rhino, the
Hobgoblin, Joystick and others. Many were unsure of
his purpose and motives as they were also curious
about this new Goblin on the scene.
It
was not until a corrupt judge targeted Ben and sent
the assassin Purge to kill him that Phil decided to
take on his new persona with responsibility. Teaming
up with Daredevil the pair were able to stop Purge.
This
act gave the new hero a lot of attention and he developed
a small but devoted following. Liz Allan asked Ben
for information on who was using her husband's former
identity. She later gave Phil her "blessing"
after he saved her and her son Normie from Angelface.
During
Onslaught's attack, the Goblin costume was heavily
damaged after battling Sentinels. Phil soon decided
to retire as an active hero. He
has recently been seen as part of Excelsior.
Powers
Super-human
strength, speed, reflexes, stamina, durability and
a regenerative healing factor.
Abilities
As a result of exposure to the experimental serum,
Osborn's intellect has been greatly enhanced, augmenting
his aptitude for genetics, robotics, engineering,
and applied chemistry...at the cost of his sanity.
His sanity is maintained via chemically treated dermal
patches.
Weapons
Concussive, smoke, gas and incendiary "pumpkin"
bombs, gloves capable of channeling pulsed discharges
of up to 10,000 volts of high-frequency electric power,
flying 'razor bats' which ram into and cut things,
and a specially designed gas that can nullify Spider-Man's
spider-sense.
Paraphernalia
A vertical thrust "goblin glider", powered
by a miniature turbo-fan. It can reach speeds between
90 to nearly 300 miles per hour and support 400 pounds
(including Osborn's own weight)
