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Harold Theopolis "Harry" Osborn[1][2] was the son of Norman Osborn, former head of Oscorp, and best friend and temporary enemy of Peter Parker. Harry had dropped out of lots of high schools prior to attending Midtown High. There, he met Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson. Eventually, having graduated high school, he continued his friendship with Peter and MJ, the latter with whom he fell into a relationship. He eventually saw the vigilante Spider-Man with his father's dead body, and believed him to be his father's killer.
Eventually, he took over Oscorp, and affiliated with scientist Doctor Otto Octavius. Having grown sick of his best friend siding with Spider-Man, he got at him, ending their friendship. He made a deal with Doctor Octavius, now going by the name Doctor Octopus, who promised if he brought the tritium for his fusion reactor, he would bring him Spider-Man. Harry agreed the deal, and he got Spider-Man, whom Osborn nearly killed, but in a turn of events, found out he was Peter. After this, he found out his father was the Green Goblin.
Having taken the Goblin Serum, he obtained his father's strength, and created his own glider and armor. He fought Peter under the alias of the New Goblin, with these improvements, but instead suffered from a loss of memory, thus believing Peter was still his friend. He eventually remembered what happened, and threatened MJ to end things with Peter. Eventually, Harry learned the truth about his father's death and made amends with Peter. They both battled the villains Sandman and Eddie Brock aka Venom, leading Harry dying to save Peter's life.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Harry Osborn was born during the 1980s to Oscorp CEO and founder Norman Osborn, who he would have a strained relationship with. As a teenager, he would often be sent to a lot of private schools, and dropped out of nearly all of them, until he attended Midtown High. It was there he met Peter Parker, who would often help him in tests, and shared a best friend relationship with him. He also met Mary Jane Watson, and fell in love with her. During high school, he would often defend Peter from bullies such as Flash Thompson.[4]
Graduation[]
Science Demonstration[]
Harry introduces Peter to his father
A few weeks before graduation, Harry was dropped off in front of the genetics laboratory at Columbia University, due to a field trip the school was having, by his father in a Rolls-Royce compared, to all the others attending having been dropped of. Embarrassed about what the other who were public school kids could think of him, he asked his father to turn around. However, his father pointed out that they were right there, which Harry explained what he thought. Harry then expressed his beliefs of all the private schools that he'd ever been too to not be for him, which Norman opposed, telling Harry not to be ashamed of who he was.
After getting out, he caught up with Peter, forgetting his bag, which Norman brought for him. Seeing as Norman was there with Peter, Harry introduced Norman to Peter. After the two conversed, Harry then felt disappointed as it was much warmer in contrast to his relationship with Norman. After the conversation Harry joked that Norman wanted to adopt him, before both were told to catch up with the rest of the class.
After getting inside, Harry noticed Peter getting pushed around by Flash Thompson and his friends, so he tried to defend Peter from Flash. However, this backfired, as everyone involved in the talk were told if they were caught talking they would have failed the course. Harry then dared Peter to talk to Mary Jane, knowing that he also liked her. However, Peter told him to do it himself. However, he was whisked away by the teacher, who had a talk with him, due to him expected to be silent.[1]
Finding His Father Unconscious[]
One day, having gotten prepared for school, he found his father lying on the floor, unconscious. He then woke his father up and placed him on one of the sofas nearby, asking what had happened, to which his father was confused about. Eventually, they were approached with even more confusing news: that Mendel Stromm had died and the Goblin Glider had been stolen.[1]
School Fight[]
After this, Harry went to Midtown High School, then he noticed in front of Peter's locker, Peter and Flash fighting. Mary Jane, unsupportive of what Flash was doing, asked Harry to help Peter, but seeing Peter dodge everything, he got confused as to who to help. After seeing Peter punch Flash Thompson a considerable distance away, he then looked at Peter in awe, commenting how he thought it was awesome.[1]
Graduation Ceremony[]
Harry during graduation
After a week or so, Harry, alongside others such as Peter, finally graduated from Midtown High. As he told Peter the news that his father found a loft in New York City, he was approached by his father who initially didn't believe that he'd get graduated from the school, and shook hands, as he had been proven wrong. While Norman turned to talk to Peter, Harry noticed MJ reject Flash's marriage proposal. Peter and Harry were later given an apartment in the city to share with when they both go to college.[1]
Post-Graduation[]
New Life[]
Throughout the summer and fall, Harry fell in love with Mary Jane and started a relationship with her, but not telling Peter. When Peter found out by Mary Jane, he was dismayed but he accepted it. Harry was in his college apartment studying while his father was on a business call, when Peter returned. Harry asked Peter for his help and wondered if he was alright, Peter lied saying he got rejected by Dr. Connors class. Harry and Norman learn that Peter was thinking in some photography, where Peter was taking a job as a freelance photographer at the Daily Bugle. [1]
Attack on the World Festival[]
- "What the hell is that?"
- ―Harry wondering who the Green Goblin is[src]
During Oscorp's World Unity Festival in Times Square, where the Oscorp board members, Maximilian Fargas and Henry Balkan were planning to sell the company out, Harry was with Mary Jane on the balcony of a building. Harry wanted to impress his father with MJ, and MJ wasn't really interested in him, shown by how she turned away from kissing him. Harry approached Fargas and asked him if he seen his father around, which Fargas replied he was not sure if Norman was coming.
All of a sudden, a person on a flying glider began swarming down towards Times Square. Harry and Mary Jane wondered who it was when the flying figure came back. It cackled and threw a bomb at the building which triggered an explosion that shook the building, along with the whole Oscorp board and causing a panic among the citizens. The person who was attacking the Oscorp board members was the Green Goblin, who, unbeknownst to Harry, was actually Norman with an insane second personality. Harry tried to save MJ, who was falling down from a terrace, but failed as he was knocked out by a piece of rubble, and she was instead saved by Spider-Man.[1]
Loft with Peter[]
- "What was that thing?"
"I don't know. Whatever it is, somebody has to stop it." - ―Harry asking Peter who the Green Goblin was[src]
Later in the evening, Harry had a phone call with Mary Jane in his college apartment, with Peter behind as she talked about how Spider-Man saved her. After the phone call, Harry apologized to Peter for not telling him about his relationship with MJ, but Peter politely forgave him. Harry decided to head up upstairs to get some rest, while Peter said he was going to stay up for a while. Harry asked Peter what the Green Goblin was, Peter replied whatever it was, someone had to stop it.[1]
Thanksgiving[]
- "That creep was my father."
- ―Harry to Mary Jane Watson[src]
During Thanksgiving, Harry was preparing Thanksgiving dinner with Peter, his aunt May, MJ and Norman. While preparing for the dinner, Harry tried again to present his girlfriend to his father. After hearing a thump on the roof, Harry wondered if Peter was already there. While inspecting, they found no one there, but Peter was hiding on the ceiling still in his Spider-Man suit. Peter eventually arrived with cranberry sauce but had a cut on his left forearm from an encounter with the Green Goblin, which he covered as a bike messenger knocked him down.
Norman, who had just worked out that Peter is Spider-Man, suddenly left in a hurry. Harry pleaded with him to stay for dinner with him and Mary Jane, but Norman uncharacteristically insulted Mary Jane and ordered his son to dump her as soon as he was satisfied with her, and then stormed off. Harry was saddened by the lack of attention by his father, and, to make matters worse, Mary Jane overheard Norman and called him a creep, and an angry Harry defended him, saying that that "creep" was his father, which Mary Jane left.[1]
Losing his Father[]
- "I didn't lose him. He was stolen from me. One day Spider-Man will pay. I swear on my father's grave, Spider-Man will pay. Thank God for you, Peter. You're the only family I have."
- ―Harry Osborn to Peter Parker[src]
After May Parker was in hospital after being attacked by the Green Goblin, Harry went to visit her, but he found Peter and Mary Jane getting intimate with each other. With his feelings hurt, Harry went to his father, telling him he was right about everything, Mary Jane included. As he embraced with his father, Harry had unwillingly revealed to the Green Goblin that Spider-Man's true weakness was the girl he loved the most, Mary Jane.
Harry at Norman's funeral
Following the final confrontation between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin, Harry found Spider-Man in his living room, depositing Norman's corpse on a sofa. Distraught and assuming it was Spider-Man who killed Norman, Harry tried to shoot the hero but was unable to due to him disappearing. Attending Norman's funeral, Harry was approached by Peter who apologized for his loss. Harry responded he didn't lose him as he was stolen from him and swore vengeance towards Spider-Man for killing his father, and told Peter he was the only family he had. The two best friends embraced and Harry left.[1]
Hatred for Spider-Man[]
- "I'm ruined. I have nothing left, except Spider-Man."
- ―Harry Osborn[src]
Two years following his father's death, Harry became the new owner and CEO of Oscorp, managing to keep it up and running. He was still good friends with Peter and attended Peter's 20th birthday party. Harry asked Peter where he had been, Peter covered it up as he was busy, which Harry responded by taking pictures of Spider-Man. He offered to introduce Peter to his idol, Dr. Otto Octavius, whose research Harry was funding as he was preparing to put Oscorp on the map, the way Norman dreamed. However, Peter was still fearful of how delicate his friendship with Harry had become because of Harry's vendetta against Spider-Man.
Harry and Oscorp provided Dr. Octavius with tritium, a very rare element which Octavius needed for his fusion experiment. If the fusion reactor was a success, the company would have gained the rights on a new kind of energy source, making it one of the most important and rich energy companies in the world.[2]
Failed Fusion Experiment[]
- "I'M IN CHARGE HERE!!! IT'S MY MONEY!! I'M IN....."
- ―Harry yelling at Otto Octavius to shut the reactor off[src]
During a public demonstration of the fusion, the experiment seemed to work and the guests applauded and one guest told Harry that this was a breakthrough beyond his late father's dreams which Harry thanked him. However, the reactor grew unstable and started to suck everything metal through into his magnetic field.
Harry realizes Oscorp's reputation is ruined
Harry insisted Octavius to shut the reactor off, but Octavius refused, believing it would stabilize. As Harry argued, he failed to notice that a piece of machinery, pulled into the reactor's magnetic field, was preparing to hit him until Spider-Man saved him. Despite being saved, Harry refused to forgive him, stating this doesn't change anything, Spider-Man silently left to shut off the reactor. The resulting explosion permanently attached four extendable robotic arms onto Octavius, along with severe brain damage that destroyed the Inhibitor Chip, and was taken to the hospital but later escaped, becoming the villainous "Doctor Octopus".[2]
Planetarium Party[]
A drunk Harry confronts Peter
- "Don't act like you're my friend. You stole MJ from me. You stole my father's love. Then you let him die because you didn't turn in the freak."
- ―Harry Osborn to Peter Parker[src]
Emotionally destroyed by the failure and Oscorp's reputation was ruined by the failed fusion experiment, Harry started drinking heavily and focused his anger onto Spider-Man. During a party the the Planetarium, Harry got drunk and started lashing out at Peter, resenting him for being his father's favorite, accusing him of protecting Spider-Man for the profit of taking Spider-Man's newspaper photos and for "stealing" Mary Jane. During their argument, Harry slapped Peter, humiliating them both in public, until Harry realized what he was doing and left.[2]
Learning the Truth[]
- "Peter... you killed my father."
- ―Harry Osborn to Peter Parker[src]
When he learned that Spider-Man had disappeared from New York City, Harry reacted with anger at photos of Spider-Man from old pictures and newspapers, wondering where he was. After his butler, Bernard Houseman told him he was leaving for the night, Harry heard a noise outside and went to investigate. It was Doctor Octopus, who suddenly arrived to him demanding more tritium. Harry realized that Doctor Octopus had rebuilt his fusion reactor and yelled he would destroy the city. After being threatened to be dropped off the balcony, he made a deal with him: the tritium in exchange of Spider-Man's capture. When Doctor Octopus asked him how can he find the hero, Harry replied it was Peter Parker, who takes pictures of Spider-Man. Harry yelled at the fleeing Doctor Octopus not to hurt Peter as he didn't want his best friend to get hurt.
Harry unmasks the Spider-Man
Doctor Octopus returned with an unconscious Spider-Man, tied up in barbed wiring, Harry provided him with the tritium as he kept it in a safe behind a portrait. After Doctor Octopus left with the tritium and armed with a knife, Harry then proceeded to unmask Spider-Man before he killed him. He was shocked when he realized that the vigilante who he thought killed his father, was actually his best friend, Peter Parker. Upon learning that MJ was abducted briefly by Doctor Octopus, Harry was shocked but he revealed Doctor Octopus' whereabouts Peter, who left to rescue Mary Jane.
Harry discovers his father's hidden lair
Still in shock, Harry reflected over the discovery he made and heard something coming into his penthouse, followed by a cackle. Then he saw a vision of his father's ghost, who encouraged his revenge towards Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Harry didn't want to hurt his friend and struggled against Norman's will, trying to make the ghost go away. Yelling he would never hurt his best friend, Harry responds by throwing a knife through the mirror in which Norman appeared, Harry shattered it and discovered it was the Green Goblin's secret hideout, with all his weaponry and equipment. Harry realized that not only he discovered that Peter was Spider-Man, he also discovered his father was the Green Goblin.[2]
Becoming the New Goblin[]
Attack on Spider-Man[]
Harry confronts Peter Parker
- "You knew this was coming, Pete."
"Listen to me. I didn't kill your father. He was trying to kill me. He killed himself."
"Shut up!" - ―New Goblin and Peter Parker[src]
Over a year later, Harry coldly brushed off all of Peter's attempts to speak with him and had taken the Goblin Formula more so than his father did. He had also been preparing himself for his upcoming battle against his former best friend. After attending Mary Jane's Broadway debut, Harry refused to talk to Peter and ignored his attempts to talk with him before getting into his car. Later, Harry used the formula that his father used that turned him into the Green Goblin, physically enhancing his human prowess.
With Green Goblin's equipment, Harry became the New Goblin and ambushed Peter, seeking revenge. Peter tried to settle things peacefully with Harry, but Harry refused to listen, blinded by his vengeance when Peter insisted he didn't kill his father, as he was impaled by his own glider. During their fight, which involved from the streets and alleys, Harry attempted to throw razor bats at Peter, who was able to defeat them. Peter tripped Harry off his glider using his webs as a tripwire, making Harry hit his head hard on a pipe and crash-land in the alleyway. Peter rushed him to the hospital, and Harry awoke in the hospital with memory loss.[3]
Amnesia[]
- "It feels like... somehow I've been gone for a really long time. And now I'm back home."
- ―Harry Osborn[src]
Harry had forgotten everything about his vendetta, Spider-Man and the Green Goblin. He also re-embraced Peter and Mary Jane as his best friends, seemingly with his life finally at peace. His friendship with Peter and Mary Jane appeared to be miraculously restored, and he was happier with them than he had been in a very long time. However, sometimes Harry, having forgotten taking the Goblin Serum, surprised himself with his own physical capacities, such as his incredibly sharp reflexes.
Harry and Mary Jane witness the Sandman
One day, Harry later attended a festival hosted by Gwen Stacy and met up with Mary Jane. He greeted her, as he also bought some candy floss. When he asked where Peter was, Mary Jane replied Peter was taking some photos for the Daily Bugle. All of a sudden, Harry and Mary Jane saw a gust of sand flying through the city and air, leaving both of them confused. It was then, unknown to them, it was a new villain in New York City, who was known as the shape-shifting Sandman.[3]
Betrayal[]
While Peter started distancing himself from his friends and had bonded to an alien substance that changed his suit to black, Mary Jane was depressed over her lost acting career and instead found solace with Harry. Harry welcomed her into his home, and they bonded with each other, seemingly becoming closer than their previous dating relationship. After she unwittingly rekindled her long-passed romance with him, and rushed away regretting it. Harry tried to convince her to stay, but gave up. This sudden surge of familiar stress unlocked Harry's memories and restored his vendetta against Spider-Man as he stared into his reflection of a mirror. Harry reflected over what happened and was haunted by his father's ghost, who gave him advice on emotional war. This prompted him to "attack Peter's heart".
After dressing up in his New Goblin gear, Harry decided to hit Peter through Mary Jane and, after threatening her, he forced her to break up with Peter, leaving Peter heartbroken. Harry watched from afar as Mary Jane ended her relationship with Peter, claiming she has found "another man", leaving Peter heartbroken and Harry sarcastically remarked, "bravo" to a leaving and disgusted Mary Jane. Later, Harry encountered Peter in a cafe where he told him about the loss of her career and declared to him that he was the "other guy". As Peter leaves, he sees Harry smiling smugly at him before he disappears sight after a bus passed by.[3]
Duel at the Osborn Penthouse[]
Harry is mocked by Peter
- "Gonna kill me like you killed my father?"
"I'm done trying to convince you."
"You took him from me. He loved me."
"No. He despised you. You were an embarrassment to him. Look at little Goblin Junior. Gonna cry?" - ―Harry Osborn and Peter Parker[src]
Realizing Harry's plot against him and unable to tolerate it, Peter went to the Osborn mansion, now armed with the aggressive symbiote costume, and he confronted him while Harry was preparing a cocktail drink. Sensing Peter behind him, Harry asked if he liked a drink, but no response came. As he taunted him about his time with MJ, this prompted the symbiote possessed Peter to attack him. As he was punched and pinned to a pillar, Harry tried to stab him with a dagger, but Peter was able to stop him and the wound wasn't fatal. After engaging punches and dodging Harry's retractable arm blades, which he ended up getting them stuck in a pillar and broken off by Peter, Harry was thrown out of the room, smashing a glass door and cutting his lip.
The fight continued when the black suited Peter threw Harry across the room and striking the balcony bars and landing on a table. Enraged and fueled by vengeance, Harry moved the fight over this secret lair through the mirror. After failing to strike Peter with his sword, Harry was hit by his glider that was accidentally set off and he was thrown to a glass shelf filled with Pumpkin Bombs, breaking and shattering them, sending him and the bombs falling to the floor. Eventually, Harry was defeated by the symbiote possessed Peter, and when he tried to hit Peter with a Pumpkin Bomb, Peter effortlessly threw the bomb back at his face and left, turning his back on the completely defeated Harry.[3]
Learning the Truth[]
- "What are you trying to tell me?"
"The night your father died, I cleaned his wound. The blade that pierced his body, came from his glider." - ―Harry Osborn and Bernard Houseman[src]
Shocked and hurt by his defeat with the black suited Spider-Man, and with his face disfigured by the bomb, Harry remorsefully remained in his penthouse, not wanting to be seen by everyone with his injured face, even Peter and Mary Jane. During his time, he reflected over the terrible things he had done and how he drove his friends away, who he loved and cared, realizing how his vengeance nearly consumed him.
Harry realizes that Spider-Man didn't kill his father
When Mary Jane was abducted by Venom, who was Eddie Brock after bonding with the same black suit that Peter rejected when he realized its true nature, and Sandman to lure Spider-Man to them, Harry watched the news and turned the TV off, sighing in remorse over hurting MJ. Peter arrived, in his red and blue suit, asking Harry for his help as he cannot take both villains himself, but was horrified to see Harry's injured face. Harry said he didn't deserve his help and ordered him to leave. Peter obliged and went to fight both villains himself.
Harry went into his lair and admired the sword before Bernard Houseman approached him, saying he seen things in the penthouse and admitted that the night Norman Osborn died, he cleaned his wound, before telling him that the blade that impaled his body came from his glider. Harry realized Peter did not kill his father and that he was driven in a misguided attempt to avenge him. Realizing how much this had almost driven him down a dark path, Harry decided to make amends with his friends, realizing how much he loved them as they did.[3]
Battle at the Construction Site[]
Harry arrives to help Spider-Man
- "What you're gonna do?"
- ―New Goblin to Spider-Man[src]
Putting on his New Goblin suit again, he flew down on his glider straight towards the construction site where Spider-Man was nearly killed from being hammered by Sandman and choked by Venom. Harry threw a Pumpkin Bomb at Sandman, stunning him momentarily and knocked Venom aside with his glider. Harry approached Spider-Man and they silently made amends so they can save Mary Jane together. During the battle, the two best friends proved to be a formidable team. Harry fought the Sandman and used his glider to heat up Sandman's arm where he hardened and shattered into glass when Harry slammed into it.
As the fight continued, Harry was almost caught by Sandman until Spider-Man helped him and dodged the Sandman's fist. When Harry saw that the taxi cab was about to fall from Venom's web and hit Mary Jane, the two raced on Harry's glider to save Mary Jane. They managed to save Mary Jane and brought her to safety. As Harry was fighting Sandman, he almost fell from his glider and Sandman was about to strike him before Spider-Man intervened, allowing Harry to climb back onto his glider. As Sandman tried to attack Harry, he flew around with his glider and shot two missiles at Sandman, the resulting heat from the missiles caused Sandman to become hardened and collapsed.[3]
Sacrifice[]
Harry is killed by Venom in front of Peter
- "I should never have hurt you... said those things."
"None of that matters, Peter. You're my friend."
"Best friend." - ―Spider-Man and New Goblin[src]
When Spider-Man was attacked and about to be killed by Venom, Harry threw two razor bats at Venom, causing him to shriek at him in anger. Harry flew down and attempted to impale Venom with his glider, but Venom dodged and webbed his glider, causing Harry to fall and land on some pipes. The falling pipes created sonic vibrations that weakened Venom. When the pipes stopped clanging, Venom attempted to kill Spider-Man with Harry's glider, but Harry, in an act of selflessness, sacrificed himself to save Peter as he fatally impaled by Venom. Harry was shaken off and knocked down a few floors, Mary Jane rushed to Harry and tried to get help, but Harry told her to stay.
Harry succumbs to his wounds and dies
Peter managed to defeat Venom alone, and he made amends with Sandman, forgiving him for his uncle's accidental death and allowed him to escape peacefully. Peter went to the dying Harry's side, who was still with Mary Jane. Peter expressed remorse for hurting him, But Harry claimed that none of what they did to each other, especially the events that happened, mattered any more, and they were still, and would always be, best friends. Harry died, with his closest friends, Peter and Mary Jane, by his side and mourning his death.[3]
Legacy[]
- "So, do you have a best friend too?"
"I did. He died in my arms when he tried to kill me. It was heartbreaking." - ―Ned Leeds and Peter Parker[src]
Following Harry's funeral, Peter and Mary Jane made their relationship work and became a stable couple. Nearly two decades after his death, Peter and his father from a point prior to his death, were transported into an alternate universe similar to their own. Peter met two younger alternative versions of himself and that universes' Parker's friend and girlfriend, Ned Leeds and Michelle Jones, respectively. When Ned asked him if he had a best friend too, Peter replied he did, then explained that his best friend died in his arms after he sacrificed his life to protect Peter from Venom, leaving Ned stunned.
Norman was later cured of the Green Goblin persona through the efforts of the three Peter Parkers', and then sent back to his universe to have a second chance at life. Norman would return to a now branched/alternate timeline, where he would not die fighting Spider-Man. As Norman would not be destined to meet the same fate as his original version did in the original timeline, this possibly means that Harry would survive as well, as he would have no motivation to get revenge on Spider-Man. This also meant that Harry probably team up with his Peter to become heroes.
Personality[]
- "Whatever comes our way, whatever battle we have raging inside us, we always have a choice. My friend Harry taught me that. He chose to be the best of himself. It's the choices that make us who we are, and we can always choose to do what's right."
- ―Peter Parker[src]
Harry Osborn was a loyal friend to his best friend, Peter Parker and to Mary Jane Watson. He had always considered the nerdy Peter his best friend and protected him in high school from Flash Thompson and his cronies. Although he came from a rich family, Harry never allowed his wealth to make him spoiled or arrogant. However, he was also prone to stress, depression, and obsession, and this sometimes strained his judgement and relationships. This was because his mother left the family when he was young and his father was too busy to focus on raising him, which was why he was desperate to win his father's approval. He had dropped out of numerous private schools which had been due to the fact he was suffering due to his father not being around. Harry had issues with his father and he was sometimes prone to frustration and anger which caused strains with his relationship with his friends, including treating his then girlfriend Mary Jane Watson as a trophy to impress his father, and developing a jealousy towards his best friend. Despite all this, Harry was a good person and truly cared for his best friends.
After his father's death, Harry becomes obsessed with Spider-Man, and develops a strong vendetta upon him, believing he had killed his father, while unaware that the latter was the Green Goblin. His hatred for Spider-Man got worse when after the failed experiment that resulted Otto Octavius in becoming Doctor Octopus that ruined Oscorp's reputation of funding Octavius for his work, where Harry unjustly blamed Spider-Man for it, despite him saving his life. This resulted Harry to drown his sorrows over the ruined experiment and taking his frustration out on Peter, believing he was proving his loyalty to him, rather than him, due to fact that Peter was secretly Spider-Man, and Harry accused him of stealing Mary Jane and his father's love from him, which shows signs of envy for how Peter was the opposite of Harry when he was raised by his aunt and uncle after his parents' deaths.
When he discovered that Spider-Man was really Peter, after he unmasked him, Harry was in a state of shock and disbelief when he saw that Peter was the vigilante, Spider-Man and was distraught that Peter killed his father. This, despite his hatred for Spider-Man, made him very reluctant to harm Peter as he was his best friend. However, it was then that he not only discovered that his best friend was Spider-Man, but he also discovered his father was the Green Goblin after he found his hidden lair where he hid all the Green Goblin's equipment. Upon taking more of the Goblin serum, it further distanced himself from Peter, becoming resentful and refused to talk to him, even when Peter tried to explain to truth of his father's death.
After he used a different variant of the Goblin Formula his father used on himself, Harry gained all of his father's powers that were similar to him: enhanced strength, speed, stamina, and reflexes, as well as a low-level rapid healing factor which healed his head injury. He had access to all the Green Goblin's weapons. His weapons were different versions compared to the Green Goblin's with his glider being much lighter and having greater mobility. Though, fortunately, his insanity caused by the performance enhancer was much less severe compared to his father, possibly because it was a different variant from his father's own variant. So Harry, unlike his father, did not suffer a second personality and had his personality permanently retained, due to the variant of the Goblin Formula being improved from the previous one his father used.
Following much revelations he had with confronting Peter and Mary Jane, as well being defeated by a black suited Peter, Harry came to realize that his vengeance was what nearly consumed him and he became remorseful of his misdeeds after he pushed away his two friends who truly cared and loved him. Harry would later know the real truth about his father's death where he was impaled by his own glider, he realized that he was driven in a misguided attempt to avenge his father and Peter was not to blame. This realization prompted him to make up for his misdeeds by helping Peter defeat Sandman and Venom, also to save Mary Jane. He reconciled with his best friend and the two formed an effective teamwork to defeat both villains and save Mary Jane. In an act of selflessness, Harry would later take his own life to save Peter and Mary Jane from the hands of Venom, not wanting them to die in a painful way from the vengeful Venom. He made peace with his best friends, forgiving each other for the terrible things they done and reconciled before his death.
Powers and Abilities[]
Powers[]
- "Did you see that?"
"Still got the moves." - ―Harry Osborn and Peter Parker[src]
- Artificially Enhanced Physiology: After Osborn discovered his father's hidden arsenal, he used human performance enhancers on himself to obtain similar powers to the Green Goblin. He was already somewhat athletic, having played basketball in his youth and also been a skilled surfer.[5] Osborn's enhancement was greater than that of his father's, as Mendel Stromm stopped the procedure for the latter before it could finish.
- Enhanced Strength: Osborn's strength was enhanced to superhuman levels, allowing him to contend with Spider-Man even when the latter's strength was heightened by Venom. During his first fight against the hero, he was able to rip out a portion of a brick wall with one hand and even cut through his webbing with his arm blades. He could launch him considerable distances with his strikes and drag him along the side of a building with one hand as well, and throw him through two floor-to-ceiling windows.
- Enhanced Durability: Osborn's anatomical strength was also enhanced to support his new strength. As such, he was able to take blows from Spider-Man, even when enhanced by Venom. He was barely fazed by a Razor Bat piercing his shoulder and he was also able to survive a long fall and only suffer from temporary amnesia, as well as being tossed around by Parker well and even sustain a Pumpkin Bomb's explosion to his face, although it disfigured him. However, he could not survive being impaled by his glider, like his father, and falling several stories.
- Enhanced Speed: Osborn was able to move very quickly, even without his glider. He was able to disappear from Peter's line of sight as a vehicle passed between them, and he was also able to save his best friend by intercepting Venom attempting to impale him with his glider.
- Enhanced Agility: Harry possessed excellent agility and bodily coordination, as he was able to position himself mid-air onto his glider after Peter threw him off.
- Enhanced Stamina: Harry's stamina was also increased to the point where he could fight against Spider-Man and later Sandman without showing any signs of fatigue.
- Enhanced Reflexes: Harry had quick reflexes, as seen when he unconsciously caught a falling vase immediately after catching a bouncing basketball.
- Enhanced Senses: Harry was able to sense Peter behind him in his home.
- Regenerative Healing Factor: Harry's healing potential was augmented by the human performance enhancers. He was able to recover from falling a great height and his memory was restored, although he was scarred by one of his own Pumpkin Bombs and he could not heal from Venom piercing him with his glider's blade.
Abilities[]
- "I protected you in high school. Now I'm gonna kick your little ass."
- ―Harry Osborn to Peter Parker[src]
- Expert Combatant: Despite not receiving any combat training, Harry's enhanced attributes made him a highly skilled hand-to-hand combatant, who was able to even the odds with Spider-Man. However, he seemed not to be fully experienced by the black symbioted Spider-Man, who was able to defeat Harry by slamming him against a wall and disfiguring him with a Pumpkin Bomb. Harry later showed his skills in hand-to-hand combat when he was able to defeat the Sandman and fight against Venom during the Battle at the Construction Sight.
- "Anyone who can get Harry to pass chemistry shouldn't be modest."
"Harry's really smart. He didn't really need my help." - ―Norman Osborn and Peter Parker[src]
- Gifted Intelligence: Harry was described by Peter as "really smart" by Peter; given the latter is a genius, this is high praise. With Peter's aid, Harry "nailed" his regents exams.[6]
- "I'm head of Special Projects. We're about to make a breakthrough on fusion."
- ―Harry Osborn to Peter Parker[src]
- Expert Businessman: Following his father's death, Harry became the new CEO of Oscorp and assumed control of the company's Special Projects division. He had the wealth and resources to provide Otto Octavius with precious tritium, of which there is only 25 pounds on the whole planet.
Equipment[]
- Walther PPK: Harry took a pistol from a desk drawer and aimed it at Spider-Man when the latter brought home his father's corpse.
- "If only I could cause you the pain that you've caused me. First, we'll see who’s behind the mask. I can look into your eyes as you die."
- ―Harry Osborn to Spider-Man[src]
- Knives: Harry grabbed a knife when Doctor Octopus brought Spider-Man to him, and he held it when he unmasked him as his best friend, Peter. He later used a similar knife to stab Peter during their duel in his home. He also had retractable blades protruding from the forearm of his right gauntlet which he used to slash Peter's abdomen and later when Peter was possessed with the Symbiote.
- Glider: Harry used a gilder, known as a Sky Stick, which allows him to glide in the air. It has a number of equipment stored inside of it which included a bunch of Pumpkin Bombs, Razor Bats and large blades for impalement.
- Razor Bats: Harry used the Razor Bats to attack Spider-Man, who was able to defeat them using his webbing. He later used two of them to slash Venom on the arms, who was attempting to kill Spider-Man.
- Sword: As the New Goblin, Harry carried a razor sharp sword to use against any opponent. It has a green energy supply to give it enough strength to cause damage.
- Pumpkin Bombs: Formally used by the Green Goblin, Harry used the Pumpkin Bombs to attack Spider-Man, then later Venom and Sandman.
Relationships[]
Family[]
Allies[]
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Enemies[]
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Trivia[]
- Harry wears a suit in each film in the trilogy. In Spider-Man, he wears a suit when attending his father's funeral. In Spider-Man 2, Harry wears a suit when introducing Peter to Otto, during the demonstration that turns Otto into Doc Ock, and when Doc Ock comes to his home and they make the deal. In Spider-Man 3, Harry wears a suit when attending Mary Jane's Broadway performance.
- Harry is the only character in the trilogy to die in a film that was not their first appearance.
- Spider-Man 3 is the only film where Harry does not interact with Aunt May or share a scene with her.
- Harry enjoyed roast duck.[7]
Behind the Scenes[]
- James Franco was originally offered the role as Peter Parker/Spider-Man before it was passed onto Tobey Maguire. He later got the role as Harry Osborn instead.
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 Spider-Man
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Spider-Man 2
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 Spider-Man 3
- ↑ Spider-Man (novel), Chapter 2
- ↑ Spider-Man (novel) Chapter 4
- ↑ Spider-Man (novel) Chapter 13
- ↑ Spider-Man (novel) Chapter 14
