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Harold Theopolis " Harry" Osborn Spider-Man: Brand New Day Yearbook, Marvel Comics, 2008. is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, commonly in association with the superhero Spider-Man. Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, the character first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #31 (December 1965).
Harry is the best friend of Peter Parker (Spider-Man's alter ego) and Flash Thompson, one of the ex-boyfriends of Mary Jane Watson, the son of Norman Osborn, the husband of Liz Allan and the father of Normie Osborn and Stanley Osborn. He is the second character to assume the Green Goblin alias while one of his clones was amongst the many users of the Iron Patriot armor as the superhero American Son. An artificial intelligence (A.I.) copy, known as the A.I. Harry Osborn, is also the creator of the clones Gabriel and Sarah who are both later revealed to be operating as his revenant Kindred under the Harry A.I.'s command.
The character has appeared in many adaptations of Spider-Man outside of the comic books, including various cartoons and video games. James Franco portrayed the character in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man film trilogy (2002–2007), and Dane DeHaan portrays the character in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014).
In The Amazing Spider-Man #122 (July 1973), Harry's father, Norman Osborn, is killed off, and a subplot leading to Harry inheriting his father's identity as the Green Goblin is introduced. This subplot culminates in The Amazing Spider-Man #136 (September 1974). Writer Gerry 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 in The Amazing Spider-Man #96 (May 1971). (2025). 9781605490564, TwoMorrows Publishing. ISBN 9781605490564 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".
Harry dies in The Spectacular Spider-Man #200 (May 1993). Artist Sal 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 writer J. M. DeMatteis chose not to add any dialogue to those pages.
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. However, Harry was eventually revived in The Amazing Spider-Man #545 (December 2007). It is later revealed that this Harry was a clone, with the original remaining dead.
Upon graduating from high school, Harry enrolls in Empire 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 a clique of rich, popular students around him; one of these is Gwen 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 aunt Aunt May. Despite this rocky start, Harry and Peter became best friends, eventually sharing an apartment.
Harry does not realize that his best friend is the superhero Spider-Man, nor that his father is the supervillain 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. The Amazing Spider-Man #39 (August 1966) 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. The Amazing Spider-Man #40 (September 1966)
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. The Amazing Spider-Man #98 (July 1971)
Harry is dumped by Mary 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 with schizophrenia. After Norman is supposedly killed, The Amazing Spider-Man #121-122 (June–July 1973) Harry swears vengeance and confronts Peter as the second Green Goblin. The Amazing Spider-Man #136 (September 1974)
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. The Amazing Spider-Man #137 (October 1974) Harry is put in the care of psychologist Bart Hamilton who extracts information from Harry through hypnosis. 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. The Amazing Spider-Man #151 (December 1975)
For a while, Harry's life seems back on track; his company begins turning profits once more, and he develops a romance with Liz Allan after they meet at the wedding of Betty Brant and Ned Leeds. Not long after the two are married, and eventually they have a son, Normie Osborn, who is named after Norman. Web of Spider-Man #67 (August 1990)
This tranquility is shattered when the aftereffects of the "Inferno" event break the barrier between Harry's conscious and subconscious 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. The Spectacular Spider-Man #180-181 (September - October 1991) Harry takes a new version of the Goblin Formula and attacks Spider-Man, but dies from the formula's effects. The Spectacular Spider-Man #200 (May 1993) (2025). 9781465455505, DK Publishing. ISBN 9781465455505
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. Spider-Man: Legacy of Evil one-shot (June 1996) The Amazing Spider-Man Annual (May 2000)
It's later revealed that Harry's soul is tortured in Hell, where he's labelled as the Goblin Prince by Mephisto until Doctor Strange frees him. The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 5 #74 Amazing Spider-Man #573
As of the All-New, All-Different Marvel branding, he legally changed his name to Harry Lyman based on his mother's maiden name as he now works at Parker Industries, The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4 #1. Marvel Comics. The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4 #3. Marvel Comics. The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4 #13-15. Marvel Comics. and deals with the Osborn family estrangement while reuniting with Emily. The Amazing Spider-Man #800. Marvel Comics. During the fight against Kindred, 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. The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 5 #74. Marvel Comics. The Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 5) #74 (November 2021)
In television, the character first was featured in Fox Kids' (1994–1998) voiced by Gary Imhoff, (2003) voiced by Ian Ziering, The Spectacular Spider-Man (2008–2009) voiced by James Arnold Taylor, Ultimate Spider-Man (2012–2017) voiced by Matt Lanter, and Spider-Man (2017–2020) voiced by Max Mittelman. Harry Osborn appears in the Disney+ animated series Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (2025–present), voiced by Zeno Robinson.
Harry Osborn/New Goblin was also featured in a trilogy of live-action films directed by Sam Raimi played by James Franco, and the 2014 film The Amazing Spider-Man 2 portrayed by Dane DeHaan, directed by Marc Webb.
The character appears via voicemail in the 2018 video game Spider-Man, voiced by Scott Porter. He has a non-speaking cameo appearance in the post-credits scene of its 2020 spin-off . He returns in a more prominent role in the 2023 sequel Spider-Man 2, voiced by Graham Philips. In this game, Harry adopts a costume similar to Flash Thompson before eventually becoming this universe's variant of Venom.
| + !Title !Material Collected !Published Date !ISBN | |||
| Amazing Spider-Man Presents: American Son | Amazing Spider-Man Presents: American Son #1-4 | December 1, 2010 |
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