At his father’s funeral, Harry Osborn swore vengeance against Spider-Man. Why only Spider-Man? The Green Goblin wrecked the lives of people whom Harry loved. Why not swear revenge also on the Green Goblin?
Harry’s first encounter with the Green Goblin was at Oscorp’s World Unity Festival. His father’s company had persuaded New York City Hall to block off Times Square for the festival. While waiting for his father to arrive, Harry and his girlfriend, M.J. Watson witness the Green Goblin fly by the balcony where they were standing. In one horrific instant, the Goblin lobs pumpkin bombs at the masonary. As the balcony crumbles beneath them, Harry and M.J. lose their balance. But before Harry can save M.J. from falling off, he is knocked senseless by falling debris.
What's that!?
Meanwhile, the Green Goblin flies back to the crumbling balcony as the Oscorp directors are frantically fleeing. One director, who cannot maneuver his wheelchair, watches helplessly as another pumpkin bomb lands near his chair. With a flash, the whole Oscorp Board of Directors is turned into dust. Harry escapes their fate when a fallen column shields him from the deadly blast.
After the fracas, Harry frantically searches to find out what happened to M.J. Unable to reach her, he turns instead to discover where his father is – safe at home, stuck in traffic or injured at the festival. He repeatedly calls every one of his father’s phone numbers only to hear the phone endless ringing. Finally Harry reaches his father, and is relieved that Norman is alive and well.
Back at the apartment that he shares with his friend, Peter Parker, Harry tries to reach M.J., who he last saw being taken away by Spider-Man. Worried, Harry finally gets her at her apartment, only to hear her gush over how wonderful Spider-Man is. Miffed at her lack of concern about him, Harry nevertheless is relieved that she is alive and well.
Extra! Extra! Read All About . . .
Harry’s knowledge of Spider-Man comes from the newspapers. Daily headlines blare, "GREEN GOBLIN AND SPIDER-MAN ATTACK CITY", "GREEN GOBLIN, SPIDER-MAN TERRORIZE BUGLE", and "TIME FOR A BUG FREE CITY." Harry’s only evidence that Spider-Man was anything else but bad was that he saved M.J. On the other hand, Harry’s experience connects Spider-Man with the Green Goblin.
Meanwhile, Harry’s path crosses again with the Green Goblin, when Peter’s Aunt May Parker (his guardian) is attacked by the Goblin. After receiving a call from Peter from the hospital, Harry goes to visit them both. When her arrives, Harry finds instead Aunt May asleep in her hospital bed, while Peter and M.J. are holding hands. Hurt beyond reason, he flees to his father’s house.
Unhappy and heart sore, Harry pours out his heart to his father, who for once is responsive. The last thing, Harry expected, happened--his father gives him a loving hug. Full of hope, Harry returns to his apartment thinking that he and his father will have better times together.
The next morning, Harry returns to his father’s house only to find his father dead. He glimpses Spider-Man standing over Norman’s body. Howling in pain, Harry chases Spider-Man. Unable to find him, Harry screams, "Murderer!" With his father’s tragic death, Harry’s dreams of paternal love dies.
In his intense grief and anguish, Harry swears revenge on Spider-Man. But, Harry could have easily included the Green Goblin in his vow of vengeance. The Goblin had attacked everyone who was either associated with his father, Norman Osborn or with Harry himself: Dr. Mendel Stromm, the Oscorp Board of Directors, his best friend’s guardian (May Parker), and M.J. Watson. Spider-Man was only present at two of the attacks. Harry could easily have construed that the Goblin was after his father with Spider-man as his partner.
Goblin Gone But Not Easily Forgotten
There might be a number of theories as to why the Green Goblin would want to kill Norman Osborn and destroy Oscorp? Some newspapers theorized that he was a terrorist bent on destroying a principal supplier of the U.S. Army. Others suggested that he is an eco-terrorist since he dresses in green and flies an environmentally correct glider. Therefore to the Goblin, Oscorp would not only be an arms supplier but also a major polluter.
Whatever the reason, Harry could have perceived that the Green Goblin was part of a conspiracy against Norman Osborn. If so, Harry Osborn would have wanted revenge on the Green Goblin as well. The curious thing is that he latches on to Spider-Man but why does not he include the Green Goblin in his desire for vengeance.
Va. Carper
August 2, 2002