Norman Osborn is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character, created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #14 (July 1964) as the first and best-known incarnation of the Green Goblin.
As the amoral industrialist head of Oscorp, Norman was exposed to an experimental formula which enhanced his physical abilities and intellect, but also drove him to insanity. Having endured as one of Spider-Man's archenemies, alongside Doctor Octopus and Venom, Osborn has been part of the superhero's defining stories as well as being the father of Harry Osborn, the grandfather of Normie Osborn and Gabriel and Sarah Stacy, and the killer of Gwen Stacy, Ben Reilly and Flash Thompson (the latter two later being resurrected). Although his primary obsession is Spider-Man, Osborn has often come into conflict with Iron Man, Captain America and other superheroes in the Marvel Universe. As the Goblin, he adopted a Halloween-themed appearance: dressing in a goblin costume, riding on a bat-shaped "Goblin Glider", and using an arsenal of high-tech weapons, such as grenade-like "Pumpkin Bombs", to terrorize New York City.
